2005Explorer

Retirement planning flawed? I'm a teacher so I will have state retirement which is decent. I served 21 years in the Army National Guard and retired as a Major so when I turn 60 I will get retirement plus qualify for Tri-care health insurance. I already do all my medical through the VA and since I got myself into the system after the Iraq War so I'm golden there. I also inherited 1000 acres of farm land I share in an LLC holding company with my two siblings. I also have my home half paid off and own 160 acres of ag land free and clear myself. If I'm not ok for retirement there's going to be a lot of people in trouble. I was just commenting about the current rate of inflation is way outpacing my raises and that creates a problem. Not for high income earners like yourself and others on the forum, but for people like me and others stuck in the middle of middle class it does.

I know that the majority of forum users here have 6 digit plus incomes so rapidly rising vehicle prices are not an issue, but many of us are being priced out of the new vehicle (and even used) market with these prices that are inflating much faster then our salary. Now I commend Ford for introducing both the Ranger and Maverick which are priced at the lower to middle of the new truck market, but at the current rate of vehicle inflation F-Series is soon going to become a vehicle only the upper class can own. Inflation is well liked on these forums, but it creates a problem for many of us when we only get 3% annual raises, but everything else is going up much faster then that. Of course at some point it could all come crashing down if the market does a readjustment. Real estate is also absolutely crazy right now. How long can it all go on?

So can we assume Job 1 sometime in late 2022 and availability first half 2023? It seems like the new Ranger has been pushed back about a year.

Not a bad idea. Thanks!

So my 3 year lease on my 2019 Ranger is up in April 2022. I know Ford Credit can extend leases up to 6 months and have been quite a bit lately, but do you think I would have a chance of getting one of those 2023 Rangers by October 2022? When is Job 1? Anyone know? I'm afraid it'll probably be calendar 2023 by the time we see them, but one can be hopeful.

If a premium strategy is the way to go why not discontinue all F-Series XLT and XL models and focus on Lariat and above? Let Ram and GM have all those cheap rubber floor fleet sales and value driven products like STX since there is a lot more profit in luxury truck sales. I'm not saying they should do this, but removing all less then premium trim in their product lines would increase product. Correct?

The whole notion that the Ford brand competes against Mercedes or Porsche is ridiculous in my opinion. Ford competes against mainstream brands Toyota, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, Jeep, Ram, Hyundai, etc. Maybe Lincoln can build it’s brand up and go after small scale luxury or boutique brands, but sorry no one is paying thousands more for an Escape over a RAV4 or CRV just because of the blue oval. The same holds true when it comes to pickup trucks. The F-150 has to remain competitive and close in price to the Silverado and Ram. The Ranger with the Tacoma and Colorado. The Bronco with the Wrangler and on and on. The whole idea that Ford can move to small volumes and raise their prices thousands over the mainstream competition and remain relevant as a major automaker in the future baffles me.

At some point though volume definitely comes into play if you want to be a major automaker and not a boutique brand. You can price a Ford only so high before people will just go get an alternative brand for less that is just as good. Parts and raw material fabrication also becomes more and more expensive to source when it's only for a few vehicles. Also empty dealer lots isn't a good way to sell vehicles if other automakers have stocked lots. I understand why this is happening, but long term empty lots and low production is not a good strategy even if ATPs are higher. At some point you will drive the company into the ground if there is no supply and prices are not competitive for similar models from other automakers.

The thing is they probably need to really go deep into why these tops are failing so quickly because it is something that need to last for a very long time even exposed to all sorts of elements.

If there is one constant about the Ford Motor Company in it’s 118 year history is that only when it’s back is against the wall and financial ruin is staring it in the eyes does it somehow do a magical management transformation and/or come out with some ingenious new product. Most companies who have been in such bad places just fail, but somehow there are just enough people in that company that care so much about it they turn it around over and over.

Tacoma might have over double the Ranger sales, but the fact that Ranger is now outselling the combined Colorado/Canyon GM twins that is a reason to celebrate.

Yeah the switchgear in the current Ranger looks like it came out of a mid 2000's Focus. I think it's mainly because it uses the same interior as the RoW Ranger and that was designed more as a commercial vehicle then a consumer one. They just freshened up the fabrics, trim and tech goodies and said we're done. ?

I have a Ranger with the same powertrain and start/stop and you’ll get used to it after awhile. At least I did.

I might be in the minority, but since I would likely drive more on the road vs off I think a non Sasquatch would be a nicer vehicle for cruising down the highway and probably better MPG as well.

I am at my dealership to get my Ranger serviced and they look like they are going out of business right now. Zero new F-Series on the lot. Any coming on are sold according to a salesman. On the lot 2 Explorers, 3 Edges, 5 Escapes, 2 Eco Sports and about 3 Rangers from what I can count.

I am fine with that, but I specifically chose the Ranger for it's trim size, but real truck capability. I just don't want to lose that nice trim design that makes it so great to drive in traffic, tight streets and trails while being easy to park.

I hope Ford resists the urge to grow the Ranger several inches in length and width like some have called for because it will then just be a less capable F150. The capability of the Ranger is in a totally different class then the Maverick so I don't think the fact it is only a little larger is a problem. Could the Ranger use a slight stretch on the cab? Sure. But when I hear calls to make the Ranger several inches larger in width and length I think all you will do is make it a less capable F150. Grow it too much and it becomes pointless.

Well to be fair it's not really an "old" truck in this market. It's not like you have people with a 2014 model not wanting to trade up to a new one because it's too similar. Most Ranger buyers are probably still new to this generation of Ranger in this market.

That new Zephyr is beautiful. Sadly we will never see anything like it in the USA.

As long as BlueCruise doesn't malfunction and you end up having to use your BlueCross-BlueShield plan at the hospital!

I wish the whole "The new Ranger is about the same size as a 1996 F-150" BS would just stop. Since Ranger is only offered in a SuperCab or Super Crew configuration the best 1996 F-150 to compare it with from that era is the SuperCab 6.5' bed model. The new Ranger has a 126.8" wheelbase, is 210.8" in length and 73" wide. A 1996 F-150 in a similar configuration had a 138.8" wheelbase, 219.1" length and 79" wide. That is a pretty significant difference. You might remember those F-Series as small, but they really weren't small and not "almost" the same size as the new Ranger.

I hear what you're saying, but adding extra branding to an already known vehicle line usually just adds more badging for badging sake and like you said everyone would still just call it a Ranger and not an F-100. Super Duty was introduced on F-250 and above because they are heavy duty trucks and since there is a whole range of models from F-250 to F-550 and above it makes sense to have the F-Series Super Duty badged with both. There is one Ranger. Even when the restyled one comes it'll still have it's own cab and interior. It won't be an F-Series even if it has similar Ford Truck styling cues. If you have a vehicle that everyone is going to call a Ranger anyhow just leave it a Ranger. Number nomenclatures only matter if they were to build different GVWR Rangers like the F-Series. Rangers have been advertised as a Ford Truck along with the F-Series as long as I can remember. I just saw a Ford truck TV ad a little while back advertising Ranger and F-Series. Besides all of the other mid-sized trucks go by model names so it fits in nicely with the class.

Don’t mess with the Ranger branding. Ranger is a far better nameplate then F-100 and has been Ford’s smaller truck since 1983. The only reason you change the name of a vehicle is if you are trying to make people forget about a model that had poor reputation before it was redesigned. Lincoln already went down that path and is back to model names. Besides if the Ranger is the F-100 then shouldn’t the Maverick be the F-50? F-Series is full sized trucks and means nothing in the smaller classes.

It will. I own a Ranger which uses the same conventional truck style transfer case and drive line the Bronco will use and it has never let me down in deep snow or getting out of a muddy field which took a heck of a lot of effort. There is a big difference between the system that will be used on the T6 Bronco vs this modified Escape system.

So my question is when exactly will this new 2023 redesigned Ranger be for sale? I ask this because I currently have a 2019 Ranger leased and that lease ends in April 2022. I really want a Ranger again, but I’d rather have the new one versus the 2022 which will basically be the same as mine. Last, does Ford Credit ever extend leases for someone who has been a good customer if they are waiting on a new model? If so how long? Thanks to anyone that has some insight on this.