Posted on 12/12/2011 8:29:34 AM PST by MulberryDraw
Here’s the first known victim of the latest CAFE (government fuel efficiency) increase to 35.5 MPG: The compact pick-up truck. And the American truck buyer.
Ok, that’s two victims.
I’ve just discovered that Ford has dropped the Ranger – America’s last compact-sized truck - for 2012. But not from its lineup. Just from its U.S. model lineup. Not only will the Ranger continue to be sold in export markets, the 2012 model will be a heavily updated model which, among other things, will offer a new diesel engine...
(Excerpt) Read more at epautos.com ...
Last I saw, the Ranger had grown to around 4000 pounds - hardly the lightweight that my 1983 was (roughly 3000 pounds and near 30 mpg highway). I’d say that the compact truck has been gone for quite a while.
They won’t stop there. next on the chopping block will be 1/2 ton pickups and SUVs. Eventually our only options will be prius like cars or $80,000 one-ton duallies.
Oh, yes, reliable and long lived they are.
The Colorado is coming back as an updated model, but I think you are correct about the Dakota.
That’s because the full size trucks got bigger. Compare a modern chevy colorado to a 1970 chevy C-10. They are about the same size. Or a new ford ranger to a 1970 ford F-100.
I wonder if it will have a stickshift option
20 years...THANK YOU SIR! I owe you a debt I cannot pay.
One other item I want to comment on. I own a 1991 Toyota 4x4 pickup truck. What is a shame, I cannot buy an equivalent truck new today ! A simple 4x4 truck of a smaller size with either a 4 cyl or V-6 with a simple manual transmission. Only thing available is the Tundra or Tacoma which are basically full size trucks ! TO buy those new, you have to fork out much more money as well !
Everybody in the world gets a diesel but us. Why? Start with thanking Kalifornia and their emission rules then the EPA. Diesel light trucks would sell like hotcakes.
The CAFE rules will kill just about any vehicle bigger than a go cart eventually. This country will look like Cuba with old cars lovingly maintained.
The various diesel utility trucks and SUVs sold all around the world are absolutely fantastic vehicles... and we can’t have one. The diesel Subaru Outback is phenomenal as is the diesel Pajero, Volvo, Toyota trucks and Land Cruiser, even the Ford Ranger where I have seen them...
To hell with the EPA, save for the military to hell with the rest of the government while we are at it. Politicians from both sides of the aisle and bureaucrats are just about all the same thieves, power mongers and controllers, usurpers of liberty the whole lot of them. Out with all of them.
most people buy the 4x4 with the big fat tires and an automatic transmission. THat’s why they get the crappy mileage.
These are outstanding trucks with a diesel engine. All but unstoppable buy the terrain. A direct hit though makes them pretty much just toast.
You can get a re-built to brand new V-6 engine for a Chevy S-10 for up to 2.5K... labor to get it installed and running about 600. If one keeps up with the body/paint, replaces a manual clutch when worn out, keeps up with synthetic lube and cleaning of rwd differential— well the S-10 would run an easy 500K plus miles.
Friend has one and is doing just this. He got 200K on the first block, has replaced the clutch and cleaned,repacked the differential with syn lube.
Tires- about 400. So, all in all one can manage through all of this marketing and govt. idiocy, if you know people who are sharp.
“Worst rated small truck in the industry.”
Rated by who? By you? Opinions are like a**holes. Everybody has at least one.
Dear Lord, this is heartbreaking. I’ve owned two Rangers - one a grey 1985 and my current - a 99 3.0 v6. The CAFE standards are going to make trucks unaffordable to manufacture. I would LOVE to get my hands on a diesel Ranger. I guess I can always find an old chassis of one thing or another and put an engine in myself. Probably come out cheaper that way, too.
Ford seems to be trying to really limit the number of different platforms it is building.
They discontinued the ancient Panther platform, and are phasing out the excellent RWD Australian Falcon platform. They dumped DEW, which was so much better than what they are using for the MKZ.
I’m glad they’re still in business, but it’s hard to get very excited about most of their vehicles, which are really more like appliances these days.
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