Ford Ranger to end production in 2009

I agree!

There are very few pickup trucks in England, probably due to high gas prices, but the few that I see are all Ford Rangers and other trucks its size. With rising gas prices, I think anyone needing some hauling and towing capacity but not massive amounts would be far more willing to look at a small truck. Without small truck production, what will gardeners, repairmen, etc use?

Here is the last compact truck in the market! Nobody makes a compact truck anymore. Maybe theay are thinking in importing them.

BT-50 is one of the best compact trucks available. Ford would be wise to make necessary changes for it to be sold in US and Canada or build it in the US at one of the truck or SUV plants that are under-utilized.
The rapidly increasing sales of Ranger in Canada are a bellwether of the future of the US truck market IMHO. Increasing fuel cost and legislation requiring lower emissions and higher mpg will require smaller, lighter trucks. Compact trucks will never eliminate the need for full size trucks, however, skyrocketing energy costs WILL greatly decrease the number of sales of large trucks and SUVS to people who don't need them, they just want them.
Ford can replace the Ranger with already engineered compact truck and be a part of current and future sales, or they can simply continue their spiral downward in the toilet bowl.
Ford has a tool chest of excellent products they can sell in North Americal if they choose to survive from the subcompact Verve, the compact Focus sold in Europe. Kuga small SUV sold in Europe, BT-50 from Mazda, full size RWD cars from Australia, Mondeo from Europe which could be sold at Mercury, the already competitive Fusion and F150/250, Edge and Explorer and excellent Mustang from North America, the S-Max and C-Max smaller vans/crossovers from Europe and the new FLEX crossover.

Small domestic trucks don't sell well in the U.S. market not because the market isn't there, but the recent domestic small truck offerings have been so poor. America is a nation of trucks, and that won't change. It is just in our culture. With rising fuel prices, they need to make really good small trucks, not kill them off.

Part of the problem with the Ranger is that Ford starved it for development. It's on the same chassis (with a few changes) since 1983! The interior hasn't changed since Bill Clinton was elected the second time (1996). The F150 has gone through 3 generations in the same time (blocky, to melted, to butch). It's no wonder they look at weak sales and say adios. Typical domestic cut-off-the-nose-to-spite-the-face thinking. If they actually put some money and thought they could make a product that puts everyone away. I'm in the market for a small truck, but no one makes all the features I want, at the right price, without going full size. And I thought trucks were the USA's strength.

After a 30 model year run with very few updates....LOL.

Im suprised it lasted as long as it did. The current body debuted in.....1993?

"Typical domestic cut-off-the-nose-to-spite-the-face thinking."
 
I think you mean, throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater thinking.

You have to understand that Ford doesn't do anything innovative as far as segments go. They'll only do what everyone else is doing except they'll build it like a Ford. If it sells well, they'll market it as a Mercury and a Lincoln as well.
 
The only innovations I've seen from Ford have been the Microsoft software and the various truck innovations, mostly available on commercial vehicles.

How about this crazy idea. Ford should build an F-75 with a 3.5L or 3.7L V6 GAS built in the US and a 2.5 Duratorq Ford builds in Europe. The engineers that built the F-150 should be presented with the challenge to build a mini version of the F-150 as the F-75. The truck should defiantly be class leading in hp, torque, towing capability and fuel efficiency. If thy build is with f-150 Quality they can blow Toyota Tacoma out of the water.

I've long thought Ford should offer an R-50 or R-100 ("R" for Ranger). I doubt they would do it as an "F" truck, as they have image for being big and brawny.

crashtestdingo - Nov 20, 2007 5:29 pm (#10 Total: 13)

Astoria (New York City) NY United States of America
"Typical domestic cut-off-the-nose-to-spite-the-face thinking."
  
I think you mean, throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater thinking.
 
You're right, that's what I meant. LOL