VFACTS April 2024

[PG2]

If I had a Ranger wish list, it would be;

2.3 EB low-rider 4x2 Extra/Space Cab maybe offered in XL/XLT/Wildtrak trims.

I'd buy one in Wildtrak trim - depending on price of course.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by PG2

If I had a Ranger wish list, it would be;

2.3 EB low-rider 4x2 Extra/Space Cab maybe offered in XL/XLT/Wildtrak trims.

I'd buy one in Wildtrak trim - depending on price of course.

Similar to me on the engine choice, however mine:

- 4x2 Single Cab
- Factory integrated electric brakes
- Vinyl floors
- Electric windows
- 6sp or 10sp auto

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Similar to me on the engine choice, however mine:

- 4x2 Single Cab
- Factory integrated electric brakes
- Vinyl floors
- Electric windows
- 6sp or 10sp auto

I'd be calling my dealer instantly if Ford had the balls to do a 2.3 EcoBoost single cab, I so over diesel engines.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I'd be calling my dealer instantly if Ford had the balls to do a 2.3 EcoBoost single cab, I so over diesel engines.

Small displacement diesel engines are absolute junk, especially modern ones, they're fragile, sensitive and expensive to maintain pieces of shit.

It makes ZERO sense why we still use small displacement diesel engines in LCVs or SUVs when you've got turbo unleaded engines which come on peak torque earlier, hold it way longer and cost less to maintain with more reliability - look at Ford Ecoboost product range, the things come on peak torque at 1500 RPM.

Yeah there's a penalty on fuel usage because of the lower energy density of unleaded vs diesel and some efficiency because of the lower compression ratio - however you can take out some of the sting with hybrids.

The only thing diesel should be used for is medium and heavy commercial vehicles, boats/ships and that sort of thing where they're actually worked like a diesel engine wants, and you know you have torque figures that are four figures and start at off idle.

You* using it to drive to the shops or do the school run isn't what a diesel engine wants.

I think this is where the US has it right is that their LCV and passenger vehicle customers hate diesel engines and rightfully so, especially the shit we've had since Euro IV which was the start of the downfall.

*You as in generalisation of the average Thailand Special owner.

Add to my list 16" interceptors, don't want alloy wheels for what I do to my ute.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Small displacement diesel engines are absolute junk, especially modern ones, they're fragile, sensitive and expensive to maintain pieces of shit.

You* using it to drive to the shops or do the school run isn't what a diesel engine wants.


*You as in generalisation of the average Thailand Special owner.

Add to my list 16" interceptors, don't want alloy wheels for what I do to my ute.

It's taken me 8 years to do 40,000 km in my 2.2 Ranger, a lot of that is short trips going from job to job, or driving the 6.3 kms to/from work. As you say, not ideal for a diesel and I'm kinda expecting some repercussions from that at some point. If Ford offered a petrol engine, I would have bought that instead.

[DFB FGXR6]

The argument for diesel has always been the torque, but modern turbo engines do that too. As for the 2.2 I have, that torque is only available at 1800 revs and nowhere else, it's got nothing up to that point, nothing after it. So its sh.t to drive, noisy when you need to rev it out and painfully slow everywhere, downright dangerous in some situations. The engine in that vehicle lets the whole show down, I'm otherwise very happy with the thing.

Apparently the above is what customers want.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The argument for diesel has always been the torque, but modern turbo engines do that too. As for the 2.2 I have, that torque is only available at 1800 revs and nowhere else, it's got nothing up to that point, nothing after it. So its sh.t to drive, noisy when you need to rev it out and painfully slow everywhere, downright dangerous in some situations. The engine in that vehicle lets the whole show down, I'm otherwise very happy with the thing.

Apparently the above is what customers want.

I don’t think they’ve ever had more torque, that’s just a commonly parroted myth from decades gone by due to the ultra short gearing of diesel powered LV.
A good comparison might be a TD42 and 1HZ against an E series SOHC.
Even in turbo form those diesels are average in torque. 24v 1hdt and FTE with intercooler are ok.
Put that gearing behind a Falcon 4.0 and there will be no traction in the first three gears in the dry.

Diesel only got good around turn of the century Mercedes 3.2 and BMW 3.0 160kw and 500nm which shat on the alternative 6 and 8 cylinder petrol engines in economy and real world performance and only using EGR for emissions control.

Franco, why not a Falcon Ute?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The argument for diesel has always been the torque, but modern turbo engines do that too. As for the 2.2 I have, that torque is only available at 1800 revs and nowhere else, it's got nothing up to that point, nothing after it. So its sh.t to drive, noisy when you need to rev it out and painfully slow everywhere, downright dangerous in some situations. The engine in that vehicle lets the whole show down, I'm otherwise very happy with the thing.

Apparently the above is what customers want.

Currently, the base model XLs come with a single turbo 125 Kw version of the 2.0 diesel.
It has a 6-speed auto which is affordable, well proven technology and sufficient for fleets.

Here’s the thing,
Ever since Australians jumped to diesels to get better fuel economy, the oil companies
have permanently jacked up diesel prices at the pump to the point where you have to wonder
whether the added up front cost, higher maintenance costs and emissions issues are worth it
when perhaps a lower cost Ecoboost 2.3 petrol engine may be a better fit….

As a retail buyer in another segment, I normally purchase a basic petrol engine over a turbo diesel.
Sure, it doesn’t have a lot of poke but they are normally super reliable and cheap to service.
Every time I go to Costco and fuel up for $1.90, I look at diesel nearly 30 or 40 cents dearer
and see the savings each time I fill up. I can imagine people with petrol tradie Utes think the same…

And guys, I get that the V6 diesel is a runaway success in Ranger and Everest
but that success seems to have thrown a lot of shade on the 2.0 diesel so
perhaps offering a 2.3 EB or even the 2.7 EB V6 are possible alternatives for
Ford to consider but they would want to be darned sure that’s what customers want
and not just a few on the internet advocating something nice to see.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

It's taken me 8 years to do 40,000 km in my 2.2 Ranger, a lot of that is short trips going from job to job, or driving the 6.3 kms to/from work. As you say, not ideal for a diesel and I'm kinda expecting some repercussions from that at some point. If Ford offered a petrol engine, I would have bought that instead.

Should I need a new replacement for the Thailux the current front runner is the Hilux Workmate, the 2.7L unleaded job.

However the $7000 price rise on them from $26K DA to $33K DA is a bit rich.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Should I need a new replacement for the Thailux the current front runner is the Hilux Workmate, the 2.7L unleaded job.

However the $7000 price rise on them from $26K DA to $33K DA is a bit rich.

2.7 is unbustable. Kind of fun to fang around commercial areas to the mine site. Sometimes a car is best in it's most simple form.

FWIW I would set aside a $1 for every $1 I put in the diesel HJ60, for all up everything costs which were higher than my petrol work cars. And that particular diesel has a rep of being very robust and simple compared to the modern ones.

Hybrid petrols of things like Hilux and Prado will be very interesting, if they can keep the full 4x4 ability.

[ToryMikey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Should I need a new replacement for the Thailux the current front runner is the Hilux Workmate, the 2.7L unleaded job.

However the $7000 price rise on them from $26K DA to $33K DA is a bit rich.

Did they end up adding a sixth gear and intermittent wipers?