boss doc Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 A year ago, I was on safari in South Africa and rode in the outfitters vehicle, a new Ford Ranger with a diesel and 6 speed manual, 4WD. Solid, good acceleration. Would love to see that in the US. Would replace my F-150 without hesitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 A year ago, I was on safari in South Africa and rode in the outfitters vehicle, a new Ford Ranger with a diesel and 6 speed manual, 4WD. Solid, good acceleration. Would love to see that in the US. Would replace my F-150 without hesitation. Good to hear. Minus the diesel, I would buy the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I was thinking about this the other day. In 2009 F series sales dropped below 500K when they had been over 1M in 2004. This left a lot of excess plant capacity I assume. Adding a Ranger at that time wasn't smart. But now that F series is approaching 800K again and looks to continue growing with a new SD on the way they have to be getting close to factory capacity, so adding Ranger from another plant makes more sense to gain incremental sales. Just a thought about what is different now vs. 5-8 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I was thinking about this the other day. In 2009 F series sales dropped below 500K when they had been over 1M in 2004. This left a lot of excess plant capacity I assume. Adding a Ranger at that time wasn't smart. But now that F series is approaching 800K again and looks to continue growing with a new SD on the way they have to be getting close to factory capacity, so adding Ranger from another plant makes more sense to gain incremental sales. Just a thought about what is different now vs. 5-8 years ago. You know, that's a very good point. I would expect F-Series sales to sell 850-900k next year, and with the Expedition and Navigator taking up some sales from KTP (they weren't there in '04-'05, were they?), they will likely be about tapped out on F-Series production. Having a small truck will likely absorb some of those F-Series sales, and also have Ford set up for when gas prices spike back up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Small truck sales didn't spike when gas went up last time so I don't think that would necessarily trigger more Ranger sales. Unless they come up with some super high mpg models - much higher than the current Ranger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Small truck sales didn't spike when gas went up last time so I don't think that would necessarily trigger more Ranger sales. Unless they come up with some super high mpg models - much higher than the current Ranger. 1 - The small trucks available were really crappy, with not much better fuel economy than the full-sizers 2 - I think the US Ranger will get better fuel economy than the current Ranger, with a significant improvement over the F150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I think it has to get significantly better mpg than the F150. Maybe then can do that with aluminum and a 1.5L/2.0L EB plus 10 speed tranny on a lightened 1/4 ton platform. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I think it has to get significantly better mpg than the F150. Maybe then can do that with aluminum and a 1.5L/2.0L EB plus 10 speed tranny on a lightened 1/4 ton platform. So same engine options as the fusion/escape? I could live with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So same engine options as the fusion/escape? I could live with that. Exactly. The 1.5L might work if it's light enough, otherwise the 2.0 would be fine compared to the 2.7 in the F150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Exactly. The 1.5L might work if it's light enough, otherwise the 2.0 would be fine compared to the 2.7 in the F150. So if the 1.5 is too small, go with the 2.0EB and 2.3EB and keep the 2.5NA as the base engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 And 2.7L EB in the Baby Raptor version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So if the 1.5 is too small, go with the 2.0EB and 2.3EB and keep the 2.5NA as the base engine I don't see 2.5NA being necessary as anything other than a cheap base model. I think the 1.5L EB would get better MPG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 And 2.7L EB in the Baby Raptor version. Absolutely. I think that's a given that we would get a high performance version. That seems to be Ford's new strategy to grow sales and profits incrementally across the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I don't see 2.5NA being necessary as anything other than a cheap base model. I think the 1.5L EB would get better MPG. I can see them making that the base engine like they do with the Fusion and Escape, though I can't really argue your logic either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I can see them making that the base engine like they do with the Fusion and Escape, though I can't really argue your logic either. But in the Fusion and Escape those are base/cheapo/stripper models only. Same as the 3.5L V6 Mustang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 But in the Fusion and Escape those are base/cheapo/stripper models only. Same as the 3.5L V6 Mustang. Not entirely. I can go buy a reasonably optioned Fusion SE or Escape SE right now that have the 2.5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Not entirely. I can go buy a reasonably optioned Fusion SE or Escape SE right now that have the 2.5. I didn't realize they were still offering SE models with at least some options with the 2.5L. Good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I didn't realize they were still offering SE models with at least some options with the 2.5L. Good to know. That might be changing with the 2017 models, I think Escape for sure has been announced as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I didn't realize they were still offering SE models with at least some options with the 2.5L. Good to know.My 2007 Milan has the V6, but after riding in several First Gen Fusions/Milans I wish I had order the 2.5L Plenty enough power for me. Sadly, the manual transmission is gone. Several people I know had very positive comments on the 2.5L 5 (6?) speed manual combination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 My 2007 Milan has the V6, but after riding in several First Gen Fusions/Milans I wish I had order the 2.5L Plenty enough power for me. Sadly, the manual transmission is gone. Several people I know had very positive comments on the 2.5L 5 (6?) speed manual combination. I had a 2006 3.0L Fusion and wished I had gotten the 2.5L every time I filled up the tank. So naturally I replaced it with a 2013 2.0LEB Titanium. But now the mpg doesn't bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) I had a 2006 3.0L Fusion and wished I had gotten the 2.5L every time I filled up the tank. So naturally I replaced it with a 2013 2.0LEB Titanium. But now the mpg doesn't bother me. Maybe it has something to do with sub-$2/gallon gas. You haven't wished for better MPG until you've had to swipe your credit card again because the $100 limit on the pump just isn't quite enough. Edited January 6, 2016 by fordmantpw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Maybe it has something to do with sub-$2/gallon gas. I think it has more to do with the 275 lb/ft vs.< 200 at lower RPM...... Plus I usually end up getting the city rating no matter what so the difference wasn't that big. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 My 2007 Milan has the V6, but after riding in several First Gen Fusions/Milans I wish I had order the 2.5L Plenty enough power for me. Sadly, the manual transmission is gone. Several people I know had very positive comments on the 2.5L 5 (6?) speed manual combination. My dad has a '14 with the 1.6/6-speed manual and has nothing but good things to say about it. I've driven it a few times as well and I love it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neddot Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 My uncle is driving a 2015 Colorado and it is a great little truck, not to small but not a full size pick up neither. I think there is a market for Ford to bring something out. I know fuel economy and price on the F150 is similar to some other small trucks, but some people just don't want the size of an f150. Like saying why pay 50k for mustang when you can get a very nice f150 of that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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