[ausrutherford]

With the rising gas prices, the Ranger has seen sales go up this year so Minnesota Senator Coloman is asking Ford to keep the plant open.

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/ne...kes-pitch-to-keep-ranger-factory-running.html

 

[escapen]

Hmmm interesting, I know alot of people that depend on that plant for the local economy. I mean Minneapolis isnt anywhere near Ohio or others with bad economic situation in the city- or population loss for that matter.

Myabe Ford could idle the plant after ranger production ends this year, then go up, re-tool, overhaul, and make it for F100 production. I doubt this just because once a plant closure has been announced, its pretty much set in stone

 

[MN12Fan]

Well why not? Why not keep the current Ranger going until there's an actual replacement ready for it, as opposed to only having one planned with nothing on the market? Maybe Ford could even get the ball rolling by putting new engines in the Ranger and simply switch them over to the new truck when it comes around. The new engines, of course, would be the new 2.5L I4 and the 3.7L V6. Bottom line is what's better? Making some money or making no money?

 

[ausrutherford]

Well why not? Why not keep the current Ranger going until there's an actual replacement ready for it, as opposed to only having one planned with nothing on the market? Maybe Ford could even get the ball rolling by putting new engines in the Ranger and simply switch them over to the new truck when it comes around. The new engines, of course, would be the new 2.5L I4 and the 3.7L V6. Bottom line is what's better? Making some money or making no money?

Yes but read the acticle they would have to reengineer the roof on the Ranger to keep it going.

 

[blank disk]

How about a factory roll cage?

 

[1931Chevy]

If I was Ford management this is what I would do, since the implementation for the roll over and stability bar is for year 2010, I would make the 2010 production run until lets say october or nov 2009, that means that there will be plenty of 2010 model in inventory and they could keep selling them until summer 2010 ,and that way the ranger will be off the market until they introduce a new one by winter 2010 and make the production in early 2011 as a 2012 model. So that will mean just some 8 to 10 month without the ranger, not a bad idea

 

[MN12Fan]

Yes but read the acticle they would have to reengineer the roof on the Ranger to keep it going.

Even so, it's still like what I said before: is it better to make some money or no money at all? And exactly how much would it cost to implement the necessary revisions that the article mentions? The article mentions that it wouldn't be "worth Ford's time or money," but is this really true? It's not like the current Ranger costs Ford much to produce as it is. With as few changes as there have been for the truck over the years there must be a phenomenon like the Crown Victoria's in effect where production costs aren't very high.

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

they could also change the drivetrains like dropping the old 3.0L and 4.0L for the Duratec 30/35, same for the 4-cyl, their upcoming 2.5L could replace the old 2.3L

 

[F14CRAZY]

Why not? It isn't like Ford is going to lose money by producing the Ranger until they legally can't produce it anymore without revisions. Isn't it like the most reliable vehicle Ford makes? Pretty simple machine and I mean its been like the same since '93 so they've had time to figure things out on it

The factory roll cage would work though...