CAFE Spells RIP for Trucks: Ford Ranger the first casualty.

American Spectator ^ | 12.13.11 @ 6:07AM | Eric Peters

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The government's pending (2016) 35.5 MPG CAFE fuel economy requirements -- which for the first time apply to trucks as well as passenger cars -- are going to make it very difficult for any automaker to sell trucks in volume in this country.

Ford has just dropped the compact-size Ranger from its U.S. model lineup -- making it the first CAFE casualty -- and I predict that larger trucks are on the endangered species list now, too....

Even a small truck with a four-cylinder engine will have a hard time averaging 35.5 MPG....

[ROCKLOBSTER]

These people need small trucks.

Unless you're a cowboy or a fisherman I fail to see any valid purpose for a pickup (which is what we're talking about) other than hauling trash. Businesses and tradesmen use vans or real trucks.

[Carry_Okie]

I jest have to tell this story.

I told you all about how my dog loves this truck, but I'm dead certain you have no idea of what I mean. This was a six month old pup who'd jump through the drivers door from the downhill side to get in (over 5' up). Dax is one very smart, very active, VERY mischievous (in a nice way) Dutch Shepherd.

It's a pig trap and she's the pig... (nudge nudge)... ANYWAY...

In her mind, it's her truck, it's hers so much she tried to steal it. No, I'm not kidding.

I was loading tree tops into it one day. She was just a big puppy, about ten months old. Huge ears. I left her in the cab, loaded brush, came back to move it down the pile, and the keys were gone. I looked and looked... there they were, on the floorboards? WTF??? I put them in the ignition, started the truck, and moved it about twenty feet. I shut down the motor, left it in gear, got out, and loaded more tops. I came back and... the keys were gone again! There they were, on the floorboards. _@)^%(U@#$^)(&*. I looked at the puppy. She turned her head to look out the back window, "Wasn't me!!!" Stinker. Started the truck, moved it another twenty feet, shut it down, left it in gear, and put the keys in my pocket. When I got out... that dog started barking at me like I was a thief.

She'd been trying to start it. It would have gone too, with that dog sitting behind the wheel, those huge ears sticking out, happy as a clam. Thank G_d dogs tend to pull at what they bite and the keys came out or I'd have had a dead truck and possibly a dead dog.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

The new Ranger will be manufactured around the world in three volume production sites geared for regional reach, especially in growth regions.

The Ranger has long been virtually identical to the Mazda B-Series pickups. Various versions have been manufactured throughout Asia and South America.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“Unless you’re a cowboy or a fisherman I fail to see any valid purpose for a pickup (which is what we’re talking about) other than hauling trash. Businesses and tradesmen use vans or real trucks. “

It hasn’t got anything to do with need. Its supposed to be a free country. Thats the whole point of a free country, you can do what you want. Trying to rationalize a mandate to own or not own a certain type of vehicle is Socialism. Thats trying to take your opinion and force it on the rest of us. In a free country you don’t need a valid reason to buy anything. You can do it just because you freaking well want to. I urge you to free yourself and join the rest of us freedom loving Americans.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

>>I don’t understand why the automakers are not introducing the high torque, low displacement turbo charged diesels in trucks by now...The large trucks by now could be getting 28-32 mpg if they were to put these in...<<

If those kind of engines worked in trucks, highway transport trucks would be using them.

What do you think the Cummins 5.9L is? Semi's do use turbo diesels. The 6BT has a little brother called the 4BT. A turbo diesel gets better fuel mileage than a NA diesel.

[CSM]

The ranger being dropped in the US is not the result of the increased CAFE requirements. It is actually the product of the chicken tax. Seriously!

[Smokin' Joe]

If someone does manage to make a truck capable of 35 MPG, the next gubermint smackdown will be about the safety. After all, the body will have to be cardboard, and the frame plastic.

Maybe they just don't want anything sturdy enough to whip into a 'technical' out there...

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Trying to rationalize a mandate to own or not own a certain type of vehicle is Socialism. Thats trying to take your opinion and force it on the rest of us. In a free country you don’t need a valid reason to buy anything. You can do it just because you freaking well want to. I urge you to free yourself and join the rest of us freedom loving Americans.

First of all, I responded to a specific comment about what businesses need...and it ain't pickups. What are you, an auto manufacturer?

If not, you can have someone build the monster-truck behemoth of your dreams, have it get 1 MPG, hold 100 gallons of premium and drive it 75 MPH on the interstate.

You have the freedom to "BUY" all of that, but no manufacturer needs to make it.

On the other hand, something else less radical could also be custom built. I mean, wouldn't you really like to have a nice "overhauled" 55 Chevy pickup with modern brakes and GM drivetrain?

(I still think pickups are pretty useless except for plowing snow.)

[Osage Orange]

Guess you never lived on a ranch, or a farm.

Or even near any.....

[Georgia Girl 2]

“You have the freedom to “BUY” all of that, but no manufacturer needs to make it.”

Again let me repeat myself. It has nothing to do with need. Our current economic system is Captialism. That means the law of supply and demand. Auto manufacturers respond to demand. Since there is a constant demand from the American public for large SUV’s and Pickup trucks the auto manufacturers will want to make them. They have every right to manufacture these vehicles. The government of this country has no right to tell the American people what type of vehicle they are allowed to drive by prohibiting the manufacture of said vehicles. A lot of people want to buy the Ford Ranger. Its a good product at a reasonable price. Ford should not be forced to give up a popular part of its business by the US govt.

Just because you think pickups are pretty useless is not a reason to allow the US govt to get rid of them. I’m sure you have bought some items that I would deem worthless but since you “wanted” them I would defend your right buy something you didn’t “need” and to have it available to you in the marketplace.

I continue to urge you to wake up and realize that you live in a free country. Lets keep it that way.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Guess you never lived on a ranch, or a farm.

Of course I did. DID I NOT SAY "cowboy"?

There aren't a lot of ranches and farms in the city, which is where most pickups wind up.

[Labyrinthos]

Ford has just dropped the compact-size Ranger from its U.S. model lineup -- making it the first CAFE casualty."

CAFE sucks, but that's NOT the reason that Ford axed the Ranger. Up until the 2011 model year, Ford built the Ranger on the same truck-based platform as the Explorer. In 2011, Ford switched the Explorer, but not the Ranger, to a car based platform -- the same platform that Ford uses for the Flex and the Taurus. The Ranger, however, does not have sufficient sales to maintain its own platform, and as a result, Ford made the economic decision to dump the Ranger. Smart move on Ford's part.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Again let me repeat myself. It has nothing to do with need. Our current economic system is Captialism.

Yeah yeah yeah, repeat rinse repeat... I don't need a lecture on economics. I understand it quite well.

A lot of people want to buy the Ford Ranger.

I don't think a lot of people are buying much of anything. Besides, why would any sane person waste their money on a "new" vehicle, spending three times what it is worth, just to fund moronic UAW retirement funds and benefits? (I know...because it's their right)

Its a good product at a reasonable price.

It's a gutless wonder that gets lackluster fuel mileage.

Ford should not be forced to give up a popular part of its business by the US govt.

I don't know that they are.

Just because you think pickups are pretty useless is not a...

"I think"? What are ya, some kinda...? They ARE useless.

Unless you want to haul something that no one will steal, doesn't matter if it gets wet, like to shovel snow out of the back, like breaking your back getting things out when it has a "cap"...It's a weird inexplicable status symbol or something.

I’m sure you have bought some items that I would deem worthless but since you “wanted” them I would defend your right buy something you didn’t “need”...

If you wanted something useless you could have a street rod, a motorcycle, or a Porsche...at least you could have some fun or even race them.

I continue to urge you to wake up and realize that you live in a free country. Lets keep it that way.

I've been awake for decades and you might note that I am not the government, but just another citizen who has the same freedom of expression as you do.

I know people that drive around in 1 tons, but mostly 3/4 ton 4WDs. You're probably one of them but you can't explain the affliction. (I know...it's your right)

You have the right to be what you want to be.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I see a lot more pickups in the country than the city

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Well, that’s where they’re useful, but c’mon, run the numbers.

[CSM]

That is very strange...I ain’t heard a thing about it and believe me, I should have.....

[hinckley buzzard]

These requirements don't kick in until 2016. They have four years to refine a truck which will deliver the mileage. The popularity of the small utility truck is not going away, so the market will provide the incentive.

[Neidermeyer]

So now if a guy needs a truck for moving an occasional load, he will have to have a larger truck with lower mileage. This will sure help lower fuel usage. /s
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The small trucks are being phased out because of CAFE ,, when you go over a certain weight threshold (GWVR .. fully loaded weight) you are no longer counted towards CAFE.. FORD DODGE GM TOYOTA and NISSAN can sell all the V8 powered heavy trucks they want ,, they just won’t let you but a small 4cyl truck anymore.. Yes CAFE is working against itself.

[Neidermeyer]

Put a diesel engine in that Ford Ranger and it’ll probably reach that standard.
***************************************
In the 80’s it had a turbodiesel option that rated 39 mpg hwy.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“You have the right to be what you want to be.”

Yes thanks to the freedoms we have in the USA you have the right to be a Socialist. Obama counts on folks like you to go along with all of his statist ideas. Because Obama like you knows there are a good many things in this life that we just don’t need so lets get rid of them through govt decree.