Blurred Focus How Ford mishandled its serviceable little car ($4-5 Thousand loss each car)

Business Week ^ | 06/19/2006

[steve86]

I was not going to attempt any major repairs like replacing the rubber in the windshield wiper.

I think you were pulling people's legs about this "major repair" stuff. My five year old could do it if she could reach and I'm sure so could you.

[CGTRWK]

Ford once marketed an F-150 full-size pickup that was EPA rated at 29 miles per gallon highway

In 1984 the EPA scoring procedure was revised to reduce highway mileage numbers by 22% across the board. A 1984 model that had been rated at 29 mpg would be rated at 22 or 23 mpg in 1985.

[satchmodog9]

Five years? We need new wipers at least once a year.

[SamAdams76]

You are correct that 26/32-mpg is not that great. I have an Altima with a 250-hp V6 engine that gets about that and that's even with all the heated seats and other electronic doodads that come with it. If I'm going to drive a subcompact as ugly at the Focus, it better at least give me 40 miles a gallon on the highway and 30+ in the city.

[dalereed]

"We need new wipers at least once a year."

I don't know if they exist but if they were made out of urathane they would outlast the car, same with tires.

[OKIEDOC]

Nothing like owning a big Oldsmobile with one of those smoking great diesel engines.

I took GM to arbitration and ended up with a new 84 Cadillac which turned out to be one of the better cars I have ever owned.

The worst other than the Olds was a Porsche that was always in the garage for a tune up.

[-YYZ-]

Heck, I replace the wiper inserts on my Accord a couple times a year. Running them iced up in the winter usually ruins one pair, and the summer heat, sunlight and smog take their toll on another. I'm a fanatic about having a clean windshield to look through, though. Actually I'm surprised that everyone isn't - being able to see clearly where you're going seems like a good thing.