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Automotive News & Views What about the future of Ford Inc?? 
1858 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 6:25 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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...back on topic, anyone know what Ford's short to medium term plans are for the Focus in the U.S.? How long is Ford going to let it soldier on in current form? Just odd that the company that makes plenty of competent subcompacts for the rest of the world can't seem to get it together here in the U.S. Or does Ford figure these high gas prices are just some short-term thing and before long, we'll all be clamoring for the return of the Excursion? 
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Replying to: rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 5:34 am) 
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I may be going against the grain, but I think Ford's turning the corner and the future is bright. Based on the number of Fusions I see in New England, that car is a hit. I've yet to read much negative about it. They pulled the plug on the dreadful Freestar and retired the Taurus. They delayed the Edge in order to get the quality just right. The Mustang is a hit, the new Explorer is well designed, and the F150s are still the best trucks around. I also have read where they're going to beef up the engine to a 3.5 in the underpowered 500. It's going to be interesting to see the reaction to the Edge when it's finally in showrooms. |
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Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 11, 2006 10:35 am) Rocky |
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Rocky: I think using any political strategy to straighten out a failing company is bad. Political strategies are usually based upon polls, and adjustments to those polls at any cost or in any way possible. Lying, cheating and stealing is not above a political strategist. There's no substance there, no character, and a very short term strategy at best - just gotta make the public believe we're right, whether we are or not. I don't see that as a way to build a company image, and from the article, it hasn't worked for Ford either. Even their employees know it's all crap. I doubt Toyota would hire a political strategist to fix an image problem. They would just try to build better cars that would appeal to the customer and build a reputation that would propel them further along. And that's what Ford has been lacking all its life. They move in fits & starts. Then they go to hell for a while, bring in a new team and recover, and start the cycle again. Consistency is what is lacking at Ford, for whatever reason. In the last 5 years since Bill Jr. took over, their "strategy", if you can call it that has changed about 6 times. From "we're going to give you the best mileage trucks and SUVs in the world", to safety, to green & hybrids, to Mustangs, back to trucks, then back to we care about you, and finally green again. And none of those have sold or worked, except the Mustang. IF they didn't build great trucks, they would already be gone. I'm a Ford guy, or at least I used to be. It has taken a lot for me to give up on them. I'm just about there though. I'll give Mulally a chance - and what I see so far has potential. But if the Ford family doesn't get out of the management of this company, they are doomed. Somebody with a vision has to take over and be given the lattitude to do what must be done to stablize this company, now. |
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I'm reversing my opinion on the sale of the PAG. I'm starting to feel that Ford is not worthy of the great heritage nameplates of Europe, and maybe they should sell Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Aston Martin to the highest bidder, and concentrate on the Ford brand. Clearly they don't possess the management skill to run a global company. They have no RWD cars for Europe other than these luxury brands, and they have no update for the American Focus, which is languishing like the Ranger in category II Alzheimers. They have squandered their resources with bad moves and investments in the wrong products at the wrong times. They have squandered their position in the market place and their brands. What they have done to Lincoln is unconscionable. They did it to Mercury decades ago, but to make Lincoln a souped up Mazda 6 is shameful, inexcusable. Lincoln outsold Cadillac at one time in recent history. Cadillac may never be the "Standard of the World" again, but it certainly has recovered nicely and has a strange and wonderful following now among Gen Y. Hard to comprehend, but it's there. I actually find myself liking the DTS!! I haven't liked a Cadillac since about 1990. Anyway, the sooner they sell Jaguar or Land Rover, the sooner I may be confident enough to buy one. That's how I look at it. Meanwhile, I think I'll start filling my fleet out with Toyotas....... 
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