TACO leads small pickup sales AGAIN in August 2017

I've known many Ford owners over the years complain about the transmissions. Besides the trucks, I had a tranny go out at about 60K on a Ford Taurus. Front wheel drive $$$$.

 

I looked and looked at the Ridgeline, it missed a couple points for me like you guys. No extra cab, no 6' bed, or manual trans...and a bit low to the ground for me (even if you lift them) I don't wheel too-too hard, but do like run down miles and miles of washboards. The independent suspension at all 4 corners will be smoother, my stepfather has a Highlander, we have taken it down dirt roads...it is much smoother than my Tacoma with RaceRunner coil overs up front, and OME in the rear. Question is, how will the Honda it hold up over years and years of washboards, guessing not well.

I drive 25K miles a year, half commuting, the other 50% is out exploring/camping. Don't really mind the ride, or the seats in the Tacoma...prefer manual trans over autos, so no issues with odd shifting patterns.

Main problem is the price, don't really want to shell out $35K to get a manual trans in the ACLB...Toyota used to offer the V6 manny in a lower trim, but that disappeared with the 3rd gens. Maybe if they offered it in the SR for around $28K, I wouldn't be bitching. Keep on surfing the used market for a super low mile (under 30K) ACLB V6/MT, but the prices are sometimes more than new...with that you might as buy new. So I look at the SR 4-CYL...price is right, but have to give up on towing capacity. Gas mileage appears to be ok, "think" I can squeeze out 25 mpg...as my commute is 60 miles round trip, mostly flat, no stop and go traffic, and I set the cruise at 63 mph.

 

Ford will launch the new Ranger in 2018 in North America

It's designed in Australia and it's an excellent truck

That is if Ford doesn't mess it up and change it again like they did with the Sierra, Mondeo and Focus when they launched them in North America

I went to South Africa for a visit in April and they are everywhere

The new Ranger dethroned the Toyota Hilux as top selling pickup, the Hilux has been no 1 for probably thirty years

They are six speed turbo diesels, a 2.2 Litre (147hp 224 lb-ft) 4 cylinder, and a 3.2 Litre (197hp 346 lb-ft) 5 cylinder

They really go, a few passed us on the highway probably doing 140-160 km/h


You get 2.5L gas models as well

It’s a great truck, my friend owns the 3.2 in the photo and he’s very happy with it, he pulls a huge boat on a trailer on it without problems

 

Nice looking truck!

 

No manuals then?

 

They are available in 6 speed manual and auto

 

Ford Ranger Raptor high performance pickup ready to fly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHGW5MXlKh8


http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2017/09/07/ford-ranger-raptor-high-performance-pickup-ready-to-fly.html

 

I have to lol at the thought of North America getting what South Africa and Australia get. Guys, we do not get what is offered in other places, nor do they get what is offered here. Sorry. We get a Tacoma instead of a Hilux. We will get some Ranger, probably with two engine options (4 and 6 cyl. gas) and that's it. I doubt they will even offer the manual version.

 

Lol. My dad lived in southern Ohio and his closest neighbors were a gun club and a coal mine. Some people don't know. I'd say the closest store to get milk from was 25 miles round trip or so, so yeah an hour for a quick trip is probably about right for some parts of the world.

Of course we had a cow and you just walk to the barn in 5 minutes, but...

 

I also don't get broadband internet, cable, and cell coverage is probably 65% of the area I need to drive. When i pull out of my driveway it 9 miles to the 1st stop sign and if someone would want to go to McDonald's from here it is a 22 mile drive.

 

Can I ask what county you live in without it being creepy? My dad lived in Vinton.

 

Damn!! Nice! That's pretty badass no doubt. They were gettin it on that test course. Wonder what they'll cost. Low $40s?

 

It's on the Ford US website already

https://www.ford.com/trucks/ranger/2019/

 

To all the takers...well...bye.

 

Actually we do sometimes....not often, but it happens. The whole Merkur lineup were European Fords. GM has rebadged Holdens from Australia and sold them under a Chevy/Pontiac banner in just the last 15 years. Oh, and let's not forget the current Ford Transit that is a heavily based on the Transit sold in other parts of the world. It happens. And the test mule sure as hell looks a helluva lot like the Ranger sold overseas...and it's testing a diesel engine. Between the Ranger, new Frontier, and even the new JK p/u the Tacoma may finally have some significant competition that doesn't look like ass (I'm looking at you Colorado/Canyon)....

https://www.trucks.com/2017/08/11/spy-shots-ford-ranger-raptor-diesel/

https://www.trucks.com/2017/08/23/spy-shots-2020-ford-ranger-raptor/

 

I posted the Ranger pics the other day

Here's some of a Hilux game drive truck I took at Pilanesberg Game Reserve

 

That ugly thing will not sell here. It wont help if people find out that is not an American designed truck either.

 

Going to be built in Michigan. American version tweaked by Ford America. Supposed to look more like a smaller version of the 2018 F150. Will have two versions of Ecoboost engines and possibly a diesel. Next September is going to be interesting.

 

Google "ford transmission issues".

F150, explorer, escape, fiesta, focus.....oh my.

 

Australian truck with American brand name on it. That's just how I see it though.