Hmmmm.... what about Mazda pickups? Are they still going to continue? Quick Google search didn't really bring up anything.

Josh

 

It would seem Mazda is on it's own in the US market without a model too.
I am certain Mazda must have a international truck platform of some sort?

 

Search the Mazda BT-50, you'll be amazed.

 

It's Mazda's sister to the World Ranger.............Ah, American's don't need that, we'll just send them over to the yota dealer.

 

Yeah, that's the rebadged World Ranger not available in good ol' USA.

Josh

 

I also posted not so long ago the New global Ranger.

 

Well, at least YOU can get both!...........Our EPA says we can't have either.

They always know whats best for us.

 

here you go: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...al-ranger.html

 

You might be right Josh, but I'll throw this out there. The idea that you need to scrap your small truck offering to ensure that you have the #1 spot for the F-150 says a great deal about what you aren't doing well. I'll go back to the comment I made earlier about canibalizing sales from one line for another. Businesses who worry about things such as this are worried more about money than they are about meeting customer needs, not the correct view in my opinion. Sure enough, businesses have to worry about making a profit; making ends meet, paying the bills. But I doubt that this is the motivation.

So, is Ford a great truck builder...or just a great F-150 builder? If it's the former, then you find a way to remain competitive in the small truck marketspace. Giving up and pulling out the excuse bag is pretty lame. Fire the lot that made this decision; weak minded tactics. As pointed out here, Ford made moves like these for the Taurus and the Crown Vic. Are they thinking that the third time is the charm? I suspect the other members are right - the Ranger will return after a year or two off.

Kevin

P.S. as for the Frontier - it's one ugly truck. I can't speculate on the large amount of plastic in the interior, but the exterior styling is so lacking to me, I wouldn't get close enough to look inside to confirm. I drove an older model a few years ago (my nephew was looking for a truck). Rode horribly and made me feel very good about my Ranger. Just my opinion though.

 

Spot on. I looked at a few Tacomas over the last few weeks. Many sales guys were remarking (once they saw my Ranger) that sales were up on account that the Ranger was going away. Not even gone yet, and sales were up. What will happen once the '11 Rangers have all been sold off?

Here's another detail (from a Quality Professional who's done a lot of reading on Customer Satisfaction). The cost of keeping a loyal customer is far smaller than the cost of trying to get one back. Dr. Deming taught this point to Ford in the mid '80s. Perhaps the top Quality guy at Ford needs to crack a book or two as with the top Sales & Marketing guy.

 

I can see where Ford is concerned with taking sales from the F-series. It would be pretty darn humiliating to pat yourself on the back for 34 years and then all of a sudden Chevy can advertise being #1 Truck...

But, is McDonalds worried about taking sales from the BigMac when they come out with the McRib?

And really, at the VERY LEAST, how hard would it have been to at least have a Fleet/Contractor grade Ranger? Ford barely sells 60,000 of the brand new Taurus. Even when the old Taurus was supposedly "barely" moving off the lots it was still selling over 300,000 units.

Josh

 

I think we all agree, killing the Ranger is a odd and lousy move, and Ford's motives for why are lame.
Hopefully, it will be back as the world Ranger, and if no diesel, how about a model with the F-150s 3.5 Eco-boost V-6?

 

Probably cost too much. Maybe the EcoBoost 4 cylinder and maybe 3.5L Duratec.

Josh

 

Which is a bit of a shame really, granted the 83-84 non-turbo Rangers were a bit of a dog (though i love mine ), the 85-87 turbo Rangers did have some "get up and go" to them.

 

I don't like seeing the Ranger brand go, but I was really tired of seeing basically and unchanged truck since the 90's.

Whether it's rebranded or resurrected, we are bound to see a Ranger in the future