Although Ford has the lead in pickup trucks, GM has the lead in big SUV's and has for a long time. Based on Wiki figures, in 1999, the top year for the Expy, Ford sold 233,000 of them, which is a lot. Chevy sold 175k Tahoe/Yukons that year BUT they also sold 185k Suburbans. Again, I think the history of the Suburban (goes back to 1935) gives GM the Mojo advantage there. And there is something about the looks that GM keeps getting right. Classy but tough. My bro-in-law is a Ford truck guy and has a diesel F250....but he just bought a new family "car" which is a Tahoe.

Not sure what living in the suburbs has to do with wanting a 5.0 instead of a 3.5 EB....

We shall see how well Ford does with the 2018 Expedition and the new Ranger/Bronco. GM does not have a competitor to the new Bronco.

George

 

The 5.0 is a better engine choice for short trips with stop and go driving. In my opinion that type of use isn't good for an EcoBoost. Actually it isn't good for any engine, but a naturally aspirated engine is the better choice for that use.

 

Not trying to derail this thread but merely to make a point.

Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America - 2004 Year End - GOOD CAR BAD CAR

2003/04 were good years for the Expy. At that time they offered two engines, the 4.6L which I have in my 2004 and the 5.4L. The highest trim level at the time was an Eddie Bauer which was quite well equipped.

Ford clearly screwed the pooch on that one and they're unrelenting arrogance will lead them down that same road again and again.

 

But add the Suburban (aka Tahoe EL) to these numbers and the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban sales dwarf the Expy and always have. I don't think the 4.6 was that desirable in the Expy except maybe for the 2WD stripper versions. Big SUV's are a status/towing market and the 4.6 is no help there.

Explorer is at the top of the 2004 heap in the body/frame configuration and is STILL at the top of the heap in 2016 in unit body configuration despite new competition from the Japanese and Korean brands. It's not like Ford is making the wrong moves in most segments. In the mid-sized SUV segment, Ford has the Explorer, Edge, and Flex, and together these sell 400k per year...WAY more than any other mfr.

We shall see if the Ranger/new Bronco do well--small pickups and body/frame mid-sized SUV's are not a populated market right now.

It's not engine choice that is gonna make or break the Ranger, especially at intro. The Jeep Wrangler offers exactly one engine, for instance, and has done so for years, moving from the 4.0 I6 to the 3.8 V6 to the 3.6 Pentastar V6. I have not heard any complaints about that although I'm sure some people would like a V8 or I6. The 2.3 EB has more power and more torque than the Pentastar.

The 2011 Explorer was introduced with one engine, the 3.5 V6. The 3.5 EB and the 4-cyl EB's came over 2 years later. The objective is to get the Ranger to market and it can expand from there.

George

 

with my experience with the 2.0 EB in our Escape I would have NO problems with a 2.3 EB in a Ranger.

I am just hoping for a 4 door with about the same amount of room that the Colorado has for their 4 door. Most I will ever have to worry about hauling is a small trailer for a 4 wheeler.

 

Agreed...I have driven the 2.0 EB in the Escape and it was startlingly fast. I also found the 2.0 EB to be plenty fine in the Edge on an extended test drive so if the Ranger/Bronco are a bit heavier than the Edge, the 2.3 EB would be just fine in them. Hell, the 2.3 EB has more power and torque than the 4.6 V8 in my old E150 van.

I did drive an Edge Sport with the 2.7 EB V6 and that was REALLY gutsy. Came close to buying but I want something a bit tougher than an Edge and with maybe less gingerbread and a smaller price tag than the Edge Sport at $45-49k. So I'm waiting for the Bronco, and figure that news about the Ranger is also going to be relevant for the Bronco.

George

 

one other thing to consider...the 2.3 EB is plenty strong to run the AWD for the Explorer...I think it would be fine.

 

I think much of the reason the Tahoe far outsells the Expedition boils down to one simple reason: name recognition. Mention full-size SUV to the average American buyer and they instantly think of Tahoe/Suburban.
However back to the main point of this conversation, and that is Ranger engines. I doubt the 2.7EB will make the cut, at least at first. It's a very powerful engine, no doubt, but I think Ford is going to want to push the fuel economy advantage of the Ranger, which means a N/A 4-cylinder. They still have a 2.5 Duratec inline-4 that ought to do the job just fine for many entry level buyers. For those who want more, I can see where Ford might offer the 2.0 EB or even a version of the 2.3 EB. I don't predict a diesel option in the near future. However if they do fit it with a small N/A V6 in an entry level Supercab truck I might be interested. 2wd is fine, but I'd want to option it with limited-slip. If they can sell that for just a tick over $20k, that's your profit leader right there. The Raptor-type "image" trucks are fun to dream about and drool over, but how many of us actually buy them? What most of us actually buy is the average working-man's truck. My 1995 Ranger XLT Supercab, for example, with the 3.0/automatic was perhaps one of the nicest, and most reliable trucks I ever owned. It was comfortable, smooth and easy to drive, reliable, and would work its a** off for me when I needed it to. I only sold it because my needs in a truck at that time demanded an 8' F-150. But it's easy to see why Ford sold a million+ Rangers optioned similar to mine over the years. If I had any pictures of "ol' Red" I'd post it here but I don't have any on my PC.

 

I think the Ranger needs to have a F-O-U-R C-Y-L-I-N-D-E-R EcoBoost option. I don't think consumers want five different V6 options. I think inline 4cyl., V6, and V8 options would be BEST, but I don't think we will see the 5.0 in the Ranger. That's a shame too because that would be one sweet truck.

 

I fully expect to see probably 2, maybe 3, engine options available to us when the Ranger comes to market. What those options will be we can only speculate. Ford is being silent and probably having a good laugh at our expense as we hope and dream about this or that.
So let's quit fooling around and dream up a Ranger with a 6.2!

 

PLEASE Ford, offer the Coyote, not detuned, to the Ranger, let's go all the way and hope for the GT version. You're not gonna haul much anyway, and we need something that is actually impressive, and doesn't sound like the full sized Raptor. Can anyone besides me imagine how that would perform with a good tune and minor engine mods, and the sound? My panties are wet thinking of it!!
Don't worry, there's enough fleets and people that like ho hum that you'll keep the overall mpg's up there.
Dammit, that would be a fun truck!!!

 

Given that Ford does not offer a V8 in the current full size Raptor or Expedition, you're dreaming if you think you'll ever see one in a Ranger.

 

If you're gonna dream, dream big.
On the full size Raptor, a beautiful truck at the $71,500 on the one I looked at. But really, a truck like that and sounds like a ricer? Me thinks the sales won't be what they want due to cost and the toyoduh sound.
I could be wrong, the millenials are taking over, and that group just loves rice.

 

If Ford can get the performance of a larger engine from a small turbocharged one with fewer cylinders, they're gonna do it. Last I looked, Ford is an American company, and they are doing very well getting power out of 4 and 6 cylinder engines with turbos. I think under 25% of F150's sold in 2017 had V8's and that number is decreasing. And Ford is still the sales leader in pickups, right?

I have owned about 20 V8 cars including 2 Chrysler 426 Hemi cars, 2 Corvettes, and a host of other muscle cars, so I know and like the V8 sound. The majority of my lifetime miles driven were in V8 cars and trucks. But the days of V8's are coming to an end. If a V6 makes you insecure in your masculinity, there's always Viagra

As for cost, yeah, the Raptor is a tough pill to swallow in terms of the $$$ involved. And the new Expedition will be also...

 

Yep, had my share of big power muscle cars too, 2-440's, 426 Wedge, Boss 302, a couple 3-340's.
Masculinity? I suspect you're joking, don't need viagra, and I even have a pink shirt that I actually wear.
I guess in all reality, the manufacturers all know what's best and sells, since the choices are being more and more limited.they don't care what us olde car guys think, it's all about their bottom line anyway.
Not saying the V6's can't run with the big dogs, I've driven a few even before Ford came out with the Egoboost.
Never thought I'd say it, but I'm realizing more and more why the guys with the heavily modded olde iron tend to ignore a lot of the newer stuff. Sorta like "Bought, not built". Unfortunately, that does include my Coyote.