Test drive Ford Ranger 1992 - 2010 compartment

Pickup lessons

Did Ford miss the main competitive advantage of pickup as a workhorse - the price? However, apparently, in the near future, new duties will force other segment players to increase prices.
Picaps category is special. The presence of such a car can say more about a person than a standard car or jeep. The Pikap says that its owner loves to make his way through impassability, transports serious heavy loads in the car, fashionable design and aweswell with superfluous gadgets for him not in the first place, more important practicality and utilitarianism. Therefore, these machines are often found in corporate parks, in particular, cellular companies (maintenance of towers in hard -to -reach places) and banks and collection companies.
While total sales of cars fall, pickups were able to improve last year’s result by 4 %, which indicates the growing popularity of practical and hardy cars. The choice in this segment is not rich, essentially Mitsubishi L200, related Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara daz Patriot. Moreover, a quarter of the market is occupied by Ford Ranger.
In the wake of the success of his Ranger, Ford decided to update the truck, slightly mixing to its brutal image of branded kinetics and increasing the cost of a car by almost 200,000 rubles. However, representatives of the company insist that such a shocking rise in price is caused not so much by new headlights, a radiator grille and bumpers as a double growth of customs duties for commercial cars.
To find out what Ranger is now, the landing of the pickups was thrown into Karelia. Apparently, such regions have a lion's share of pickup sales in Russia for a two-day test drive we met more pickups of different brands than in Moscow for a month. Still: picturesque descents and rises with turns, like on a racing track, primers, huge distances, hunting grounds, reserved places for fishing
However, about everything in order.
After the traditional-remote Peter, the Republic of Karelia covered with amazingly clear sunlight and blinded with unrealistic colors. It seems that everything: trees, grass, sky, water are tinted in Photoshop. In the riot of light and color, then there and here, suddenly caught the eyes of Ranger's colleagues blue, red, blue, black, silver, green. Yes, in the framework of restyling, Ford not only updated the details of the exterior, but also provided the truck with a wider palette of colors, including five new ones. I wonder if Ranger bright blue will be in demand?
In terms of bodies, there is also something to choose from. The most affordable car with a one and a half cockpit Rap Cab, by the way, is a unique offer in the Russian market. The most common four -door Double Cab. A cabin can be installed above the cargo compartment. Among other things, there is a luxury Limited and a Wildtrak sports equipment with linings with backlight, tinted glass, contrasting orange sequel seats, and alcantara finishes.
It was Wildtrak with one and a half cockpit that we went to the test. In the one and a half cabin, the two front doors are full -fledged, and two rear lower -sized doors open in the opposite direction. There are only any places for children in the back seats for the adults at all.
However, despite the stylish Wildtrak finish, the pickup interior still takes asceticism and practicality to the first place, without sacrifice a good quality. On the skin lined with the steering wheel, no buttons can be controlled only directly from the radio panel itself, which is not always convenient. The handbrake is hiding in an unusual place under the wheel, it takes time to get used to it. Microclimate management is also simple and harsh: three non -wounded toothbler. Under the windshield, compass and coonomers are installed, allowing to evaluate the transverse and longitudinal cranes of the body in degrees. Above the glove box, the extended shelf withstanding the load is up to 10 kg.
It is worth starting a car, as a tangible vibration from the awakened 2.5-liter 143-horsepower turbodiesel passes through the cabin. Driving is convenient and spacious. New large mirrors allow you to navigate with confidence in the stream, but the back of the pickup is practically not felt.
In the technical part, minor, but tangible changes occurred: the transfer numbers in the first and second gears were reduced. This innovation allows you to get more easier to move from a place at maximum loading. By the way, the maximum mass of the towed trailer is 3,000 kg, which makes Ranger in terms of traction to the best in the class.
Noise insulation for pickupa is magnificent, at speeds up to 140 km/h you can calmly talk with the passenger. Ranger is eagerly touching, easily accelerates and does not lose the speakers on the rise. Despite the excellent dynamics of a 2.5-liter turbodiesel, it is not worth lighting on it: if the body is an empty, rear-wheel drive car with a spring suspension starts to jump and wag on bumps, and the steering wheel has too large near-headed zone, a long move and non-informative feedback with sharp restructuring at speed.
But Ranger is not intended for ring racing. Its advantages in the form of a hard frame, reducing gear, clearance of 205 mm and connected front bridge are remembered on the off -road, when the pickup jokingly overcomes the track and forest thickets.
Currently, the pickup is available only with a 2.5-liter TDCI and a mechanical five-stage transmission. By 2010, an automatic transmission is expected, which can attract new customers to the car. Also, the oil in an updated car can now be changed once every 10,000 km, and not at 5,000, as it was before.
But did not Ford miss the main competitive advantage of the pickupa as a workhorse - the price? Ranger easily entered the market leaders, it was worth the FORD to lower prices, and now the updated pickup in the cheapest version of the XL with a half -of the cockpit costs 978,400 rubles, with air conditioning 1 011 200 rubles! Expensive versions of Ranger can cost 1 048 100 1 277 100 rubles. At the same time, the nozzle Mazda BT-50 will cost at least 759,000 rubles, with an air conditioner of 899,000 rubles. From 679,000 rubles, prices for Mitsubishi L200 begin. The most expensive in the class is the Nissan Navara pickup from 1,211,500 rubles.
However, at present, competitors are selling warehouse residues of 2008 production machines. It is worth expecting that in the near future new duties will hit other players of this segment. Apparently, Ford is counting on this, planning to maintain leadership in the pickup class.
Svetlana Aleeva
 
 
 
 

Source: Carclub.ru