What about the future of Ford Inc?? - READ ONLY

Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 11, 2006 12:05 pm)

I really hate how it's in the U.S. that Ford's brand equity is the lowest.
 
What does that say about America that a company is willing to let its name be so tarnished in its own country, with barely a fight? Most companies consider it a matter of pride (if not one of maintaining a reliable customer base) to ensure their best products are sold in their home market.

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• rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 9:12 pm)
  • dhanley (Oct 11, 2006 9:28 pm)
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Replying to: john_324 (Oct 11, 2006 1:29 pm)

Guys, sit back and really think about it. I really can't put all the blame on our domestic auto companys. I blame our "culture of corruption" which is our government. They have opened the doors to all of those that have the deepest pockets, and doing what's right has been throwin out the window.
 
Our government, has sadly become a "barter/auction system" where I'll do "X" for "Y" amount. It's not a government working for the averge citizen anymore. They will hang a carrot in front of our nose once in a while to let us think they care. The wealthy elites and buisnesses run our politics and it took the CEO's from the Big 3, to come togeather as one, just to get a interview with the Prez To the best of my knowledge those "talks" haven't happened yet, right ?
 
GM, Ford, Chrysler, are un a unlevel playing field-a topic we've kicked several times and thus needs no need of further explanation.
 
Maybe someday something will change, but until then the road looks rough.
 
Rocky

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• dhanley (Oct 11, 2006 9:28 pm)
  • rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 9:53 pm)
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Replying to: rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 9:12 pm)

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• rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 9:53 pm)
  • john_324 (Oct 12, 2006 7:38 am)
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Replying to: dhanley (Oct 11, 2006 9:28 pm)

It's both party's like Lou Dobbs pointed out yesterday in his 2 live interviews. He's honestly making me think about registering as a independent. Lou, went on to explain how both party's get "special interest" money, which has corrupted our politics.
 
I agree with him 100% of the time, and wished Lou Dobbs would run for President. He, like our soldiers, both are american hero's in my eyes.
 
Rocky
 

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• john_324 (Oct 12, 2006 7:38 am)
  • nvbanker (Oct 12, 2006 4:26 pm)
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Replying to: rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 9:53 pm)

The problem isn't our government or our political system. The pluralistic system that the United States has developed is certainly flawed, but it's best system available in the world.
 
The problem in this case is Ford.
 
Broad-brush-stroke-wise (I've leaving out a lot, like the legacy costs issues, but...) Ford, like its domestic competition, decided to spend its resources on influencing government policy to its advantage. But that meant that it has fewer resources to devote to creating a quality product. Ford knew this, and hoped that this plan would work.
 
But it didn't work, in large part because American citizens refused to go along with it. They demanded high-quality cars, no matter where they come from. And because politicans are elected by voters, not Ford, they got them. There is no ban on foreign autos in this country. In fact, many so-called 'foreign' vehicles are built right here in the U.S., by U.S. citizens.
 
So all those resources Ford spent to limit competition went down the drain, and it now has to play catch up, squaring off against very tough competition who have been spending their resources on making quality products. It's going to be tough, as Ford has belatedly realized.
 
But this isn't bad...this is the market at work. I'm just sad that a company with Ford's history wasn't smarter sooner. It made a poor choice, and now the market is coldly and inexorably extracting its penalty.
 
There's a Japanese proverb that opines that the reputation of a thousand years can be undone by the conduct of one hour. Or in this case, a few years.

Replies to this message:
• nvbanker (Oct 12, 2006 4:26 pm)
  • dhanley (Oct 12, 2006 7:40 pm)
    • nvbanker (Oct 13, 2006 3:31 pm) and 1 more...

Perusing the Ford website the other day, it appears that perhaps Ford may be getting it that not all people buying a 4cyl Fusion are doing so because it's the cheap, base, stripper model...some actually prize the manual transmission available only at this level.
 
Ford is now offering a "sport package" for the 4cyl model. It's cosmetic, but I like what it portends. Different wheels, fog lamps, red stitching/accents on the seats and some aluminum on the interior.
 
Also, AWD is now available on the V6 model.
 
Please keep the momentum going with this car, Ford...it started strong, and it's getting even better.

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• gogogodzilla (Oct 12, 2006 1:29 pm)
  • mschmal (Oct 12, 2006 5:02 pm)
    • chuck1959 (Oct 12, 2006 8:11 pm)

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• john_324 (Oct 12, 2006 9:48 am)