No more engine cover for the Lariat

Trigganometry

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I doubt the average buyer does comparison shopping for things like number of tie downs , engine cover or that stupid pencil holder in the center console. So Ford pays someone to look for ways that will max profits without impacting sales - those decision are usually made irrespective of how healthy the profit margins are, right now they arguably have the best power train and perhaps the best offering in the mid sized truck segment. But a lot of companies will add new feature(s) when they remove something - maybe Ford will add something that buyers actually look for like a heated steering wheel. Take features away from a vehicle that potential buyers will notice and that can have a negative impact on sales. Like Phil points out , Ford is incentivizing people to wring the max profits from their products - opinions differ on whether that is a good thing, I feel it has created some downside in areas like vehicle service and financing where those people are usually highly incented to sell adds on and sometimes questionable services.
My 1st job in sales I was mostly compensated from a salary and in sales training was taught to pitch that as an advantage - decided to try that pitch on a customer who laid into me that they didn't give a rats a** about how I was paid, last time I ever tried that. I still see some commercials that try to use that same pitch - that their reps aren't paid on commission and I see Fisher investments commercial pitching on how they "different" - mostly bs.
Correction: The Ford bonus program centers on cost reduction. If you can come up with a reducing idea that does not affect safety, performance or mileage you get a onetime payout!

I’m involved in some high volume manufacturing myself. The old saying time is money is quite true in the arena. Let’s say you can shave 30 seconds of some task. Multiply that time 100K parts that starts adding up to some major time and money savings. Same goes for engine covers, non lighted gear selectors, tie down hooks and wire harnesses that match the build. Now we’re talking a few hundred bucks or more per vehicle!

It’s all about the Benjamin’s in the end...
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RangerAJS

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Correction: The Ford bonus program centers on cost reduction. If you can come up with a reducing idea that does not affect safety, performance or mileage you get a onetime payout!

I’m involved in some high volume manufacturing myself. The old saying time is money is quite true in the arena. Let’s say you can shave 30 seconds of some task. Multiply that time 100K parts that starts adding up to some major time and money savings. Same goes for engine covers, non lighted gear selectors, tie down hooks and wire harnesses that match the build. Now we’re talking a few hundred bucks or more per vehicle!

It’s all about the Benjamin’s in the end...
Coming form the Lean/Six Sigma world, the goal is to achieve cost reduction through improvements in efficiency, as you stated....30 seconds here! 45 seconds there can translate to significant cost reduction = true. Cutting features and removing parts is moving toward the greedy side of things, no? Feature reduction has very little to do with efficiency, and more to do with customer expectations, or waning expectations in this case.
All that said, I also realize that as owners on this forum, we represent a core of vehicle fanatics that LOvE the Ranger. But think about it, if you weren’t here on Ranger5g would you even notice or even care that the engine cover is now a deleted feature?
sometimes ignorance is bliss! ??
 

AzScorpion

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Correction: The Ford bonus program centers on cost reduction. If you can come up with a reducing idea that does not affect safety, performance or mileage you get a onetime payout!

I’m involved in some high volume manufacturing myself. The old saying time is money is quite true in the arena. Let’s say you can shave 30 seconds of some task. Multiply that time 100K parts that starts adding up to some major time and money savings. Same goes for engine covers, non lighted gear selectors, tie down hooks and wire harnesses that match the build. Now we’re talking a few hundred bucks or more per vehicle!

It’s all about the Benjamin’s in the end...
This is all true and it's hard for some who have never run a business. The best way to cut your expenses is through payroll and not wanting to do that the only other way is to either cheapen your product or cut some of them out. I'm glad Ford decided to just cut some of these "non essential" features out rather than cheapen their product. Yes it stinks for those who didn't get theirs for free but it would be even worse if their new truck was inferior from the use of cheaper parts. I'd be upset if I saw others who got them included but way more upset if my truck was built with cheaper parts.
 

VAMike

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Agree, and when Ford can tie sales decline to lack of features or features removed that's when they may react.
By that time it's too late, and they're in the position of attracting new customers instead of retaining existing customers. Retaining is usually cheaper in the long run.

Right now it's mostly all upside on the sales front. Look at the relatively healthy sales volumes for the Nissan Frontier over the yrs with Nissan not doing a whole lot from the original
Did they leave it alone, or did they take things out every few months?
 


VAMike

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I'm glad Ford decided to just cut some of these "non essential" features out rather than cheapen their product. Yes it stinks for those who didn't get theirs for free but it would be even worse if their new truck was inferior from the use of cheaper parts. I'd be upset if I saw others who got them included but way more upset if my truck was built with cheaper parts.
The truck was built with cheaper parts. The interior is basically a 10 year old T6 (15 year old escort?) What did they add on top of that old interior to make people feel like they were getting something more? Well, they added wiper heaters, stamped "RANGER" into the seats, threw a pencil tray into the console, added fold-down rear headrests in the supercab...it seems like they've now managed to rip out most of the small touches they added when they brought the ranger to the US. If they lowered the price, then ok. But basic human psychology is gonna leave customers feeling disappointed when they realize that they're getting less stuff for the same money, they definitely aren't going to think "wow, I'm glad they took stuff out instead of cheapening the product!"
 

AzScorpion

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The truck was built with cheaper parts. The interior is basically a 10 year old T6 (15 year old escort?) What did they add on top of that old interior to make people feel like they were getting something more? Well, they added wiper heaters, stamped "RANGER" into the seats, threw a pencil tray into the console, added fold-down rear headrests in the supercab...it seems like they've now managed to rip out most of the small touches they added when they brought the ranger to the US. If they lowered the price, then ok. But basic human psychology is gonna leave customers feeling disappointed when they realize that they're getting less stuff for the same money, they definitely aren't going to think "wow, I'm glad they took stuff out instead of cheapening the product!"
That was my whole point is that "basic human psychology" is not alway right because MOST don't understand business. They only see what's black and white in front of them. You made that case in your first line when you said the truck was build with cheaper parts. Just because they used an older interior doesn't mean it's made with "cheaper parts" they just used a proven interior from past vehicles. Now if they had changed the whole interior in 2020 to something cheaper than I would agree but they used the same exact interior minus a Ranger stamping on the seats, two tie downs in the bed and an engine cover which really isn't a big deal on a 2.3 4cyl.

I'm sure most people outside this forum have no clue any of these were omitted. In your theory the 2.3 is an old dated motor and should've never been used in the Ranger. I guess if/when they change motors all of us should feel cheated and should complain we all have a cheap dated motor? Heck buy a cell phone or a computer today and in a few months they're already outdated and have made them better and faster. Might as well just buy nothing in fear of not getting the newest and greatest options then. :rolleyes:
 

VAMike

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That was my whole point is that "basic human psychology" is not alway right because MOST don't understand business.
IMO if you don't understand and account for "basic human psychology" you aren't going to succeed at business. ?‍♂
 

AzScorpion

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IMO if you don't understand and account for "basic human psychology" you aren't going to succeed at business. ?‍♂
You're right my 35 years in business have been NON successful. :facepalm:
 

NickTheEnforcer

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Might hit you up once mine arrives and I see for myself how it attaches. They wanted like 15 bucks for a nut! I could machine one out of titanium for less than that!
np. have actually had a few inquire. to all reading i believe i have two paks but were not in the place i thought..I will need to dig a bit deeper. Im pretty certain i did not toss out. my garage is a wood shop, metal shop, gunsmith shop, bar/dart lounge, auto shop..etc.
 

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Add to this list of things removed between 2019 and 2021.

2 tie down hooks,
pegs to hold passenger floor mats
Lighted gear shift selection lever
Heated wipers
Folding rear seat head rest (Supercab)
Ranger embossed on leather seats
Ecoboost emblem
Engine cover
Front tow hooks (4X2 Lariats non FX2)
Ranger on the bottom of the windshield (sound shield per ford markings)


Black Lug nuts on the black appearance package. (if they ever had them)

Things you pay for and do not get:
B&O sound system in the Supercab.

These are the things that I have noticed.

If there is not a big model change for 2022, What else could they remover from the truck without a lot pf people complaining? Better not say, they could take these ideas and run with them.
 
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VAMike

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These are the things that I have noticed.
That's a big part of it for me--unlike some, I don't assume that the only corners cut are the obvious things. Once a company starts cutting corners to pinch every penny, you've really got to wonder what they've cut that you don't notice. All of a sudden they've gone from the company you used to trust to some wal-mart pusher of cheap crap sold for more than it's worth.
 

jblc

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Don't forget our rear seat head rests fold down and our passenger side floor mats have pins to hold them in place too.

Not cool, Ford.
I had no idea earlier versions had a fold-down headrest.
I looked for videos online, but didn't see any in operation.
Are these available aftermarket, and/or compatible with newer versions that don't have it?
 

Trigganometry

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I had no idea earlier versions had a fold-down headrest.
I looked for videos online, but didn't see any in operation.
Are these available aftermarket, and/or compatible with newer versions that don't have it?
Nope, the guts of them have the mechanism to flip but the peg buttons and grommet on the side is missing from them. There is a thread on here discussing it and how to fix them so they work. It appears a month or so ago is when they cheapened them up even more and they stay upright only.

I’m doing a mod to mine to get a grommet and a button you can see so it’s like they were originally. I’ll post a new thread once I do it to give others Ideas of their own
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