I originally posted this in another forum, I just thought I'd share my thoughts. If I'm lucky, someone from FoMoCo will be stumble upon this:

"I pull into the driveway, it's dark and windy. I'm tired and it's late and I'm just ready to get inside the house. I'm about to put the keys in my pocket and open the door to get out when I notice that I forgot to put the windows up all the way. So before I open the door, I hit the power window controls to roll the windows up. NOTHING.

Oops, I forgot. "Power Retention" is yet ANOTHER very nice feature that Ford deleted somewhere between 1999 and 2003 (My '99 had this feature). So now on this new Ranger, I MUST have the key in the ignition and the ignition turned to the accessory position in order to control the windows. What a bunch of crap.

The cargo light that illuminates the bed when you need to work in the dark...where did that go Ford? The amber-colored turn signals that are safer (and required in most places outside the U.S.)...where did those go? The inner fender-well mud guard on the driver's side that keeps mud and water from being thrown all over the engine...what about it? The front mud flaps that used to be standard along with the rear ones, why did you delete those? Would a full-size spare so that I don't tear up my differential be too much to ask?

I could go on and on...but I guess what I'm saying, Ford, is this: I paid MORE money for this Ranger than any Ranger in previous years has cost, yet I got LESS. What's up with that??"

I guess I'm just tired of all these companies and their plans to "decontent" their vehicles to save cash, all the while they charge US more and more. Who knows what else Ford has deleted that I just haven't discovered yet. The old saying, "You get what you pay for" doesn't apply to the Ford Ranger anymore.

 

Some XLNT questions and more good reasons why I think that I will keep my 87 for another 220K. Just curious, but why would you trade your 99 in so soon??

 

Here's another one- Why does Ford put a cigarette lighter in Rangers, but no ashtray? Oh, I forgot, they offer that ash cup that sits on the floor so you have to take your eyes off the road to find the thing.

Hey WXboy- I've got a 2002 and it has the cargo light and mud flaps. So those changes must have been made for 2003. As for the cargo light, they probably figured since they never printed instructions on how to turn it on in the owners manual, if they just deleted it, no one would ever know.

 

I agree the cargo light deletion is pathetic, how much can they really be saving? It owuld have been much smarter to simply raise the MSRP by what $5, $10? and keep the light. Its just like food manufactrers raising prices by decreasing the amount in a package, or my golf course switching from 10 min tee times to 8 minute tee times instead of just raising the price. Thansk Wx for binging this up, now Im going to be in a foul mood the rest of the day..

 

Awwww, it's not only Ford. My 95 Honda Civic didn't have a trunk light - I guess to save money. Annoying.

Tires also went bald after 30,000km (18,600 miles). More annoying.

Digger

 

Yea, Digger is right.

But Shawn nailed it:
"I could go on and on...but I guess what I'm saying, Ford, is this: I paid MORE money for this Ranger than any Ranger in previous years has cost, yet I got LESS. What's up with that??" "

It is called "profiteering". Remember the Firestone tire debacle? That cost Ford a TON of money (yea, Firestone too). You really don't think the money to replace that lost will come out of the BOD's salaries and the shareholders pockets do you ?!?!?!

YOU and ME is where the money is coming from.

 

I traded my '99 because I was tired of the stepside bed having no space and the PVH hubs in the 4x4 system were problematic, among other things. But it was still a good truck, and now I wish I had kept it sometimes. OH well, live and learn I guess.

 

Yeah, plastic door handles, plastic dash *****, plastic this and that. Trucks have sure changed from the 50's, 60's, 70's. At least they have a plastic cup holder.

 

Yeah those beds are kinda narrow. The reason i'm hanging onto my 87 is that it just wont quit running very strong, even at 219K. It looks like i'm going to get at least another 80K out of the 2.9/V6 & the 5 speed manual tranny. And theres nothing that a new Ranger can do that mine cant.

 

Yes there is.... 0-60 is faster, load carrying is higher, safety is better. Don't get me wrong, I like my older truck, but the new one in the driveway has and does a lot the older ones don't.

 

Hey! Crew
Everyone is trying to save the almighty dollar but the bottom line is safety and even that is being compromised!
______________________________________________
‘90 Ranger: 2.3L, EEC-IV, EFI, DIS, 2wd, Mazda 5sp

 

Yeah - and Ford needs to stiffen the frame on the extended cabs. My '03 supercab has a frame vibration/shudder when I hit a bump. My '95 short wb regular cab does not. On the brighter side, my '95 GMC Jimmy requires that the ignit. key be in the ON position to operate the windows - my '95 Ranger operates them in ACC or ON. My '95 2.3L has 178k miles and runs great. I'm just now replacing the original timing belt. All in all, I wouldn't trade either of my rangers for any other small pickup even though neither is perfect - just better than the competition.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WXboy
[B]:Would a full-size spare so that I don't tear up my differential be too much to ask?
QUOTE] Hey WXboy, I just looked at the spare tire on my 2003 FX4 Off Road and you're right!! Ford gave me a Micky Mouse spare tire! This is crap! How much did Ford save by doing this, $10.00 bucks a vehical? What about the potential damage they may have to pay for by having you run an undersize tire on a Limited Slip rear end? Or lawsuits because of vehical loss of controll? Now, what I'd like to know is, will a full size tire i.e. P245/75 R16 fit in the spare tire space under the bed? The tire Ford gave me is a P235/70 R16 and it looks like it justs fits in there! If it will, I'll buy the Wrangler tire and have it mounted on that rim. Appreciate any input you may have on this.

 

I would hope its just because the 245 wont fit but Im not sure. My 98 came with 235/70/16s and the spare is a 235/75/15 (same diameter essentially).

 

With some modification, I've been told a full size spare will fit under the Ranger.

I guess a spare tire was an afterthought. Sort of like back in 1997 when the new F-150 made it's debut and it wasn't available with the 4.9 I-6. Ford's reason: "The engine compartment on the new truck wasn't large enough to drop the I-6 into." So the consequence was Ford dropped the most dependable, fuel efficient, and longest lasting truck engine in the history of the company. STUPID. People are still mad about that today.

Anyway, if I'm not mistaken Ken, the towing capacity on my new truck is lower than my old one. And with 4-doors, it's not as safe either (hence the higher insurance rates). So I still don't see where I'm getting my money's worth yet. I think Ford dropped too many little things from the Ranger recently and the price hasn't dropped to match.

It's still a good truck though and I thoroughly enjoy mine every day.