I can fix anything on it and it's EMP proof to boot.
Posted on 12/13/2011 5:57:25 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
The government's pending (2016) 35.5 MPG CAFE fuel economy requirements -- which for the first time apply to trucks as well as passenger cars -- are going to make it very difficult for any automaker to sell trucks in volume in this country.
Ford has just dropped the compact-size Ranger from its U.S. model lineup -- making it the first CAFE casualty -- and I predict that larger trucks are on the endangered species list now, too....
Even a small truck with a four-cylinder engine will have a hard time averaging 35.5 MPG....
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
When my 1994 S-10 died after 16 years I didn’t even look at a Chevy product to replace it. This from a person that drove GM vehicles from my first car (actually my mother’s), a 1960 Corvair, until 2010.
I went out and looked at the Ranger but couldn’t justify it since the Toyota Tacoma was actually better equipped and about the same price, so now I drive un-American.
Every time I drive a major city thoroughfare, I'm reminded of the millions of small businesses lining the street. These people need small trucks. This is another slap in face of the people who make America work, and often put America to work.
The good news; I expect much of the regulatory crap to be undone in 2012.
The assault on core America continues. It is being dismantled piece by piece...
MikeMike
My son has a ranger and it gets terrible gas milage, especially for its size.
It was also assembled at a Minnesota plant; better to close the plant, discontinue an unprofitable (union made) product, and continue to shift production to “friendlier” environments.
Leftists hate larger anything. Their size envy started in early childhood when someone else got a larger piece of birthday cake. No fair!
Made in St. Paul ?
I can fix anything on it and it's EMP proof to boot.
There is a good current alternative, that gives better mileage and still has the power needed for trucks.
Diesel.
Though currently prohibited in California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, diesel cars and small trucks are common in Europe. And because of improvements in engine tech, they are a lot cleaner than they used to be.
While gasoline is still better for acceleration, this is much less an issue with heavy trucks, private and commercial, in which acceleration is a much lower priority.
Another important value is that the best alternative fuel technology out there is algae based biodiesel, which is the fuel the oil companies are investigating, quietly, because it beats the others hands down. And it only takes minor modification for a diesel engine to run both petroleum and biodiesel. Biodiesel provides about 96% of the energy of petroleum diesel.
So add it up. Either of two fuels, whichever is cheaper, better mileage, high power, in a safer, structurally sound vehicle instead of a plastic box. What’s not to like, unless you are a liberal?
Another idiot writing about something he knows nothing about, a four cylinder turbo charged diesel would get better than 45 miles to the gallon.
I went out and looked at the Ranger but couldn’t justify it since the Toyota Tacoma was actually better equipped and about the same price, so now I drive un-American.
Hardly "un-American".
That Toyota Tacoma/Hilux is manufactured here in Texas - the last remaining bastion of anything resembling "American".
Now if they would only make a diesel version available in the US like they do everywhere else on the planet. - I thank you again Fe'ral Government for criminalizing the selling of one in this so-called "Free" Country.
Why do you think they want card check?
They are going to get their forced unionization.
You don't actually believe this is a free country, do you?
According to this, Thailand, Argentina and South Africa (way to go Democrats and UAW butt-buddies):
http://www.conceptcarz.com/z18951/Ford-Ranger.aspx
“The new Ranger will be manufactured around the world in three volume production sites geared for regional reach, especially in growth regions.
A progressive production ramp-up is slated to begin next summer (Northern Hemisphere) in Rayong, Thailand, for the Asia Pacific region. Ford is transforming plants in Argentina and South Africa for additional capacity to eventually serve other key regions as the launch cadence progresses. The new manufacturing strategy for the single global compact truck platform will drive new levels of product commonality for the Ford Ranger all around the globe.
Although not planned for introduction in the Únited States or Canada, the all-new Ranger will eventually be marketed in 180 countries, making it one of Ford’s farthest reaching products. This reflects the importance of compact pickup trucks to consumers in many parts of the world and the significance of the Ranger in Ford’s global product portfolio”
Now that’s a real truck! I have a 70 myself. Ford ranger was crap from its inception. No great loss. I do have a 86 F250 though and it’s a monster.
Not trying to stick up for Obummer, but I thought the new CAFE rules were going to be adjusted for each vehicle by the size of its footprint? Could be why they’re phasing out the smaller trucks, and not the larger ones. I’m going to do a little research on this.
I believe pick up trucks, and SUV’s for that matter are so popular because one doesn’t have to be a contortionist to get in and out of them.
These small cars the Left, the impaired class of Environmentalist freaks insist we build to save their Mother Earth from those Gudawful SUV’s are claustrophobic coffins IMO, but then I’m over six feet tall with size 15 shoes, and hit the clutch, and the brake at the same time when I drive those little things.
If you see me driving for errands anymore, you see me in my 1989 F-150 chuggin’ along at 55 quite content because I have room to breath.
It looks as if Ford has ceded the small truck biz to Japan.
Pity.
My son bought a used Ranger when we lived in Minnesota. It was trouble free.
He had never driven a stick shift so I drove it home and we practiced on a side street near the house until he had the technique down pat.
Well, word is they revamped the Ranger for non-US sales. It's just discontinued in the US. See here: http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/2012-ford-ranger-road-test-1.3369588
There's no way a current bare-bones Ranger is worth more than $13,000, but they show them starting at $18,160.
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