I understand that Mazda’s image and portfolio is quite different in other areas of the world. I totally agree with you about the lineups and products in these markets. Mazda has a different history and brand position in these markets and should continue to offer a wider variety of products in these markets.

Speaking of badge engineered Ford clones, I also think the Tribute should eventually go. I believe Mazda is developing a crossover to slot below the CX-7 in Mazda’s lineup (CX-5, maybe?). If this is true, the Tribute should be discontinued once the new crossover reaches the market. I know Mazda benefits from sharing platforms and technology with Ford, but it doesn’t benefit from offering slightly restyled Ford clones at its dealerships.

LP640: Why bother making a dumb-ass post in the first place? In all caps?

TOZO: an Escape-based Ranger? there’s a thought?

‘Dore: “rangers are the best compact trucks avalable anywhere.” I don’t care to dispute that.

planet_drive: why don’t yo drive yourself to another planet?

jdasch1: “planet_drive is a f**king idiot!”
You have a solid grip on the obvious

Comment by mazdaman: my uncle uses a B-series for work.

Sharpie: “Maybe Ford will make a F050 as a replacement and bring back the Ranger nameplate after one year.”

That’s good.

Got Handling: much as I hate toyotas (I owned one), I’d not suggest you replace Land Cruisers with Edges.

RicardoHead: “Quitting is easier than competing.”
that’s funny as hell

Commodore: I drove five minivans last month, and the Chrysler Twins were the best, followed by the Oddessy.

And yet, the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado/Isuzu I-series, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are all getting larger (I chose not to list the Dodge Dakota as it’s closer to mid-sized) and in my opinion are unrefined (atleast the Chevrolet Colorado and Tacoma are- I haven’t really gotten the chance to try out the Frontier or Isuzu I-series). Rickety chassis, poor quality, horrible interiors, nothing really new or ambitious. Ford could take this great opportunity, and atleast try something new and maybe extend the life of it’s plant.

It might become as big of a market as the cross-over recently became, Ford.

So far it seems like Mullaly and the gang are a bunch of space cadets.

This has to be one of the most retarded moves ever made. If Ford can sell 90k units per year of an ancient platform, they can reengineer it and sell 180k of a better platform. That would rob a fair amount of market share from the competition. As someone above said – if they can build a heap like the Flex, they can build this.

But that’s okay, Ford. 2 can play the quitting game.
You quit competing, and the rest of us quit buying Fords.

I just purchased an 07 Mazda B2300. There were Buyer and Dealer incentives, so I got a fabulous deal. In any case, my shopping preference as regards style and fuel efficiency was for the 4 cylinder Ford/Mazda product. The other brand’s getting larger coincident with reduced fuel mileage was not desirable. Too, the other brands seem styled as (cartoonish) adolescent steriod fantasies, Nissan being the worst in that respect, and the ‘muscular bulges’ in general seem a shallow appeal to primal sentiments, hence rather embarassing.

I’ll trade it off when a quality small diesel truck is made avialable in the US. I did own an Isuzu P’Up with diesel, and except for the pernicious metal rot, it performed flawlessly for 100K. I would like to repeat that experience with a better quality make. If the Mazda had a diesel, I would probably die before it.

As for the new truck, with the tires and shocks upgraded and anti sway bars installed (circa 1200$), it has all the convenience, features, function, and initial quality that I need and am willing to pay for. The 2.3L Duratec does seem to be a wonderful engine, and the transmission ratios appear to be well thought out. Clutchless shifting with it is the easiest I have encountered to date. Overall, it gives a very good first impression.

While the Ford Ranger platform has been relatively static over the years, my impression is that they have made worthwhile incremental improvements, such that the later models have quite good materials,fit,finish, and attention to functional detail.

Get rid of the Ranger but make the Ford Flex???? bold move??? more like dumb ass move

I hope you don’t mean the Aussie Falcon Ute now that Lutz may bring the Commodore Ute over as a Pontiac.

As far as Mazda’s B-Series clone version of this product: “GOOD-BYE & GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!” I very rarely see this product on Mazda dealers’ lots and when I do, it looks totally ridiculous and out of place. There is absolutely no reason why Mazda would need to have this eyesore sitting on their dealers’ lots next to their other wonderful products.

The sad thing is that there is the Explorer Sport Trac and Ford can easily make a “mid-size” pickup out of that platform to compete with the Tacoma and Frontier. Heck, both of those competitors are now grown up anyway. I wish I could cross shop a Tacoma or Frontier with a Ford or Mazda.

Nawwwwwwwww, to easy to just give up.

It’s possible, even somewhat likely, that, while the Ranger may be dying, Ford could have something else up its’ sleeve to replace it either immediately on in the near future but want to produce it somewhere else (Like converting one of its’ under-utilized full-size plants to produce a small truck). But divulging any such plans right now would make shuttering the St. Paul plant difficult at best.

Of course, that would be smart and bold. So I really can’t hope for much.