A letter worth reading...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: El Cajon, CA
A letter worth reading...
This is from BlueOvalNews.com and is a good letter basically saying that...well you come to your own conclusion...
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In Praise of BlueBloods: A Mopar Man Speaks
The following is an e-mail submission from a new BlueOvalNews devotee, someone who is also new to the Ford community who had some insights that we at BON thought our readers might find interesting. Please note that the following has been edited for clarity, but not content, the letter more than speaks for itself.
Dear BlueOvalNews,
I don't really post on your site much, but I do read it every day. I don't know that much about Ford, so I tend to read what everybody writes about so I can get a pretty good feel for Ford. I come from a strong Mopar background, but I might be making the switch to Ford in a year or so.
Having visited your site, read your editorials, and read what the Ford fans write, I think I stumbled upon a very big difference between Ford fans and Mopar fans. I have a theory that maybe you could answer. I think I know the answer, but I thought I'd let you address it. My theory is this: that the majority of the Ford fans would never let anybody walk in and change the Ford Motor Company, its products, its way of thinking, its heritage, or its overall greatness without a major fight. My theory is based on my experience as a once-strong Mopar fan, as compared to the experience of the Ford fan. The questions I asked myself included:
1) Would Ford enthusiasts have let Jacques Nasser merge Ford Motor Company with either Daimler or Toyota? I don't think so, but I imagine that anything is possible.
2) Would Ford enthusiasts have buried their heads in the sand if Nasser secretly gave all of Dearborn's power to the German or Japanese company, thus making a Daimler-Ford or Toyota-Ford, and having the company based in Stuttgart or Tokyo?
3) Would most Ford fans say "Well, Ford's quality stinks so bad that Daimler or Toyota can only improve it?"
4) Could the Ford enthusiasts have stomached the statement, " I had to deceive them (the Americans in Dearborn) because if they knew it wasn't going to be a merger of equals, they would have said no. But, this is exactly what I wanted"? Wouldn't Ford enthusiasts have screamed bloody murder?
5) Could the Ford enthusiasts have stomached hearing the Germans or Japanese laughing at the Ford vehicles that were on display? Would the Ford fan have allowed a four-door Mustang, or a 'stang built off of a Mercedes or Lexus platform, even if it meant sharing costs and technologies? Would a Ford fan let Mercury and possibly Lincoln go the way of Plymouth and Oldsmobile because Mercedes or Toyota felt like it was threatening their top cars? Or how about a Mazda-built Mustang, complete with a turbo and a Japanese drivetrain? (Ed: History shows us that Ford fans wouldn't allow this: the now-defunct Ford Probe was conceived to replace the Mustang)
6) Would the Ford stockholders put up with a decrease in stock price from a high of $108 when the new company was formed, to a current price around $40 a share? Or a loss of $75 billion of shareholder value over the last three years?
7) Would they put up with pink slips coming from either Stuttgart or Tokyo? Things like 6 plant closings and 25,000 workers laid off, just to break even? Or how about all of the news releases stating Ford is losing billions of dollars, thus making it look like it doesn't know what it is doing?
8) Would a Ford fan put up with people saying: "This is the future, and you better stop complaining about it?" - that this idea (the merger) is good for Ford, and other kinds of positive b.s. which would make a long-time Ford fan scream?
If you answered "no" to most or all of these questions, then you have helped prove my theory. I really believe, as somebody mentioned to me, that Ford fans "bleed true blue," and nobody is going to change that. I have much respect for your website and your efforts in trying to make people realize that Ford could be doing better, that not everything is as great as it seems. The Ford community needs to be concerned about whatever it is Nasser wanted to do, or whatever. You guys can read through the b.s. because you expect better. I did the same thing in the Mopar website,Allpar, and got nothing but how I'm a traitor, or I don't know anything. The numbers are out there, and the Chrysler Group (yuck!) has a lot to worry about. Ford is not in the clear either, but Ford has: 1) Its independence, 2) A very large and loyal following, 3) A good majority of Americans backing it, 4) Some of the most fabled cars in history, 5) A heritage and legacy second-to-none, and 6) A person who understands what Ford is about (Bill Ford), because, unlike GM and the Chrysler Group, he was not "sent" in to fix the problems. It is his name on the building, and his reputation and family heritage on the line. I think that has to be stronger than any feeling that can come from an outsider who is just there to fix the problems.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I want to thank you guys, and the Ford faithful for showing me that there are some companies that still believe in heritage and pride. That the fans are so proud of that company, that they would never let anything happen to it, even if it is the CEO who is screwing it up. You, and that dealer who wrote about kicking Nasser out, stood up for what you believed, and fortunately prevailed. It is hard for me, as a Mopar fan, to acknowledge this, but Ford Motor Company did the things I always wanted Chrysler Corporation to do. Too bad I don't have the support you guys have. Anyway, sorry about the long email. I don't mean to take too much of your time. Thank you for reading it. Have a good day.
Sincerely,
Andrew Renth
http://www.bonforums.com/sales/guest_bluebloods.htm
---------------------------------------------------------
In Praise of BlueBloods: A Mopar Man Speaks
The following is an e-mail submission from a new BlueOvalNews devotee, someone who is also new to the Ford community who had some insights that we at BON thought our readers might find interesting. Please note that the following has been edited for clarity, but not content, the letter more than speaks for itself.
Dear BlueOvalNews,
I don't really post on your site much, but I do read it every day. I don't know that much about Ford, so I tend to read what everybody writes about so I can get a pretty good feel for Ford. I come from a strong Mopar background, but I might be making the switch to Ford in a year or so.
Having visited your site, read your editorials, and read what the Ford fans write, I think I stumbled upon a very big difference between Ford fans and Mopar fans. I have a theory that maybe you could answer. I think I know the answer, but I thought I'd let you address it. My theory is this: that the majority of the Ford fans would never let anybody walk in and change the Ford Motor Company, its products, its way of thinking, its heritage, or its overall greatness without a major fight. My theory is based on my experience as a once-strong Mopar fan, as compared to the experience of the Ford fan. The questions I asked myself included:
1) Would Ford enthusiasts have let Jacques Nasser merge Ford Motor Company with either Daimler or Toyota? I don't think so, but I imagine that anything is possible.
2) Would Ford enthusiasts have buried their heads in the sand if Nasser secretly gave all of Dearborn's power to the German or Japanese company, thus making a Daimler-Ford or Toyota-Ford, and having the company based in Stuttgart or Tokyo?
3) Would most Ford fans say "Well, Ford's quality stinks so bad that Daimler or Toyota can only improve it?"
4) Could the Ford enthusiasts have stomached the statement, " I had to deceive them (the Americans in Dearborn) because if they knew it wasn't going to be a merger of equals, they would have said no. But, this is exactly what I wanted"? Wouldn't Ford enthusiasts have screamed bloody murder?
5) Could the Ford enthusiasts have stomached hearing the Germans or Japanese laughing at the Ford vehicles that were on display? Would the Ford fan have allowed a four-door Mustang, or a 'stang built off of a Mercedes or Lexus platform, even if it meant sharing costs and technologies? Would a Ford fan let Mercury and possibly Lincoln go the way of Plymouth and Oldsmobile because Mercedes or Toyota felt like it was threatening their top cars? Or how about a Mazda-built Mustang, complete with a turbo and a Japanese drivetrain? (Ed: History shows us that Ford fans wouldn't allow this: the now-defunct Ford Probe was conceived to replace the Mustang)
6) Would the Ford stockholders put up with a decrease in stock price from a high of $108 when the new company was formed, to a current price around $40 a share? Or a loss of $75 billion of shareholder value over the last three years?
7) Would they put up with pink slips coming from either Stuttgart or Tokyo? Things like 6 plant closings and 25,000 workers laid off, just to break even? Or how about all of the news releases stating Ford is losing billions of dollars, thus making it look like it doesn't know what it is doing?
8) Would a Ford fan put up with people saying: "This is the future, and you better stop complaining about it?" - that this idea (the merger) is good for Ford, and other kinds of positive b.s. which would make a long-time Ford fan scream?
If you answered "no" to most or all of these questions, then you have helped prove my theory. I really believe, as somebody mentioned to me, that Ford fans "bleed true blue," and nobody is going to change that. I have much respect for your website and your efforts in trying to make people realize that Ford could be doing better, that not everything is as great as it seems. The Ford community needs to be concerned about whatever it is Nasser wanted to do, or whatever. You guys can read through the b.s. because you expect better. I did the same thing in the Mopar website,Allpar, and got nothing but how I'm a traitor, or I don't know anything. The numbers are out there, and the Chrysler Group (yuck!) has a lot to worry about. Ford is not in the clear either, but Ford has: 1) Its independence, 2) A very large and loyal following, 3) A good majority of Americans backing it, 4) Some of the most fabled cars in history, 5) A heritage and legacy second-to-none, and 6) A person who understands what Ford is about (Bill Ford), because, unlike GM and the Chrysler Group, he was not "sent" in to fix the problems. It is his name on the building, and his reputation and family heritage on the line. I think that has to be stronger than any feeling that can come from an outsider who is just there to fix the problems.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I want to thank you guys, and the Ford faithful for showing me that there are some companies that still believe in heritage and pride. That the fans are so proud of that company, that they would never let anything happen to it, even if it is the CEO who is screwing it up. You, and that dealer who wrote about kicking Nasser out, stood up for what you believed, and fortunately prevailed. It is hard for me, as a Mopar fan, to acknowledge this, but Ford Motor Company did the things I always wanted Chrysler Corporation to do. Too bad I don't have the support you guys have. Anyway, sorry about the long email. I don't mean to take too much of your time. Thank you for reading it. Have a good day.
Sincerely,
Andrew Renth
http://www.bonforums.com/sales/guest_bluebloods.htm
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 0
From: Summerville, SC Near Historic Charleston
Hey dcovell,
Good letter, I read it all for the most part.
I don't think Ford would ask for permission from their patrons if they were going to merge with another big car company and it would probably happen almost overnight with not much warning, at the expense of loyal owners like the the Mopar Man stated.
Business is cruel and if Ford had to do it then I'm sure it'd be just to stay alive and not because they just felt compelled to merge.
IMO, creating quality designs, selling at a fair price, backing up the same designs with acceptable support and maintenace is what keeps Ford and for that matter any manufacturer going, oh and most importantly, making a profit.
If a manufacturer sells too cheap, has lots of warranty claims due to poor designs or poor quality, then lack of profit will almost surely cause them to go out of business. At that point, demand for a merger will be an option if and only if they are worth buying out to begin with.
You Go Ford!
DaveMan
Good letter, I read it all for the most part.
I don't think Ford would ask for permission from their patrons if they were going to merge with another big car company and it would probably happen almost overnight with not much warning, at the expense of loyal owners like the the Mopar Man stated.
Business is cruel and if Ford had to do it then I'm sure it'd be just to stay alive and not because they just felt compelled to merge.
IMO, creating quality designs, selling at a fair price, backing up the same designs with acceptable support and maintenace is what keeps Ford and for that matter any manufacturer going, oh and most importantly, making a profit.
If a manufacturer sells too cheap, has lots of warranty claims due to poor designs or poor quality, then lack of profit will almost surely cause them to go out of business. At that point, demand for a merger will be an option if and only if they are worth buying out to begin with.
You Go Ford!
DaveMan
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,247
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From: El Cajon, CA
I agree DAVEMAN, business is cruel, there are many factors and one of them is customer loyalty. That can be lost really fast and its really hard to get back an old customer vs getting a new customer.
Ford owns so much (Ford, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Mazda, Lincon, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Hertz, and I belive International as well) That I don't see ANYONE buying them out anytime soon. Sometimes mergers are such a huge cost for the merge/reorg itself that it isn't worth it. And a company this large could fall apart in a merge.
As long as Ford puts out a good product and the company stands behind it. I will keep buing them. Everyone in my family drives a Ford
-My 2001 SuperCrew
-1999 Ranger
-1997 Contour
-1998 Contour
-1995 Mustang GT Convertable
-1995 Mustang GT
-1994 Bronco
-1994 F-150 (My old truck, now my dads)
-1968 Mustang Coupe V8 289
Wow we have more Fords then family members!
Anyways, I have had very good luck with my trucks and for the most part our family has had good luck with there cars/trucks as well. We keep them all maintinenced on a regular basis and they keep on running...
As for my dads mustang, my parents got married in it, took my home from the hospital, it was my FIRST car ever, and thats all on the original engine! Now it's been restored and is a weekend driver, still on the original engin with some minor work done to it. Over a quarter of a million miles.
So I would have to say I AM a Ford fan. I just hope the company keeps me that way.
Ford owns so much (Ford, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Mazda, Lincon, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Hertz, and I belive International as well) That I don't see ANYONE buying them out anytime soon. Sometimes mergers are such a huge cost for the merge/reorg itself that it isn't worth it. And a company this large could fall apart in a merge.
As long as Ford puts out a good product and the company stands behind it. I will keep buing them. Everyone in my family drives a Ford
-My 2001 SuperCrew
-1999 Ranger
-1997 Contour
-1998 Contour
-1995 Mustang GT Convertable
-1995 Mustang GT
-1994 Bronco
-1994 F-150 (My old truck, now my dads)
-1968 Mustang Coupe V8 289
Wow we have more Fords then family members!
Anyways, I have had very good luck with my trucks and for the most part our family has had good luck with there cars/trucks as well. We keep them all maintinenced on a regular basis and they keep on running...
As for my dads mustang, my parents got married in it, took my home from the hospital, it was my FIRST car ever, and thats all on the original engine! Now it's been restored and is a weekend driver, still on the original engin with some minor work done to it. Over a quarter of a million miles.
So I would have to say I AM a Ford fan. I just hope the company keeps me that way.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 550
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From: Menomonee Falls,WI USA
dcovell & DAVEMAN,
I agree with you also. I come from a long family of GM diehard's.
I'm the only Ford guy in the bunch. I have had a few Gm's in the past but have stuck with Ford's for quite a long time. I'm glad I did & have never had any regret's. I too hope Ford keep's putting out a good product.The most important thing to me is standing behind your product. So far I think this has been the case .
A company and the product they sell is only as good as the people running it and the people building the product. I really think having someone at the helm like Bill Ford is a great thing.
He has alot at stake. It's not just a job for him. He's determined!
Later...Mike
I agree with you also. I come from a long family of GM diehard's.
I'm the only Ford guy in the bunch. I have had a few Gm's in the past but have stuck with Ford's for quite a long time. I'm glad I did & have never had any regret's. I too hope Ford keep's putting out a good product.The most important thing to me is standing behind your product. So far I think this has been the case .
A company and the product they sell is only as good as the people running it and the people building the product. I really think having someone at the helm like Bill Ford is a great thing.
He has alot at stake. It's not just a job for him. He's determined!
Later...Mike