What if...07 Ranger?

[FlipTrac_511]

What if Ford finally redesigned the Ranger using the current Explorer chassis? Would it look like this?:



[Broken External Image]:



If you're wondering what the Ranger might look like in another fifteen years, look at the above pic with just a redesigned grill.

 

[Robert Poole]

That looks pretty good, maybe the Ford engineers will do that to keep the Ranger *fresh*.



I like the Photoshop job.



Have a good one



Bob

 

[Travis Munday]

The latest rumors I've heard about the Ranger is continued freshenings until 2009 or 2010, at which point the Ranger will either be dropped, replaced, or significantly updated, just 25 years after thier last major update, which was of course the introduction of the Ranger as a stand-alone model. Sure the dropping of the I beam suspension was a big deal...but the frame, interior, and exterior haven't been updated since 95/93.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Like I suggested. Ford could have taken the Explorer Chassis and modified it to accept the solid rear axle. Then a slight refreshing of the bady and they could have, for a minimal amount of money, redesigned both the Sport Trac and the Ranger. They then would have a mid-size Truck with an option for a V8.



Instead they screw the Trac up and ignore the Ranger.



Boneheads!!! And they wonder why they are so deep in debt. Maybe if they actually listened to customers, they wouldn't be in financial trouble.





Tom

 

[Deleted deleted]

Wish any manufacturer would start making a mini-pickup again! I'd love to have a Nissan, Toyota, Ford, or Mazda lil' pickup again. Don't want or need one of the 3/4 sized monsters.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Darin,



You don't think the Ranger is mini? It is the only mini truck left.





Tom

 

[Deleted deleted]

I agree the Ranger is the lone mini-truck left. Owned one back in '97... wasn't impressed. The I-4 was a dog, and the 4.0L V-6 (160hp) wasn't any better in the one I owned.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I guess the new I4's are pretty peppy and the 4.0L will rock. The 3.0 should be put out of its misery.





Tom

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Is the 3.0 the same as the one in the Taurus/Sable (the Vulcan or Duratech)?



My son is looking at the Ranger with a 3.0 and I can't vouch either way for it. I know the 3.0 in DW's Sable is bulletproof, and other than tranny issues (thank god for ESP) and rusty coolant (known flaw on the Sable/Taurus that supposedly has been fixed) I have no issues for 100k miles.

 

[Travis Munday]

cruz,

It's the Vulcan 3.0, OHV. I wish we got the OHC Duratec...but we're not quite lucky enough in the Ranger.



The 3.0 is good for a kid to get...not enough power to get in a whole lot of trouble, but MPG is poor at best. It's got power numbers just slightly up from the I-4, but MPG numbers to match the 4.0 (which is way more powerful). I would never buy another Ranger with the 3.0, new at least, it just doesn't have enough power and sucks too much gas.

 

[Bart Adkins]

I had a 97 ranger with the 4 cyl...cheap on gas hauled WAY over capacity on firewood, gravel...you name it. That truck was a mini beast. Indestructable I swear!

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Thanks Tiger. If the mileage is the same or close, I'm going to steer him to the 4.0. My concern with the 4.0 was mileage, he's a young (21) kid with high insurance and I was concerned with the mileage of the 4.0.



He really wants a Tacoma Prerunner, but they are really proud of them, even 2-3 years old used.



He has saved almost 5k during his deployment to the med, so he will not have to big a payment.



Good thing is we both work on the same base, so we can carpool, but I,m not sure I want to make my working hours match his (him: ~0600-1600, me: ~0800-1400 most days)

 

[Travis Munday]

Ah, i thought you meant a new driver...in that case a 4.0 is fine. I've just know quite a few new, or nearly new, drivers of 4.0 Rangers get themselves into trouble because of the power. It's not anymore powerful then the ST, but the Ranger is quite a bit lighter so it seems more pwoerful. Don't be surprised when he has to buy new tires for the back.....