2010 Ford Ranger, now with Stability Control

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Why do you say they have to redesign it? I think it looks great! GM could learn a thing or 2 from Ford styling. Except for those stupid clear tail lights. What's next, factory pumpkin shooter faart can mufflers?
 
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Why do you say they have to redesign it? I think it looks great! GM could learn a thing or 2 from Ford styling. Except for those stupid clear tail lights. What's next, factory pumpkin shooter faart can mufflers?


I think he said that because the platform is way old. I like the Ranger. I would buy one if they made a 4-cylinder 4x4. I don't the like the V6's. Too thirsty!
 
No 4-cylinder 4x4 took the Ranger off my list too.
I also wonder why it needs to be redesigned? Not much on "real" pickups has changed in 40 years... If Ford would pass on the savings of not redesigning and re-tooling I think they could sell alot more of them.
Ian
 
Not making a 4x4 four banger killed thousands of sales. If not a million sales. This is speculation on my part. A bit of resentment. The excellent Mazda motor could have done it.

Instead we got vacuum cleaner sounding V6's that drank almost as much fuel as a V8!

I've ranted about this before...I'd better stop.
 
Eventually Ford will redesign the Ranger; you can't expect contractors, government agencies and people that just want the cheapest new truck out there to keep sales alive. Maybe Ford has a more modern design from a vehicle in Europe that could be the mechanical basis for the next Ranger. Ford has a good styling department; it just takes money and someone to give the go ahead.
 
19_6584443_F34.JPG

I'd buy this!
Straight conversion is $20k US, I think there is a substantial market for guys that want a truck that is for work, not show. Right now they buy used trucks but for similar amounts of money they would buy a new, 10-20 year old design turbo diesel truck.
They don't need 8 computers and 7 miles of wiring in a truck. Maybe its a 20,000 unit a year market but if ford doesn't have to "redesign" it all the time and spend millions on ads to convince people that this truck is somehow better than the last, it might be a worthwhile market.
Ian
ps, I have to laugh at the ads for the steps up around the bed for the new F150. Maybe if the sides on the bed weren't 5' high you wouldn't need them...
 
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
Not making a 4x4 four banger killed thousands of sales. If not a million sales. This is speculation on my part. A bit of resentment. The excellent Mazda motor could have done it.

Instead we got vacuum cleaner sounding V6's that drank almost as much fuel as a V8!

I've ranted about this before...I'd better stop.


They made 4x4/I4 models up through the 1996 model year, so if you don't mind buying used you can get one. The old Lima I4 isn't nearly as powerful as the Duratec, but it's about as reliable as it gets.

I hope Ford will redesign the Ranger in the near future, but I think there are some things they should keep from the current platform. They should keep the frame, 2WD coil spring suspension, and rear axles. There is nothing wrong with them. The sheetmetal and interior should be completely updated, a crew cab should be added, 4WDs should get a coil over front suspension, and the Duratec 3.5 needs to be the V6 option. At least that's what I'd do.

Right now though, it looks like Ford wants to do a 100% clean sheet redesign and make a "global" Ranger. I just hope it is not larger and not just another rebadged Mazda BT-50 like the Rangers in Europe and Asia are.

South America has the best Rangers. They are built on the same platform as US Rangers, but they have available 3.0L diesels, an available crew cab, and outboard rear shocks (like the F-150).
 
You have to look at the market segment.

The Ranger meets the needs of people who:

1. Want a 1/2 ton pickup that has space (7' bed - only one)
2. Has fuel efficiency with the manual and 4 cyl
3. Actually handles
4. Reasonably priced

No one else offers that in the US/Canadian market. The only thing it doesn't have is a diesel.

The diesel/manual/longbed combo is what the rest of the world buys in pickups, because they are useful.

Here in the USA, it is all about bloat and flares and "style".

I would like to get a new truck: I don't want 4wd, an automatic, a big engine, or or a larger truck.

All they need to do is refresh the exterior and interior and put carpet inside and they've got a no-brainer.

I also don't think stability control is needed on any vehicle. it is a luxury, not a necessity. If you need to depend on it, you need to take some driving school lessons or pay attention more. Or drive a vehicle that handles better.
 
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
Not making a 4x4 four banger killed thousands of sales. If not a million sales. This is speculation on my part. A bit of resentment. The excellent Mazda motor could have done it.

Instead we got vacuum cleaner sounding V6's that drank almost as much fuel as a V8!

I've ranted about this before...I'd better stop.


They made 4x4/I4 models up through the 1996 model year, so if you don't mind buying used you can get one. The old Lima I4 isn't nearly as powerful as the Duratec, but it's about as reliable as it gets.

I hope Ford will redesign the Ranger in the near future, but I think there are some things they should keep from the current platform. They should keep the frame, 2WD coil spring suspension, and rear axles. There is nothing wrong with them. The sheetmetal and interior should be completely updated, a crew cab should be added, 4WDs should get a coil over front suspension, and the Duratec 3.5 needs to be the V6 option. At least that's what I'd do.

Right now though, it looks like Ford wants to do a 100% clean sheet redesign and make a "global" Ranger. I just hope it is not larger and not just another rebadged Mazda BT-50 like the Rangers in Europe and Asia are.

South America has the best Rangers. They are built on the same platform as US Rangers, but they have available 3.0L diesels, an available crew cab, and outboard rear shocks (like the F-150).


I have never seen a 4-cylinder 4x4 Ranger.

I'd buy this one...

http://www.ford.com.vn/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137383854210&pagename=Page&site=FVNEN&c=DFYPage
 
I drove one new in 1996. It was cheeeeep, too, but I didn't need 4wd. Drove well, but you really need to know how to drive a stick shift well to be in the right rev range and know how to match revs on the downshift. An automatic 4 cyl 4wd would be so underpowered.
 
Hmm. I live just down the road from the Ford plant that makes Rangers here in St. Paul. I just read today that they're keeping the plant closed for awhile longer, even though the workers just had an extended holiday break.

Ranger Plant Article

"Ford sales dropped 39.5 percent in January, with Ranger sales plummeting by 49.3 percent."

Even though the Ranger is (kind of) fuel efficient, the new car market is DEAD right now. Nobody is buying new cars, no matter which make or model.
 
I looked at the Ranger/Mazda, but didn't consider it because it didn't have much room in it. I think the Colorado (for a little more money) is a lot roomier truck, and that's why I chose it. Gas mileage (if you get the 4 cyl 5 speed) is close enough to justify driving around in a larger truck. Even with the extended cab, the Ranger was lacking head room.
 
Originally Posted By: ffracer
I drove one new in 1996. It was cheeeeep, too, but I didn't need 4wd. Drove well, but you really need to know how to drive a stick shift well to be in the right rev range and know how to match revs on the downshift. An automatic 4 cyl 4wd would be so underpowered.


You really drove one? [censored] I ain't trying to be a know-it-all but I just don't think Ford ever made a 4-cylinder 4x4 gasoline model. I have seen one mid eighties diesel 4x4. Actually I cain't remeber if it was 4x4. I just know it had a Mitsu diesel. It was the only diesel Ranger I have ever seen. If you can find a 4-cylinder(gas) 4x4 version that came from the factory that way, let me know. Cause I cannot. A link would be nice.
 
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
Originally Posted By: ffracer
I drove one new in 1996. It was cheeeeep, too, but I didn't need 4wd. Drove well, but you really need to know how to drive a stick shift well to be in the right rev range and know how to match revs on the downshift. An automatic 4 cyl 4wd would be so underpowered.


You really drove one? [censored] I ain't trying to be a know-it-all but I just don't think Ford ever made a 4-cylinder 4x4 gasoline model. I have seen one mid eighties diesel 4x4. Actually I cain't remeber if it was 4x4. I just know it had a Mitsu diesel. It was the only diesel Ranger I have ever seen. If you can find a 4-cylinder(gas) 4x4 version that came from the factory that way, let me know. Cause I cannot. A link would be nice.

They definitely made them. I have seen several of them, they just aren't common.

From the 1996 Ranger brochure...
IMG_0049.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
Originally Posted By: ffracer
I drove one new in 1996. It was cheeeeep, too, but I didn't need 4wd. Drove well, but you really need to know how to drive a stick shift well to be in the right rev range and know how to match revs on the downshift. An automatic 4 cyl 4wd would be so underpowered.


You really drove one? [censored] I ain't trying to be a know-it-all but I just don't think Ford ever made a 4-cylinder 4x4 gasoline model. I have seen one mid eighties diesel 4x4. Actually I cain't remeber if it was 4x4. I just know it had a Mitsu diesel. It was the only diesel Ranger I have ever seen. If you can find a 4-cylinder(gas) 4x4 version that came from the factory that way, let me know. Cause I cannot. A link would be nice.

Ranger pickup for sale. 4x4 4cyl

I've seen them in person before. Nice trucks. Mid 20's for MPG.

The 2010 ranger will be way too much $$$ I'll bet.

Bill
 
The one I drove wasn't just a 4cyl/5-speed manual, but it had manual hubs!! Really rare, even then. they were giving it away since it was at a dealer that had leftovers from two years ago in a town of 1000. Shortbed, though. Needed a longbed.

All the trucks they had were manual transmission and manual hubs - i.e. needed for work on the farm.
 
I wish I had known they existed. I could have been watching ebay and other sites for one to pop up. If I could find one for sale in my neck of the woods I would be on it like a rat on a cheeto! Especially the manual hub set-up!
banana2.gif
 
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