Ford executive pays rare tribute to Toyota Camry

Reuters via Forbes.com ^ | 02/13/2003

[martin_fierro]

I've driven Caddys, MBZs and a Camry. I like the Camry best.

[StockAyatollah]

Ford = Fixed or Repaired Daily. Rarely do I hear of a satisfied Ford owner. Its good to see that even their executives admit that they are selling crap.

[Fyscat]

1985 Camery, 200k+ and still rolling.

[rimmont]

The Camry is a reliable, well built and well designed car. But it is designed for people with mediocre driving skills.

[caisson71]

I've owned a Camry and now own a Taurus. I like my Taurus better.

[SBprone]

I guess you don't know any F150 owners. My 2000 F150 has the finish and build quality and reliability equal to that of a Lexus ES300 I used to own. That is to say, VERY GOOD. Ford trucks are pleasers, just like Toyota sedans.

[Fyscat]

Had a '81 F-150, biggest piece I ever bought. Its why I purchased the Camery

[Protagoras]

Rarely do I hear of a satisfied Ford owner.

I had several Ford Vans in past years. I liked them well enough, but then I had a part go bad while under warranty. My van had a bumper to bumper warranty as they called it and the only items which were not covered were specifically spelled out in the documentaion. My part was not among them and clearly covered. A ford dealer outside of my home town refused to cover the part. They told me to call Ford. Everyone involved agreed that the warranty said the part was covered, but none would stand up to the warranty.

Ford told me that they would not cover it and I had to return to my original dealer and work it out with them. I finally got satisfaction from the dealer (it took a lot of time and effort), but I will never buy another Ford product as long as I live. They are liars and welshers.

[ArcLight]

I don't think I've ever driven a Camry, though I have nothing against them. But my battered old 87 Ford Taurus is the best car I've ever owned. I did have to get the transmission rebuilt after 150,000 miles, but that's the only big repair I've ever had done to it. Durn thing just runs.

[Fyscat]

You don't really drive a "Ford", it's a Mazda with a Ford stamp on it

[ArcLight]

Hey!! Maybe it's really a Ford F-150 with a Taurus body on top...

[MarkL]

I've never driven a Camry, but I've had two Toyota Corollas: A 1990 that I bought new, kept until June of 2000 (w/ 197,000 miles) and a 2000, which now has 52,000 miles on it. Great cars! I would have kept the 1990, which was only burning about 1/2 qt of oil every 3000 miles, and still got 32 MPG, but it needed new tires, springs, shocks, struts, brakes, clutch, timing belt, and all new front end parts... Couldn't justify that much to keep a great car on the road.

Mark

[TheCPA]

I am a very satisfied Ford owner. I bought a 2001 Ford Taurus SES in late September of 2001. It handles great and gets good gas mileage. In addition, I got a 0% loan. I had a 1996 Mercury Sable before that. I have been very pleased with my vehicles.

[RightWhale]

it is designed for people with mediocre driving skills

That's probably a valid point. You almost never see a Camry being "driven." It can be "driven," but it takes a heavy foot. That, and it is hard to judge when it will transition from severe understeer to oversteer, so it takes an experienced driver to "drive" it. Most people in a Camry have no "driving" experience at all.

[Bahbah]

I bought 3 Fords in a row in an effort to "buy American." The last was a Taurus and it was the worst piece of junk imaginable. The transmission gave out before the car was paid for. I am now on my 3rd Toyota. Ford will never get me back until their car performs like my Toy.

[Las Vegas Dave]

I own a loaded 2000 Taurus SEL (great car), and a 2001 Camry (my first rice-burner).

Wife drives the Ford (everything but leather).

I drive the TOY due to looong drive to/from work. The Ford is great, and so is the TOY ( @ 31/32 mpg h'way), BUT... tonight I took the TOY to the dealer and a new air bag has been ordered for that car (100% covered by TOY).

I never had an air bag problem with any car I owned, is this a common problem for Toyota?

[Willie Green]

A new sedan, the Ford Five Hundred, will be launched next year,

I wonder how much they spent on marketing research to come up with that name?

I suppose it beats "Edsel", but not by much.

[RAY]

It seems this is honest for a change. The solution is to make a better product and possibly fire the Harvard MBAs and bean counters.