Listen Ford!
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 178
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From: 33.02N / 96.66W
Listen Ford!
I was a Ford man when I was a kid; I was gradually evolved into a GM man; but after having two BS GM's (That I purchased brand new) I dabbled into the import market... I was not displeased. However, a funny thing happened on the way to work one day.. I saw a 1997 Ford F-150 SuperCab, flareside and I was hooked. After unloading some negative equity via more payments, I got my first Ford (That I paid for) and I've been driving Ford's every since.
However, what I loved about Ford as a child was their cars- I could care less about the trucks (And we had an old F-100 or F-150, I can't remember)..Today, aside from the Mustang, is there another Ford branded car that you'd have in your driveway to replace your F-150? For me, that answer is yes. I like the Crown Victoria and the Focus, but I'm an autoholic. I should start up a chapter of AA striclty for people like me. I won't say Ford has turned their backs on cars, but clearly thay aren't their focus anymore- it seems. There is money to be made in cars; you just have to do cars right in order to turn a profit. (Toyota, Honda, Nissan)
Ford are chronically underpowered compared to their competition. How many years did it take Ford to give the Mustang 300 horses? The Camaro & TA are dead & gone, but they had 270 - 300 horses since 1993. Power didn't save the F-bodies (Mainly because they needed a make-over in 1997). I'm not saying the answer to every problem is more horsepower; but in order to remain viable- you should at least compete.
The Ford 500 is an awesome vehicle with regard to interior ergonomics wraps inside a plain package. The Fusion, which looks awesome in pics, is based on the Mazda 6 platform, and will suffer the same fate as the Contour (Death due to smallness). On that note, what the he** was Ford/Mazda thinking by getting rid of the Mazda Millennia and 626 and consolidating them into the Mazda 6, a car that's smaller than both of the cars it replaced?? Hello! Is this thing on? Would you replace the F-150 with a truck based on the Ranger platform?
Crown Vic is a sweet car- I like it, but it has no cajones. The Marauder was a flop due to over-pricing and underpower (Even though numerically it had more HP than the Impala SS had.), what it lacked was torque. Slap true duals and a 5.4L in the Crown Vic (260 HP version- no need for the 3V) and watch them fly out the showrooms. Americans love torque- we love to be thrown back in the seat, with tires up in smoke...
Focus: Another nice car. So you got rid of the SVT Focus... So. There is nothing stopping you from selling one that looks like it- nice wheels tires, and appearance.
Ford needs a hot mid-size to compete with the Camry, Maxima and Accord (read- larger Fusion). A hot Compact to compete with the Civic, Corolla and Sentra; leave the Focus where it is; they sell themselves; dress the 500 up some more- take away it's taxi cab blockness/plainness, and make it as appealing on the outside as it is on the inside. Give the Big Vicky some nuts as an option on the LX Sport, and maintain your focus on the trucks; the new Ranger needs to be hot- and available with a crew cab, with serious 4x4 capabilities to give Tacoma buyers a worthy competitor.
If you do this Ford, and they will come...
You seem to listen to me Ford- that much is evident.. You took (used) my ideas (That I submitted in the contest) for the previous HD F-150 (Except for the fact that you didn’t use the Intech V8 from the Navigator as I suggested for a base engine). I’m still waiting on my Geeyacht Dayum Harley Davidson motorcycle I should have won for that!!
In 2003/2004 I suggested that the perfect F-150 would have AWD and 4WIS. I see the new HD may have AWD as an option- I don't know if you are givign it $WIS or not.
Someone on your R&D either thinks like me, or reads my posts when it comes to performance and automotive aesthetics. I'm a car man, trapped in a telecom career!
If you listened then, Ford; listen to me now!!
PS- I'm serious, I did submit those ideas for the HD- that doesn't mean I was the only one that did it, so I was joking about that- mostly.. I don't care about credit- just give us some hot rides (Cars & trucks) with quality equal to, or surpassing that of the new F-150.
However, what I loved about Ford as a child was their cars- I could care less about the trucks (And we had an old F-100 or F-150, I can't remember)..Today, aside from the Mustang, is there another Ford branded car that you'd have in your driveway to replace your F-150? For me, that answer is yes. I like the Crown Victoria and the Focus, but I'm an autoholic. I should start up a chapter of AA striclty for people like me. I won't say Ford has turned their backs on cars, but clearly thay aren't their focus anymore- it seems. There is money to be made in cars; you just have to do cars right in order to turn a profit. (Toyota, Honda, Nissan)
Ford are chronically underpowered compared to their competition. How many years did it take Ford to give the Mustang 300 horses? The Camaro & TA are dead & gone, but they had 270 - 300 horses since 1993. Power didn't save the F-bodies (Mainly because they needed a make-over in 1997). I'm not saying the answer to every problem is more horsepower; but in order to remain viable- you should at least compete.
The Ford 500 is an awesome vehicle with regard to interior ergonomics wraps inside a plain package. The Fusion, which looks awesome in pics, is based on the Mazda 6 platform, and will suffer the same fate as the Contour (Death due to smallness). On that note, what the he** was Ford/Mazda thinking by getting rid of the Mazda Millennia and 626 and consolidating them into the Mazda 6, a car that's smaller than both of the cars it replaced?? Hello! Is this thing on? Would you replace the F-150 with a truck based on the Ranger platform?
Crown Vic is a sweet car- I like it, but it has no cajones. The Marauder was a flop due to over-pricing and underpower (Even though numerically it had more HP than the Impala SS had.), what it lacked was torque. Slap true duals and a 5.4L in the Crown Vic (260 HP version- no need for the 3V) and watch them fly out the showrooms. Americans love torque- we love to be thrown back in the seat, with tires up in smoke...
Focus: Another nice car. So you got rid of the SVT Focus... So. There is nothing stopping you from selling one that looks like it- nice wheels tires, and appearance.
Ford needs a hot mid-size to compete with the Camry, Maxima and Accord (read- larger Fusion). A hot Compact to compete with the Civic, Corolla and Sentra; leave the Focus where it is; they sell themselves; dress the 500 up some more- take away it's taxi cab blockness/plainness, and make it as appealing on the outside as it is on the inside. Give the Big Vicky some nuts as an option on the LX Sport, and maintain your focus on the trucks; the new Ranger needs to be hot- and available with a crew cab, with serious 4x4 capabilities to give Tacoma buyers a worthy competitor.
If you do this Ford, and they will come...
You seem to listen to me Ford- that much is evident.. You took (used) my ideas (That I submitted in the contest) for the previous HD F-150 (Except for the fact that you didn’t use the Intech V8 from the Navigator as I suggested for a base engine). I’m still waiting on my Geeyacht Dayum Harley Davidson motorcycle I should have won for that!!
In 2003/2004 I suggested that the perfect F-150 would have AWD and 4WIS. I see the new HD may have AWD as an option- I don't know if you are givign it $WIS or not.
Someone on your R&D either thinks like me, or reads my posts when it comes to performance and automotive aesthetics. I'm a car man, trapped in a telecom career!
If you listened then, Ford; listen to me now!!
PS- I'm serious, I did submit those ideas for the HD- that doesn't mean I was the only one that did it, so I was joking about that- mostly.. I don't care about credit- just give us some hot rides (Cars & trucks) with quality equal to, or surpassing that of the new F-150.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 0
From: Pikesville, MD
I LOVE the new Mustang.
No other pickup that I would drive.
If I wanted an SUV it would be the explorer or expedition.
I really like the 500...I know it is plain but I don't like flashy. I think it is exactly what I would want in a sedan. Flashy doesn't matter.
I'd have bought a freestyle if it had a navigational installed.
Their focus...eh...my days of small cars are gone so I can't compare.
Wouldn't touch their mini-van, renamed or not.
No other pickup that I would drive.
If I wanted an SUV it would be the explorer or expedition.
I really like the 500...I know it is plain but I don't like flashy. I think it is exactly what I would want in a sedan. Flashy doesn't matter.
I'd have bought a freestyle if it had a navigational installed.
Their focus...eh...my days of small cars are gone so I can't compare.
Wouldn't touch their mini-van, renamed or not.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
right on agent. Ford's penchant for underpowering their vehicles makes me wonder too, I think that is, at the moment, their biggest weakness. If I were them I would seriously think about getting a 5 speed auto into the F-150 in the next year or two or I think they will lose more and more truck speed freaks each year to Dodge and Nissan for inferior trucks that just happen to be faster (and incidentally do have 5 speed auto trannys). If I were them I would be very worried about GM and Toyota's full size redesigns coming soon, GM especially will swing for the fences, they are hurting too and major truck sales from a really sweet redesign would give them a much needed boost. JMHO
Thread Starter
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: 33.02N / 96.66W
Yep, the Silverado is getting kid of long in the tooth; even with that 2003/2004 Avalanche facelift. Chevy has got to get back on the drawing board, unless the are so used to the taste of Blue Oval (sales) dust that they are content to stay where they are.
They really need to bring that regular cab, Silverado SS stepside to market. That thing was nice-looking in the pics I saw years ago.
Gone are the days of trucks retaining a body-style for 10+ years. Ford redesigned the F-150 after 8 calendar years on the market 96-2003, and 7 model years ~97-2003. The new Silverado bowed in 98 if memory serves, the Tundra in 1999 and the new Ram in 2001 (As a 2002). Word on the street is that the Expedition will get a face lift in 2007 (4 model years) to coincide with the launch of the extended length Expedition Max, Everest or Excursion- whatever they decide to name it.
Already the Ram is 3 years old, Toyota is probably prepping a killer Tundra replacement that will be 8/8ths fullsize instead of 7/8ths. It's about to get interesting in Truckville.
They really need to bring that regular cab, Silverado SS stepside to market. That thing was nice-looking in the pics I saw years ago.
Gone are the days of trucks retaining a body-style for 10+ years. Ford redesigned the F-150 after 8 calendar years on the market 96-2003, and 7 model years ~97-2003. The new Silverado bowed in 98 if memory serves, the Tundra in 1999 and the new Ram in 2001 (As a 2002). Word on the street is that the Expedition will get a face lift in 2007 (4 model years) to coincide with the launch of the extended length Expedition Max, Everest or Excursion- whatever they decide to name it.
Already the Ram is 3 years old, Toyota is probably prepping a killer Tundra replacement that will be 8/8ths fullsize instead of 7/8ths. It's about to get interesting in Truckville.
Last edited by cia-agent; Mar 25, 2005 at 11:34 AM.
