Originally Posted By: Silverado12
I've owned small and large pickup trucks, and at this time I won't go back to a small truck. My previous Colorado actually got pretty decent mileage, but it was a 4 cylinder. The Silverado has more capability and gets similar gas mileage as a Ranger with the V-6. I got 19-22 mpg on a trip I just came back from. There's just not enough difference in gas mileage to justify a small truck. Another reason I like the fullsize is that I couldn't see around the sides of my boat with the Colorado. With the fullsize I can and it tows better (has bigger brakes, engine, is longer, wider, etc.)
This always comes up in every small truck thread. Not everyone needs or wants the additional size and capacity of a full size (and depending on configuration, weight capacity can be pretty close). A 1983-2011 US Ranger isn't a Smart Car. Super Cabs have as much room/seat travel up front as Explorers did for 10 years, and they can carry plenty for their size. 6' bumper cover boxes for work fit perfectly in the back of my Rangers, and my 2WD has towed plenty despite its 3.0L. They aren't for everyone and will not suit everyone's needs, but for some people a small truck works great and is an enjoyable vehicle to own. Nobody held a gun to my head and told me to buy two of them.
I think it's great to have as many sizes and configurations of trucks available as possible, and I think it would be cool to see the Ranger come back, even if it's not quite what it used to be. I like '83-'11 US Rangers because they are like small F-150s. My 1994 Ranger especially is built just like a scaled down full size Ford truck of the era. If I ever get tired of the old ones, I might consider an Americanized global Ranger in the future, if Ford actually follows through with it, but I won't be an early adopter. Ford doesn't need people like me who are more than happy to drive 15-20 year old trucks anyway. Small trucks seem to be having a slight rebound in the US, maybe sparked by their growing global popularity, so if Ford does it right a US version of the global Ranger may do well and be a worthwhile venture. I hope it comes back and does well.