Return of the Ford Ranger

[bluemingidiot]

According to Car And Driver, the truck could be on dealer lots around the country by 2019.  They say it will be about $25K.

Bronco is reported to come back a couple of years later.

I never related to Broncos.  They are a cross between a pickup and a jeep and have the worst features of both.

[woolybear]

I loved our first bronco. I could get it in and out of tight spots. Could haul 2 deer with the back seat folded up. Handled well on snowy roads, way better than my 1999 expedition which I compared to a pregnant pig on ice. It's only major malfunction was it was a rust bucket. A 1989 blue body with black top. Now resides down in the field with the 1975 F250 (cause you never know if you need to pull them out of the mothballs).
Then DH found a 1995 red bronco that he now drives to work and around town. I didn't care for the handling of that one, which is ok cause DH drives it not me lol.
Now I have to remember to tell DH that Ford is bringing the broncos back.

[Mr DAVID In Wisconsin]

I had 3 Rangers in a row. I overloaded them, abused them, went 4 wheelin, never did maintenance and they just went on and on. They were great little trucks for the money.

[hermitjohn]

$25k base model Ranger! Indeed a brave new world. Can only imagine base price on the F150!!!! Looks like none of car companies are going to make an affordable vehicle for the current economic reality. Just pretend everybody is making what they should be making and go from there. And its not going to be the small compact pickup with diesel option that Ford sells everywhere else in the world, its going to a midsize bloated Ranger only slightly smaller than an F150. I imagine it also will be automagic tranny only. Probably just a pickup version of the current generation Explorer.

As to Bronco. I had a first generation 1972 Bronco with the 200-6 and three on the tree. Got 22mpg and had plenty power for my needs. Also had heavy duty solid axles. It was best of breed. Its downside was that its a real rustbucket vehicle. Ford couldnt have designed a more rust prone vehicle. I've tried to find used one several times that body was still usable, but either they are complete rusted out hulk basket cases, or they are priced for crazy collector type people. Plus they have all been converted to V8 since that brings more money. That 200-6 was best match for these. The older 170-6 was underpowered and got worse mileage cause way it was geared.

The Bronco II wasnt near the vehicle that the first generation Bronco was and only offered that horrible 2.8L and 2.9L.

[hermitjohn]

May 19, 2016 3:53:02 GMT woolybear said:

Then DH found a 1995 red bronco .

Full size "F150 based" Bronco?  The Bronco II ended in 1990 though there was a 2door Explorer Sport that was offered through 90s and ended in early 2000s.  Think full size Bronco went to 1995/6.

[woolybear]

May 19, 2016 17:28:15 GMT hermitjohn said:

May 19, 2016 3:53:02 GMT woolybear said:

Then DH found a 1995 red bronco .

Full size "F150 based" Bronco?  The Bronco II ended in 1990 though there was a 2door Explorer Sport that was offered through 90s and ended in early 2000s.  Think full size Bronco went to 1995/6.

 Both are full size broncos. I was going to post a pic. but the only ones I have the bronco is buried under several inches to foot of snow from 2010, LOL. Let's see if I can post a pic.

[Deleted]

I saw the new Ranger in the Bahamas last year when on a cruise. Nice looking truck. Not sure it is 25K nice. Might need to wait three or four years and pick up a used one. Will be nice to see how they compare to the Tacoma.

[hermitjohn]

May 19, 2016 21:36:33 GMT @macmad said:

I saw the new Ranger in the Bahamas last year when on a cruise. Nice looking truck. Not sure it is 25K nice. Might need to wait three or four years and pick up a used one. Will be nice to see how they compare to the Tacoma.

This is not a useful truck unless your only use is to haul around washing machine....  Not sure it could even manage that without a trailer hitched to it.  This is just another car missing its trunk lid.

[woolybear]

So that's the 4 door bronco we heard about a couple of years ago. BUT where's the cap that covers the back?? All that is is a 4 door short bed truck, tain't my hubby's bronco.

[bowdonkey]

I never understood why they quit making it in the first place. Best selling mini truck at the time. If my memory serves me right 2000 employees lost their jobs here in MN when they closed a plant? I believe Ford was doing fine at the time. I've had 2 Rangers, an 87 4X4 2.9L manual transmission, got 26mpg on a good day on the highway, 21-22 mpg avg in the hill country of SW WI. It had 330,000 miles 21 years later when the tranny went south. A great truck, it took alot abuse and did alot of heavy trailering over the years. Now I got 2000 Ranger 4X4, loaded, has the 3L and an automatic transmission. About 18-19mpg, nothing special in that department, but still comfortable. I use it now just for those rare hauling trips. I second they need to build a real mini TRUCK again, that gets mileage and resists rust. A real problem here in MN. Vehicle bodies last 5 years tops, up here. And at a price the new middle class can afford.

[willowgirl]

Best news I've heard all day!