I don't have any formal evidence, but I see a LOT of older folks driving Rangers. Especially newer 4x4's. I would say 4 out of every 5 newer 4x4 Rangers I see around here is driven by someone over 30-35.

Now older 4x2 Rangers are the opposite. They are so affordable that they are great first vehicles and I see a lot of kids driving them. But then I also doubt that they are the vehicles first owner either.

I doubt Ford is concerned w/ who is buying their vehicles second hand. Ford is far more concerned w/ NEW vehicle buyers. I think young kids are a very small portion of that group.

Either way, the new Ranger/compact pickup market is not centered around the young.
And I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone that did pay that much. Ford has inflated the MSRPs on the Ranger, but offers DEEP discounts on them. For example my '03 FX4, which is almost entirely loaded save the transmission and audio upgrades, MSRP'ed for something like $28k. I paid $19.5k before trade or cash down. That's almost $10k off of sticker!

Again, compare apples and apples. The F-150 is far more popular and as of such sells for a lot closer to sticker. Meanwhile people are getting 30-40% knocked off the MSRP on Rangers. You have to compare actual selling price to actual selling price. MSRP is misleading in this case.

Besides, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a new 4x4 F-150 for under $20-25k. Meanwhile that is trivial w/ the Ranger.

 

Besides, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a new 4x4 F-150 for under $20-25k. Meanwhile that is trivial w/ the Ranger - my thoughts exactly

 

Exactly! My truck is a loaded level II the only options it doesn't have on the list were an automatic, Leather seats (Which I ordered, but my dealer found and Identical truck without leather and I settled) and the Factory hithc (why pay 300 for a $75 hitch, and then have the ugly factory hitch that doesn't allow me to run duals) My truck stickers for 27,000. I paid 18k out the door and I traded in my 01 and got 12,000 so I walked out of the dealer with a 6k loan for a brande new truck.

~HJ

 

I dont think the Ranger is going anywhere honestly....They'll change the design later on a little bit, just like they have been doing for the past few years, maybe some different motors too. I honestly could care less, i plan on keeping my truck for a LONG time. As long as my situation is good, when i buy i new car (probably a mustang, or superduty) I am going keep the ranger as a Winter vehicle, or "backup vehicle". And if Ford starts assembling over-seas, all well, i will not be caught dead in a Chevy..

 

Oh, I think you're very wrong. I think the Ranger's days have been short for a while now. If the entire line doesn't disapear (at least from the US market) I expect a MAJOR overhaul. I expect it to be replaced by something 'mid-size' to compete w/ the likes of the Canyon, Frontier, Tacomma and Dakota. Nobody wants a compact pickup anymore..

 

Just never ever ever ever get the Dakota with a 3.7. They are a complete turdbox in those trucks for some reason though they are good for the Jeep Liberty. We have countless vibration and water intrusion issues with the Dakota 3.7. I did drive a Ram 1500 Night Runner today and I would definitely own it if I could.

 

I again asked one of the engineers at our building and he says that there are no plans at this time to continue production of the ranger after the 2009 model year. He also said that they have been working on an I-5 engine that could possibly make it into the ranger before then, or possibly into it's replacement or maybe even nothing at all.