CD Article: 2008 Mazda B4000 SE pickup

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


Available only in an extended-cab bodystyle, the V6-powered B4000 pickup truck has the highest towing capability of all the B-Series trucks, but its rear flip-down seats "are not really viable adult seating positions", reports contributor Bob McHugh.

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Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[airbalancer]

a 5.3l 4x4 GMC gets better mileage
the B4000 4X4 offers 15.4 L/100 km (18 m.p.g.) city and 11.6 L/100 km (24 m.p.g.) (highway)
5.3l 4WD:                 15.1                                              10.6

So why would I want a smaller 4x4 truck again

[Cord]

So why would I want a smaller 4x4 truck again

Purchase price?

[quadzilla]

So why would I want a smaller 4x4 truck again

Purchase price?

Not everybody wants a full size truck?

[mrthompson]

Why hasn't FoMoCo updated this beast?  10 years without a significant update.  And no 4 door model available.  My BIL recently purchased his 3rd Ranger in a row.  I question why he would buy another one when there are better/improved competitors?  Oh well...it's not my money.

[Cord]

The last few months have produced the largest monthly sales on record for the Ranger in Canada. It's probably a little difficult for Ford of Canada to claim they need a new model to be competitive. Hopefully though we will see an update sooner than later. Those so-called rear seats just get in the way of storage space.

[PJungnitsch]

Why hasn't FoMoCo updated this beast?  10 years without a significant update.  And no 4 door model available.  My BIL recently purchased his 3rd Ranger in a row.  I question why he would buy another one when there are better/improved competitors?  Oh well...it's not my money.

Same reason my Dad bought one I imagine, they are half price, and still get the job done:

Base Ranger 4X4 extended cab auto: $23,120 @ 0% for 60 is $385/month.

Base Tacoma 4X4 extended cab auto: $32,975 @ 4.9% for 60 is $621/month.

And that's without any dickering, which the Ford or Mazda dealer is much more likely to do.

It's a shame Ford doesn't put in that new 4 cyl/6 speed auto in all models, they do go for a mileage special but only with the older 4cyl and only in the regular cab.

Adding contemporary safety features like SAB and ESP would be good as well as some modern optimizations for better mileage. That 'you get almost the same mileage in a full size truck' issue always comes up.

If they could do those improvements while keeping the cost the same (and they should, small cars have been upping safety and mileage while holding price) they could do well IMO.

I'd love to replace my B2000 with a similar but modern small and efficient truck, but one doesn't exist.

[mrthompson]

The BIL bought an FX4 model.  He previously owned a '90 reg. cab short box 4x4 that he beat the living pi$$ out of (farmer/hunter/angler).  It caught fire about 4 years ago.  It was replaced by a leased 2WD ext. cab.  When the lease expired, he purchased the new FX4.

I will agree that the current Ranger/B series is a 'right size' truck for many people.  The competition has grown noticibly, and some people don't want a mid-size truck.

[jcon]

My buddy has '96 Ranger and loves it. He plans to replace it soon with another. Of course he's convinced that they've completely redesigned the model since he purchased his because, and I quote, "They look taller now."

It's a great little truck. I considered it and would still consider it, if I wasn't planing on having children in the near future. 

I think I would get the Ranger over the B4000, but the best deal would win.

These vehicles sell quite well, and Ford/Mazda are not taking any chances with a complete redesign.

[PJungnitsch]

These vehicles sell quite well, and Ford/Mazda are not taking any chances with a complete redesign.

That's because they are closing the factory in Minnesota. Shutdown been postponed a little because of the very strong Canadian sales mentioned, but American sales are awful. AFAIK there still is no certain word on what happens next, but it may be dropped altogether.

The future of the Ford Ranger pickup is uncertain. What is certain is that the only plant assembling the Ranger, in St. Paul, Minn., is scheduled to be closed in 2008.

Options include dropping the compact pickup line, moving Ranger production to another plant or redesigning the pickup using portions of the Explorer architecture. If Ford executives endorse the last choice, the redesigned pickup could be on the market at the end of this decade or the beginning of the next. If redesigned, "F-100" has been considered as the new name.

Ford also has studied a global compact pickup design that could be built overseas and exported to several markets, including the United States.

Plans to redesign the Ranger have been delayed several times. The current pickup dates back to the 1993 model year.

[Greg B.]

Last year both my brother and a good friend leased new Ranger V-6 Sport extended cabs at ridiculously low prices -- something on the order of $340/month. They both love them. This is my brother's second Ranger. I have to admit, they have a unique market niche -- there aren't a whole lot of pickups out there this size any more; most are far too big. And with the tooling costs long having since been amortized, Ford can afford to sell these competitively, though maybe not this competitively. I read recently that when Alan Mulally took over at Ford he was told that Ford loses thousands on each Ranger they sell. So its future is dark.

[safristi]

OK i Owe each of U Guys a cheap Tequilla Or a 1,000 Pak of LAKEPORT ya can call me Ranger Bill ya can calls me Mazda 3000 but ya doesn't have ta CALL ME JOHNSTON.......