RE: O/T: Time Will Tell

[clare]

Many manufacturers use basically "generic" or "off the shelf" components which are THE SAME as what is sold as aftermarket parts - parts made by Dana, or TRW, or some other company - too their spec - and sold to the "aftermarket" off the same line.

In Japan you can likely buy "nippondenso" plug wires from the aftermarket as well. Here in North America you generally can not - and even some of the "dealer supplied" replacement parts are not, technically, OEM - as they are from a different supplier than the parts originally installed at the factory (and generally "locally sourced")

[Leon]

True, dealers do not always use OEM. Smaller dealers in smaller towns are more likely to use aftermarket in the interest of repairing the vehicle in a more timely manner Our dealership in Houston had a disclaimer indicating that this might happen in the interest of repairing the vehicle more quickly.. Our first choice was always OEM. It was extremely rare that we resorted to using after market.

Basically a dealer prefers to use OEM as in the past GM would stand behind the repair and part,,

[Markem]

Yes "found on road dead" now seems to belong to GM, not Ford. I have bought Rangers the last three vehicles, the main reason the seat was the most comfortable to my ass. Priorities YMMV.

Mark

[jo4hn]

I gave a 2000 Ford Ranger to my grandson this year. Had 60K miles on it. Barely broken in. Insurance is quite a bit cheaper.

[Ed Pawlowski]

If he is like my grandson it will be gone in a few months anyway.

[krw]

My 2001 Ranger went to the great used parts store in the sky, six months ago. The real (leaf) spring mounts and where the attached to, simply vanished. ...and some don't believe salt is bad for you. ;-)

[krw]

Since Rangers are no longer made (2011 was the last year, IIRC), I bought an F150 this time. I like it a lot! The price they were asking for Rangers was outrageous. $22K for a 2010 with 20K miles or $18K for an '11 with 50K. I paid $25K for a new '13 F150 XLT.

[Markem]

The Ranger is still made, just not sold or made in the US, they did that to get rid of the glut of F150's.

[Bill]

Plus sales tax?

[krw]

I thought they did it because there was little difference in cost (and price) so there was no longer a market. If it was because of a "glut", it would have been temporary.

[krw]

It was less than $26K total but sure, the sales tax was on both new and used. I doubt I'll ever have to replace the new one, though.

[Bill]

Cars (and trucks) just cost more than I want them to... my problem not yours! I've cut back on my driving on purpose. No regrets on cutting cable either. With what I save on furniture by making it myself, I'm going to be broke enough! ; )

[Markem]

From the article I read back in 2011, it was because the F150s were not selling as they had hoped. All the investment in the new design was being eaten away because they were competing with themselves with the Ranger in the US. The profit margin on the F150s was also higher, so may favorite truck is not available no more here. But if you have enough money you could ship one from down under, the cost however would buy you two F150s I think.

Mark

Mark

[krw]

Well, from 2008 until about then, nothing was selling as well as they had hoped. The automotive market was in the dumper all around.

The F150s are certainly higher profit. The Rangers are simply more expensive to manufacture than their size would suggest. There were a lot of corners cut in the 2010s and 2011s that weren't in the 2001s, too.

I'm not disappointed moving up from the Ranger to the F150. It handles better and I can lay a sheet of plywood flat. ;-)

It would probably cost that much more to make it US roadworthy.

[krw]

More than I want, too, but I don't like the idea of walking 18mi to work every day, either. ;-) They're expensive but I also have a lot more money to spend on cars than I did 20 years ago.

If I cut "cable" (satellite is our only choice) I'd be sleeping in the garage. ;-) We have never driven a lot but drive more now than ever. In the six months we've had these vehicles, my truck has 5600 miles (6500 by this time next week) and my wife's Mustang has about 8K on it.