As mentioned in my last post, I just bought a new/old truck. I didn't want to hijack the thread by going off topic, so I thought I'd do my little rant here

Through the process of buying my little Mazda, I went through all the possibilities. New, old, beater, 4X4, Japanese, Domestic....everything. I finally decided on the Mazda for a couple of reasons. a) it was cheap b) nostalgia - I bought a brand new Mazda B3000 almost ten years ago to the day - even the same colour. c) it was compact - which brings me to my rant.

With the exception of the Ranger/B-series - there are no more compact trucks available today! Everything is huge! Traditionally, I've been a Toyota guy. Had a Tacoma a few years ago and really liked it. Look at what the manufacturers are building today and see if I'm wrong. The Frontier is huge, the Tacoma is huge, Dodge hasn't made compacts for years, but the Dakota is bigger than some of the full size trucks from a few years ago. GM compacts are reasonable but still quite a bit bigger than the Ranger/B-series.

When I go to trade the Mazda in (it's a stop-gap measure, rght now), all I really want is a small truck with a big motor. Ranger is the only way to get what I want.

[/RANT]

Thanks
Alan

 

I've noticed the same thing, all the "compact" trucks these days are really big, except the ranger/b-series. And you wonder why they can tow more and have more hp, its because theyre all around bigger.

 

People need to voice this opinion to Ford. I already have and received a response that they need thease thoughts for the decision making process of new products.
Go to ford website and to contact us tab and send your thoughts and ideas.

I am on my 3rd Ranger and I like the size, capability and MPG. I would like to see it restyled though.

Dan

 

Well if the only way you can go is Ford I don't see what you are complaining about! I do agree that the Ranger with the exception of the slightly larger chevy/gmc coloradao/canyon is the last of the small trucks.(chevy should have kept the s-10, it is a good truck with the 4.3L 6 cyl., i'll even give it credit and I'm about as die hard Ford as you can get, but my brother has an s-10 and it has proven to be a very reliable truck). I love my '05 Ranger, it small, got good power (even for the 4 cyl.), and gets great gas milage for a truck. You've got nothing to worry about if you buy a Ranger.

 

Not only is the Ranger/B Series the last of the true compact trucks, IMO, they're also the last of the decent looking trucks. I've looked at the GM, Dodge and Import small trucks and the new styling doesn't look good to me. Even though the Ranger is probably overdue for a new look, I'm afraid of what the designers would do to it. Maybe if they just leave the Ranger alone, it will gain a cult following like the Jeep CJ's.

 

I'm not all that impressed with the ranger's look. It looked better in 98/99 in my opinion. of course the others all look bad too, the tacoma has had a disappointing look since what 96 or 97? and the frontier, dakota, colorado, canyon, are all ugly as anything. As far as styling today, I'd say the Mazdas look best, the isuzu looks better than the canyon/colorado, so it takes second by default. nothing else is worth looking at.

 

Even the newer Rangers are bigger than my old '86. I've noticed it lately since I'm shopping for a new(er) one. The older Toyotas and Datsuns were even smalller. 'Course, us Americans have been getting bigger, too, if you hadn't noticed!

 

I couldn't have said it better. I am a die hard ford fan because of the ranger and the powerstroke diesels... the chevy s-10 was pretty good too, but I guess everyone wants power (even though half of the people with trucks never pull, tow, or haul anything) so the manufacturers mae bigger trucks... If Ford stops making rangers, I will be pretty ticked to say the least...

 

The ranger isnt too bad.. I like my 1994 standard cab and my old 1986 super cab a lot better but, the new f150, IMO, is hideous.. makes me want to buy a silverado if I was in the market for a fullsize...

 

i think we already have a cult following here. i love rangers, all years and i really think the new style is cool. i'm with the other guy in pretty much leaving it alone. why go bigger, you know how hard it is to park an excursion or a dually? the dakota btw is hydious, awful, just plain uuugly! if ford doesn't keep making the ranger for god knows what reason other than sabatoge, i say we all put a mark on bill.

 

I love the Rangers, so much as to say I'm NEVER buying another brand truck as long as I can get the 2.3L motor in the ranger with a 5spd. the looks of all rangers is pretty decent to me. the GM canyon/colorado is UGLY. the Izuzu is the same truck as the GM colorado. Dodge is not making a truck I like much either, the rams are ok, but the dakota is unholy looking.

Besides, I like not having carpet in my cab, vinyl flooring is so much easier to clean and maintain. that, and I dont feel like a yuppie with vinyl flooring either.

 

hey hey. watch the yuppie thing. lol. i don't know what dodge was thinking with the dakota. must be those germans. lol. jk.

 

[QUOTE=JD717]I love the Rangers, so much as to say I'm NEVER buying another brand truck[QUOTE]

Amen to that. They've managed to make a believer out of me. I've done so many things beyond the "limits" of my truck. Like catching air, lol, that's another story. This truck is me. I can't see myself driving anything else.

 

..the new f150, IMO, is hideous.

I'm with you on that. A guy I work with just bought one and not only does it not look very good, it's just bigger for the sake of being bigger. I've driven the older F-150's and they drove great, handled well, and they were also easy to park in a tight parking space. I took one ride in his new F-150 and that did it for me. I'd take an older F-150 anytime.

 

I remember the old 1987 F150 My grandpa had.. First truck I drove in the fields and on the road (I was 7 or 8).. It was nice, tough and good looking.. Until one day when it was close to 90 degrees and really humid we had been running it all morning with picking up hay i overheated, and rolled down the hill... IT ended up under a big tree... needless to say, it was totaled...
then there was the 86 ranger.. ahh what a beauty...