Quote Of The Day: Death Of The Compact Pickup Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

With Ford’s Ranger scheduled to expire sometime in 2011, Ford’s Derrick Kuzak spends most of a recent interview with Pickuptrucks.com proclaiming the death of the American compact pickup market. But after trotting out the numbers, and talking up the F-150 Ecoboost, Kuzak finally gets to the real reason Ford won’t be selling the new Ranger in the US market.

The new Ranger is 90 percent of the size of an F-150. In the rest of the world, compact trucks have grown over time. They’ve become dual-use [vehicles for work and family] and they’ve increased cab size, payload and towing.

D’oh!

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Dswilly Dswilly on Sep 22, 2010

    Long live my '82 SR5 4x4 with the 7' bed.........

  • DubTee1480 DubTee1480 on Sep 22, 2010

    This is why I still have my 1993 GMC Sonoma and am currently rebuilding a slightly larger V6 to drop in it and keep it running for several more years. It's large enough for just about anything I want to do and more (I've hauled a 2000 Grand Cherokee on an 8x16 trailer), is easy to park and the tailgate is low enough that I've loaded and unloaded washers, dryer and refrigerators by myself. I also have a bit of attachment to my truck, which is why I haven't bought anything newer that is available in that size (Ranger, 2nd gen S10/Sonoma or Colorado/Canyon).

  • Mleaky Mleaky on Sep 22, 2010

    I agree, there needs to be a real compact pickup. Toyota should take the Scion XB and turn the back end into a pickup bed.

  • 7th Frog 7th Frog on Sep 22, 2010

    I don't think I saw it on here but Left Lane reported that a Jeep Pick-Up based on the Wrangler Unlimited has been green lighted.

    • See 1 previous
    • JMII JMII on Sep 22, 2010

      http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/09/sources-say-jeep-pickup-truck-coming-for-2012.html I'll believe it when I see it. And judging from the comments on that linked site they agree with me - if it ain't a diesel then why bother. Maybe Dodge's new V6 (with turbo/direct injection) will make a decent gas offering? Still rather have the diesel for the torque and mpg. Personally I'm not sure, Jeeps have always rode too harsh and have been too expensive for my blood. The Wrangler in particular is not the kind of vehicle I want to drive for long distances on the highway.

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