TrainTrac
Well-Known Member
Bring on the Ranger! I'd buy one!:driving:
Thread of the Day: Should Ford Import the Ranger or Further Develop Transit Connect?
Written by: Zach Gale [G+] on August 20 2012 4:30 PM
Our story on Ford Ranger owners buying new vehicles from other brands as much as from Ford struck quite a chord. While plenty of enthusiasts in the U.S. clamor for compact and midsize trucks sold overseas like the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok, the automakers often claim a business case for importing them to the U.S. just doesnt make sense. In Fords case, the automaker already offers a compact utilitarian vehicle, but its not a truck. With the Ford Transit Connect already establishing a presence in the U.S., were asking: Should Ford import the overseas Ranger or further develop the Transit Connect?
2012 Ford Transit Connect front view 300x187 imageFord may not think theres a market for the new Ranger, which would have to be certified for sale in the U.S. by the NHTSA and the EPA, but the Transit Connect has already passed those hurdles. A revised version of the Transit Connect possibly with a slight price drop and tweaked sheetmetal could pick up some of the volume left over by the Ranger.The comparison definitely requires an open mind, but we wonder whether a few former Ranger owners might find some of what they want in a Transit Connect. Its not a truck, but when the F-150 is simply too big, the Transit Connect may be the next best option. What do you think: Should Ford reconsider bringing the overseas Ranger to the U.S. or develop a Transit Connect trim thats a bit friendlier to those who want a small or compact truck?