Let's Hear It for Ford!

[Ivytalk]

$1 billion in quarterly profits! High quality! No bailout money!

I come from a GM family -- management, not union -- but I have a Ford in my future! Provided they still make those big Town Cars! So I guess I'm screwed.

[danefan]

I'm actually seriously thinking about a Ford Escape.

And BTW, bought Ford at $4.

They are about to replace one of the largest fleets of vehicles in the world: NYC taxis

All of these:



Have to be replaced with Hybrids by 2012

The #1 option for replacement is:



That's 10,000+ vehicles in a very short time period.

[Appaholic]

I'm actually seriously thinking about a Ford Escape.

And BTW, bought Ford at $4.

$2.85 for me.. ..and have regretted not purchasing more when it hit $1.85 2 weeks later.. ..no hurry to sell

[houndawg]

I'm actually seriously thinking about a Ford Escape.

And BTW, bought Ford at $4.

$2.85 for me.. ..and have regretted not purchasing more when it hit $1.85 2 weeks later.. ..no hurry to sell

Takes nerve to bet on the UAW. May you always buy cheap and sell dear.

[clenz]

I'm actually seriously thinking about a Ford Escape.

And BTW, bought Ford at $4.

They are about to replace one of the largest fleets of vehicles in the world: NYC taxis

All of these:



Have to be replaced with Hybrids by 2012

The #1 option for replacement is:



That's 10,000+ vehicles in a very short time period.

I would love an Escape Hybrid. TBH and I are looking at having to replace our cars withing the next 2 years or so. Sara has an aunt that works for the Ford Truck Plant in Louisville, KY (higher up in the company. Is involved in their "inner circle", whatever that is). Anyway, the immediate family (TBH, her brother and parents, TBH's aunt on the mom's side and her husband and daughter) all get employee prices when they buy Ford. TBH's mother got an Escape in 2006 or 2007 and her father got a Fusion in late 2007 or early 2008. When our cars go they may sell us their cars and get new ones, which would be great.


Ideally I want an F150, which TBH's uncle gets right off the truck line at Ford and we are going to see if he would sell his, which he gets completely decked out from Ford because of the discount, and takes amazing care of, when he gets a new truck.

[Appaholic]

$2.85 for me.. ..and have regretted not purchasing more when it hit $1.85 2 weeks later.. ..no hurry to sell

Takes nerve to bet on the UAW. May you always buy cheap and sell dear.

Was betting more on what Ford learned in Brazil....

The Way Forward plan Fields unveiled last year in Dearborn is an outgrowth of the restructuring plan Ford Motor Co. developed to save its Brazilian operations. Five years ago, Ford was on the brink of pulling out of South America's most important market. Instead, it closed factories, bought out workers, consolidated its dealer network and launched a stream of home-run products.

Today, Ford has doubled its market share and become one of the most profitable automakers in Brazil. Its products are lauded by the local auto press and loved by consumers. Its biggest problem now is that its factories cannot keep up with the surging demand for its cars and trucks.

For much of the last century, Ford was a market leader in Brazil. But the 1980s brought a surprise invasion by overseas competitors -- in this case from Europe. The effect was the same as when Japanese automakers arrived in the United States. Unprepared and reliant on aging factories, Ford was pummeled by the newcomers.

"We knew we needed to change our business model," said Dom DiMarco, head of Ford's South American division.

Ford closed its posh corporate offices in downtown São Paulo and moved into converted factory space at its main manufacturing facility here in an industrial suburb. The automaker also closed its main truck plant and consolidated those operations here, too.

Ford cut a quarter of its salaried work force. It eliminated or reassigned 3,600 factory workers, about half its hourly work force in the country. Those who lost their jobs were given buyouts. The automaker also consolidated its Brazilian dealership network and worked with franchise owners to remodel their stores.

If all this sounds familiar, it is.

In the United States, Ford has already idled four assembly plants and plans to close 16 factories by 2012. It has eliminated more than 10,000 salaried positions and cut more than 20,000 hourly jobs since the end of 2005.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 20406/1148

[OSBF]

Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan just named the best mid-size family sedan by consumer reports

The Asians and Koreans still dominate the reliability rankings, but FoMoCo is far far ahead of GM and Dodge.

The Fusion/Milan finished ahead of traditional class leaders such as Toyota Camary, Honda Accord, and the Nissan Altima.

[Chizzang]

The Ford F-150
They're cheap - They last forever - all the sh!t inside works - maintenance is cheap

If Ford keeps doing that I'll keep buying them.... I've loved all of the ones I've owned
It's always a sad day when you have to put one down...



but 2 days with the new truck and you forget... (like women)

[JoltinJoe]

Sorry to rain on the Ford parade. Bought one of the original Explorers in 1992. Loved it. Was great around my house in the mountains during the winter. Lasted 12 years. Bought a 2004 Explorer to replace it. Has always had transmission problems. Was recalled for the problem, but Ford did a cheapie fix rather than really address the problem. When the problem arose again, Ford refused to fix it, saying it was outside thw 36,000 warranty. I complained that it was originally serviced for the problem within warranty, but that they didn't really fix it. They screwed me.

When this Ford goes down, I won't consider Ford again, Every year, I have to dump a about $700 into it to keep the tranny going.

[Skjellyfetti]

Let's hear it for GM as well!! Sales up 4%!!!

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Fu*k GM and Hussein Obama

I will never buy one of their products again.

[danefan]

Sorry to rain on the Ford parade. Bought one of the original Explorers in 1992. Loved it. Was great around my house in the mountains during the winter. Lasted 12 years. Bought a 2004 Explorer to replace it. Has always had transmission problems. Was recalled for the problem, but Ford did a cheapie fix rather than really address the problem. When the problem arose again, Ford refused to fix it, saying it was outside thw 36,000 warranty. I complained that it was originally serviced for the problem within warranty, but that they didn't really fix it. They screwed me.

When this Ford goes down, I won't consider Ford again, Every year, I have to dump a about $700 into it to keep the tranny going.

Yeah I've heard horrible horrible things about the Exploders. I wouldn't touch one of those. Everything else seems to be good though.

[Appaholic]

Sorry to rain on the Ford parade. Bought one of the original Explorers in 1992. Loved it. Was great around my house in the mountains during the winter. Lasted 12 years. Bought a 2004 Explorer to replace it. Has always had transmission problems. Was recalled for the problem, but Ford did a cheapie fix rather than really address the problem. When the problem arose again, Ford refused to fix it, saying it was outside thw 36,000 warranty. I complained that it was originally serviced for the problem within warranty, but that they didn't really fix it. They screwed me.

When this Ford goes down, I won't consider Ford again, Every year, I have to dump a about $700 into it to keep the tranny going.

My family has had similar experiences regarding the transmissions....& my dad loved his 2000 or 2001 Escape, but hates his current Escape....thinks the later model was designed more for soccer Moms to haul groceries (it was)....personally, I'll stick with the F150 or Fusion when I purchase...

[houndawg]

Fu*k GM and Hussein Obama

I will never buy one of their products again.

You'll change your mind when you get your driver's license Alphalfa.

[Appaholic]

Fu*k GM and Hussein Obama

I will never buy one of their products again.

You'll change your mind when you get your driver's license Alphalfa.

[ASUG8]

We had a V6 Mazda Tribute (sister car to the Escape) and nothing but good luck with it - lots of legroom, good space in the back, very reliable. I'd buy another one.

[Wedgebuster]

Congrats to Ford!

Still didn't have the guts to buy one, so did the obvious. I'll keep an eye on the '10 new Fords, and see what they look like in '20.

[dbackjon]

Way to go UAW!!

[Gil Dobie]

Give me an "F"

[OSBF]

Sorry to rain on the Ford parade. Bought one of the original Explorers in 1992. Loved it. Was great around my house in the mountains during the winter. Lasted 12 years. Bought a 2004 Explorer to replace it. Has always had transmission problems. Was recalled for the problem, but Ford did a cheapie fix rather than really address the problem. When the problem arose again, Ford refused to fix it, saying it was outside thw 36,000 warranty. I complained that it was originally serviced for the problem within warranty, but that they didn't really fix it. They screwed me.

When this Ford goes down, I won't consider Ford again, Every year, I have to dump a about $700 into it to keep the tranny going.

all makes and models will have good and bad units. I had an Eddie Bauer Explorer that I ran up way past 200K with only the normal brakes and exhaust type repairs. I'm sure somewhere there has been an Accord or Camary that spent more time in the shop than the driveway. I'm sure someone out there drove their Yugo over 100K with very few problems.

Looking at individual units is a poor way to evaluate either a make or a model. Not statistically sound or relevant.

The main number I look at is the # of "problems" reported per units produced. Excellent indicator of build quality and overall reliability of both a nameplate and a specific model. This type of information is readily available and accessible.

[Cap'n Cat]

Good thread, IT. Have always owned Fords, so did Dad, going all the way back to his first new car, a 1965 Galaxie. RARELY had problems with any of them.

[Ivytalk]

We had a V6 Mazda Tribute (sister car to the Escape) and nothing but good luck with it - lots of legroom, good space in the back, very reliable. I'd buy another one.

My wife and I rented an Escape last year on our trip to Savannah, and it was surprisingly roomy (I'm 6'3", 230). But don't get me started on the smaller Jeeps.

[Ibanez]

I'm actually seriously thinking about a Ford Escape.

And BTW, bought Ford at $4.

$2.85 for me.. ..and have regretted not purchasing more when it hit $1.85 2 weeks later.. ..no hurry to sell

Bought at $1.25...wish I didn't have to sell it at $6.50. It is what it is.

[native]

$2.85 for me.. ..and have regretted not purchasing more when it hit $1.85 2 weeks later.. ..no hurry to sell

Takes nerve to bet on the UAW. May you always buy cheap and sell dear.

My thoughts exactly. Congrats, but...

[houndawg]

Good thread, IT. Have always owned Fords, so did Dad, going all the way back to his first new car, a 1965 Galaxie. RARELY had problems with any of them.

When I met my wife-to-be she drove that exact model in that exact color. 289, 4-speed. I banged the back seat of that sucker right through the floor pan. The word spread and to this day old Galaxies cringe when I approach.