In today's Detroit Auto Show, an interview with Ford's CEO gave an insight into what their "way forward" plan entails. He basically said that Toyota is the leading manufacturer and that Ford will mimic Toyota at this point. He said that they have alot to learn from Toyota. So much for Bold Moves, I guess Ford see's the writing on the wall and realizes that if they want to make cars that actually sell, they need to do what Toyota has been doing. BTW Toyota gained over 12% market share last year, alone. With the release of the Tundra, which appears like it will pretty much knock off all competition, the truck market might soon be going.

I mean unless you are a die hard Ford or GM buyer, there is no real reason, at this point, to buy either. When you can get a more powerful, better engineered truck...sorry I said it. I dont like it anymore than anyone else, but facts dont lie.

 

Well, I think that we can look at this a couple ways, similar to looking at global warming.

Perhaps it the buying habits of Americans that are causing Ford to go into the ****er. Perhaps it's the natural ebb and flow of capitalism.

I think Ford dropped the ball a few years ago. A lot of people my age are just now able and ready to buy vehicles like those that were in the SVT line up. Unfortunately they don't provide those kinds of vehicle for us to buy. Others do though.

I still drive a Ford but am very aware of what other automakers are offering.

 

An article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer over this past weekend said that the major perception is that Japanese cars are far superior to American cars---in reality, Americans are closing the gap in finish, design, etc. Remember though, that perception is 90% reality. As long as people perceive that Japanese cars are better, things will never get any better for American car companies. This survey was done by several major consumer groups, but I feel they're not closing the quality gap fast enough, and are having to constantly play "catch-up" to the Japanese.

When I look out into our parking lot at school (the faculty lot, anyway), I see four Accords, three Toyota Camrys, a Toyota Land Cruiser, Two Honda Mini-vans, and a Toyota PU---"Ranger" size, I forget its name.

I believe that mimicking Toyota won't cut it; you have to beat Toyota with the newer and better products; otherwise, Ford will look like cheap knock-offs.

 

To blame Americans for Ford's demise is laughable at best, we are the consumers, and we will buy what we think is the best product. It is the manufacturers job to produce a quality product to attract customers. To simply say that a company is doing poorly because of consumers is rediculous,and actually the reason Ford is slipping.

A company loses market share because they are not either producing quality products or the products are not what consumers want. Consumers define the product, manufacturers supply the demand, NOT the other way around.

I also do not believe Americans driving SUV's is causing the entire globe to warm. I do agree that global warming may be currently taking place, however, its nothing different then any other trend in global weather. There is not a thing we can do about it. A volcano puts off more carbon monoxide than a large city. Guess what, there are hundreds of volcanos on the earth's surface, most of which are below water.

Again, just like the ice age that occurred, this is a global weather trend, and no liberal tree hugging bitching is going to do a thing about it. Sorry.

 

AGREED!!! Yes, I've seen those reports, too, about how this is a repeat of every 100k or million or so years... just instead of the Flintstones, we're the Smiths with an internal combustion engine.


As for Ford, though, I would speculate that part of the problem is pricing. Granted, I've not researched this, as I'm not in the market for a new truck n the next 5-7 years. I feel that the cheap labor abroad is making the other brands a better sell, not necessarily a better buy, for the consumer. They can claim their truck is just as good, and they have great offers on the price tag, but what they lack is substance after 40k miles. Car and driver did a particularly good write up about something similar: The Toyota Tacoma, and how it performed new and after they had abused it for 40k miles. (this was in the last month or two)...

I dunno. I really like FMC as compared to Daimler Chrysler (I've had both), and will never drive a GM/Chevy. I fear, though, that of Ford continues on theor financial plummet, we may be out of our Warranties (not that it applies to me). I would say that I'd go with a BMW, but even they are getting bad reviews from many people... I guess it's the doldums for the automotive industry.

 

Ok, than we are both on the same page.

What I said is that there are a couple was of looking at (these) issues. I used the term "ebb and flow" because I acutally believe that it can explain both situations.

I wouldn't blame Americans and their buying habits for Fords current circumstance. What I later said was that I think that Ford stopped making the vehicles that people like me want. I know that is the reason they are in this situation.

I like the outdoors very much. I hike and mountian bike. I also drive a huge, gas guzzeling SUV. I'm not hugging the trees, but I like to see them from atop a mountian.

 

What kind of MB do you have? I cycle about 100-120 miles a week in the summer.

Tim C.

 

Global warming is a GOOD thing, it's a GREAT thing and everyone should love the fact the globe is warming and it has NOTHING to do with humans.

The globe warming means our winter heating bills will be reduced which means the cost of fuel oil will fall, which means less demand for oil, which means we won't have to depend on terrorist countries selling us oil, which means they starve to death and die since they have nothing else to sell, which means less chance of us firing off some nukes at terrorist nations...

What does that all mean? A cleaner, greener mother earth, global warming should be something that treehuggers dream of, pray for, and accept with great joy because global warming is the greenest of any green project that could ever be accomplished by humans...

Global waming is God's thank you to humans being so damn smart...

 

Fords new CEO failed to mention that Nissan had an honest interest in going into partnership with Ford in the not so distant past, however the Ford family that owns something like 41% of the stock (may be a high estimate) flat out refused to negotiate with Nissan.
And that Edsel Ford Jr. or which ever one is still alive ( 50 something) is in no way associated with running the Company and still draws a $500,000.00 yearly salary????? WONDER WHY THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT SAVING THE COMPANY ?????? GREED........

 

Well, that's not a big deal to me, seeing that their name (Ford) is on the building... $500,000 may be a lot of money to us, but a lot of Corporate guys (CEO's, COO's, CFO's, CIO's, etc..) make a helluvalot more money than that.

I'm not gonna call any names, but, 3 of my former CEO's got a combined total of $114,000,000.00 as a "Golden Parachute" for LEAVING the company...

For LEAVING...

That doesn't count the millions they made while serving, and their multi-million dollar signing bonuses... That's the GREED that eats the companys up...

These emmer-effers make more money than they can spend in a year, if they bought dumb-sh*t from Jan 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007- yet, to "Save the company money" they'll redo employee paydays from 1st & 15th, to every two weeks, to effectively reduce the amount of money they spent per month on labor, while simultaneously cutting the employees bring home pay by 5%.

That doesn't sound like much, but 5% could mean $400 or more bucks per month. That's gonna make a difference for someone; especially if it happens the to the husband and wife... That could spell the difference between a ribeye steak or a New York strip for dinner as opposed to a can of Tuna.

 

I ride a Raleigh M800. It's a few years old now.

You ride a lot more than I do. I usually ride with my girl, or a couple friends of mine. Were basicly amatures and not so much into the extreme riding.

 

I have a Raleigh C-500. Not too many mountains around here, but we have a national park with a long, long bikepath---plus two sets of Metroparks with miles and miles of trails. Since I teach, my summer job (I have two) allows me to ride about 20-30 miles a day. I ride my bike to school when the weather is good, and in late August here, there is a "Pedal to the Point." It is a 75 mileX2 trip to an amusement park--Cedar Point---and it is for a good cause---MS. You ride from Cleveland 75 miles there, eat a great meal, spend the night, and then ride home the next day. We also have many 7-day rides that tour Ohio. I got rid of my road bike, and I like the C-500 better...The M-800 is a great bike a friend of mine rides one---I would like to look in to that one day.

Tim C.

 

Might want to add a few zeros to that. Half a Million dollars (aka $500,000) is nothing. The vice presidents, assistants, apprentice likely gets that for a quarterly bonus. Thats probably the plant managers Christmas bonus.

 

Of all the Japanese automakers I would despise a merger with Nissan the most. I absolutely can't stand their styling.

I actually think Ford and Honda would be a good fit. Ford could teach Honda how to make their vehicles look good, and Honda could lend a hand in our small motors.

Combined, Ford and Honda would be a VERY reputable adversary for Toyota.

But still, scary thought either way....

 

Ford would benefit from a Nissan partnership too, especially if Carlos Ghosn was at the helm of the new conglomerate.

Look at what's happened under his guidance at Nissan.

Nissan's fortunes have grown immensly, averaging nearly 10 times the profit per vehicle as Daimler Chrysler and Ford. Infiniti is widely heralded now, with the G35 and the M35/45. The QX56 met with a few bumps, but sales are brisk now, and a new "Q" should be out sometime soon.

Look at Nissan, the Altima is so good, it's cannibalized the "flagship" Maxima, and now even offers more power than the "Max". (270 HP -vs- 255). Even Nissan stopped paying attention to the small car segment (Sentra).

The Titan- while not a beauty queen, is selling well for Nissan. When you make roughly 10 times the profit per unit (Titan) as the Competition (F-150), you don't have to sell as many to remain profitable... I'm sure Nissan couldn't care less about how many units they sell, their goal is to reach sales targets and profit expectations- while building vehicles that sell themselves.

This is the kind of turnaround Ford needs, if they hope to be known for anything other than the F-series trucks. The imports are outclassing the cars, and even the Mustang will probably be threatened with the re-introduction of sports coupes from Toyota (Supra) and Nissan (2008 Altima Coupe) and Honda unveiled the new Accord Coupe- very nice...

Sometimes, your enemy can be your friend...

Megatron and Optimus Prime had to team up a few times... Who saw that coming?