Ford Continues Ranger with Improvements: Mahindra Beware!

[pee wee]

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We're on board with the idea of the TR20 and TR40, the idea of the clean diesel and all, but as more and more of us have to look elsewhere to get a truck we can actually drive, reality is sinking in that we need to take this proposed launch with a grain of salt. Some of us can probably remember (maybe kind of foggily) going to rock concerts back in the 60's and 70's when the big ticket band was supposed to come on at say 9:30, and near midnight they still hadn't shown up. There was enough to occupy the crowd while they waited, and everyone cheered once the band came on, but there was a lingering feeling that we had been used and abused. In this case, I doubt Mahindra is still back at the hotel trashing the room, or o.d.'d on illegal substances, or up to any other misbehavior, but there is murmuring and shuffling of feet aplenty in the crowd. They need someone like a m.c. to step out on the stage and address the people, give out some concrete information, announce a six month intermission or something. As anyone familiar with modern car selling in this country knows, the successful dealers deal with their customers openly and honestly. Those customers tend to come back for their next car. Being that there isn't much choice in the market right now,we might end up buying a Mahindra truck (once they arrive) despite the shabby treatment they're delivering, but they sure aren't building any brand loyalty and can't expect us to gravitate back to them for a new one. Mahindra tractors? great. Mahindra trucks? maybe. Mahindra cars? no way. It looks to me like their wish to build a brand here is at odds with their actions.

[MahindraPlanet]

Great analogy, peewee!

I’ve given up dwelling on the delays and lack of info. All of our prodding hasn’t gained us much more insight from Mahindra. So, it is what it is.

Mahindra (not GV) has directly hired marketing and brand management pro, Bob Masone (responsible for the Harley-Davidson F-150 and other Ford truck products). Who knows what happened with Strawberry Frog, but that is an interesting move to a guy who has made a name for himself in light truck marketing. Whatever happens, I’m hoping that the trucks are so good that the memory of multiple delays fades quickly.

Bob Masone’s LinkedIn public profile: Robert Masone - LinkedIn

[UteMan]

Fools for sure.... I have talked to GM, Ford, GM and Toyota for several years now at the annual sessions in Dearborn (Detroit) about getting diesel engines in their small trucks. Australia, Europe and the rest of the world has been doing it for years. The response from all of them is that they are "considering it".... The truth of the matter is that the US EPA is the problem, even though the OEM's will not be the ones to admit it. Here's some proof in the pudding, so to speak.... Ford is soon going to present a Mustang to the European market with a V-6 Diesel engine. Why, because they couldn't possibly get it past the US EPA and make a buck. In Europe, which is obviously behind the times being so new to the world economy, Ford could possibly make a profit.
sorry, I will get off my high horse now.... Wish the clean and green corps would go away so we could all get back to the real world and live a normal life. Then maybe our Mahindra trucks would arrive.....
Cheers,

[nekto]

I'd buy a ranger with a diesel before I'd buy a Mahindra.

[UteMan]

AT this point, you would have to go to Australia to get one. They still call it a Ford Courier there. It is a "one tonne" and has an inner-cooled turbo. EPA won't let you bring it in though, unless you cut it in half... what a joke. You can bring half the truck in as salvage, then transfer the drive train over to your older model Ranger and it would be okay, as long as the EPA has not change the rules again....

[jackson]

This would be a good sign. If Ford moves to bring in a diesel for the US market this would mean they are aware of a gap between the full size trucks with costly diesels and the general public's need for a smaller fuel efficient truck confirming Mahindra's belief that this market is open and large enough to be profitable. Ford, or any domestic or import with a diesel is needed. Sooner than later.

[howam00]

Originally Posted by jackson

This would be a good sign. If Ford moves to bring in a diesel for the US market this would mean they are aware of a gap between the full size trucks with costly diesels and the general public's need for a smaller fuel efficient truck confirming Mahindra's belief that this market is open and large enough to be profitable. Ford, or any domestic or import with a diesel is needed. Sooner than later.

Sorry bud this was an April Fools post. No diesel Ranger, at least not for a number of years.