Business Ford to stop selling every car in North America but the Mustang and Focus Active

yahoo business ^ | 4.25.18 | Matt Burns

[Charles Martel]

I got a Ford Ranger. Best little truck I ever had. So what’d they do? Quit making it here. I guess they said they were going to start with it again but the dam thing is about the size of a F 150 from what I hear.

It's not quite as large as the F-150, but it's a lot bigger than it used to be. That's not just Ford, though - all the "compact" pickups have ballooned. I remember when the 3/4-ton and heavier pickups weren't built as separate designs, different than the half-ton models, too. Used to be, you had to know the badging or count the wheel lugs to tell the difference between a half-ton and the heavier-duty versions. Same sheetmetal, and often the same chassis - just different springs and axles.

[dfwgator]

“What do ya say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what”?

[central_va]

I like the raised white letter tires!

[Iron Munro]

Wherever there is upheaval in the marketplace you can bet some government policy and regulation is behind it.

Federal CAFE regulations brought about the demise of the station wagon and the move to SUVs and then to pickup trucks.

[Paladin2]

Tires have much to do with vehicle performance.

[smokingfrog]

I don’t think they make a minivan anymore, but maybe the Transit can be configured for passengers. The Ford Fusion is a nice car, but you don’t see that many of them.

[Blood of Tyrants]

As dumb as discontinuing the Taurus when is was the best selling sedan in America?

[central_va]

If they would just make a simple rear wheel drive sedan/coupe, similar to the BMW 3/4 series, they’d sell a million of them.

[Salvavida]

Ford should buy the rights for the Isuzu Amigo and make a Ford version. There isn’t anything like it on the market as a crossover. It would be a hit to have a cheaper Jeep-like 4X4.

[Zarro]

The Taurus is no more.

Yeah, I get that. How about the Fusion?

[Tawiskaro]

You could fit a 4x8 sheet of drywall or plywood in a Ford Taurus wagon. We owned two of them. Nice wagons. Now we have an Escape. Okay for people and small cargo, but not helpful if you're hanging drywall. I had to buy an F-150. So far, I love it.

[Pontiac]

I think the way of a “cheap” truck is long gone now.

You can still buy a basic Ford Truck. Bench seat and manual windows.

You have to talk to the Fleet Sales manager.

He will (at least they did) sell you a truck. He won’t like the idea much. You have to be persistent. He won’t make much money selling just one truck.

[BBell]

Is this satire?

My thoughts exactly. I clicked on the link to see if there was more to the story. There isn't.

At least they are bringing the Bronco back. Lets hope they don't ruin it.

[Pontiac]

So they will be exiting the po-po market? The Taurus is the basis for the Ford 'Police Interceptor Sedan'.

A few states were using Ford Mustangs as interceptors.

If they had to take a prisoner they would have to call for a police van to pick the prisoner up.

[patro]

Fine, because the last great thing you all put out was the 99 7.3 Powerstroke. Whatever.

[henkster]

I learned to drive a stick on a 1980 F 150. It had a very forgiving clutch.

My son bought a 2016 F150. It’s one heck of a lot nicer than the 1980 version.

As for what happens when gas goes to $4/gallon, I’m assuming Ford will continue to make Escapes, which it has downsized and made more economical.

[jjotto]

Almost all new LE vehicles are SUVs. Best seller is the Interceptor version of the Ford Explorer.

[Pontiac]

I got a Ford Ranger. Best little truck I ever had. So what’d they do? Quit making it here. I guess they said they were going to start with it again but the dam thing is about the size of a F 150 from what I hear.

I read an article last year saying that Ford was considering bringing back the F100 which I don’t think they have built since the 1960s.

[foreverfree]

Bump

[rockinqsranch]

Thank the Democrats for this move by Ford with their many years long push for ridiculous government CAFE standards to force compliance with their environmental perspective.

People desire the safety of larger vehicles. They want steel around them whether it’s safer for them, or not. People feel safer in a pick up truck, or an SUV rather than some little EPA required gas sipper forced upon them by leftist Democrat decree.