Ford Ranger to End Run in 2009

Automotive News is reporting that the plant responsible for building the engines for the Ford Ranger small pickup and the assembly plant itself will both shutter their doors by the end of 2009. The industry publication is extrapolating that with those two integral plants shut down, the Ranger won’t find a new home anywhere else and won’t get a redesign. The larger F-150 is the best-selling truck in the country and is due to be redesigned next year. Expect Ford to put all its dollars into that. And you thought the John Mellencamp Silverado ads were omnipresent.

Comments

[John Walters]

I'm not quite sure what Ford is thinking by sinking the Ranger. I happen to be on my third Ranger, the last one was 13 years old when I traded it for my current truck. I couldn't have been more pleased with that vehicle as it had over 100,000 miles on it when I decided to replace it. During my 13 years of ownership I don't think I spent a total of more then $2,500 in maintenance and repairs. I mean that truck was just plain bulletproof...

Who on earth but those individuals in the trades would need the monster trucks that are being produced today. The Ranger was just right for those homeowners looking for a more manageable utility vehicle. But who am I to say that a company such as Ford would be making a mistake? I mean just look at their track record, they've managed to work their way to near bankruptcy with their brilliant marketing and design staff.

[Adam]

Once again Ford lets a once best selling vehicle wither on the vine for far too long. Its last major update was in 1998, and they wonder why its sales plunged.

[Matt]

Farewell, Ranger. I had two, a '90 and a '98. Both were 2WD, regular cab, four-cylinder manuals. The '98 had well over 100,000 on it when I finally sold it, and it was still going strong. Like John, I don't remember any major repairs, just the usual maintenance. I was even on the original clutch.

On the other hand, if I were going to buy a truck today, I don't know if I would have chosen the Ranger, as it was definitely falling behind the competition and long overdue for a revamp.

[Eric P]

Like Adam said, it hasn't been redesigned in over a decade, that's just nuts. I wish they would redesign it, make it just a small smidge bigger and offer it with two different four cylinder diesels. One small four cylinder diesel to be an alternative to the current four cylinder gasoline engine, designed for good gas mileage while being able to tow a light trailer/load. Another larger four cylinder diesel to be an alternative to the larger V6s, designed for great towing while still getting good mileage.

Why waste money redesigning a car that people don't want anymore. I agree that the Ranger was/is a great little truck, but that doesn't mean it is profitable. I thought they stopped making it years ago honestly, it has been a while since I've even seen one with new car plates. It is the only small truck left- the rest are "midsized" and even they don't sell that well.

Also, you guys need to look at sales numbers, GM and Ford cars are still sellers. They are near bankrupt mostly because of all the baby boomers that they are supporting that are retiring and costing billions in health care.

[cody]

Hmm, seems to me they have a redesigned replacement already. It's called the Explorer Sport Trac. Just build a regular and extended cab version with longer beds... Seems cheap and easy. If they don't replace the Ranger, it's because they want out of that market segment...

[Robert]

Yes the Ranger had fallen behind the competition becuase it was never redesigned. But I thought this truck used to be the best selling small truck for 25 years? With fuel effeciny and fuel price issues I would think a Ranger would be a good choice but I guess I am wrong since people seem to think they need giant trucks. Killing the Ranger makes no since. Boo on you Ford.

Robert,
The Ford F-Series has been the number one selling vehicle- not the Ranger. And if, according to you, people think bigger is better, how much sense does it make to keep the ranger in the lineup that includes dozens of f-series variants and the sport trac?

[J]

My concern is: So does that mean the Mazda B-Series will be gone too?

[Juan Carlos]

have a ford ranger and is my first car/truck. in the process of changing it for many reasons and hate seeing it the model go down.

this means that the colorado/canyon are now the only true small trucks that will be left (who knows about the b-series. was driving one day and i confused a tacoma with a tundra. have you seen the size of the new tacomas and frontiers? goodness.

[Bowrider]

The Canyon/Colorado are rated midsize.

[Juan Carlos]

okay, so the colorado/canyon will be the only midsize trucks. recently there was a questio on cras.com about a crew cab with 4 cyclinders. the answer came back as the colorado/canyon.

and when people are going small and fuel-eco, why not make a ranger that is top of the line and gives great mpg? or are they going to have some small f-150 as the replacement?

[ZB]

It will truly be a sad day when the last Ford Ranger rolls off the assembly line. I love my Ford Ranger, and I love everything about it. Everything! Even its styling.

Yes, it's an old, boxy design but I love it. The Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tundra are in my opinion quite unattractive.

Styling aside, the mechanics of my Ranger are almost problem-free. One major advantage of not altering the Ranger's design are fewer mechanical problems. The initial production bugs were solved years ago.

Truck buyers seems to like the Ford F-150 and its popularity is a little puzzling. It's no beauty; it's too big and it's a gas hog. Trucks and good fuel economy are not necessarily mentioned in the sentence, but the Ford Ranger is much more gas pump-friendly.

A guy that has had a long love affair with Ford cars and trucks over the years has a Web Site, and he's shown a picture of what a redesigned Ford Ranger might possibly look like. To say the least, it's smokin' hot. Hotter than hot. To think that this Ranger redesign will not see the light of day is a crying shame.

[ZB]

Classifications as to truck size are baffling. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are not that much bigger than a Ranger.

I do have a question.

When Ford Ranger production ceases in 2009, will parts availability be a problem? Parts availability is one thing, but prices are another thing. I suppose short-term everything would be okay, but I don't know about long-term.

If owning a Ford Ranger in 2014 means paying exorbitant prices for parts, forget it. If parts do become increasingly expensive, the resale value will be almost zero at some point. Maybe it's wise to get rid of it sooner rather than later.

I wish the Ford executive brass, tarnished executive brass at that, would reconsider their current business decision to close the Ranger production plants. To be honest, I don't see how this business decision will reverse itself. It's unlikely. About the only thing that could sway the Ford executive brass to reconsider their business decision, would be gas prices in the $4.00 to $5.00 a gallon price range. Gas prices at that level would surely translate to more Ranger sales.

There will always be a market for trucks, but people who love big trucks would have to settle for a little less truck, if gas approaches $5.00 a gallon.

Owners of large trucks don't know what they're missing by not owning a Ford Ranger.

[Wolfe]

Yes, it is sad to see the Ranger go. I've owed 3 Rangers in the last 14 years. The first one was a '87, the second a '96 and the last one a '99. The first one was sold to a friend who still has it to this day and loves it. The '96 and the '99 both had the 4.0 motor. The '96 did better on gas than the '99. All three of them were 4x4's. I've put on over 100,000 miles on the '99. About 40% of those miles had a 5x8 cargo trailer pulled behind it. The transmission went out about 80,000 miles and the spark plug wires went bad shortly after that. Other than that, no problems. I really didn't want to get rid of it, but I out grew my trailer and needed something larger. I traded it for an '05 F-150 and got a 7x14 cargo trailer. It was hard getting used to the larger size after all those years. What really made me like the F-150 was the gas mileage. I've gained one mile per gallon on the F-150 over the Ranger. Larger truck, bigger trailer and better mileage. Right now I'm on about 40,000 miles and about 60% of that with the trailer. No problems with the truck so far. I do miss the smaller size of the Ranger for getting into tighter places from time to time, but really do like the F-150. Now, I'm about to out grow my trailer again and am starting to look at the Super Duty trucks. Gonna have to wait awhile, $$$$!

[Juan Carlos]

one of the reasons i am likely changing is that my 99 2wd ranger gives me 18-20 mpg. more of a sedan person myself or at least ext cab and not a fan of the sigle cab. and i rather have an avalanche and get 15 and have the space and features.

[Paul]

Where I work,we use Rangers as delivery vehicles,at over 100,000 miles they still give 28-32 mpg (2.3 16v/manual/2wd)and have far less problems than the prior GM S10/Sonoma models.I like the fact that you sit up high in them,and they just feel more "sporty" than the GM bunch.Ford is on a roll of killing long running vehicle lines:Bronco,Thunderbird,Crown Victoria,Ranger.I have the feeling those in charge are NOT in their right minds.

[Paul]

How Ford plans on making headway in the market is beyond me.A rehashed new/old Focus (minus hatches and wagons),a largely similar F150 makeover,renaming 500 Taurus just to get some fleet business back....not meeting the competition model for model (no PT Cruiser/HHR model after all these years,no RWD car to match Cadillac/Dodge/Chrysler/Pontiac,no micro car a'la Aveo/Chery-Chrysler/Yaris/Fit...)
I wish Ford luck with what they have left for models,but they seem to be putting all their chips on the Fusion,Taurus,Edge and F150.
As for a lack of a Ranger replacement,Nissan and Toyota will look forward to the extra business....

[J]

I think this is a big mistake to end the production of the Ranger. The Ranger is one of the most dependable, if not the most dependable truck in its class. Ford should not abandon this market. People that are in the market for a small truck will look elswhere. This will hurt Ford in the long run as they will look to other manufactures for other products as well. A product as good as this should continue. Didn't we learn anything from the Taurus campaign???

[George Heindel]

Another Misstep...from my perspective!

Mr. Mullaney are your advisors car/truck people? Think??? Look around the USA my friend. Do you think the delivery truck fleets
in todays economy will buy F150's or Toyotas?
Why not compete?

[sulli]

While I don't think it is such a bad thing that the ranger could go away, I think everyone should wait for an announcement from ford confirming this instead of an article that is referring to another article that is "extrapolating" these results. That means they are guessing. Ford has plants all over the world- just because this one is rumored to close doesn't mean the end is officially here.

The otherside of this is that under mullaly's command, the entire company is becoming a leaner, more efficient entity. The number of platforms is to be cut down, instead focusing on, perfecting and tweaking the few you have(like Nissan and Toyota), and models that aren't competitive are going away. Yes the Ranger may be good- but there is no market. The frontier and tacoma that it keeps being compared to are huge in comparison, and the Colorado/Canyon are a joke.

[ZB]

A lot of us don't need a truck the size of an F-150. I don't. If you have a trailer or if you haul large things, then a larger truck would be warranted.

I have a two-wheel drive XLT Super Cab and it is a joy to drive. The sitting position is high and I love it.

Every year I get so tired of reading Consumer Report's review of the Ford Ranger. " You never forget you're riding in a truck because the ride is stiff and the seats lack support." Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Consumer Report's review may be applicable to the Ford Ranger base model and with a shorter wheel base, but not the two-wheel drive XLT Super Cab.

For so many years Ford put a lot of their eggs in the SUV/truck basket, and then they let one of their best trucks, the Ford Ranger, slowly die a slow death. How could any truck survive without redesigns and keeping the truck up-to-date.

There's little doubt in my mind that Ford intends to stop making the Ford Ranger. A recession, which appears very likely between now and 2009, will only make matters worse. Most cars and trucks will be sitting on lots for longer periods of time. Ford Ranger sales are currently not good, so it's only going to get worse.

[ZB]

The wheelbase of the Super Cab is 125.9 inches. The regular Ford Ranger has a wheelbase of 107.9 inches. Undoubtedly the 18-inch difference in wheelbase improves the ride considerably.

I've been trying, unsuccessfully so far, to the find the Web site that showed pictures of the redesigned Ford Ranger. As I remember it, the truck picture was not a sketch. I suppose it could have been a sketch, but it sure looked like the real thing.

I thought I had saved the page, but I can't find it. If I do eventually find it, I'll post the Web site address.

[Troy in Ft Walton Beach]

It's sad to see the Ranger go. The ONLY Ford I've owned in 20 years that didn't let me down more than once.

[ZB]

The picture of what a new Ford Ranger might look like was in the August 2005 blog issue of: myforddreams.blogspot.com.

Apparently the PhotoShop created this image.

I hadn't seen the picture for a while and the redesigned Ford Ranger is smokin' hot. As far as I am concerned, not one truck currently on the road is better-looking than this redesigned Ford Ranger.

[henrycarman]

Ranger isn't going anywhere. The union games are over and Ranger plants will reopen! Sit tight and see!

[Sean]

There's no reason to buy a Ranger for fuel efficiency because of high gas prices-- a 4wd Ranger gets 16/20 with a 3.0 V6.... The new silverados get 16/20 with 5.3L 8cyls at not much more money... so why would I get a Ranger due to high gas prices?

[Oscar]

I do not understand why Ford didn't want to sell the ranger crew cab that is sold in Mexico and South America. This truck has a 4 cyl with 5-speed manual transmission, and It was a great possibility to gain part of the market that is lost from this previous years. It's like those type of direction you will never understand. Apparently there is new ranger that is being build in Thailand and is very diofferent to what we are used to see in the American market.

[Lee]

It's all good and well asking why we need a Ranger now that Ford makes the Sportrak, but have you seen the difference in price?!

[Paul B]

Here are some thoughts for you. Gas prices are up. Does anyone think they will be going down? New, large trucks are getting better mileage; could newly designed smaller trucks do the same, and could they beat the larger trucks?

As an owner of a 1995 Splash, Supercab, 4x4, 4.0 automatic for a number of years now, I have to admit that the truck I own is a dichotomy (sp?). Every day it gets 15 mpg, and not until you hit the road and keep it at 65 does it get 23 mpg. But it does. Anyway, the cab seats 4 (if 2 are really small, but big enough not to require a car seat), the bed is even smaller, yet the truck gets about the same mileage every day as the F150 it replaced that had a 5.0 and a 5 speed. Make it for what it is, Ford. Either make it a small truck that gets some mileage (and they have - 2.3 w/ manual is listed as the best mpg pickup in the country), or get an F150.

I agree with the diesel comments. Last year in Europe I experienced riding around it two diesels we can't get here - a Mercedes minivan and a Toyota Corolla. I was impressed with both, and have since purchased a used 2000 Jetta TDi (40 mpg every day).

I realize America may not be ready for diesel, but I think it is coming, and soon, I hope. Once you experience 600 miles on 12 gallons, it is hard to go back to 300 on 18. And you can't help but look at the large vehicles around you and wonder how people can afford to drive them. That's why the Ranger now sits at home most of the time, and I am looking for a real truck to replace it. Because when I need a truck, I don't want to make multiple trips.

I really do like the Ranger. There will be a company that has a small pickup again. And if America is ready for it, sales will be great. But you have to be in the game if you are going to win.

I also have to agree with the comments about Ford getting out of so many markets. No minivan, no wagons, now know smaller pickup? I think the Fusion has impressed beyond expectation, and the Edge does have an attraction, but I can't say that for the redesigned Focus. And they do think we are stupid with that 500/Taurus thing. The Mustang was a hit, but if they wait that long for its next redesign . . .

I've been raised a Ford guy, and I'm still pulling for Ford. Come on guys, don't leave us stranded!

[DJ]

I am on my second Ranger, having traded my 98 at 182,000 miles.This one is a 2005 Level II, truly a great vehicle. I agree that Ford should have restyled the Ranger, but as always, it seems that whenever they get something good, they sit on their collective laurels.

Rather than kill off the Ranger, they should do a re-vamp, add a diesel, and "continue to march". Should Ford bring out something like the Ridgeline, I doubt it would sell very well. That particular vehicle ranks down there with the Avalanche, etc. Truly ugly and uninspiring trucks ( I use that term loosely).

[cory]

As for me, im on my second ranger and i'm only 16. my first truck was given to me by my grandpa. It was a 1985 ford ranger 4x4. That truck ran great and looked amazing with its new paintjob and tires. I take it offroading every weekend, but it doesnt get drivenon the road much because of its horrible gas milage ( it has a 4.0 V6).and i still own that truck. My second truck (which ive had for 5 months) is a 2003 2wd ranger with a 4.0 V6. This this accelerates great and gets great gaaas milage(21 city, 25 hwy). I dont take it offroading AT ALL!! Ive just invested in new door speakers($150) and a memphis audio 10" subwoofer ($150) and now im completly happy with my truck.Except that I want a 2" lift and 30" tires.They are both great trucks but they dont need to be discontinued...all they need is to be revamped!!! spend a lillte money on them you cheap ford pricks!

[NH Buzzsaw]

I bought a new Ranger in 1990. A light blue XLT 4x2 and owned it for 10 years putting 120+k on it before selling it. I'm about to trade in my SVT Focus on a new FX4 this weekend. I'm looking forward to getting back in a Ranger after all these 'car' years. It's too bad Ford is killing it off. I remember when they tried that with the Mustang in the 1980s with the Probe slated as its replacement. See any Probes on new car lots today? How about Mustangs? I think management should rethink their Ranger decision as well.

[brad]

I am glad that ford has not redesigned the Ranger. I hope they dont redesign it for another 15 years so i can buy another super improved one.

The truth is folks that any time a new model is introduced, the first year is always the worst for production problems and mechanical gremlins.

ford has had since 1994 to work out all of the problems with its current Ranger.

i have a 1998 ranger with 130,000 miles that ive done nothing but maintenance to. Spark plugs, wires, belts, making sure the coolant is full, making sure it has enough oil, replacing batteries. Thats all ive done to it.

it has a lot of electrical problems though. the airbags dont work, the check engine light is always on and nobody can get it off, i dont even worry about it anymore, because guages dont lie and my guages always read perfect. the turn signal lever causes my headlights to work intermittently. I had to pull the interior light bulb because the door relay always kicks on and off as im going down the road, turning the light on and off.

Id imagine that by 2008 they would have fixed the electrical gremlins.

needless to say, in 10 years i have never replaced an expensive part nor have i been stranded anywhere. just maintenance.

The ranger gets a solid 9 out of ten for reliability from me.

Minus one point for the annoying electrical problems

oh, also i got the base XL model with manual windows and door locks and i am so glad i did.

i can just picture if i didnt, i wouldnt be able to roll my windows down now.

surely, the 2008 ranger is 10 times better than the one i have now.

[Mike L]

I've also owned two Ranger's and both were as reliable as any vehicle I've owned... including three Hondas.

Ford's answer to competition these days is to simply bow out. Rather than make a refined, competitive vehicle, just quit. Minivan? Quit. Now Honda and Toyota get most if not all the minivan sales (The Windstar was junk anyway). Small pickup? Quit. Let someone else make more sales. Most likely Toyota. Taurus? Quit. Make big, ugly Ford Tempo and name it 500, no wait... let's make it the Taurus after all.

[Jay W.]

Wanna know why Ford hasn't redesigned the Ranger in the last 10 years? It didn't have to. I bought my 99 the day after Christmas in 1998. 149,000 miles later, she's still running strong. It's the 2.5L 4-banger. Granted, not the fastest thing on the street, but I'm still getting 23 mpg in the city, and the only major work I've done on it is putting in a new a/c unit.

It's a shame Ford has made this decision, especially at the current price of gas ($3.19/reg as of this writing). This is a stable, reliable, gas-efficient family truck.

[Matt]

I just bought what sounds to be one of the last years of the Ford Ranger. My old Ranger ( a 1995 with 175,000+ miles which I still have) has been my pride and joy for nine years since I bought it with 90K. It has two salvage titles and won't pass a smog test... but it still runs and gets me where I need to go. I recently took advantage of the 2008 Ranger because of the 0% financing Ford was offering. If I did get what looks to be the last model or next to last, all I can say is I hope to have the last Ranger, or next to last Ranger on the streets. I do agree they could have made updates to it along the way but changing that engine would be the last thing they should have ever considered. I don't know a longer-lasting more reliable engine than the 4.0L V6 that is in both my 1995 and 2008 Ranger. It will be a sad day to see it go!

[LG]

I certainly hope Ford does not discontinue the Ranger, I'll probably have to replace my current model in the next couple of years and can't imagine owning anything else. I have a 95 Splash, Super Cab, 3.0/6 cyl/Auto, just about to roll up on 226,000 miles. I've had to replace the Idle Speed Motor (<200.00), the plastic Radiator (<500.00), and a component in the AC system (<300.00), everything else has been routine maintenance. I still average the same mpg (20-22) I did when new; granted with todays fuel costs that's not great, but for 13 years it ain't too bad either. If anyone from Ford is reading, don't do it. I don't even think a major re-design is needed; we have two schools of thought in the shop where I work, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "If it ain't broke, fix it till it is". Either way you look at it, the Ranger doesn't need to be "Fixed", a little polish here and there maybe, but that's it. So, if my opinion counts for anything, I hope the Ranger will be around a while longer, at least until this one dies, my next one should probably last until I'm ready to quit driving.

[nsukut]

well the ranger might not be too popular right now, but has anyone thought about gas milage?
it simply wont matter how well designed the f-150 is if no one can afford the gas. now is not the time to pull the plug on any small truck which seems to be trend.

[Fordman]

I think the Ford Ranger should stay on the market. With gas prices almost surpassing 4-5 dollars per gallon people with certain jobs, farmers for instant , they want a little pickup with good gas milage with power to back it up. The Ford Ranger 4x4 has that. I have rode in a Chevy Colorado, its lucky to make it up a hill at all. It has to downshift at least 2 times to make it up a hill. It does not have power whatsoever. I know people that have heard their ranger will pull up to 10,000 pounds and be able to pull it at 55 miles an hour. I think the discontinue of the Ranger is a mistake.

[Charles]

What a shock on reading about Ford not producing the Ranger as we know it anymore after 2009! I love my Ford Ranger. I've been driving my 1997 2wd, 4 cyl. model going on 11 years now with over 206K miles on it. The only shop time it has seen was for routine maintenance and a new alternater just recently.

What is Ford thinking? All they'd have to do is put a newer, even more fuel efficient engine on the Rangers and they would sell like crazy I would think in light higher fuel prices at the pump!

[Larry W]

I've had 2 of these Rangers, a short cab and a SuperCab 5 spd loaded and my son in Cali. is on his 2nd, 1st 1 a Splash and now an Edge Super Cab yellow with bed cover, loaded. Best truck we've ever drove. Keep makin 'em Ford!!!