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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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I think the Fusion is a key wildcard. If it hits relatively big (challenging the CamCord for sales supremacy) they will be in OK shape. The other cars that I think will get legs are the freestyle and 500, once the 3.5L V6 finally shows up. They really are nice cars, and good at their defined purpose, even if they aren't dramatically styled (ala the 300C). At least they won't look tacky in a few years. Clean and elegant tends to wear better than hot and edgy. The Focus could use an update (to the new platform), but isn't it still selling pretty well as it is? The Ranger I don't understand, but they must be real cheap to make these days. If it was up to me, I would come out with a new, bigger truck (maybe a shrunken F150) to compete with the bigger mid-sizers. But, keep the Ranger for budget/fleet duty. With the Fusion out (soon), at least the product line is pretty fresh, except for the Ranger, and the Expedition to some extent. At least the car lines are all newish.
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| In many cases, the reason companies are filing bankruptcy isn't that they are losing too much money, it is to get out of pension obligations (and I think also union contracts). | |
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one more point. From what I see, it seems that Ford is doing a much better job designing higher quality product, and building them better too. Initial reviews of the Fusion have been very positive, both in how well they work (especially the driving experience), but also how well they are put together. It wasn't too long ago that no one would be complimenting the build quality of any of the domestics. Now, Ford and Chrysler at least seem to be screwing them together bettter. Not only does putting it out right to start with help sales (hopefully), but should save lots of $$ on warranty work. Given this, I am actually waiting to look at the Fusion before I decide what to get (leaning toward an Accord at this point). A couple years ago, no chance I would be shopping at a domestic store. |
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I vote with the Euro model outlet plan. Actually, I thought GM should do the same with Saturn (once they blew away Oldmobile). Bring over the cars that might be too expensive to sell as mainstream Fords, and keep the European flavor. They could also have a bit more pizazz, especially since they won't be expected to sell in huge volumes. Actually, at this point, I don't even know what Ford offers overseas, so who knows if it would be worthwhile, but it's worth a shot if you want to differentiate Mercury from Ford.
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| where IS that new engine anyway? | |
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Replying to: stickguy (Sep 19, 2005 9:43 am) Uh... the Freestyle is already a goner, Ford has announced it'll be replaced with another model, the one that looks like a Range Rover with corrogated sides (can't recall the name) in 2007. To my eyes the Five Hundred as already starting to look a bit frumpy and old fashioned but the Fusion does look promising.
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always looked a bit frumpy and old fashioned, didn't it? For its market I don't think that matters anywhere near as much as not having the bigger engine ready at launch - now it has had a whole year to earn the rep as the Ford that can't get out of its own way, strains on the freeway and up long hills. Not a good thing, for a big family car. If it had had stellar fuel economy with the smaller Duratec, that would have been one thing, but it doesn't. It is beaten by all the competition except the Chevys with the V-8s. In some cases, much older models with 10-20% more power are beating the Five Hundred by 10%+ in the fuel economy department. It is also a bit of an odd choice to offer mainly CVTs in such a model - they should prepare the consumer for the CVT gradually, working it slowly up from smaller models to larger ones. Why not put the 6-speed auto in all Five Hundreds? |
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Replying to: stickguy (Sep 19, 2005 10:09 am) Except for the new Focus platform that is used over here in the Mazda3, and something of the Mazda2/Ford Fiesta platform, there isn't much Ford sells elsewhere that I could see selling here. I really think Ford made a big mistake to stick with the current Focus platform. The Mazda3 built on the new platform is generally considered to be the best compact car available in the US (at least until the new Civic hits showrooms). Maybe if Ford sold a Focus built on the new platform they wouldn't be throwing $2,000 rebates at it all the time. Mark |
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Replying to: andys120 (Sep 19, 2005 1:49 pm) I agree, the 500 is a dog inside & out stylewise. Real shame too, because I believe it's a well designed and engineered car. I don't even mind the engine in it, especially at these prices. But it's so doggone invisible. |
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| Brian Johnson, an auto analyst with Sanford Bernstein & Co. in New York, thinks so. In a note to investors Wednesday, he suggested they return to private ownership as part of its restructuring. In a detailed analysis of the option, he wrote, "We think Ford should distribute Ford Credit to shareholders, buy out Class A shares (with Hertz, real estate and PAG sale proceeds) and retire Ford unsecured bonds -- leaving Ford as a private company owned by the Ford family." | |
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