Ford Ranger's hot streak continues in March

Go Ranger, go! The St. Paul made compact pickup again bucked a gloomy sales trend for Ford in March, posting a sales gain of 7.9 percent over the same period a year ago.

[Mitch]

The Ranger's life is dependant on customers loyal to US based auto manufactures. This group of loyalists is shrinking by the day, as younger generations are taught in econ classes that it does not matter if one buys a US made vehicle or foreign made vehicle.(The theory that imports are balanced by foreign countries investing in the US.)

Bottom line - the Ranger is not a competative vehicle in its segment. Ford is liquidating operations left and right - if Ford does not redesign the Ranger it will be another Ford vehicle that is only discussed in a historical context.

[PHIL H]

Ford should keep this plant open as the quality of products produced here have always been tops in quality compared to any other plant Ford operates.
Ford should start making hybrid rangers, Focus vehicles etc here, Escape hybrids etc instead of closing this plant, but as expected Ford management will probably drop the ball again as it has far too many times in the last 10 years.

[PHIL H]

Ford also owns part of Mazda and makes the Ranger under the name of Mazda which essentially is a Ranger, that sells well also, so in these gas prices the vehicle will sell all the better!..keep it open and lets BUY AMERICAN it is important and it provides local jobs!

[swschrad]

I'm willing to bet that customers are trading down their expectations for better fuel mileage. a construction worker who would have bought a F250 is buying a Ranger and a smaller tool box for the bed.

[nutjob]

Ford should put a hybrid engine in the Ranger. They could charge 2K more. A electric/gas small truck is what many city/suburban gardeners would buy to use as a second or third vehicle.

[Built Ford Tough]

PHIL H wrote:

Ford also owns part of Mazda and makes the Ranger under the name of Mazda which essentially is a Ranger, that sells well also, so in these gas prices the vehicle will sell all the better!..keep it open and lets BUY AMERICAN it is important and it provides local jobs!

People hate America, they would rather see the Japanese making huge profits while good American jobs and companies are disappearing day after day. People think these jobs Toyota offers are good jobs, well you better guess again, most are temp jobs with no future and even the better jobs are not much better. People better start waking up, this country is slowly being takin over, better wake up before it is to late.

[J Adams]

I can't buy a foriegn car. I feel like a traitor to American industry. But, if we don't start drilling for more of our own oil, it won't make any difference.

The country was built on transportation and communication. Transportation is getting the short end again due to poor political practices by both parties.

[Car Guy]

I hope that all you "Buy American" people realize that Ford Fusions are made in MEXICO!!!! Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla is made in the USA. Driving a Ford, or GM piece of junk does not make a good American. Many of these companies cars are made in Central America, and not in Michigan.

[seafoamrex]

Go ranger go! A great pickup with decent fuel economy. Lets keep buying this gem and keep our jobs here where they belong.

[mike v]

go ranger go,,, ford should never ignored you, they should have helped you

[Bob]

Japanese make cars here BUT the PROFIT from those vehicles goes to Japanese companies.

Years ago Lee Iaccoca noted Chrysler made the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Plymouth Laser at the SAME PLANT in Illinois, HOWEVER people WOULD NOT BUY the Plymouth Laser just because it had a USA name on it. It was the same car as the Eclipse!!

A close friend of mine bought an expensive Honda last summer. The first time he used it the clutch failed and he had to return it for repair. The dealer told him it was lucky the handle didn't break as most of them do. The dealer was OUT of the Handle that broke off there were so many failures.

The Honda buyer is really irritated as he paid twice the money for the Honda!

The above are 2 examples of blind brand loyalty!!

There are a lot of very ignorant people in the good old USA!!

Their ignorance cost a lot of Americans their jobs!!

Very sad!

==========

Car Guy wrote:

I hope that all you "Buy American" people realize that Ford Fusions are made in MEXICO!!!! Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla is made in the USA. Driving a Ford, or GM piece of junk does not make a good American. Many of these companies cars are made in Central America, and not in Michigan.

[Eric]

"Japanese make cars here BUT the PROFIT from those vehicles goes to Japanese companies."

No. The profit goes to the share holders, where ever they may be. It's a good possiblity that your 401K has money in Japanese companies. And many Japanese car companies have profit sharing, so those profits go to the employees too.

In the "Global Ecomomy" buying a car brand because its manufacturer is HQ in a particular country is just dumb.

Parts for any particular car are made in dozens of different countries. Assembly may happen in a completely different country and shareholders maybe found in all countries.

Also, the US auto makers have no one to blame but themselves for their finacial woes.

[Meh]

Eric wrote:

"Japanese make cars here BUT the PROFIT from those vehicles goes to Japanese companies."
No. The profit goes to the share holders, where ever they may be. It's a good possiblity that your 401K has money in Japanese companies. And many Japanese car companies have profit sharing, so those profits go to the employees too.
In the "Global Ecomomy" buying a car brand because its manufacturer is HQ in a particular country is just dumb.
Parts for any particular car are made in dozens of different countries. Assembly may happen in a completely different country and shareholders maybe found in all countries.
Also, the US auto makers have no one to blame but themselves for their finacial woes.

Exactly. There's a reason Fords are called "Found on Road Dead." I had a Mercury Sable once - basically a fancy Taurus. I'll never make the mistake of owning a Ford product again.

[Carrie]

I stick with my Chevy truck, thanks!

[Bob]

Tell that to the tens of thousands of GM workers loosing their jobs!

Eric wrote:

"Japanese make cars here BUT the PROFIT from those vehicles goes to Japanese companies."
No. The profit goes to the share holders, where ever they may be. It's a good possiblity that your 401K has money in Japanese companies. And many Japanese car companies have profit sharing, so those profits go to the employees too.
In the "Global Ecomomy" buying a car brand because its manufacturer is HQ in a particular country is just dumb.
Parts for any particular car are made in dozens of different countries. Assembly may happen in a completely different country and shareholders maybe found in all countries.
Also, the US auto makers have no one to blame but themselves for their finacial woes.

[Built Ford Tough]

Car Guy wrote:

I hope that all you "Buy American" people realize that Ford Fusions are made in MEXICO!!!! Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla is made in the USA. Driving a Ford, or GM piece of junk does not make a good American. Many of these companies cars are made in Central America, and not in Michigan.

I hope you relize know it all that the COROLLA is made in Canada along with a lot of others and that Toyota imports more cars here than they make, they also make the Camry, Yaris, Prius and all the new Hybrids in Japan. Ford still builds more cars here than Honda and Toyota combined. Ford still builds the Focus, Tarus, Ranger,all F Series, Explorer, Expedition, Lincoln Navi, Sporttrak, Tarus X, all Ford Vans and most of the Mercury line. Ford will also be building it's flag ship Lincoln MKS in it's Chicago plant. Ford is also competitive in Mexico and Canada, they build and sell cars in these countries as well. Did you ever think that that is why they build cars there??. Ford builds a full line of cars in Mexico that you have never heard of. The problem is that stupid people like you don't know the facts and run your mouth, because Suzy at work told you that her Toyota was made in the Usa and that a Ford was built in Mexico. These so called "TEMP" jobs that Toyota brings here are crap dead end jobs. It is all a front, they still build most of thier cars in Japan. So again learn the "FACTS" Toyota is bad for America.

[Built Ford Tough]

Car Guy wrote:

I hope that all you "Buy American" people realize that Ford Fusions are made in MEXICO!!!! Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla is made in the USA. Driving a Ford, or GM piece of junk does not make a good American. Many of these companies cars are made in Central America, and not in Michigan.

Here is a list of UAW US made cars know it all.

http://www.uaw.org/uawmade/auto/2007/index.cf...

[Built Ford Tough]

Another link about the SO CALLED Amercian made Toyota's and Honda's.

People are so mislead by these sneaky Japs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/weekinrevie...

[Bob]

Remember Pearl!

History repeats itself.

==========

Built Ford Tough wrote:

Another link about the SO CALLED Amercian made Toyota's and Honda's.
People are so mislead by these sneaky Japs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/weekinrevie...

[Car Guy]

Hmmm, I wonder who your working with? Continue to fear the Japs. Last time I checked the origin sticker on a Ford Fusion (last weekend) It clearly stated made in MEXICO! I also looked on the Corolla sticker and it said engine=USA, assembly=USA, transmission=Japan. The only thing worse than a Found On Road Dead is a GM piece of Sh!t. Talk about a mechanics nightmare.