As if Chrysler'* discontinuation of the PT Cruiser/Pacifica wasn't enough, Ford announced that it will discontinue the entire Ranger line come 2009. Strange, but falling sales wasn't given as a reason.

Even stranger is that Ford seems to have the econo compact truck market all to itself with the Ranger (unless you also count the Isuzu-sourced tinier Chevy Colorado). Yet it can't seem to figure out how to capitalize on this, despite soaring fuel costs which are sure to take a chunk out of full-size truck sales in the near future.



RIP Ford Ranger. We knew ye well.

The econobox ranger did not get very good fuel mileage(to my knowlege) with any of it'* avaiable engine combo'*.

Toyota Tacoma?

x2, and plus the ugly body style stayed the same since like 1995, and only had minor updates, and the interior was seriously outdated.

Since when is the Colorado tiny? Was the Ranger offered in crew cab? No. Did the Ranger have a powerful 240hp straight 5 that gets pretty good MPGs for it'* HP rating? No. Did the Ranger have a torquey 185hp 4 cylinder that can outrun the Ranger'* 3.0 v6 in terms of Hp and TQ? No. What I am saying, is comparing the Ranger to the Colorado is like Apples and Oranges, the Colorado is a newer styled truck with newer technology, while the Ranger is still using a severely underpowered 3.0 V6 as it'* base V6 option, and body styling that originated from 1995.

Uhh, no?

Nissan Frontier?
Toyota Tacoma?
Dodge Dakota?
and of course...
Chevrolet Colorado?

Do your research, little boy... All of those trucks were LOADS better than the Ranger.

People that care about fuel mileage don't buy trucks

Actually, the body style changed in 1993.

For what they are, I actually liked the Ford Ranger. I owned a 1989 and my brother had a 1998. The 89 was pretty much junk, but his 98 put up with a lot of abuse.

The pending demise of the Ranger has been known for about three years now and has been discussed on the various Ranger forums for that long, always with small hope that Ford would replace it with something updated.

And yes, sales have been steadily falling for over ten years now. And yes, the oudated styling probably had something to do with it.

As to this comment...
This is just plain silly talk. There are many people who make a living by building and fixing all the places you like to live, work, and play in. A Malibu is no vehicle to do construction work with, whereas a Ranger and it'* ilk are the trucks that people who do care about gas mileage use every day to make sure that you have a roof over your head to play computer games under.

It would not surprise me if Ford re-entered the small truck market once it gets it'* sh** together enough to survive the next five years.