What is it?
While most new pick-ups want to give an illusion of being a true alternative to a big SUV, the Ford Ranger is unashamedly a pick-up truck. Ford’s marketeers will probably still try to convince you otherwise, but the Ranger is as rough and tough as pick-ups come.
Torque-rich, five-cylinder, 3.2-litre diesel engine from an old Ford Transit? Check. Solid rear axle and leaf springs? Check. The ability to tow a steam locomotive? Check.
Since this generation of Ranger arrived in 2012, it’s had a series of updates, culminating in this latest, plushest Wildtrak X range-topper, designed to take the fight to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Volkswagen Amarok – each a truck too, of course, but aimed at the more ‘lifestyle’ minded buyers who are migrating to pick-ups in larger numbers.
Ford will be hoping to woo 1000 of them with this Wildtrak X limited to that number, the special edition getting a few visual styling tweaks, an exclusive blue paint colour with lots of black trim to go with it, a locking cover for the tray, 18in alloy wheels and extra convenience and safety kit.
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Pickups generally
Are bought by VAT qualifying businesses/self employed. That is the reason the convention of quoting prices '+VAT' should be kept. For the private new buyer these things are ridiculously expensive.
Second point is that the Ranger is over the unladen weight for a dual purpose vehicle to retain most national posted speed limits. On most non-motorway roads it is limited to 50mph max speed unless the posted limit is less. Speed camera van computer systems do take this into account, so be at least aware of this.
Thirdly, contrary to some misinformation here, this pickup does not come from Thailand. For the UK the T6 and newer variants have always been made at Ford's South Africa factory. Even the engines are made there.
Until very recently the 3.2 Wildtrak automatic could be bought, after all available new car discounts, for £22,000 + VAT, at which price it makes commercial sense considering the other tax advantages of a commercial vehicle as opposed to a car for a business.
40 grand for an old truck made in Thailand???
Another one of Ford's rip-off the British motorist stunts. This is made really cheaply in Thailand & sold at premium prices. (To compenate for the losses they make from selling cars made in high cost Germany)
Pick ups aren't my thing at
Pick ups aren't my thing at all, but I get 'luxury', up-market ones such as the X-Class or Anorak even less. I would have thought that half the appeal of a truck would be to have something a bit rufty-tufty, less refined,maybe a bit harder and more involving to drive. Something like a more basic Hilux or L200 would appear to fit that bill better. But that's just me, I guess the buyers after these top end models are just interested in the look and the tax breaks.