The execs must have been on some strong **** in the 80s. The last really good ideas they had was the Taurus/Sable, MN-12 and the 5.0LX. People loved those cars and the sales showed this This whole going global design crap they were talking about with the Focus being a world car and trying to be more eurotrashy and jap design left them with junk that is nothing special anymore.

 

Couldn't hit the nail any better than you did.

I think out of all of the automakers Dodge is still hitting the market far better than Ford and totally better than GM. Why? They offer 2, yes, TWO rear wheel drive vehicles that actually look halfway decent for the average consumer not looking for a sports car. I mean as an everyday passenger car.

This might sound wierd, but I love rear wheel drive. Something about the handling and the 'feel' is just rewarding. I hated the FWD/AWD on that Escape... torque steer like you wouldn't believe, and coming from only driving rear wheel drive, it was a horrid experience. I swore to myself that I am only going to buy rear wheel drive vehicles for the rest of my life. As an added bonus I believe that manufacturers can build longer lasting, and more durable drivetrains and vehicles as a whole.

Face it, I love my new F150, and my 1999 F150 that stupid I gave up...

I just want to burn any memories of that Escape. Infact, I burned my accessories catalog for the Escape the other day in my woodstove. Dang, did I hate that vehicle.

 

If you look at what is selling in cars, it is not rear wheel drives. It is front wheel drives. Ford needs the front wheel drives and get them to sell like the old Taurus. Do they need good rear wheel drives, yes. But that is better left with the larger cars and sports cars. I would like to see a redo of the Crown Vic. It is needed.
I personally liked the syling of the 500. Also like the Fusion. Was glad they looked different, you have a choice. Far too many of the vehicles out there look exactly the same. Tough to tell a Honda, from a Toyota, from a Mitsi, from a Mazda, etc. I do agree the power should have been better, but now they have the new 6 that goes in the Edge and I believe the Fusion that is a lot better. I also agree they are getting too fancy with the names. All either starting with F or E.

 

Well, I want to differ, but you are correct on most of the sense. Then again, I'm younger and I might not understand. So there's an influencing factor. The only reason why front wheel drive is selling is because it is in 93% of the cars made today, so it doesn't give the consumer a choice. Just like manual transmissions, they are becoming non-existant, even in trucks. Which is just crazy! I bet if rear wheel drive was an option on most cars, along with front wheel drive, at no extra cost difference, rear wheel drive would kill front wheel drive. There are so many nice small cars out there that would be awesome if they were rwd with a i4 or a v6.

I have an article someplace, and I'll post it if I can dig it up, about consumers wanting to buy BMW-like cars these days! What is BMW? ALL rear wheel drive. Not only with interior styling, but the driving experience. Which is nothing no manufacturer could ever achieve without using a rear wheel drive platform.

 

Actually I would be very surprised if most peolple who buy cars could even tell you which were front and which were rear wheel drive.

 

Most families that need four doors are goin' with the crossover SUVs & them mini vans. So who are they marketing the 500 to? there is just not much demand for those cars anymore.. The Crown Vs are a big seller to the old people & police forces. But no one wants a five hundred. It doesn’t matter what ya call it. It's sad, but the few that need a car like that usually ends up with a Toyota Corolla or whatever because of gas mileage & the warrantee. The demand on American cars will be performance rear wheel drives Ford, Chevy & Dodge need to get back in the horse power wars

 

Yes there should be performance cars, but to give everything else to the foreign makers means Ford, GM, and Chrysler will probably have about 10-15% of the market combined. The foreign companies will have the other 85-90% of the car market.

 

Ya see, there is always someone on the right track... I never looked at it from that point. I guess you could make a relationship chart then:

Crown Vics - Police and old people
Mustangs, Corvettes, Chargers - Muscle Cars
Corollas, Sonatas, Freestars - Family Cars/Vans
F-Series, Sierras, and most trucks - Work vehicles and/or off roaders
Tuscons, Sportages, Escapes - Family Cars/SUVs with mild off road capability
Explorers, Expeditions, Tahoes, Jeeps - Family and work vehicles merge.

Personally, after owning an SUV... not sure what it was good for except for going shopping... couldn't throw a load of dirt back there.