samnavy

iTrader: (7)

So I'm down here in El Salvador and there are compact 4-dr diesel pickups everywhere. Toyota's are very popular and they look great. I've been a Ford Ranger fan forever and drove a 2000 4-dr 3.0 for about 80k miles. Ford is going to sell their new Ranger everywhere else in the world with 2 diesel options (3.2ltr I5 TDI with 200hp/347ftlbs) that I would buy in a heartbeat as my DD... but they say it's too close to the F150 and would take away sales there, and I say FINE!
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news...-u-s-heres-why

I know there is a market for turbo-diesel compact trucks in the states, but I guess manufacturers make too much money on full-size models (that other countries won't buy) to risk Americans realizing that 90% of people who do buy F150's and Rams don't need that much truck.

And could you imagine what a full Banks setup in a Ranger would mean... I can see 250whp and 400wtq with some ICE and a reflash.

Truck **** to follow.

aaronc7

iTrader: (8)

I would buy a diesel hilux if they sold them here

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I would take a diesel ranger for sure. Honestly that is exactly what I'm looking for.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

As a truck guy that put 35K a year on mine pre-BMW, I'd buy one in a second.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

< Confused.

I understand why a US automaker might not want to sell a compact diesel pickup in the US, given that sales of their large truck line would be affected. (This mentality is why IBM is no longer relevant, incidentally.)

But why would a company like Mitsubishi (or any other foreign automaker which is not subject to the Chicken Tax), which already has a broad US distributor network but does not sell any pickup trucks in the US at all, not seize upon this market if it were truly lucrative?

Stein

iTrader: (46)

They did. All the way back in 1981 you could buy a diesel Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup. The damn thing got 51mpg highway.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Sidebar:

I recently rented a Ford 150 for two days; single cab, standard bed. For something that is supposed to be a "small" pickup, I was really shocked by how enormous it was. It honestly didn't feel any different to me, in terms of driving it, than the 16 foot Penske box trucks built on the Ford E-350 / GMC 3500 chassis. (Actually, it's amazing how well those things handle when empty.)

True story.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Actually, I just did a bit of homework and now I understand.

I had previously thought that the Chicken Tax applied only to pickup trucks made in France or Germany. But it's actually a global tariff, which applies to Japanese trucks as well.

Actually, no. I still don't understand. These days, Japanese and Korean cars aren't even made in Japan or Korea. They're made in the US. There is absolutely no reason why DSM or Mazda should not be building and selling compact diesel pickups in the US.

Except for one: maybe there's no market for them.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

DSM is partly owned by Chrysler who doesn't want them to bring competing trucks to market, plus Mitsu is focusing on electric cars & hybrids, hence no more Evo.

Mazda is owned in part by Ford, and that may have something to do with why they don't bring a small pickup to market (mazda b-series = Ford ranger).

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Not any more. I used the name DSM as it's familiar to people, however Chrysler no longer has any involvement. The company formerly known as DSM is now MMNA, and while they do still have some co-op manufacturing agreements, the company is owned entirely by Mitsubishi Motors.

So there's no reason why we should not have a Mitsubishi compact diesel pickup.


Ford sold off most of its ownership in Mazda. At present, Ford owns only 3.5% of the company- hardly a controlling interest. As with D and S, F & M remain "corporate partners", however what you are describing (Ford requiring Mazda to keep the B-series out of the US to protect the Ranger) would be collusion, which is something that the Justice Department frowns on.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I'd rather have a V8 Ute than that. I could still go fast as ----, get ~30mpg on my commute, and pull the Miata to the track.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

I was under the impression that when Mitsu had an interest in building gas powered things their truck was basically a Dodge Dakota. I know the Nissan Titan is a Ram 1500.
I wasn't aware that Mitsu/Chrysler Ford/Mazda cut ties.


Could you import one of those trucks that Sam wants?

fooger03

iTrader: (2)

Guys who want big trucks aren't going to ditch their big trucks for a little truck, even if it is relatively powerful and economical (turbo diesel)

My first vehicle was a silverado with a 5.7L in it - and I must say that I'm not a "big truck" guy. It pulled whatever you put behind it, but it was too damn big as a realistic DD.

I do, however, have a mid-size SUV that is fat, gutless, and was probably "trendy" at one point in time. If I had the choice between a current Colorado and another mid-size SUV, I would pick the mid-size SUV. If I had a choice between this:

and another mid-size SUV, I would pick the pickup.

Of the three options, Chevy Colorado, Mid-Size SUV, and a Turbo-Diesel pickup truck, I would pick the diesel, but I would pay more for the SUV.

I think the current american belief is that to occasionally (once every 3 months) haul a trailer, you need to have a big pickup truck to do it. At the same time, if you want a daily driver, you need to have a small vehicle to do it. In order to create a real market for a half-size truck, you would have to reverse the long engrained American belief that it's unsafe to tow a tire trailer with anything smaller than a king ranch, and if manufacturers did that successfully, people who would have otherwise leased two cars (a tow vehicle and a daily) would now realize they could lease just one.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

Yet nobody bought one...

Ben

iTrader: (33)

There is a big market. The reason why it won't happen is California's particulate emissions standards. As CA's retarded emissions standards are becoming homologated, the automakers are no longer interested in importing vehicles that are not 50 state legal.

I likely would purchase a mid size, diesel powered truck as well. Something around the size of an Explorer Sport Trac (maybe just a touch bigger in both wheel base and track) with a 4 or 6 cylinder turbo diesel would make a great DD, haul pretty much anything I need, and pull any normal bumper pull trailer. Put a beefy frame under it with big brakes and suspension, have a couple of compartments built into the bed sides so a drop in truck tool box wouldn't be needed, and have a factory option bed extender so the bed could be used to haul standard lumber, sheetrock, and dirt bikes. It would sell like crazy.

curly

iTrader: (25)

Was the Baja a diesel? Or did it have a diesel option?

Hustler, that diesel ranger would tow your car, despite what everyone else will say.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

No, it came in a 165hp N/A gas engine and 210hp gas Turbo with a 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual, the same manual as the WRX which means 2nd gear is not that strong.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Ford did make a small diesel Ranger, round about 1984-88, Not many made, not many sold.

I did have a beater 85 Ranger swapped to a 2.3T, I could pull a fill dressed T-bird on a 16 ft dual axle trailer.

Stopping on the other hand..... That got intresting once in awhile.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

I recently looked at Rangers. Website, dealers, used, the works. Spent a lot of time researching and looking. Simply put, it came down to the fact that when you're spending $25-30k to get a reasonably optioned up small truck, it doesn't make financial sense. For only a few grand more you get a full size. Small trucks don't get that much better mileage, and you limit yourself in towing & cargo capacity. They're 2/3 the truck for 7/8 the cost.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

why the ---- dont we have these trucks?! Ever since I discovered the new hilux's existence via top gear, I fell in love!

I DEMAND AN AUTOMOTIVE REVOLUTION!!!!



...I also cream a little when I saw the Charlie Sheen fiat commercial to find out the Abarth is for sale in the US.