I'm in the process of buying a new Ford truck in the next few months.

Right now, I'm in between a Ranger Sport, an F-150 STX, or an F-250 XL with the new 6.4L PSD.

I'm kinda-sorta leaning towards the Ranger, therefore I'm curious when the 2008 model year will be available to order?

Thanks, ya'll!

Nightrain

 

Is Ford even going to build a 2008 Ranger? The Twin Cities plant is scheduled for clsoing this year, and no other plant is set up for Ranger production, at least at this point in time. I'm thinking the Ranger is history.

 

That's an interesting point, MarkII.

We had a discussion last week about Ford dropping the Ranger. We are retooling in the plant where I work to run the new fuel-fill hoses for next year's Rangers, unless Ford changed something mid-year on the current Ranger and it's configuration...

If a 2008 Ranger is out of the question, what about a 2008 F-150 STX?

Thanks for your insight!

Nightrain

 

Gosh, I think we would know by now if there was going to be no 2008 Ranger. There would have to be like, a press release, or at least something mentioned about it on Ford's website, or this forum -- not just rumors. However, if the only place they are being built in the US is the Twin Cities, which was scheduled to close in 2007 apparently, then I wonder what that means. Someone mentioned somewhere that Ford could import the Rangers it makes in Asia -- there are some pretty cool versions of Rangers made outside the USA, including a crew cab version and diesel powered Rangers. That could be interesting, however not being made in the USA would be a bit of a downer for me.

 

Part of Ford's reorganization plan is to only have two assembly plants left in the US. One is Chicago and I don't remember the other. In a couple of years Honda or Toyota will be building more cars in the US and employing more Americans than Ford. ALL of the car companies are global corporations and sell cars world wide. If you want to 'buy American' a few years from now that may be more accurate for Honda or Toyota etc.

 

Wow, someone is feeding you some REAL bad info.Ford will be closing two more assembly plants by 2012. My guess is one will be St. Thomas in Canada (so long panthers) and the other will be one of three plants. Ohio assembly (E-series), Louisville assembly (explorer) or Michigan truck (expidition).

So that still leaves Dearborn truck, Wayne assemble, Chicago assemble, Auto alliance (Mustang, Mazda), Kentucky truck, Kansas City assembly and two of the three listed above.

Twin cities may run some 08 rangers before closing, but very little will change.
Rumor has it that the Ranger will be back for 09 but will be a little bigger and may have a new name (F-100).

 

Some good info there, Derek.

Guess I'll see what shows up at the dealerships over the next six months or so.

Nightrain

 

For what it's worth, here's an article about the new 2008 Ford Ranger to be produced in Thailand, it says it will not be imported to the US.

Slideshow

(Enlarge photo) Ford's desirable all-new Ranger will be a great product for the automaker — in Asia, that is. The truck isn't coming to North America. First Look: Ford Releases Details on Thai Ford Ranger
Date posted: 03-08-2006

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BANGKOK, Thailand — Ford released photos and details about the all-new Ranger pickup set to go on sale later this year in the ASEAN region. Among other news, it will be outfitted with one of two new Duratorq TDCi engines.

A new 2.5-liter engine provides 141 horsepower at 3,500 rpm and 243 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm. Ford said it delivers 22 percent better fuel economy than the previous Ranger with a 2.5-liter turbo engine. The new 3.0-liter engine delivers 154 hp at 3,200 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque. Ford said this engine delivers 15 percent better fuel economy than the previous Ranger. The turbodiesel powertrain is mated to a new five-speed manual transmission.

The Thai Ranger was redesigned inside and out. The new Ranger has a new ladder-frame chassis and is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tires, along with a three-bar front grille. The interior now comes in either gray or camel and is accented with bright chrome details. The new Ranger has a working tray table that pulls out from the instrument panel, along with five cupholders and two one-liter-bottle holders.

The pickup box has been raised 2.4 inches and has a shelving system for cargo management. It also offers front side airbags, which Ford describes as an industry first.

Ford officials say the Thai Ranger will not be crossing the Pacific to American dealerships as an update to the current Ford Ranger.

What this means to you: Ford is showing off major improvements on its ASEAN pickup, but U.S. customers are still left in the dust with a Ranger that's in dire need of an update.

 

Here's a news release from Ford concerning the shutting down of Ford's Twin Cities Assembly Plant. It says the that "Future product plans surrounding Ford compact pickups will be announced closer to the end of Ford Ranger production in Twin Cities in 2008. Ranger sales in the first quarter totaled 22,378 units, down 15.9 percent."





Ford To Officially Close Twin Cities And Norfolk Assembly Plants
By Staff Report
Published: April 13, 2006


FORD’S TWIN CITIES AND NORFOLK ASSEMBLY PLANTS WILL BE IDLED AS WAY FORWARD PLAN MOVES AHEAD



Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minn., and the Norfolk Assembly Plant in Virginia will be idled in 2008 as part of the company’s Way Forward plan.
Ford will be able to maintain its production capacity and undisputed leadership of the full-size pickup truck market with fewer plants, thanks to flexible manufacturing.
Future product plans surrounding Ford compact pickups will be announced closer to the end of Ford Ranger production in Twin Cities in 2008.
Ford is on track to have 82 percent of its North American assembly facilities flexible by 2008, up from 38 percent in 2004 and ahead of the previously announced target of 75 percent.
Ford reaffirms its commitment to a new low-cost manufacturing site for the future.


Virginia Governor Mark Warner with Bill Ford on the company's Centennial (10 June 2003) celebrating the first 2004 F150 to roll out of Norfolk.

BlueOvalNews.com - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today announced that its Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minn., and the Norfolk Assembly Plant in Virginia will be idled in 2008 as part of the company’s Way Forward plan to restore North American automotive operations to profitability no later than 2008. Going forward, Ford will be able to maintain its production capacity and undisputed leadership of the full-size pickup truck market with fewer plants, thanks to flexible manufacturing.


The Way Forward plan, which was announced on Jan. 23, is a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the company’s Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands through innovative new products, better quality, straightforward pricing, lower costs and more flexible, efficient operations. As part of the plan, Ford said in January that it would idle and cease manufacturing operations at 14 plants, including seven assembly plants.

In addition to Norfolk and Twin Cities, the plants announced to date include Wixom (Mich.) Assembly, St. Louis Assembly, Atlanta Assembly, Windsor (Ontario) Casting and Batavia (Ohio) Transmission.



“A decision to end production at a plant is not an easy one and I’m deeply mindful of the impact this decision has on Ford employees, families and communities,” explains Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company executive vice president and president of The Americas. “Unfortunately, these are necessary steps we must take to move the business forward.


“The Way Forward is a long-term strategy and journey,” Fields continues. “But we are very satisfied with early progress and momentum, and we remain committed to all of the targets established in what remains a long-term strategy and journey.”


Ford's 46th annual shareholder meeting was held in St.Paul, Minnesota - home of the Ford Ranger.



The Norfolk plant, which opened in 1925, currently employs 2,275 hourly and 158 salaried workers. The Twin Cities plant, which also opened in 1925, employs 1,750 hourly and 135 salaried workers. These staff reductions are part of the 25,000 – 30,000 job workforce reduction announced as part of the Way Forward plan.

Even with the idling of Norfolk, Ford will remain the undisputed leader in full-size pickup truck sales, thanks to flexible manufacturing. In the first quarter, Ford sold 199,801 F-Series trucks, up more than 5 percent compared with a year ago, and posted a 2.7 point increase in segment market share, while many domestic and Asian competitors posted share declines. Ford said it is on track to sell more than 900,000 F-Series pickups for an unprecedented third year in a row.


Future product plans surrounding Ford compact pickups will be announced closer to the end of Ford Ranger production in Twin Cities in 2008. Ranger sales in the first quarter totaled 22,378 units, down 15.9 percent.


Ford also remains committed to building a new low-cost manufacturing site for the future, as the company announced in January.

 

Thats old news. Both of those plants will probable close before the end of this year.

 

I know it's old news, but it was something directly from the company instead of "rumors"

 

Is the current ranger history? I hope not...

 

I'm still hoping for a pickup that is lighter and smaller than the current F150, but that you can put a full sheet of plywood in the bed. Some like what the early Dodge Dakota's where. They can call it what every they want. Put the new 3.5 v6 in it.