Thanks Ford!

[vision386]

Read tonight where Ford has just built its last ranger pickup,allthough the trucks will still be sold and built in 188 countries (primarily asia),the United states and Canada are not included! and one of Fords oldest plants will close,putting 800 plus people out of a job, just frickin' wonderful! more jobs and money sent overseas! nice going!..............Mark

http://autos.yahoo.c...-183034573.html

[joes mack]

that pretty much sums up the obama way of a better way (creating more jobs for other countries) .wonder how many other major companies will cut back in the u.s. and expand elsewhere before we vote him out.

[jaysm35a2]

Dont forget China is taxing the US on vehicles well sell in China starting now. Our SUV and car imports are hurting their own economy they say..

[fxfymn]

If you read the article you'll find that Ford stopped production of the Ranger due to poor sales. It seems most buyers prefer the F models now that Ford has increased the fuel mileage. Didn't say, but I'm sure they will increase hiring at the F model plants to meet customer demand.

Sorry guys; capitalism trumps over politics again.

[mowerman]

well again i decited this christmas,,im not buying anything imported...im done we got enough china,and tiawan shit in this house now to choke a horse,,,im done for a while...seeya bob

[Rob]

The Ranger series sales have been falling off for years as have most small pickups sales. I never really cared for them much as when they were released it increased the cost of the full size counterparts. When the movie "Urban Cowboy" came out, seems everybody had to have a pickup truck with all the options increasing the prices further. Used to be a pickup truck was a utility vehicle but not anymore, although their heyday has passed. Although I think Rangers were a pretty good vehicle rendering good service given reasonable care, It prolly is time for them to go, or be completely redesigned. Rob

[other dog]

I sure like my Ranger. It's a 2002 with around 120,000 miles on it now. Until the coil went bad last week i'd never had any problems with it. I traded a Focus on it after my wife passed and sold the '71 F-100 I used to drive. I road tested a full size Dodge 4 wheel drive with an extended cab first but it didn't really drive that good. They wanted $12,000+ for it. When I came back and parked it back beside the little Ranger that was $7200 I said "let's take this one fer a spin". Came back and signed on the dotted line.

It is indeed too small to do any real work, most we do is take the trash to the dumpster in it. The salesman at Amherst Ford where I bought it said the only reason the previous owner didn't like it was because it was too small, and I believe it. He traded it back in on another Ranger with an extended cab and V6 engine.

[other dog]

The Ranger series sales have been falling off for years as have most small pickups sales. I never really cared for them much as when they were released it increased the cost of the full size counterparts. When the movie "Urban Cowboy" came out, seems everybody had to have a pickup truck with all the options increasing the prices further. Used to be a pickup truck was a utility vehicle but not anymore, although their heyday has passed. Although I think Rangers were a pretty good vehicle rendering good service given reasonable care, It prolly is time for them to go, or be completely redesigned. Rob

Debra Winger sure was lookin' good in that movie.

[umodelnut]

Ya that's sad that the US keeps loosing more jobs. But I am not a ford fan.

[Olivetroad]

I know at the car auctions around here, any small pickup brings better than book usually and I have found that when I do buy one, they are fast sellers. Everyone thinks they want one.

But I think is correct in that people are just buying the lightest 1/2 ton pickup instead. You have more bed room and just as good of fuel mileage. I have seen a lot of new 1/2 ton fords sell for less than a tricked out Ranger.

I have sold three Rangers in the last year or so to guys that then a month later sold them because they got sick of the steering wheel rubbing their love handles and not having any room to haul in the cab.

The sad truth is that there are also just a lot fewer rural people that need a pickup to use for what it was designed for.

[mowerman]

Read tonight where Ford has just built its last ranger pickup,allthough the trucks will still be sold and built in 188 countries (primarily asia),the United states and Canada are not included! and one of Fords oldest plants will close,putting 800 plus people out of a job, just frickin' wonderful! more jobs and money sent overseas! nice going!..............Mark

http://autos.yahoo.c...-183034573.html

ya,,thats just what we need now.!!!!!!!bob

[41chevy]

Not much is made here by any of the big 3. Dodge Challenger and Dodge Rams are Canadian (which is good), Buick has an assembly plant in China, Ford Transit is assembled in Turkey, Alot of PACAR is from south of the border. Even the grandson brought home a few Catipillar parts made by Komatsu in Japan.

As for pick ups, my Dodges are probably the last of the true pick ups. The '88 is a 1/2 with 3/4 ton specs, V6 truck tranny with creeper gear,PS,PB and heavy duty cooling, electrical and brakes. No radio,AC, PW or carpets. My '89 is the same except 4x4 and a Cummins. Went to look for a replacement with similar equipment, standard cab, 8 foot bed and maybe and autotrans. GMC was the only one who came close to a regular working truck. Salesman could care less because he wasn't making money on it and a 3 month build time because it was a plain truck without AC and passenger heater control delete. Heck even my 1988 Bronco was tough to get in 88. I ordered a full size with the 300 six,4 speed with creeper gear, twin fuel tanks, dual batteries, 140 amp alternater,vinyl mats,PS,PB and steel wheels and 235 x 15 Crown Vic tires not cleated ATV tires, for sand running. May be they'd have better sales if you could order what you need instead of option packs. Paul

[jaysm35a2]

Can you find a new American pickup with 4x4 for under $30k anymore?

[Bollweevil]

With a Federally Mandated corporate 54 MPG fuel average by 2025, you could probably see even more of this as a trend. Do any of you remember a little Italian two seater by Isetta. You can google it to see what it looked like. At least Ford chose to stand on their own and tough things out. When I was active In trucking, you could not find 6 truckers who would agree on anything. Most, when asked did not vote or were not even registered to vote. I hope you guys are not too busy. There needs to be a sweeping change made, as it is coming to a time when it will be too late. If you think otherwise look at Europe, doesn't matter where they are all in trouble.

.

[41chevy]

With the EPA inline to get near unlimited power after the Rio 20 "global" warming conference next month, to regulate all non enviromentally friendy pollution from mining to cow farts per the UN's Green Book......eveybody better vote!! This got to stop.

[vision386]

Can you find a new American pickup with 4x4 for under $30k anymore?

LOL! aint that the damn truth! a few years back,my wife said "why dont you look into a new/newer pickup for yourself,you never buy anything!' so i looked at new chevys,nothing fancy mind you,but at almost 30K for a "stripper" i passed! guess i'll just keep my 70 C/10 which i paid $2850.00 a year old ($50.00 extra for chrome rear step bumper) does'nt owe me a dime,AND i can fix anything that goes wrong with it,without a degree in engineering!................................Mark

[41chevy]

Not a fan of Dodge, even though I have 2, but Dodge sells a Ram 1500 4x4,V8. Regular cab and an 8 foot bed for under 25,000.00 with the 2500 rebate offer. Seriously considering a new mule now. Paul

http://www.ramtrucks.com/hostc/bmo/CUT201213DS6L62A/2TA/summary.do

[HeavyGunner]

LOL! aint that the damn truth! a few years back,my wife said "why dont you look into a new/newer pickup for yourself,you never buy anything!' so i looked at new chevys,nothing fancy mind you,but at almost 30K for a "stripper" i passed! guess i'll just keep my 70 C/10 which i paid $2850.00 a year old ($50.00 extra for chrome rear step bumper) does'nt owe me a dime,AND i can fix anything that goes wrong with it,without a degree in engineering!................................Mark

Hell yeah youre right on that. I drive a 79 Dodge by choice simply for the reasons you stated above. My wife thinks I should get a newer vehicle and I tell her I can buy a lot of gas and parts for that ole girl when compared to the payment and full coverage insurance costs that a newer vehicle would cost. Plus I use the hell out of my full size pickups and in my opinion these "compact pickups" do not get enough of a mpg increase for me to desire one. My brother has a 99 or 00 tacoma 4x4 with a 5sp and 4cyl and he averages 18 mpg, my wifes full size club cab chevy 3/4 averages 14.5 and can see 16-17 hwy. To me that's not a big enough difference for me to sacrifice the usefullness of a full size pickup.

[Freightrain]

Back in '96 I bought a new F350 Supercab dually XLT/460/auto/loaded for $22K(A plan), the truck was $27 sticker (if I recall). That same basic truck is north of $50K now with all the crap they put on them. My daily driver is a '89 F150 and it's perfect. Don't need no stink'n back up cameras or heated seats!

Yes, the Ranger is small inside and if you want elbow room it's NOT the truck for you. I agree, with the fuel mileage of the new trucks, who wants a little truck anymore? Of course everyone wants a 4dr stretched out whatever to just go to the market anymore. Of course now they offer 4-5ft beds because no one uses them for more then a couple bags of groceries anyway.

The market dictated the dropping of the Ranger, nothing else. Ford wants to make money and if the Ranger doesn't sell? Why make it? Simple economics. Remember, they didn't take any hand outs from Obuma.