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So long as Ford doesn't rest on it's laurels and start cutting corners again, they should be able to remain on top. But if their cars start falling apart in the customers hands after 30K miles, they won't hold the crown for long. I still think that Toyota will pull ahead of the pack after the dust settles, but if Ford can put out a quality product that rivals Toyota and Honda then more power to them. I think part of the reason for their success is that they have easier financing than other makers. If someone enters a Ford dealership with weak credit they are more likely to get approved as opposed to Honda or Toyota when financing through the dealership. That was a big draw for Ford back in the 90's and early part of the 2000's.
I could never understand the obsession with who is first or second. Who cares?
BTW, history shows bad things happens to "first". Its not unimaginable to find one day that India's Tata, with their $2500 car is "first".
As a car enthusiast, I am interested in cars, not business.
I could never understand the obsession with who is first or second. Who cares?
BTW, history shows bad things happens to "first". Its not unimaginable to find one day that India's Tata, with their $2500 car is "first".
As a car enthusiast, I am interested in cars, not business.
Cars and the business are inextricably linked. The health of the business and the corporate culture determine the quality of the end result, the product. I am a car enthusiast, but I also like to stay ahead of industry trends as do many others.
Cars and the business are inextricably linked. The health of the business and the corporate culture determine the quality of the end result, the product. I am a car enthusiast, but I also like to stay ahead of industry trends as do many others.
Big companies turn out mostly boring cars. That's the bulk of their business. Exciting cars are made by small, dedicated teams of enthusiasts, sometimes against the will of the big company. Such is the case of Corvette, which is alive not because GM, but in spite GM. Carol Shelby who's cobra bit Ferrari was a miniscule operation. Recently, Chrysler ended the Viper to make room for more lame cars. Lexus introduced their super car after 9 years of development! If that car was developed outside Toyota, it could have been launched 6 years ago. The list goes on and on. What you can get from a big corporation is what Ford calls "a world car". One design which is the base of multiple models for every continent. Yawn. Last time, they did it with the Contour/Mondeo witch was a fiasco. Now, they are taking another shot at the same concept. The big guys are managed by bean counters, some of who also managed places like the Home Depot.
Personally, I will not buy a car just because its manufacturer is numero uno.
Too bad it was mostly Fleet and Rental sales that accounted for most of the rise instead of sales to actual consumers.
Exactly. But it seems short lived as so many police are switching to chrysler for one reason ;pricing.
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