I watched last weekends trucks that featured Bio-diesel fuel. And I must say i was impressed. I think the next vehicle I buy will have to be diesel. The moment ford comes out with a diesel ranger I will be all over it like a fat kid on cake.

I have to wonder if the problems with the diesel rangers out side of the country were the emissions, woudl there still be an emissions problem ifit were running bio-diesel.

 

From what I've heard (all hear say) if you run bio-diesel you can put a cat and the emissions will be near zero. But even w/o the cat the bio-diesels ran clean.

 

I wouldnt worry about any emmisions. ITS A DIESEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The diesel Rangers sold in Europe meet emission standards that are similar to those in the U.S. When the customer base here demands a diesel, it will be available. So far, this hasn't happened and there are reasons why.

In the U.S., a Ranger is looked on as a high value small truck or commuter vehicle. In the rest of the world, it is seen as more of a commercial truck. Foreign commercial fleet owners are willing to pay extra for an engine that is expected to go many more miles/kilometers and get better fuel economy. U.S. buyers looking for an attractively priced vehicle are not so interested in paying $1000~1500 extra for a diesel they may trade in 2~4 years with less than 100,000 miles.

About 20~25 years ago, there was a great deal of interest in diesels and several manufacturers were selling diesel cars and trucks (including Rangers) in the U.S. But, after a few years, owners found that there were a lot of problems with driveability, reliability and maintenance costs, not to mention the daily hassles that went with diesel ownership. A good portion of the buying public has not yet forgotten.

Recent technology that makes diesels easier to live with will help get them back into the mainstream. When driving a diesel vehicle no longer means expensive service, special starting techniques, extended warmups and a sooty bumper, it will be easy to sell the public on its efficiency.

 

Didn't I just read somewhere (possibly on this very site) that a moderately equipped 4x4 Ranger w/ the diesel goes for something on the order of $35k in South America? And that's w/o the emissions equipment that would be required for the US market.

Add to that the fact that the vehicle tax structure in Europe taxes gasoline per liter used, where it taxes diesel vehicles a flat rate each year. (Meaning gasoline users pay more at the pump in taxes, but less each year in registration/excise taxes, where diesel users do the opposite, thus throwing a bone to businesses/commercial groups.)

I'd still seriously consider one given the opportunity. Although if I were gonna pay ~$35k for a compact pickup, I'd hope the quality would be better than what we see today for the gas powered Ranger as well..

 

id buy a diesel ranger in a minute... another option is to put the Cummins ISA 4cyl twin turbo in my current truck.. now that would be sweet, unfortunatly it weighs about as much as a big block and i dont have the skillz to do such a thing.

 

I think the higher prices in the foreign markets is due to the small volume of vehicles produced and sold. Some people here have 2 or more rangers. While there someone having a truck as a Daily driver is fairly uncommon. I didn't see any when i was in Germany.

 

Diesel would be nice, but with the sticker prices it would bring along you might as well buy a full size gas motor truck (F-150) with comparable power and better payload capacity for close to the same price, or maybe a tiny bit more. I can't imagine Ford putting a small diesel into a Ranger anymore powerful than a 4.6/5.4 gasser motor.

 

From what I've heard, they are trying for a Small V6 Powerstroke for the F150, but cannot meet emmisions. Also, the ranger diesel would likely be a small I4, and much like the older Diesel Rangers, they would have roughly 100Ish HP, but would get great mileage.

 

I would like a diesel....They are very reliable, and like I read above you get the way better mileage and useage out of these engines. Just like you all said there are some inherent issues that they have.... Your average person on the street would have no clue to all the stuff to keep a diesel running.... Upkeep, for one is expensive... twice as much oil every oil change not just oil filters to change, but then you got fuel filters, keeping good fuel in it during the winter months.... List goes on and on.... Besides those points, there are alot of benefits to a diesel engine...

 

I hate diesels...

They're so ****in loud...

 

Have you heard any of the VW 1.9T's? They are very quiet.

 

This is the elusive motor many of us want in the Ranger












277 ft lbs of torque (Yes, that is more than your 4.0 or 4.6 V8 offer!) and still over 25 mpg

 

Heres one on Ebay...$11,000 AU....yikes
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-8-Powerstro...QQcmdZViewItem

 

/me wants

 

Diesels are cool. Hopefully they will put the 2.8 PS motor in a reg cab ranger with a 5 or 6 speed manual, an Edge diesel tuner setup like the big powerstrokers run and you'd have a nice little hotrod...

 

whats the exchange rate on US to AU?

how much is that going for in US dollars?

 

$ 8,245.60 US
$ 9,891.92 CA

 

the exchange rate on Australian dollars to US dollars is .749387 to 1

 

that is the best part about them... i love the sound, the louder the better. lots of black smoke when on it(under load), white puff rings at idle, rattles and shakes, over 1400lbs of torque and 900hp o what fun... best part 20 mpg

even in the ranger the torque would be so sweet.

 

I would buy one if they offered it.

 

After seeing that episode (twice) I want a diesel as well. I'd love to be able to make my own fuel for $.70 a gallon. There are tons of places to get used veggie oil from too...
I checked into the unit featured on the show and it's $2995. Ouch....

 

Yeah I saw it yesterday(tivo'ed) $3000 is alot but you save about $2.00 a gallon so after 1500 gallons the machine is paid for. If you have a 40 gallon tank and burn that a week its paid for in 37 weeks, little over half a year. Got friends with deisels hello sell that to your friends at $1.70 a gallon thats $1 a gallon profit for you and your friend saves $1.00 a gallon at the pump. Make friends with a truck driver and that machine would pay for itself in no time.

 

if ford offered it my ranger would be ready for trade in muinits i would love to get 20mpg even tho diesle fule around here is a lot higher than gas i hope it comes down!!

 

I also saw that show on the vegie oil fuel that looked awesom