Ford's Future May Rest on 2 Redesigns

ap ^ | 1/7/06 | Tom Krisher, AP Business Writer

[Joe Bfstplk]

That was supposed to read:

>Too late! I've already bought my last Ford.

Me too--in 1958.

[230FMJ]

I love my F150, but if Ford keeps supporting the left, it will be my last one.( I bought my first new Ford truck in 1974).

[Cringing Negativism Network]

BUY AMERICAN.

[LC HOGHEAD]

With Union mandated health care costs adding $2000 PER CAR to every US brand, and with almost 200,000 union members drawing full pay at nearly $100k each per year for NOT WORKING, its no wonder they cant compete. The greedy unions have DESTROYED the US Auto industry.

[Richard Kimball]

I test drove one of the new TBirds, and at about 65 it felt like the front end started wandering. They were pricing the thing just under a base-model Corvette ($40,000 compared to $43,000), but the car was NOT a good sports car. The aerodynamics of the TBird were very bad. Truthfully, it reminded me much more of the 64 Falcon than the 58 TBird.

[painter]

I don't think the Ford 500 looks too bad. The chrome grill is a little much. I'd buy one if I was in the market for a new car. I also think the new Toyota's are kind of dorky looking.

I'll admit that I'm a Ford fan.Since I was 18 I've owned 3 1965-66 Mustangs,5 Shelby Mustangs (I still have a 1966 GT350),and drive a 1992 Crown Vic that has a 138,000 miles and gets 26mpg on the hwy.

[painter]

I don't think the Ford 500 looks too bad. The chrome grill is a little much. I'd buy one if I was in the market for a new car. I also think the new Toyota's are kind of dorky looking.

I'll admit that I'm a Ford fan.Since I was 18 I've owned 3 1965-66 Mustangs,5 Shelby Mustangs (I still have a 1966 GT350),and drive a 1992 Crown Vic that has a 138,000 miles and gets 26mpg on the hwy.

[Wiseghy]

I also had problems with Fords. Though not with the serious safety issues you describe.

My Ford company vehicles were junk that always flashed engine lights and blew transmissions out in the sticks. My company wouldn't allow me to expense rentals, and it took weeks for the dealers to get the repairs through Ford's warranty dept. Their warranty department and dealers also laughed at me.

Companies fail to understand that the internet now allows people to share their experiences instantly. Twenty years of bad Word of Mouth has doomed Ford, unless they address their quality and service issues in a big way. Unfortunately, I don't think that their union pension expense, their engineering or their staid collectively bargained culture will allow them to make the changes necessary.

[SIDENET]

Oh, the reference to unions didn't include the union workers? Nice try.

It did? How so?

Please explain it to me, genius.

[gas0linealley]

Since you acknowledge my mental ability, I'll take a moment to instruct you.

A labor union is composed of working men and women.

When the word: "union" appears, it refers to those working men and women who have organized for the purpose of defending their rights, negotiating collectively, etc..

[SIDENET]

So, by your logic, any criticism of a union is criticism of the union members themselves? Unions don't have leadership or political agendas? That's news to me.

Don't hand me that BS. I grew up in a union household. You just got burned because I called out on your straw man argument.

[flada]

If they'd stuck with the tried and true i6 from the earlier model trucks it would be alright. Instead they went with the lousy 4.2 V6 that is prone to many problems including the aforementioned hydro-locking. I have read testimonials from literally thousands of people who need to replace their engine at a cost of from $3000-$4000--and that's all the truck is worth. So it will cost what it's worth to repair it. If this were an isolated incident that would be one thing. But it is symptomatic of the 4.2L and there's nothing isolated about it.

Fortunately (for me) when it happened to me at about 55K miles I still had an extended warranty--so it cost me a total of $100. Most people don't have this when their engine throws a rod.

[B Knotts]

Ford has improved their quality in recent years, and really don't lack much in that regard.

Ford's #1 problem in the past five years has been that they have not taken advantage of the creativity of their designers, choosing to limit production vehicles to the most bland, cautious designs. They produced the new Mustang, and I give them credit for that, but so many great designs were ignored (49, 427, etc.).

If, for instance, they would have announced today that they were going to actually put this concept car, I would have some hope for them:

Ford Interceptor

[B Knotts]

Make that "put this concept car into production."

[cicero's_son]

union workers here are your fellow Americans...

I'd rather spend my money supporting hard-working, honest foreigners than a bunch of lazy, corrupt, incompetent "Americans" who are contributing to the general decline of this country.

[Professional Engineer]

Too late! I've already bought my last Ford.

I'm about to buy my next. My 10 year old Explorer will be supplemented by an F150 with an honest to God cargo bed.

[Professional Engineer]

OTOH, if I had the disposable cash, there would be a Ford-GT sitting next to my Vette.

You and me both. ;-)

[cicero's_son]

I would sooner buy a Kia and "support Korea" than buy a POS Ford made by a bunch of lazy, incompetent union slobs who are effectively working for the Democrat party.

[Professional Engineer]

QRZ?

[cicero's_son]

Everytime you buy a Ford you subsidize the Democratic Party. I think I'll walk.

Exactly.

I'd love to see more conservatives vote with their pocketbooks and put this miserable POS company (along with it union mooches) out of its misery.