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"UNION workers and pension plans."

True but it goes much deeper than that. Ford drove away generations of loyal customers by putting out cars that didn't drive as well and were less reliable than the Japanese. Now those costumers are loyal to brands like Honda and Toyota. In order to win them back, Ford has to put out cars in mainstream segments that aren't just as good as Hondas and Toyota but better. They haven't done that. The Mustang is nice but it isn't exactly in a real high volume segment and cars like the new 500 are real yawners.

What has kept Ford afloat lately has been SUV sales. Those are falling off too as Japanese companies put out cars in that segment that are much more innovative and drive better than the stodgy Ford Explorer and Expedition and as some shoppers are getting tired of the fuel bills associated with the vehicles and switching segments.

You're right. Mismanagement at Ford had as much to do with its decline as anything.

While the UAW definitely played a role in the company's demise, union workers weren't the ones that designed and approved losers like the Five Hundred and Freestyle.

Ford drove away generations of loyal customers by putting out cars that didn't drive as well and were less reliable than the Japanese. Now those costumers are loyal to brands like Honda and Toyota. In order to win them back, Ford has to put out cars in mainstream segments that aren't just as good as Hondas and Toyota but better.

Worth repeating. You certainly nailed by car buying profile. My last Ford was a 1980 Fiesta. The last 20 years its been 3 Hondas.