For all who love and hate Ford Motor Company (coupe, convertible, minivan)

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

I think the F series trucks are still the best thing going for Ford. Well maybe the Mustang. All else IMO is crap.

You forget that Lincoln is a Ford division. The Towncar has had consistent reviews that were excellent for the last 10 years.

The Focus is a great economy car.

[Brian.Pearson]

Originally Posted by drjones96

The pre-WWII/Post-Model T Ford cars/trucks were really great (and make excellent streetrods I might add...but they have to have a late model chevy powerplant ). I'd have to say there aren't too many made since then that I'm terribly fond of. The Fastback Mustangs of the later half of the '60's comes to mind...but not anything else really.

However due to their financial position they stand a much better chance of emmerging from this current situation of being the most technically capable manufacturer in the US. GM and Chrysler are in backpedal mode....Ford is standing firm and marching down the same path they were on. I'm in 'wait & see' mode.

I got this in an email from Ford:
BTW, excuse me for not getting rid of the code..

[SIZE=2] Ford is in the diesel market already with our Super Duty F-Series trucks, and we continue to see opportunity for diesel engines in our large truck and SUV segments. [/SIZE] [LEFT][SIZE=2][/SIZE] [/LEFT]
[LEFT][SIZE=2]But, we're taking a different path for our car and crossover lines which is focusing on our EcoBoost engine technology, which combines direct fuel injection with turbocharging. This technology allows us to downsize an engine, from V8 to V6 for instance, delivering better fuel efficiency, but not sacrificing any performance. The technology is similar to what you find in the latest clean diesel engines, piezo injectors and turbocharging, and the drive experience is very similar in the sense that the engine delivers impressive torque upon initial acceleration. Yes, the cost to the consumer is less because the engine is still gas internal combustion, and does not require the expensive additional equipment that is needed for diesel engines to meet the emissions standards.[/SIZE][/LEFT]
[LEFT][SIZE=2][/SIZE] [/LEFT]
[LEFT][SIZE=2]But, we do have a great diesel engine line-up in Europe, so if the marketplace shifts and diesel becomes a more attractive option to consumers here in the U.S., we have the expertise and capability to migrate it into our products over here.[/SIZE][/LEFT]
[LEFT][SIZE=2][/SIZE] [/LEFT]
[LEFT][SIZE=2]Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks.[/SIZE][/LEFT]

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

I think the F series trucks are still the best thing going for Ford. Well maybe the Mustang. All else IMO is crap.

The Fusion, Edge, Focus and Escape are hardly "crap" and are MUCH improved. And European Fords are even better than ours.

The new Lincoln products are even more impressive!

[car54]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

...3. Trucks. If you want a HD truck, what Japanese company (or German) knows a doggone thing about them? Buyers will be forced to head to Ford (or GMC).

Apparently, Isuzu knows a few doggone things about trucks......GM's Cab Forward trucks are rebadged Isuzus.

The Duramax diesel in Chevy and GMC pick-ups is made by Isuzu. It is one of the finest diesels available. FAR superior to the sorry Navistar diesel that Ford puts in their trucks and calls the "powerstroke".

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

The Fusion, Edge, Focus and Escape are hardly "crap" and are MUCH improved. And European Fords are even better than ours.

The new Lincoln products are even more impressive!

I completely agree, I'm very impressed with FoMoCo's recent offerings....and I'm someone who has always regarded Ford as the "3rd" of the "Big Three".

That said, I've actually owned three Fords and I was pleased with all of them, though they had very obvious flaws.

[Lamborgotti]

I've liked ford ever since I've liked cars, and there were a few fords that I was downright mad about but, I don't know.. they're doing pretty well right now. I think they're shaping up to be head of the pack here pretty soon. The only thing that worries me is that, like after the 30's, 80-90's and when-not, what goes up must come down.

[Deez Nuttz]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

The Fusion, Edge, Focus and Escape are hardly "crap" and are MUCH improved. And European Fords are even better than ours.

The new Lincoln products are even more impressive!

Ok I give you the Lincoln, yes I forgot that one.

Focus? You mean the Mexicans are actually building something worth something?

The other two might seem like good cars now, but then again I'm sure in the 80's a lot of people thought highly of their Ford Tempos and Escorts. You see where those cars are now.

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

Ok I give you the Lincoln, yes I forgot that one.

Focus? You mean the Mexicans are actually building something worth something?

The other two might seem like good cars now, but then again I'm sure in the 80's a lot of people thought highly of their Ford Tempos and Escorts. You see where those cars are now.

Very true, plenty of American cars have been universally praised upon release only to end up being known lemons by their first go-round on the used market. Then again I also think domestic prices and "disposability" contribute to this somewhat....no one maintains a base model Escort the way you would a base model 3-series, but that's a discussion for another thread...

I don't really have anything nice to say about the Focus either, maybe the newer models are better...but I have driven (and driven in) some early models that felt dated and chintzy right off the showroom floor. Ford has always lagged behind in this segment of the market, in the US at least. The original Escort, while a decent car in it's own right, didn't hit the shelves until years after the Dodge Omni and Chevette....in fact, I think the FWD GM X-Body platform was already in production at that point.

Despite that, I do think Ford's mid-size offerings have made a massive improvement in recent years....and Lincoln is well on it's way to completely reinventing itself.

[JTraik]

Originally Posted by car54

Apparently, Isuzu knows a few doggone things about trucks......GM's Cab Forward trucks are rebadged Isuzus.

The Duramax diesel in Chevy and GMC pick-ups is made by Isuzu. It is one of the finest diesels available. FAR superior to the sorry Navistar diesel that Ford puts in their trucks and calls the "powerstroke".

I guessing your the type of person who touts Toyota Trucks as ALL American?? Buh buh buh Durmax is American cuz its made here I thought?!

[car54]

Originally Posted by JTraik

I guessing your the type of person who touts Toyota Trucks as ALL American?? Buh buh buh Durmax is American cuz its made here I thought?!

Nope, I was just pointing that the Japanese are among the world's biggest truck makers.....Hino (Toyota), Isuzu, to name a couple.

And the guy said the Germans also don't know a doggone thing about trucks....I guess he never heard of Freightliner, Sterling,...not to mention other Daimler brands like Mercedes, that aren't sold here. Even Thomas Built (school buses) is owned by the Germans....most have have the 906 Mercedes diesels in them.

Even Mack Trucks is owned by the Swedes....Volvo (not the car unit that is owned by Ford)....it's getting tougher all the time to buy "'Murcan"....I think Kenworth is still US owned, though.