theVengineguy

This is nothing more than propaganda. I support free market, but it has to be fair. All the TPP will do is export more American, Canadian, and even Mexican jobs to even lower cost countries (Vietnam, China, etc.). I don't feel sorry that VW (#1 by volume) can't sell a truck here (or much of anything; at least the flannel shirt wearing hipster population is not huge). US industries built the middle class (mining, material processing, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, etc) envisioned by great men (Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Alfred P. Sloan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, etc). Largely the US government had nothing to do with it, but reaped the benefit from tax revenue. The problem today is the builders/workers are not running the show anymore. It is old money being managed by Ivy League elitists who know how to swing a mean tennis racket but know nothing about building industries. They are pumped full of BS from the Harvard Business School, which teaches you how to win at all cost while avoiding prison time. So how does this rant tie in with the TPP? The TPP is nothing more than a tool so the old money elitists can repatriate their money in Asia in the hopes of making more. They intend to make it off the backs of people with no running water that live in shanties made of garbage all in an effort to WIN AT ALL COST. They are not building anything, just moving it to make more money. But what will replace the jobs here? Oh you need to go to college, you need high tech jobs. The joke is high tech jobs are just concentrating the wealth to a smaller number of people. Take a company like Google, their primary investments are talent and computer servers. They build nothing of physical possession; therefore the profit margins are huge (probably 1000%). A company like Ford is lucky to see 8%. Google likely has a quarter the workforce of Ford, and with the high margins their people (especially programmers) get compensated handsomely. However there is less people to spend money, which lowers the velocity of money (look this up; is vital to economic success) which puts this country at great risk. Bottom line High tech jobs that require college education will not save the US economy. And paying the schools that churn out people for high tech jobs is another money pit. Happy Monday.

My perspectives on high cost: 1. All F150s are made in the United States at UAW facilities (All transmissions are US built, all rear axles are US built, all the V6 engines are US built, and the V8 is Canadian built). The US is not the most expensive workforce in the world (sorry Canada), but it's not Mexico (which GM does use for trucks/engines, and I believe the Hemi engine/Ram trucks do as well). Gives them more leeway in discounting since the margin is higher (no negativity towards Mexico, great products are made there; the worker's standard of living is not the best though) The F150 employs probably more Americans than the main competition combined, which is a great thing (but won't see that on ABC news) 2. Technology. The new F150 is a feat of engineering from a cost perspective. All engines are are DOHC, with two Ecoboost options (none of which are cheaper than what the competition offers. The Chevy small block family of engines hands down is the most cost competitive in industry, the Hemi a little more pricey, but not more than Ecoboost). 3. Aluminum. All the competition has had the option of refreshing prior model year's stamping and body lines. Ford went all in and all new. A lot of investment that needs to be paid back considering two plants were retooled. Material cost is no mystery either.

No, what this demonstrates is that the US currency inflation rate is exponentially out of control. Every year since 1965 represents more money leaving the country. Reference Operation Twist started by the Kennedy administration. Reference moving the dollar from being backed by the gold standard. Reference NAFTA. Reference Japanese currency manipulation. Reference China matching our currency inflation rate. Strong economies enable the buyer. The last 50 years seem to be nothing but the US forgoing fiscal conservativism, and bending for rising foreign economies.

FordBuyer, could not of put it any better. As many would call this pessimism, what even happened to realism? Is what Alan Mullaly did going to yield a viable company 5 years from now? Time will tell as durring that span he is likely to part ways and pass the leadership onto the next generation. What was presented to Ford back in 2008 is something that no Harvard MBA, or roads scholar could of ever calculated. An incredible amount of volatility that a non essential consumer goods company could not contain. Is the Expedition a great vehicle? Of course, but when the dog stops eating the dog food, gotta change the brand. Did this consumer change in taste deteriorate SE Michigan? Of course. (LTP being a victim as the RWD transmission center) Are things ever going to be like the 1999 party? No way. It's great to reflect on past accomplishments, however these are the conditions that are dealt. Not everything is by accident, and poor decisions are made. That is the nature of companies like Ford. There will be hits, and misses. How many misses can a company tolerate? Have plenty of examples of companies that were well extended in that catagory (GM, Chrysler, AMC, Nash, the British Car Industry, etc.) Ford has been at the event horizon of failure multiple times. Lets just say the cat has nine lives. Crazy as it sounds, but some how they always pull out.

The people who mentioned the hole are completly right. Wagoner/Lutz/Smith oversaw this debacle, and we still see the same talking heads. If Wagoner was a man, he would step down and admit that he sucks at running a company. The Saturn story is such a joke, build it up in the early 90's to make it look like you have a Japanese company, let it lactate for 10 years with rebadged junk, and then shit can it. Not to mention spend billions of dollars to market it, and rebadge products for it. Really great managment if you ask me. Seriously, where are the great leaders today? Just people who cut companies to the point where nobody but rich assholes can afford cars, so the sales plummet like a turd nugget. $30 Bil for 47,000 out of work at GM, $4 Bil for 3,000 out of work at Chrysler. Where is this great change?

People are not driving as much, thus less road wear and tear on the vehicle. Where I live, some of the roads look like the 3rd armored division used them everday, thus the suspension, wheels, and tires gets the shit knocked out of em. Less driving means the suspension will be around in 5 years. So if I am the average Joe sixpack, I think more people will have the same cars in 5 years. Also hard to make a major purchase when you have no idea if you will be employed long enough to rebuild the bank account after the purchase. Too much loss in value as well, which as long as incentives and 0% financing are there, resale value is gonna be worthless. Since people do hold off now to buy, the rebates will always be there, minus the dinks that buy foriegn, but thats a whole other topic. I believe it all boils down to people only paying $X for a Ford. How much is a Fusion percieved pricewise compared to a Camry? Why would I pay $40K for a 273 hp V6 Lincoln MKS, when I could have a Mazda 6 for $27K with the same 272 hp V6? Is the Lincoln MKS worth $13K more than the Mazda 6? I think you know my answer.

Being curious, I found a link to this supposed auction site http://www.1800lastbid.com/auction/listing...egory=806430580 Looking at some of the items, I would say they are in trouble. Ford cut them out of the market starting with the 2003 Cobra, but for a period of time, I recall Saleen being more popular with the SN95. I think I have only saw a brand new S281 once, I saw more of the previous gen. Just too expensive I guess. Even that racecraft one isn't that great of a deal, and who warrants all the Saleen stuff that is put on it?

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../FREE/658726024 Alright picture the same car with the new 2.5L that is in the 2009 Escape, and the supposed 15 hp bump, 186 hp, for 20K. But heck, I am dreaming.

I saw one on Hines Drive the other day, M plate. It was the SES 4 door, Metallic Red with the black 2 bar grilll, new front/rear bumber, and no fender stickon. I have to say, looks much better than the 08 with all the chrome gone. Curious though, if they are shiping them, when do they plan to update the Ford website for the 2009 Focus? Nice to hear they added rear head rests, based on what I saw, sales will pick up, especially with the SES.

Just a shame companies cannot bring back the reason why nameplates like Mustang and Camaro were hits in the 60's. Oh we got a Focus and a Cobalt, econo boxes that are like cell phones. Masculine cool be damned with a fwd econo box. 15-18K for a mustang or camaro would be awesome, and I do not believe that would detract sales based on perception. Heck, if I could get the same thing for 5K less sticker, I wouldn't complain one bit.

Camaro is nice, and I believe it deserves the proper recognition. However, what is the starting price gonna be? I do not see an I4 producing 200 hp, I do not see a cheap no frills model. If Camaro starts at $23K, assuming a 296hp V6, 6 speed, limited slip, which $23K sounds about right, this car is not going to be a beacon for GM. Problem with cars like this is when everyone who wants one gets it, they are done. The current Mustang embodies this, along with the last Thunderbird, SRT10's, Chevy SSR, Challenger, GTO, Viper, PT Cruiser, etc. They need to get the Camaro down to $15-18K for it to be affordable for the youth, and to carry on the bowtie legacy.

This hybrid is a waste of money. The consumer would be better served just buying a 2009 Escape 2.5L with either a 6 speed auto, or 5 speed manual if they want fuel economy. The atkinson cycle is a waste of time. In theory, given the drop in torque compared to the otto cycle, you still need to keep the engine at a higher RPM to get the same acceleration performance. And if you are on highway, the electric motor is limited anyways. Not forgetting the extra weight you add with a battery pack, motors, high voltage wiring, etc. For 4 mpg extra, keep it. I will pocket the $12K and use it to buy more gas for this "theoretical" 4 mpg.

It was a fair write up. They didn't really bash the Escape that much. If anything this evaluation is a positive.

Damn, some of you offer no constructive criticism at all. In all honesty what makes the Euro Focus that great? If I gave you 220 hp in the Focus would you pipe down, but If i charged 23K, you wouldn't be able to such your yappers. The car serves it's purpose.

Positives: New front fascia, some what blacked out bars (not as polarizing), JC whitney stick on fender vent delete, keeping the interior the same, rear bumper with matted fake diffuser, wheels, new paint color. Negatives: Roof spoiler, rear truck lid is still a sea of nothing (at least put some reflector bar in that space to connect the tail lamps, you got rid of the side vents), Engine ( I mean c'mon 3 hp, your gonna have to entise me with at least 25-30 hp to get me into a manual). One suggestion I could live with is if you offered a dealer installed turbo kit from ford racing. Same warrantly, just pay an extra $2-3K for the installation and parts.