What happened to the Ford Ranger

[Hank Kingsley]

Because your family survived wrecks in them?

No, because the auto gods have decreed I shall not get one to last.

And I sort of dislike trucks anyway, especially those of the urban assault vehicle genre. Can't imagine driving one of those beasts on a daily basis.

 

[SDGuy73]

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WTF. Don't put any weight in that POS.

 

[outofyourmind]

WTF. Don't put any weight in that POS.

Actually, something like that would work for me perfectly.
Something a little smaller like a ranger would do even better.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Actually, something like that would work for me perfectly.
Something a little smaller like a ranger would do even better.

Lots of those around...but they're a bit customized:

 

[Taz]

I had a 1995 Ranger, bought it for $9700 new, 5 spd with Ac and a upgraded stereo, long bed. Dark Blue, great truck. Probably would have still had it today as a 3rd except for the fact that some kid pulled out in front of me on city line avenue in 1998 and wrecked it. It was fixed but never was the same after, sadly I had to trade it in on another vehicle. Wish they made them today because that would be my vehicle.

 

[outofyourmind]

Had a 1992 Ranger bought off a friend with 30K miles on it. 5spd 2.0ltr no power engine A/C, that's it.
Drove it everyday for years.
Daughter turns 16 I put her in it with a 100K miles to start off with.
2 years later my oldest son turns 16, put him in it with 130,000 miles on it.
1 year later my youngest son turns 16, put him it it with 145,000 miles on it.
A year later, I start driving it again off and on with 160,000.
Few years later, sold it with 200,000 miles on it.

Nothing ever broke.
Nothing ever failed.
Started and drove every time you turned the key.

Terribly under powered.
With the A/C on, you would have to keep it in 4th gear to stay at 60mph maybe 65mph.
Had to turn the A/C off if you needed to accelerate or go over 65mph.

In the end, was a great truck. put 170,000 miles on it while I owned it. Made it thru three 16 year olds and their bullshit. Never missed a beat.

Maybe that's the problem Ford had with them. Lasted too long.

 

[outofyourmind]

Remember these???

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Had a 1992 Ranger bought off a friend with 30K miles on it. 5spd 2.0ltr no power engine A/C, that's it.
Drove it everyday for years.
Daughter turns 16 I put her in it with a 100K miles to start off with.
2 years later my oldest son turns 16, put him in it with 130,000 miles on it.
1 year later my youngest son turns 16, put him it it with 145,000 miles on it.
A year later, I start driving it again off and on with 160,000.
Few years later, sold it with 200,000 miles on it.

Nothing ever broke.
Nothing ever failed.
Started and drove every time you turned the key.

Terribly under powered.
With the A/C on, you would have to keep it in 4th gear to stay at 60mph maybe 65mph.
Had to turn the A/C off if you needed to accelerate or go over 65mph.

In the end, was a great truck. put 170,000 miles on it while I owned it. Made it thru three 16 year olds and their bullshit. Never missed a beat.

Maybe that's the problem Ford had with them. Lasted too long.

I have a 2001 Explorer with 177k on the clock. Wife drove it for the first 6 years until we got a Lincoln LS, then she drove it off and on. I had a company truck the whole time so I drove it as needed. I got a promotion and lost my truck so the Ex became my primary.
1 exhaust stud broke and became a leak, which I used as an excuse to put headers on the ole 302 is all I've done besides fluids brakes and tires.
Same chassis as the Ranger and just as rock solid dependable.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

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Remember these???

Wasn't there a Little Red Wagon wheel stander dragster based on that style?

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Wasn't there a Little Red Wagon wheel stander dragster based on that style?

Sounds right, was that a Dodge though?

 

[outofyourmind]

 

[MISKO]

 

[MISKO]

 

[Hank Kingsley]

You got it Pontiac....

I was the right era though....

 

[bamabear82]

When I bought my truck a couple of years ago I had every intention on getting a new full size 4 door and ended up coming home with a used/like new Canyon. It does everything I personally need in a truck and gets purdy good mpg too. I still like some of the bigger trucks but it just didn't really make sense for me to go big. I have been eyeballing the new Canyons though, may end up trading up before it's all said and done.

 

[GeekSportsFan]

To me, the mid size trucks don't make much sense anymore. Technology has increased fuel mileage to the point that my full size Ford, with the 5.0 V8, has far superior mileage and performance than my old Dakota V6. I'll never go back to a mid size PU.

 

[outofyourmind]

Bought new a 2003 Ford Ranger Edge.
Great Truck. 3.0 liter w/5spd automatic and 4.11 rear.
The thing would get up and move. Fun to drive.
Never gave me a problem. Then my son rolled it off roading being an idiot.

Looked about like this.

 

[outofyourmind]

For any brand, there needs to be a small CRD diesel truck. Something the size of a Tacoma with a torque laden 35 mph engine would be great.

I like this idea.
A superior fuel economy small truck would sell great.

I'd still buy something like this.

I think they could do better with it though. Lower bed height for a start. Make the front less like the 500 would help.






.

 

[Bullitt08]

I always thought it was a mistake for Ford to discontinue Ranger sales in the United States in 2012.
They sell very well worldwide.
Ford said that due to slow sales and slim profit margins they stopped selling them here. I find that hard to believe because they literally put nothing into that truck for a lot of years.

Now it looks like they are probably bringing it back due to the good demand for the Chevy Colorado and Toyota's Tacoma dominating the market.

I had 2 Rangers over the years and thought they were fantastic vehicles. Nothing but good things to say.

Why give up the market, then try to enter it again.
Or do I have this all backwards.

Idea of building Ford Ranger in Michigan raises question | Reading Eagle - DRIVETIME

Yep I like my little 4x4 Ranger. Can slide right into the seat without having to climb in the cab.

Usual Ford marketing decisions. They stopped building the Taurus which was one of the most successful sedans only to bring it back and it tanked.

If people are buying something why run them off?

 

[AlaskaGuy]

Ford says a compact pickup truck is coming, smaller than Ranger