Ranger discontinued?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Montana
I don't like the newest Rangers. If they wanted to redesign or start a new midsize truck model, that would be okay by me.
Or they could always start making Couriers again. They didn't have 4-wheel but the prices were right!
Or they could always start making Couriers again. They didn't have 4-wheel but the prices were right!
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,908
Likes: 2
From: West Mansfield, Ohio
God I hope not. That'll be a sad sad day. I think the early 90's Rangers were the toughest built, period. Hopefully if they do discontinue it, it is just to redesign it and bring it back a few years later like they did with the T bird.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 983
Likes: 3
From: Detroit 'burbs
Yeah, but the new T-birds were a dog. When they re-released them, they were too small and too pricey.
The reason they stopped the T-bird in the first place was because of years of declining sales. Ive typed this probley 10x this week but isn't the Ranger "The best selling compact pickup 17 years running"? Why pull it if your on a roll?
I saw a few people on here commenting on how they havent seen the 2006's out there on the road, but how can Ford decide to end the line or reconstruct the Ranger after, what, 7-8 months of sales???
Another thing Ive posted efore (and Ill do again
) is if Ford wants to get in the mid-size pickup game, why dont they keep the Ranger as-is(with updates and tweakes) and rename and slightly re-design that stupid Explorer Sport Trac into a Ranger Crew Cab. After all, thats all it is now, but with way too short a bed(4ft.? C'mon!) That way people like me who want a good pickup can opt for the current Ranger (with or without any updates or changes in it's future) or a Ranger mid size.
The reason they stopped the T-bird in the first place was because of years of declining sales. Ive typed this probley 10x this week but isn't the Ranger "The best selling compact pickup 17 years running"? Why pull it if your on a roll?
I saw a few people on here commenting on how they havent seen the 2006's out there on the road, but how can Ford decide to end the line or reconstruct the Ranger after, what, 7-8 months of sales???
Another thing Ive posted efore (and Ill do again
) is if Ford wants to get in the mid-size pickup game, why dont they keep the Ranger as-is(with updates and tweakes) and rename and slightly re-design that stupid Explorer Sport Trac into a Ranger Crew Cab. After all, thats all it is now, but with way too short a bed(4ft.? C'mon!) That way people like me who want a good pickup can opt for the current Ranger (with or without any updates or changes in it's future) or a Ranger mid size.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
All that I hear, there will be a new small truck in 09, not called a ranger, but ford has not offically in public, said this. They say the future of the ranger is undicided. So untill they say it, we won't know, but the last ranger plant is to close in 08. I think the newer rangers are tougher than the old ones, I've had both. I will addmit, the front torsion bar suspension, is harder, and more expensive to lift. I haven't had any problem with it offroad, I don't rock crawl either. Of course you can get an inch, or two of lift by cranking the t-bars, and that's free. Actually, I like all years of ranger, I will miss them when there gone. I plan to keep my 04 for a long time.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
i plan to keep my '93 on the road as long as possible, only got 94,000 miles on it. my problem child of late is the trans. got the 5 speed stick and it doesnt want to downshift into 4rth or 3rd, goes up through the gears fine though, not noisy and heres the real kicker, it was just put in 14 moths ago- feb '05 $1,100 rebuilt unit. my original lost 2nd altoghter. fluild is up to level and fresh, in fact ive changed it 4 times since i put the trans in there. my 1st ranger ( a'88 2wd s/c) went over 200,000 on the original trans, same one- M5OD stick. ive treated this one right, ran the tar out of my '88 go figure.
Trending Topics
Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,988
Likes: 55
From: north west new jersey
offical word is the plant is closeing in 08 with no other words about the ranger. there is a thread in auto general with the news paper link and offical release from ford about the closeing
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: North Of Pittsburgh
91' Ranger 2.9 263,000 miles all stock except tranny and clutch she was put up for sale in 2003. I got 1,000 for her and the doors were all but gone. I agree the toughest ever built. I would own another any day.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern Indiana
You'd think that the way gas prices continue to go up (God only knows what the prices are going to be in 08 and 09) that they'd be freaky crazy to get rid or the Ranger. I would be happy to see a I4 4X4. A friend of mine just bought a I4 4X4 Toyota and it's pretty nice. I know you can't go mudding in a 4 cylinder but it would be nice to have for winter driving.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: Alvin, Texas.
I think the Ranger becomes an Exploder derivative.
The Ranger will move on in name, but the concept will come from an Exploder assembly line. Somewhere.
Probably the same v6 and v8 gasser option, but hopefully a diesel as well. That would negate the MPG drop from a bigger vehicle.
I bet it costs Ford more than enough to make another platform vehicle when the Ranger and Exploder shared platforms in the first place. Ford probably needs to return to square one in that regard and cut some costs there.
Maybe we see a Super Cab long(er) bed and a Crew Cab with a shorter (in coparison) bed, like Nissan does with the Titan. One frame for both configurations and maybe a reg cab/long bed occasionally coming off the assembly line.
I could do with an I4 diesel 4x4 Crew Cab with a bed extender. Whether it is some derivative of the diesel Mazda that is rebadged into a Ranger that we coo over or flat our an Exploder spin off.
Time will tell.
The Ranger will move on in name, but the concept will come from an Exploder assembly line. Somewhere.
Probably the same v6 and v8 gasser option, but hopefully a diesel as well. That would negate the MPG drop from a bigger vehicle.
I bet it costs Ford more than enough to make another platform vehicle when the Ranger and Exploder shared platforms in the first place. Ford probably needs to return to square one in that regard and cut some costs there.
Maybe we see a Super Cab long(er) bed and a Crew Cab with a shorter (in coparison) bed, like Nissan does with the Titan. One frame for both configurations and maybe a reg cab/long bed occasionally coming off the assembly line.
I could do with an I4 diesel 4x4 Crew Cab with a bed extender. Whether it is some derivative of the diesel Mazda that is rebadged into a Ranger that we coo over or flat our an Exploder spin off.
Time will tell.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
2006 Ranger
Ive had my 2006 Ranger three weeks now and love it and now I hear its on the way out?? I downgraded from my 03 F350 to this truck mostly because of the gas. I cant think ford would cut this one and come out with a bigger model and would use more gas unless it was a hybrid. A V-8 is nice but at $3.00 a gallon and if its only getting 16mpg in a mid size truck what good is it. I know chevy just came out with one and dodge has had thiers but I think they would be better and far adhead to keep it small like a toyota. I had two dakota's, the 91 was a dog and the mpg sucked. I think in the coming months a lot of people will be doing what I did and dump thier big trucks in favor of something smaller and they should be ready with models that people want that are good on gas and that have neat features.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: North Beach United States
The 80's and 90's up to 94' were built ford tough. Anything after that is junk.
I Have a 99' 4x4 3.0l with 173,000 +- a few 100 miles and since the day I bought I have had nothing but problems in fact 20 or more pages of service history. When I take it to the dealership ( to have them perform some type of work that is to diificult for me to perform) They always say "you seem to have all of the typical Ranger problems that rangers have, They have even told me (because I am in there so much and have struck up a friendship with the service manager) they hate to see a ranger pull into the lot for service because they know the owner is going to complain about how big a hunk of junk their ranger is. All I have ever driven is ford vehicles and have never ever had this much problem or service on any other ford vehicle I have owned. My opinion, fix the problems or build a new truck and fix the problems.
or stop building small trucks if you don't know what you are doing
I Have a 99' 4x4 3.0l with 173,000 +- a few 100 miles and since the day I bought I have had nothing but problems in fact 20 or more pages of service history. When I take it to the dealership ( to have them perform some type of work that is to diificult for me to perform) They always say "you seem to have all of the typical Ranger problems that rangers have, They have even told me (because I am in there so much and have struck up a friendship with the service manager) they hate to see a ranger pull into the lot for service because they know the owner is going to complain about how big a hunk of junk their ranger is. All I have ever driven is ford vehicles and have never ever had this much problem or service on any other ford vehicle I have owned. My opinion, fix the problems or build a new truck and fix the problems.
or stop building small trucks if you don't know what you are doing
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Washougal, Washington
Uh... does anyone have any hard and fast information one way or the other regarding the future of the Ranger? Articles? Anyone work for Ford here that can divulge? Or is it just rumor at this point?
As far as the quality of the Ranger, the sales popularity and repeat customers speaks for itself. Coming to a Ranger list and bad mouthing the Ranger takes a lot of... guts. If Ford is that bad, why don't you ever buy some other brand?
As far as the quality of the Ranger, the sales popularity and repeat customers speaks for itself. Coming to a Ranger list and bad mouthing the Ranger takes a lot of... guts. If Ford is that bad, why don't you ever buy some other brand?
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
I for one will miss the Ranger I've owned two of them both great trucks my 2002 ranger w/3.0 was better the my 97 4.0 off-roading but I think that's was due to the 2002 had 4:10 gears in it. The 97 ranger was awesome I went most places in 2 wheel drive my buddies and to use 4 wheel in. If it wasn't for the stupid emissions and gas prices(at the time)pushing me into a diesel I would've kept my ranger instead of giving it to my dad and my the diesel. I wish ford would keep the ranger and put the I believe it's volvo that has the I4 diesel engine in it. I would go buy another ranger in a heart beat. Best compact trucks ever.