I talked to the owner of my ford dealership, Rodney Harrison. He has just gotten back from Detroit from a ford product reveiw. He says 08 will indeed be the end of the current ranger. However, he said there will be a new replacement by 2010. Not sure if the name will change, but says the replacement will be awesome, he didn't want to release a lot of details, but says it will have a V-8 option and crewcab. Ford is still leaning toward the
F-100 name change, but not sure yet. Like the taurus, there's alot to be said for name reconition. So all is not lost, hang in there fellows.

 

If such a truck is ever to be built, it should be called the "F-100 Ranger", which is the best of both worlds.

 

wasnt that was the first f150s were called?

Matt

 

Yeah, ford had a full size p/u that was the f-100 for years, it was a little lighter duty than the 150. Because the F series p/u's are well known from ford, even if the ranger becomes the F-100, it shouldn't hurt sales any. I guess mostly, we would just miss the ranger name. The ranger F-100 would be an awesome idea, wonder if ford has thought of that.

 

You are sort of correct Matt. I believe at some in the past the F-Series across the board (including the F-100, F-150, F-250 etc.) had a Ranger trim line available. But I'm pretty sure that the "F-100 Ranger" name-plate was never a model desigation before, instead it was just an indication of an F-100 pickup truck with a Ranger trim package.

 

I saw an F150 the other day (late 70's model) that had Ranger Explorer writen on the bottom of the doors. I guess they were just experimenting with all the different names back in the day.

 

I prefer the Ranger name.

The new guy Bill Ford brought in from Boeing, has some common sense, when he brought the Taurus & Sable names back.

Why spend tens of millions more dollars & years you don't have, to try & build new product name reconigition, unless your trying to win the world wide marketing stupidity contest!!!!! lol

I mean Ford brought out all these new vehicles, with new names, that their customers couldn't identify with, so they just sat on the Dealers lots.

Not very wise imo, why not continue to use & capitalize on a the name reconigition, built up over many years at a cost of millions in ad dollars.

With all the market competition, Ford doesn't have the time or money to waste, trying to build new name reconigition.

Imo that time & money could be beter used & I believe the new guy from Boeing thinks so too, in bringing back the Taurus & Sable names for the new vehicles.

I'd sure like to see the Ranger offered with a viabe diesel option, that would improved town, hwy, hauling & towing mpg.

At todays & tomorrows gas prices, I don't want a fuel thirsty V8, when I could have the GRUNT from a smaller, more fuel efficient, clean burning diesel.

I sure hope Ford doesn't go off the deep end & up size the Ranger too much.

 

Ford is competing against the dak, colorodo and taco, so I would say it would be no bigger than these. The 4.0 will be gone. Ford has the 3.5 and is also developing a 3.7 V-6. Ford will have a V-8 option as the dakota does and the colorodo is going to have. I believe a diesel is comming as trends are moving that way. The biggest drawback is the added cost of a diesel to the sticker price and are people willing to pay it on a mid sized p/u. Ranger is a hard nameplate to beat as it has been around for 25 years and was the top selling compact for years.

 

Hopefully Henry will come to his senses and move on this like your dealer guy says Wendell. In my view it would be wise to just stick with the Ranger name, a combo name would just be too long and confusing. Also it would be the same deal they just went through with bringing back the Taurus nameplate so quickly, why repeat that error? They can just hype the Ranger is coming back when the time is right and watch the interest build. If they are innovative enough with it, it will be a real seller.

 

Just glad to here it sounds like they are not deep sixing the Ranger and brining us a much deserved crew cab -

 

Maybe we can get this Barzilian Trollers diesel engine, for the Ranger. don't know for sure, but I hear Ford has some interest in this company, it's engine specs aren't bad. http://www.windingroad.com/trends/fo...ller-pantanal/

 

Dang what a time i've had trying to correct that url. The danged edit page kept lockig up my computer. Apparently the FTE cooie was corrupt, because when I dumped it & down loaded a new one, things straightened out, then I'd rn out of edit time!!!!! lol

Any way, the Brazilian Diesel Troller link.
http://news.windingroad.com/trends/forbidden-fruit-brazils-troller-pantanal/

 

Nice I will push my 01' until I can either get a super crew full bed ranger or I am done with the ranger.....am crossing my fingers that ford does it right!

 

id just be happy with a four door LONG BED so tell your dealer buddy to make some noise to the factory id even try to hold off that long to buying a new one if i knew Ford was gonna come out with that

 

As we know it, we will all miss the Ranger.