New Ford Ranger

[floyd]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Floyd , the article said that the price of aluminum was putting Ford at a cost disadvantage. If I remember the article correctly the increased price in aluminum could cost Ford an additional $300 per truck.
One more problem was that Russia controls most of the world's bauxite supply. If other auto manufacturers follow Ford's lead then we could see the price of vehicles as well as other aluminum products rise dramatically
If you think this is a big joke , that's your privilege but a I for one can invision this becoming a competitive disadvantage for Ford.

I didn't say it was a big joke, and I appreciate your post.
If they were to make the new Ranger out of aluminum, it might be worth the extra $300 in production cost.
You mentioned the price of aluminum beer cans raising the price of beer,I'm just curious if the buyer could make it back on increased recycle costs. Heck, I don't even drink beer.
I looked it up just now and the chart I saw said aluminum has been a dollar a pound for several months now and last I checked our local recyclers were paying less than 30¢
Thing is they were paying 75¢ ten years ago.
These things tend to be self correcting.

In 1912 Charles Van Hise , in his book"The Conservation Of Our Natural Resources" warned that the world would run out of crude oil before 1935.
That was no joke when it was written... and he was the most respected geologist of his time, and a Progressive with a PHD from the University of WI.
Our relatively small single train refinery in Joliet processes 260,000 barrels of crude per day in 2018, a hundred years after Hise's Death.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by floyd

I didn't say it was a big joke, and I appreciate your post.
If they were to make the new Ranger out of aluminum, it might be worth the extra $300 in production cost.
You mentioned the price of aluminum beer cans raising the price of beer,I'm just curious if the buyer could make it back on increased recycle costs. Heck, I don't even drink beer.
I looked it up just now and the chart I saw said aluminum has been a dollar a pound for several months now and last I checked our local recyclers were paying less than 30¢
Thing is they were paying 75¢ ten years ago.
These things tend to be self correcting.

In 1912 Charles Van Hise , in his book"The Conservation Of Our Natural Resources" warned that the world would run out of crude oil before 1935.
That was no joke when it was written... and he was the most respected geologist of his time, and a Progressive with a PHD from the University of WI.
Our relatively small single train refinery in Joliet processes 260,000 barrels of crude per day in 2018, a hundred years after Hise's Death.

From the tone of the article and comments, the fact that the price of a Ford truck may rise was not a major concern but the price rise in another commodity was a major issue . Floyd , living in Illinois I believe you have a pretty good idea what motivates the citizens of Wisconsin. The State Assembly tried to raise the tax on beer 1 cents per can awhile back and there were protests and a write in campaign.
The sad thing is the Tavern League is the most powerful lobby in Wisconsin.

[Paul O.]

Couple of days ago the owner of the beer store told me that Coors is raising prices and I asked if he knew why. He did not, but the cost of aluminum might have something to do with it. The increase was about $1 (5%) on a case, if I remember correctly.

[the_fixer]

Had a chance to look at the new Ranger in person at the Denver auto show. Looks really nice unfortunately they had a cage around it so I couldn't get a look at the interior but what I could see was nice.

[the_fixer]

One last photo

[steve dunham]

What a great looking truck. It is a vehicle anyone would be proud to own. The only thing that would improve the visuals is if a FG trailer was hooked on the back .

[Sunrisetrucker]

Looks a lot like the Colorado/Canyon truck

[Glenn Baglo]

At some point the cab will have grown so large and the box so small that it will no longer be a truck, but an SUV.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

At some point the cab will have grown so large and the box so small that it will no longer be a truck, but an SUV.

yah, my thoughts exactly. whats that back for, your skate board? golf bag?

THIS is a truck :-p

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Sunrisetrucker

Looks a lot like the Colorado/Canyon truck

Yup, and a Toyota from the side view also. Sure would be nice if the designers would go back to the 60s thinking...like being able to tell from a half mile away it's make and model. Seems most cars today all look like a potato with wheels....bummer.

[Nor Cal Mike]

I have been less than thrilled by the styling of trucks since the early 2000's. But I admit that by the way they fly out the showroom door as fast as they can be manufactured, I surely am in the minority. However I must say I do like the bells and whistles and efficiency of the new offerings. Although I am highly suspicious about the long term viability of anything with a turbo or turbos on it.

[Raz]

Last of the old school. Gone next year.

[Jon in AZ]

Take care of it, Raz, and keep that VT road salt rinsed off. It's a classic!

I'm sure the new ones are better in almost every objective performance metric, but there's a lot to be said for the simplicity and value of old school. My last truck was a 1998 Frontier King Cab 4x4, 4 cylinder, 5 speed stick shift, manual transfer case and hubs. Fun truck. White.

I feel the same about our 2006 CR-V. Like your Frontier, it's the last of its generation. And hey, it's white, too.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by Raz

Last of the old school. Gone next year.

Hi: Raz... You and me both!!! 160,000 km.= 100,000 mi.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[floyd]

I prefer to drive most of my miles on pavement and at speed. If you went by all the write-ups on this truck you would think that it only came with an off road package capable of 5MPH over terrain that 99.9% of the new Rangers will never see.
It is hard to find good photos of the Supercab or the 2WD versions.
Every article I can find contains almost no information on either.

I think the Supercab 2WD will be more proportional in appearance.
With a 6ft box at a decent height it should do all the "truck" things I want to do, while still performing daily transportation duties in comfort.
I fear that it will be too big in person, but I suspect it will be "rightsized" for the tasks for which it was designed.
It may well be "2020" before my "perfect vision" of truck and price can come together.

[Mike Magee]

The side view of the new Ranger reminds me of the old Explorer Sport Trac. They had a short box like that.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

The side view of the new Ranger reminds me of the old Explorer Sport Trac. They had a short box like that.

Many of the fullsized 4 dr trucks have 5-1/2 ft boxes.
The Crewcab Ranger has a 5ft box.
The Supercab Ranger has a 6ft box, so it looks less like a SporTrac.
I loved the SporTrac,( it had a 4'2" box) Especially the Adrenalin, but the new Ranger will be even better.
Here is the Adrenalin...

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Take care of it, Raz, and keep that VT road salt rinsed off. It's a classic!

Sat in the driveway all winter, willpower. Two hundred miles on it and with luck it will never see salt. The problem is now I've got to put 500 mile on it before it can tow anything. I'm very lucky.

[stude]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

What a great looking truck. It is a vehicle anyone would be proud to own. The only thing that would improve the visuals is if a FG trailer was hooked on the back .

:Steve, a 8' box would do wonders to as I Like campers in the back that sleep 2 and only 2. Take it off now I have a pickup for hauling just any old thing.
Stude

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by stude

:Steve, a 8' box would do wonders to as I Like campers in the back that sleep 2 and only 2. Take it off now I have a pickup for hauling just any old thing.
Stude

My Ram Quad Cab has a 6 ft 4" box . I wish it had the 8 ft box .
All things are a compromise . My buddy had a Ford Crew Cab with the 8 ft box . It was great for hunting and fishing but was a little large for a commuter vehicle.