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What would the ideal redesigned Ranger be like?

30 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2009 at 7:20 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Ranger, Truck

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#1 of 30 What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? by firstdaddy

Mar 14, 2006 (3:07 pm)

Well, I have searched around on the Net and cannot find any concrete proof that Ford is working on a redesigned Ranger. It is my hope that Ford takes the eventual redesign as serious as Toyota did with the Tacoma and Nissan did with the Frontier. Additionally, maybe a Ford insider will see this and begin to understand how badly we need a new Ranger.
 
I would love to see a new line of 3-valve per cylinder engines with variable valve timing just like the 5.4L in the F-150. A nice strong I-4 and V-6, along with 5 or 6 speed automatics are needed in my opinion. Another thing I would like to see is Crew Cab models with a 6 foot bed option. Mid-sizing the Range will also be very important so it can compete with the larger Tacoma, Frontier, and Dakota.
 
Having all the safety features as standard equipment will be helpful too. 4-wheel disc breaks, 4-wheel ABS, side curtain air bags, stability control, HID headlights, etc.
 
After looking at all the thought and engineering Ford put into the new 2004 F-150 at http://www.thetruthabouttrucks.com, I can only hope they do the same with the Range. And for goodness’s sake do it soon!
 
Best Regards.

#2 of 30 Re: What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? [firstdaddy] by landdriver

Mar 14, 2006 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: firstdaddy (Mar 14, 2006 3:07 pm)
According to www.motortrend.com the Ranger will be redesigned in 2009: "2009 Ford Ranger: Redesign. Finally. Current model engineering dates back to the early '90s." Of course not sure how reliable this information is.
 
Definitely keep the reg cab 7'longbed option -- this is what drew me to the Ranger in the first place. Give it a more contemporary look both inside and out. Don't make it too much bigger; am personally happy with its size as is; if I wanted a larger truck would purchase a full-size. Instead of increasing the I4 power make the Ranger lighter-weight; its too heavy for a compact pickup IMO.
 
Keep the appearance package and make it available on the I4 again. Make it so the bedliner goes over the left and right sides of the bed. Add tie-down hooks to the outside of the bed, 3 or 4 per side. Restore the intrusion alarm option. Keep all the current options (5-speed manual transmission, leather-wrapped steering wheel, tilt steering wheel, carpeted floors/floormats, nice-looking cloth bench seats, 4-speaker radio, privacy glass, payload package, aluminum wheel option without having to supersize the wheels, etc.). It's a truck, make the full-size spare standard!

#3 of 30 Re: What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? [landdriver] by jefferyg

Mar 14, 2006 (9:52 pm)

Replying to: landdriver (Mar 14, 2006 7:44 pm)
I think they should keep the Ranger smaller. If Ford wants a midsize, bring back the F100 badge. Nobody is making a true compact pickup anymore and I believe a lot of people who are occasional haulers or who don't need to pull a heavy trailer would be well satisfied with a compact.
 
ONE BIG ISSUE is fuel mileage. IMHO, a compact should get better than 20 around town and average well over 25 on the highway. With today's fuel prices that alone could be a strong selling point.

#4 of 30 Re: What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? [jefferyg] by classic65

Mar 22, 2006 (7:17 am)

Replying to: jefferyg (Mar 14, 2006 9:52 pm)
got a newspaper the other day and it had a page on the 2006 ranger. nice looking truck. i think if memory serves me right it has about 3-4 different engines available and some new stuff in and outside also.

#5 of 30 Re: What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? [classic65] by carfax

Mar 22, 2006 (7:24 pm)

Replying to: classic65 (Mar 22, 2006 7:17 am)
I have a 2006 and it isn't much different then my 1998 was.
Same boring motor with little power and hard on fuel. Ford has 200hp in the 3 liter Escape and 148 in the Ranger, which is a truck for hauling and pulling. The bucket seats are more comfortable then the bench was and the outside design is better looking. Other then the five speed automatic tranny, the rest is made up of the same old parts off the shelf. I really hope they do change them by 2009 when my lease is up, because i won't be getting an other one. I think they are still better then the Chevy and GMC models, but if Hyundai has their truck built by 2009 like they are talking about and the prices are low like their cars then Ford could be in big trouble. They haven't made up their mind to go mid-size or full size, so Ford had better hope they go full size so they won't lose too much more of the market to the Hyundai and Honda makes. If Ford doesn't improve as fast as some of the other companies are, then they could be in bigger trouble then GM.. is at the moment.

#6 of 30 Re: What would the ideal redesigned Range be like? [carfax] by raddog

Apr 11, 2006 (12:01 am)

Replying to: carfax (Mar 22, 2006 7:24 pm)
I have a 2005 Ford Ranger and to tell you the truth the only difference between the 2005 and 2006 Ford Rangers is the front grille and the fender flares. Everything else is the same. To give you another perspective I have a friend that has a 1996 Ford Ranger he replaced the front grille, rims, tires, and put a lift kit on it. The truck looks exactly like mine. How scary is that a truck that is 12 years older then mine and still looks the same.
 
If they ever redesign the Ranger I think that they should at least put a V-8 underneath the hood. I also think that they should make it possible to get the Tremor stereo inside an FX-4 package. Right now you have to decide do you want the kick-ass sound system or the kick-ass off road capability.

#7 of 30 New Rangers by bolivar

Apr 13, 2006 (12:28 am)

I looked at new Rangers from about 2000 thru 2005 and never replaced my 1994 4L Ext Cab STX because the new ones were not much different from my 94. And some of the things about my 94 were better. They have really screwed up how the bucket seats move forward and then will not 'remember' their previous setting. My 94 would do that, the 'tilt' was lost but the distance would return. New Rangers lose both settings. Dumb, dumb.
 
Dash and radio was just about the same, you could just get CD player was about only real difference.
 
The front of the XLT looks bad. Only the Edge (some other name in 2006) with body color bumper and grill is decent, and they never would put this on the XLT. And I didn't want the Edge raised look, rubber floor mats, and agressive tire tread design (noisy).
 
Never could bring myself to jump to a new one.
 
Finally sold my 94, got a huge price for it at 84,000 miles in great condition and bought a Honda Ridgeline. Only vehicle almost as ugly as the Chevy Avalanche (sp)! But it's a Honda - reliable, rides almost as well as our old Caddy Deville, drives great, full time 4wheel drive.
 
Ford has basically forgotten the Ranger. Just making money on the old design.

#8 of 30 Re: New Rangers [bolivar] by landdriver

Apr 13, 2006 (9:16 pm)

Replying to: bolivar (Apr 13, 2006 12:28 am)
Only the Edge (some other name in 2006) ...
 
They renamed it the Sport for 2006 (Ford is releasing another vehicle (car-based SUV?) called the Edge).
 
... with body color bumper and grill is decent ...
 
Totally agree with you -- that's why I'm planning to have the front and rear bumpers and grille on my '06 XLT painted to look like the Edge, er, Sport (and will be adding the split-spoke aluminum wheels).
 
Dude, you sold the Ranger?!? Seems like you're the only one who has the answers to the questions on this board! Glad you like the Honda; didn't look at it myself as I was in the market for a regular cab.
 
Ford has basically forgotten the Ranger. Just making money on the old design.
 
Just on the radio today -- Ford announced they'll be closing the St. Paul plant (the factory where they make the Rangers) in 2008; will be introducing a new compact pickup in a few years.

#9 of 30 Re: New Rangers [landdriver] by bolivar

Apr 14, 2006 (12:31 am)

Replying to: landdriver (Apr 13, 2006 9:16 pm)
... with body color bumper and grill is decent ...
  
Totally agree with you -- that's why I'm planning to have the front and rear bumpers and grille on my '06 XLT painted to look like the Edge, er, Sport (and will be adding the split-spoke aluminum wheels).
 
Yes, my 94 STX was originally a dark grey bumper and grill (I think) and one of the previous owners had painted it body color. Looked great. I loved the big STX strips also. It was Electric Candy Red or something like that and gold and red stripping. It was also 2 wheel drive. Lots of arguments on various boards about all STX's being 4wheel drive, but not true, mine was 2wheel. Had the window sticker. It had just about all the options on it, don't know what else, rather than 4x4, it could have had.
 
I loved my truck. For 8 years.

#10 of 30 which type of oil by moochorbb

Jul 24, 2006 (11:16 am)

i have a 98 ranger with the 2.5L 4cyl, which type of oil would be best to use in it, as in 5w30, 10w40 ect...? thanks for the replies

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