saw a new for ranger while i was in costa rica

That Ranger would look good with some flare sides, dropped about 8 inches off the ground, and low profile tires.

When I lived in CR I drove a Hilux for a little bit.

It's diesel, standard, 4wd and set on the same chassis as Tacoma. It was the toughest off the lot truck I've been around. Climbed well, had plenty of room inside and had pretty good pickup.

The ISIS workhorse

Meh. Workhorse for good and bad guys. Damn thing just flat out gets it done.

Ford is sorta frantically trying to get the Ranger ready for the US after giving up on the segment years ago. The success of GM's Colorado / Canyon took them by surprise.

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Ford is sorta frantically trying to get the Ranger ready for the US after giving up on the segment years ago. The success of GM's Colorado / Canyon took them by surprise.

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Ford's not frantic for anything. Their F150s carry the entire company.

If anything, Rangers aren't being sold in the USA as more of a gimick as they don't want their sales and image of the F150 (number 1 selling truck in America for 40 straight years) to take a hit.

Make their money elsewhere with the cheaper ranger and make a LOAD of money here with the F150

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The Hilux would be great here in the States. That truck is nearly invincible (save for a hellffire missile or some BRRRRT of course)

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Precisely why it won't be sold here in the States.
I still drive a '94 Ranger, it's not bulletproof, but it's damn close. Sales dropped over the years because they lasted. 2011 was the last year and there are plenty of them still on the road.

I fear the new ones will be priced too close to the F 150, too. I know capitalism and supply & demand drive prices. But damn, there's nothing at all affordable for a working stiff in the truck segment at all. And I don't call $30,000 affordable, NOT an OT baller.

That OM Ranger is not supposed to be sold in the US. It's a mid-size and the Dimwits in DTW are afraid it would further compromise F150 sales.

Actually, the opposite is true: When Ford didn't take government money years ago it left them in a financial situation where they aren't able to devote money in development at the level GM is doing it. I just read the article, let me see if I can find it.

Ah, here it is:

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DETROIT — James Hackett spent the last year plotting Ford Motor Co.’s long-term self-driving car strategy. In his first week as chief executive, he has more immediate concerns: stopping a skid in North American sales and fending off a market share grab by resurgent archrival General Motors Co. The U.S. No. 2 automaker is stuck in a product drought that shows no signs of easing until 2019, according to two sources who track Detroit's launch plans. Given the industry’s long product cycles, it is not clear what Mr. Hackett can do immediately to get Ford out of its predicament.

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LINK

Long story short: They put TOO much of what money they had into the F150 and now the entire line is suffering. And Ford still has debt.