Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: hpb
Ranger is Ford Australia's best seller. I drive one most days at work, a dual cab 4x4 with 3.2 diesel and 6 speed auto.
I'm just over 6ft and there's plenty of room, front or back. Don't know what engine options the US would get, we only have diesels, in 2.2 or 3.2, with either 6sp manual or auto. They're a good thing, powerful and economical, decent off-road capability, haven't seen or heard any reliability issues.
My only complaint is a lot of engine noise inside the cabin, and the auto trans is a bit schizo at times...from what I've read, the upgrade model addresses these issues.
LOL, ignored as usual when stating what it is versus what it could be...no wonder Lucas sells so well.
BTW guys, the Ford Ranger is also a Mazda BT50...it's sold in other places already.
And it's pretty big compared to my D22 Nissan Frontier (Navara here).
Yes, the Ranger that's currently sold in most of the world shares absolutely nothing except for branding with the former US model. They are going to be at least as different as a 2003 S-10 and a 2015 Colorado, which also share nothing.
People get mixed up because Ford used the name on two totally separate platforms for over a decade simultaneously. Pretty much everyone else gave trucks different names in different markets, and especially if they were built on different platforms. One was a Ford developed platform for the Americas, the other a Mazda platform for everywhere else. Ford/Mazda discontinued the two old platforms in 2011/2012 when the second generation, larger Mazda BT-50 was introduced along with its sibling, the current "T6" Ranger. The US lost the Ranger at that point.
I am glad Ford is considering offering a less than full size pickup in North America again, despite the fact that it will have nothing in common with previous North American Rangers (aside from hopefully being smaller than an F-150). Small trucks will never be like they were 15-20 years ago again, in size or perceived value of the base models. There are upsides and downsides to that, but it's not going to change unless there is a trend towards deregulation of vehicles (not gonna happen). Obviously, owning two of them and having owned others in the past, I like the former North American Rangers a lot, but nothing quite like that will or even can be built again.
I might even consider a T6 based Ranger as a daily driver in the future, though I'd probably view it as more of an appliance than my old Louisville, KY and Twin Cities, MN build Rangers.
To put things in perspective, my North American 1994 Ranger stickered for about $17K USD when new, which would be somewhere around $27K now. It has no air bags, manual windows, manual locks, rear ABS only. Largest engine available, manual trans, manual t-case, manual hubs. It DOES have power lumbar, power side bolsters, adjustable front bolsters, power mirrors, A/C, floor console (like what you'd get in the same year Explorer Eddie Bauer), bucket seats, etc. All factory. Nobody builds anything like that anymore, because frankly it doesn't make a ton of sense, but I think the thing is awesome and it has been very reliable, especially given it has been kicking around for over two decades.
