Posted on 10/02/2007 9:58:30 AM PDT by decimon
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. sales plummeted 21 percent in September as the automaker saw a steep drop-off in car sales, according to results released Tuesday.
Ford's car sales dropped 39 percent compared with last September, while its truck sales were down 5 percent. The automaker said a 62 percent reduction in sales to rental car fleets partly was to blame. Ford has been trying to cut back on rental sales, which can hurt brand image and profits.
Other automakers also were expected to report lackluster sales for the month, as jittery consumers put off big-ticket purchases in reaction to the credit crunch, high gas prices and the troubled housing market. Wall Street analysts predicted overall sales would be down 4 percent for the month.
The Associated Press reports unadjusted figures, calculating the percentage change in the total number of vehicles sold in one month compared with the same month a year earlier. Some automakers report percentages adjusted for sales days. There were 25 sales days last month and 26 in September 2006.
“They make good trucks. They need to make better cars.
“
New company vehicle is a Ford truck. It is a piece of sh*t.
I have seen 2 of the 4 at car shows, the show car versions of course and I was impressed and I am not easy impressed these days. We will have to disagree.
#1 had people around it in throngs.
#2 will be in production and in show rooms soon if I am not mistaken, all glass roof.
#3, I have talked to those that have seen it, and they like it.
#4 boring no, think large "Mini" for grown up non-liberals that have kids. I got to see the "Fairlane Version, Proto's are on the road as we speak, it will be in the show rooms next fall unless I am mistaken. Boring no, segment buster yes....
“I would buy a Mustang GT, but I’m waiting to see how the new Camaro pans out first...(and I fully suspect the Dodge Challenger will be more than I want to pay)”
Let me guess...you live in a trailer park don’t you?
THAT was a cheap shot worthy of DU.
Knocking the Camaro will only get you points for general ignorance. Despite it’s image as a guy’s High School ride, it remains an imminently buildable performance platform that, for a few dollars more, can be equipped to shame almost anything in 1320 feet or less.
At the time my friend bought his 02 Explorer, he did ask, and was told by the dealer that it really was sealed for life and needed no maintenance ever.
What you’ve just posted is a recent development and was created after a number of lawsuits and complaints from owners. You also forgot the 4R70W, which is very, very common in Fords.
Since you’re so happy to defend Ford, please enlighten us as to just how Ford treated their customers with pre-98 4.6L V8s when their intake manifolds cracked - and how they played favorites.
Later news:
1: Is not producable, Ford has said they will not be making it.
2: Cancelled.
3: Next B car is said to not look a whole lot like that, will look more like the current Mk. II Focus.
4: The Ford Flex is going to be about 5000lbs, and will be powered by a 265hp 3.5L V6. It’s going to be a slug.
Ford is so clueless about what people want that they decided to switch from having iPod interfaces in their cars to Microsoft Zune interfaces.
Ford small cars have some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings there are.
Yet some of the highest recall rates...
And their high ratings are short-term only.
Not so.
I've owned an Escort and a Tracer (same car, just a Merc) and did research before buying them.
They've been excellent, extremely reliable trouble free cars.
You bought two Mazdas, apparently.
Also, while JD Powers tends to be suspicious on their initial quality studies, their long term studies (3 year old cars) tend to be more accurate.
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/dependability/compact-car
Notice what the top three are? Honda and Toyota.
You drive one of them for a few days you never ever want to buy one.
If you only do the short test drive you might actually buy one and then regret it.
Drive some other makes at the rental counter and you want to buy them.
Fancy way of Ford saying Fords suck.
I think the price differential has more to do with what’s behind the badge on the front than what the badge actually is. I would consider a 25% reduction in price (or greater) to be adequate compensation for having to deal with the farce that is American auto maker customer service.
The Sprinter is a European Mercedes design that was imported to fill the gap when the Ram Van was discontinued. It’s quality goods.
*Was.* It’s long discontinued now. Replaced by the FWD Uplander minivan.
My take on the Focus jibes with yours. It’s not a bad car - not as refined and technologically sophisticated as the Civic, or with the materials and fit and finish, but quite reliable now that all the bugs have been worked out. And it’s cheap. The Civic is just too much money in my mind for a car in that class - a few thou more will get you an Accord
“What you’ve just posted is a recent development and was created after a number of lawsuits and complaints from owners.”
And I’m sure you have evidence of this? I suspect your friend is more the victim of an idiot salesman or “service manager”, both of which are close to useless when it comes to knowledge about cars.
Spktyr,
The MKS is running around in camo around Dearborn. The V-8 was cancelled, not the project. Instead there is supposed to be a 3.7L V6 that will be exclusive to Lincoln.
I have yet to hear a peep about the MKR being cancelled, though I have heard the earliest you might see it is 2011. Might as well cancel it if you’re going to take that long.
As for the Flex, do you have a source on that weight? I’ve heard of weight problems, but more in the 4300-4400 pound range. It’ll be a slug compared to your XJR, but what isn’t? :)
As for the B car, it is supposed to mirror the European model, which is following the Kinetic design. Will look much more like what was shown here than the current MKII Focus. Every story I have seen has shown the current European B entry when talking about it, though, which is bound to cause confusion.
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