Leaderboard

Some will say that hybrid is a dead end but I think it’s a necessary step in evolving customer participation in electrification. The double edged sword is that by making ICEs more fuel efficient will delay the embrace of BEVs. So maybe manufacturers like Ford are stuck with building all while buyers choose what they want.

You got it. I won't consider a BEV until it can travel 250+ miles at 0 degrees F.

Once we have 300+ miles of reliable and consistent range in all weather conditions, then I think BEVs will be much more valid mass-market option before we have a large charging network.

OKTB has been reached?

the video basically echos what everyone else has said about the ranger. Just posting it because I think the black lariat with sport appearance and fx4 packages looks really sharp.

Only that it will be built in Canada, it will probably displace 7.3L, and will probably have valves in the heads, although I'm not ruling out a revival of the Flathead.

Explorer debuts January 9 https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/12/20/ford-explorer-debuts-january-2019-detroit/2379250002/

Yeah, I've seen pictures of the Funk conversions, but I've never seen one in person. I'm surprised that the two sixes went so low--that's a decent price for a running 8N of any type. Of course, if I'd been there, they would've gone for ten times that price. Or at least $5 more than I could've afforded to spend. A year or two back, I went to an auction where they had a used John Deere utility tractor package that was split up into its components (tractor, trailer, brush hog, and, IIRC, box blade). They sold the tractor alone for more money than it would cost you to buy the whole package brand new from a John Deere dealer. I don't recall the exact numbers, but the package would've cost you around $18,750 new, but the tractor went for $20K. People be crazy at auctions.

Why not indeed. A chance to put the new CD6 modular platform to a use beyond SUV's.

"Next year, however, the coach-door Continental will be available on an unlimited basis–and if the Powers That Be within the Blue Oval give the nod, a rear-wheel-drive large sedan will assume the storied nameplate some time in the next few years, complete with standard-equipment coach doors in all trim levels. That, as the kids say, will be “lit.” There will still be a RWD Mustang, so why not a RWD Lincoln?

There are a lot of little things the Ranger is missing, most will be fixed when the new one come comes out in a few years. Plus it looks good in a few years that they add things customers want, gives a reason for the early adopters to upgrade to a more expensive unit. This one also gives them info to what this market wants and they can plan accordingly.

I'm sure you're not the only one, but I do know people that have narrowed down choices and used IIHS as a deciding factor. I like the headlight ratings as they show why the headlight is poor, I would buy a vehicle that was poor if it was just because of glare, however in some cases the headlight optics just suck. If that was the case I would cross that vehicle off my list. Also if it did poor or marginal in any of the crash tests I would cross it off, I think it would be real hard for the rest of my life knowing I ignored safety and it ended up hurting someone in my vehicle if I ever got in an accident.

I can agree with this. I rarely use the heated seat in my sho. But that heated wheel with remote start is a beautiful thing! Must haves for me now. Push button start (for the ease of entry also no more clicker to get in), Remote Start and big screen for the backup camera.

Fiasco bought a lot of ads, I bet.

It was also when they changed the cab structure to meet new Federal roll-over protection standards. It was a major overhaul.

My toes be a tippity tappen! My Ranger has entered production. Now just have to wait till OKTB has been achieved.

Infrastructure still is not built up for BEVs and it won't be in 3 years. I am personally not looking forward to a world full of standing chargers at every parking stall, that's an ugly view and lots of fragile infrastructure that makes parking lot maintenance harder for cold weather. I think they need to solve that problem before we start building that type of infrastructure.

I am inclined to give Ford the benefit of the doubt considering their ambitious safety amenities program which the IIHS appears not to value or quantify properly. But Ford also has the industry's oldest product range by years and a long history of under-achieving on IIHS crash testing. I don't think Fords are death-traps, but we can't deny that Fords are OLD AS F*CK right now.

Because they replace the dies every new model year. They do wear out after all.

To me it feels like 2000 or 2001 when Nasser was sitting on a huge war chest of cash, trying to diversify and develop new income streams. I'm worried that Jim Hackett will keep doing more and more moves away from where Ford makes profits, mobility is a continuing quarterly black hole of red ink. Autonomous vehicles are now targeting fleets because of low actual interest by retail buyers, same goes for EVs. I think he's about to do zany deals in Europe with VW that could see around 20K staff reduction...massive preoccupation with achieving specific company profit levels..it seems at any cost.. History doesn't repeat but it sure does echo....

Wouldn't it be ironic if the very vehicle type Ford refuses to build (Town Car) is still sought after by a select audience...

Which is odd considering the steering wheel that is used on the Ranger also has a heated version in the Ford parts bin. A heated steering wheel is better than a heated seat.

I don't understand all the bitching about lower trims feeling cheap. If they made them better and raised the price everyone would be bitching about the high prices. You get what you pay for.