a 2 seater Baja...?

[Pawel Slusarz]

I just checked the group archives and I don't see anything on the
subject past mid-2001. A week or so ago I started looking around at a
practical commuting vehicle. I'd be perfectly satisfied with a small
pickup, say Tacoma, if it only came with front wheel drive. Step by step
(mostly adding up the option prices) I arrived at the Baja price range,
and realized the ideal vehicle for me would be a 2-seater version of
Baja with larger bed, El Camino style (or, as I later found out, a Brat
reincarnation with longer bed). I know I'm not the only one who's been
thinking that, but I don't see any posts on the subject in the archives
past 2001. I shot an email to Subaru over the weekend, and Monday
morning (!) I got this in reply:

"(...)We appreciate that you took the time to inquire. At this time, we
do
not have plans to offer an ''El Camino-style'' Baja model. We have not
yet solidified our future product plans for this model, so we will
gladly take your request into consideration.

We are certainly not opposed to the idea of change. We will forward
your comments to our Product Planning Department for their
consideration. (...)"

Does anyone have any more up to date information on Subaru's attitude
towards the idea? Was that just a polite put-down, or should I get all
pumped up and start a 2-seater Subaru pickup fan site in hopes of
getting more publicity for the idea? ;-)

Paul

 

[Michael P. Smith]

2 seater baja? just get a pick-up truck. Seriously , there has to be a front wheel drive p/u truck out there, doesn't there?

Mike

 

[null]

No there are no front wheel drive pickups. They're all rear wheel drive
for one reason;when you've got
the bed loaded you need the weight on top of the drive wheels. I'd love to
see a fully loaded truck bed
with front wheel drive in the winter.

 

[TG]

I have a 2001 front wheel drive Ford Ranger, 210 horsepower, 5 speed
automatic. The cargo rating is the same as in the rear wheel drive version.
WHY would you need the cargo on top of the drive wheels? I live in a snowy
state (MT) and the front wheel drive does better, putting weight in the bed
doesn't make the front wheels come off the ground. TG

 

[Rob Munach]

I have a 2001 front wheel drive Ford Ranger, 210 horsepower, 5 speed
automatic. The cargo rating is the same as in the rear wheel drive version.
WHY would you need the cargo on top of the drive wheels? I live in a snowy
state (MT) and the front wheel drive does better, putting weight in the bed
doesn't make the front wheels come off the ground. TG

Did you buy this vehicle in the USA? Ford has never made a front wheel
drive Ranger in the US. I had an '87 BRAT which was normally front wheel
drive until it was shifted into 4WD. With 1000lbs in the bed and in
front wheel drive, it would do huge burnouts trying to get started on
hills.

 

[TG]

Yes, I bought it in the USA and it was made for the US market as well. I
have no trouble getting parts at Ford, they don't say "Ford never made a
front wheel drive Ranger". A properly loaded bed according to the owners
manual always shows the center of gravity for the load slightly ahead of the
rear axle so that even the the rear suspension is supporting most of the
weight the front also helps and the "wheelie" effect caused by leverage is
negated.
Wasn't 1,000# overloading the Brat? TG

 

[Rob Munach]

Yes, I bought it in the USA and it was made for the US market as well. I
have no trouble getting parts at Ford, they don't say "Ford never made a
front wheel drive Ranger". A properly loaded bed according to the owners
manual always shows the center of gravity for the load slightly ahead of the
rear axle so that even the the rear suspension is supporting most of the
weight the front also helps and the "wheelie" effect caused by leverage is
negated.
Wasn't 1,000# overloading the Brat? TG

Of course it was overloaded! I still don't believe you have a front
wheel drive Ranger. Why not post a picture?

 

[Dan Duncan]

I have a 2001 front wheel drive Ford Ranger, 210 horsepower, 5 speed
automatic. The cargo rating is the same as in the rear wheel drive version.
WHY would you need the cargo on top of the drive wheels? I live in a snowy
state (MT) and the front wheel drive does better, putting weight in the bed
doesn't make the front wheels come off the ground. TG

Are you sure it isn't a FOUR wheel drive Ford ranger? The two
wheel drive version of the Ford Ranger is REAR wheel drive. The
pickup Volkswagen used to sell in the US was front wheel drive,
but that's the only one I recall.

-DanD

 

[TG]

Yes, I'm sure. I also have a 2001 XLT 4x4 but this one is FWD only, no
driveshaft to the rear and no rear differential. TG

 

[null]

Well I'm going to have to disagree until I see photos. I've checked every
website that had a review
on the 2001 Ford Ranger and not one mentions that the 2wd is front wheel
drive. In fact, the ones that
do say anything about the rear axle says it's got 4.10 gear ratio.

Searching newsgroups, btw 'front wheel drive truck' is a hot topic. There
was a VW Rabbit truck that was front
wheel drive, (it could only haul 500lbs). Dodge/Horizion had an elcamino
like vehicle called the rampage that was
apparently front wheel drive.

Oh and they also rate the 4.0 V6 at 207hp

front engine, rear-wheel drive

Yes, I'm sure. I also have a 2001 XLT 4x4 but this one is FWD only, no
driveshaft to the rear and no rear differential. TG