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

1858 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 6:25 AM

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#314 of 1858
Re: Domestic vs. Toyota suppliers [stickguy] by varmint
Oct 25, 2005 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Oct 25, 2005 11:50 am)

That's pretty close to what I've read.
 
Toyota, Honda, and others demand cost cuts just like the domestics. But, unlike the domestics, they will help the supplier figure out how to do it. They share technology, and sometimes even development costs, in order to aid the supplier in manufacturing the parts within their target price range.
#315 of 1858
Re: funny [nippononly] by nvbanker
Oct 25, 2005 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Oct 24, 2005 11:05 am)

As to the point of forcing suppliers into bankruptcy with impossible specs and prices - how much more are you willing to pay for a Ford? Not one dollar more than you have to, I'll bet. Even the Space Shuttle is entirely made of parts supplied by the lowest bidder....And, there you go.
 
As to the Diesel - Navistar is the producer of the engines, former and current. At one time, I had heard that Ford owned a piece of Navistar, which is an International Harvester division, I believe. Not sure that's true anymore, but Dodge buys their Diesels from Cummins. GM is the only manufacturer to go it alone, I believe, with previously disasterous results. I've not heard of any trouble with the Duramax, but this is the first time, since the Oldsmobile diesel that GM has got it right.
#316 of 1858
Re: grbeck [marsha7] by grbeck
Oct 25, 2005 (7:53 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Oct 24, 2005 8:01 pm)

You raise many good points, but I think that the Ford family will fight to avoid bankruptcy, if for no other reason than a declaration of bankruptcy will wipe out the family's stake in the company.
 
Plus, I still believe that if one domestic company files for bankruptcy, it will take some pressure off the remaining domestic players, as it will be very difficult for an automobile manufacturer to recover from a declaration of bankruptcy. This isn't the airline business. People who buy a new vehicle want the manufacturer around to service it and honor the warranty. Sales will plummet and many dealers will abandon their franchises. Many of those sales will go to the remaining domestic manufacturers.
 
At this point, GM still seems to be in worse shape than Ford. And the more I read about GM's agreement with the UAW to cut healthcare expenses, the less impressed I am with it. It is shaping up to be much ado about nothing, in my book.
#317 of 1858
Cash on hand by mschmal
Oct 26, 2005 (10:05 am)
Thanks to the recent $300 million loss, Ford's cash surplus only exceeds its debt by just over a $1,000,000,000.
 
It is amazing to me that the press can rave about all these dot coms that have no profit, no cash surplus, no history of producing a profit, no likely hood of producing a profit in the short term future.
 
Ford though gets bashed and bashed and bashed. Personally, I think Ford should go private.
 
It is clear that Ford has excess capacity and that excess capacity drives down profitable but bankruptcy?
 
IMHO until car companies fully embrace the current market conditions and reality none of them are safe.
 
Today people what a car that closely reflects their image of themselves, their lifestyle, etc. What this means is that even two models in the same price and size category are not necessarily direct competitors.
 
The Mazda 6 and the Mercury are cousins, but are they competitors? for the same customers?
 
The fragmentation of the auto industry is only going to increase. Either manufacturer are going to focus on a niche like Mazda has or they are going to have to have a produce enough differenciation between trim levels to appeal to completely different types of people.
 
Ford is doing this to some extent with the F-150 and it seems pretty successful. There is an F-150 for everyone from the $21,000 work truck to the $45,000+ luxury truck.
 
The Focus is an example of how Ford is missing the boat. The interior of this car is so bland and econoboxish that it has no chance competing against the Mazda3, Jetta or other premium compacts.
 
I'm one of those weird Americans that would prefer a smaller car with more features and equipment than just buying a bigger car. I think more people in my age bracket are like me (25-40). With gas prices going up, smaller just may mean better.
 
Mark
#318 of 1858
Re: funny [nvbanker] by chuck1959
Oct 26, 2005 (11:25 am)

Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 25, 2005 3:43 pm)

That's why we have LOST 2 of the shuttles! As far as the diesels...not just Olds...had them...they were doomed from the beginning. As I understood, they were converted gasoline engines (350's?) as opposed to being built as a diesel like the current ones. Plus you had to make sure you kept up the routine maintenence religousally. IE: I had a couple of friends that had Olds diesels. One a 98 and one a Cutlass, 1979 IIRC. One friend ((98) was very lax on the oil changes and etc. The other NEVER miss an oil change evry 3,000 miles. He kept up that car very well. Guess which one blew up at 15,000 miles! Yep the "98". The Cutlass my friend sold (lost his butt). 5 years ago and it had over 100,000 miles on it.
#319 of 1858
Re: funny [chuck1959] by jefferyg
Oct 26, 2005 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: chuck1959 (Oct 26, 2005 11:25 am)

in the early 80's Oldsmobile put a 307 gasoline engine in their big cars, 88 and 98. My mom had a 1984 Delta 88 with that engine in it. The engine had actually started out as a diesel, but due to the problems they encountered they manufactured new heads and used the diesel blocks to produce the 307s. It was a strong engine and came with 4bbl carb. Many of those engines are still in service today, largely because the block was built to higher specs b/c of being built as a diesel.
#320 of 1858
Re: funny [chuck1959] by nvbanker
Oct 26, 2005 (9:51 pm)

Replying to: chuck1959 (Oct 26, 2005 11:25 am)

We lost 2 of em? Dang!
#321 of 1858
Re: funny [nvbanker] by varmint
Oct 27, 2005 (9:41 am)

Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 26, 2005 9:51 pm)

3 if you count the one behind the couch.
#322 of 1858
Re: funny [chuck1959] by grbeck
Oct 27, 2005 (8:09 pm)

Replying to: chuck1959 (Oct 26, 2005 11:25 am)

Didn't the Cutlass use a smaller diesel that had most of the bugs worked out by that time?
#323 of 1858
NEW FUSION by 2zmax
Oct 28, 2005 (5:46 am)
Coming to work this morning, I've noticed a brand new silver Fusion on the lot.
It was a SEL V6 with black leather interior. Wow, it does look sharp - Good Job Ford, the car looks much better than the competition. And if it drives like Mazda 6, it will be a Hit. I only have one gripe - what is up with a puny 220 HP , 200 Lb./Foot. Duratec?
I mean Cm'on Ford! If it had a 250 HP, 250 Lb/Foot 3.5 V6, I would buy one TODAY!
But I can't see myself driving it, because every time I'd want to "play" a bit, it will disappoint me. I think that it needs, if not a class leading HP, at least a 250, to make it a Camcord Killer. But in any case - it is gorgeous car - Thumbs way UP !
I can’t wait to go test drive it this weekend and see how it handles.
According to our X-Plan price, I can get a fully loaded SEL for $22,746 - Not bad at all

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