jpd80

I have it on very good authority that Ford is finding AWD a very hard sell to police departments and they consider the interior of the Taurus on the small side compared to the Panthers. This must be a real worry for Ford as they were no doubt hoping to use the AWD Taurus for PDs, so what will plan B entail, does this open the door for a new rear wheel drive vehicle? Options: 1) Develop a new RWD vehicle off an existing platform: - BOF Panther needs a full make over including top hat and power train. - Unitary Falcon platform suitably modified for North America - V8 and long wheel base (Aussie Fairlane) - RWD or AWD Territory CUV suitably modified for North America ( Same size as current BOF Explorer) 2) Do nothing and give away Police Department contracts I'm beginning to think about what constitutes a vehicle platform and what is a derivative. If you consider a platform controls the most expensive parts like Power train, electrical systems and suspension then all the rest including framing, top hats and trim becomes localized under each derivative project. It is entirely possible and feasible for unrelated vehicles like Falcon, Mustang and Panthers to share some engines, power trains, electrical systems and maybe suspensions. All of those elements carry the bulk of costs and savings can be made at the supply level by combining procurement. Now then, if you consider Falcon, Mustang and panthers all loosely related derivatives with unique frames, bodies and trim to be effective in their chosen niches, it all makes perfect sense. Falcon and Mustang can continue on separate unitary frames and Panther keeps its body on frame. Like the rest of you, I'll be interested to see how Ford works this one out.....

I take a different view with respect to effective oversight of critical economic areas, Americans are ceding power and authority to people who are inept or incapable.

Not guilty, it was a customer's car.

Those times are for competiton cars FJM - pretty darned impressive all the same..... Wow, I just got a huge Rowan and Martin flash back.

This is also to do with people's perceptions and expectations of the car. Trim was falling off a Ford/Chev is a hanging offence but if the same thing happens to a Huyndai, the owner shrugs the shoulders and say "Meh what do you expect, it's a Korean car"

Back in the late 1960s, my dad was a Foreman road tester with Metro Ford in Brisbane Australia. He had a car come in where two little boys decided to play with the cigarette lighter, they made lovely zero marks all over the vinyl trim, seats, backs, door cards, dash.......oh boy....

It's almost like Fiat and Chrysler are saying "there's safety in numbers". Maybe it makes sense financially but a lot of Chrysler fans must see Fiat as just another pillager coming into the US via the back door with a promise of "supporting Chrysler" - yeah right........

The driver in all of this is an increased need for versatility and utility coming from buyers. My earlier suggestion of a Taurus or Fusion "coupe" was perhaps an little too specific when I should have said two door sedan, something that offers customers sedan room but the feel of a personal two door...... A niche for sure but more like a main stream product variant than a derivative like the coupe body.

What have these fund managers been doing for the past two years? GM has made mistake after mistake, losing money year on year, their share price fell from $32 and yet, these fund managers ignored all of that and put all these retiree pension funds at risk for what? I bet the fund managers still got paid handsomely for their "efforts" and "diligence"........

Yeah, I'll pay that one.

Are the banks are being charged interest on the money loaned to them? If so, someone stands to make a healthy profit out of lending $7 trillion.

Well the Grand Marquis out sold the Sable by 3 to 1 last month, so I guess grandpa's car won.......

The GOP believes the auto industry should be allowed to self correct without government intervention. The government's desire to protect workers and suppliers in the broader community is now being attacked as anything ranging from socialism to outright favoritism of the UAW. None of which is the fault of the previous administration and treasury being asleep at the switch.......

TC Taxi with driver protection barrier and vinyl passenger interior?

Same managers + same products + more cash = same outcome with new casualties....

There are no plans for the "Indians" to move off the reservation

LaCrosse is also on Epsillon II, the next Impala will be on it too..... Epsillon II is like Ford's D3 platform Highly likely that Ford will consolidate products on D3, CD3 CD3s and EUCD into one platform. When this happens, Ford North America's manufacturing and supply base will be super efficient.

I think the Chinese will hurt the Korean and Japanese car makers long before Ford.....

The article is wrong, the T6 Ranger production doesn't start until early 2011. Since Thailand covers Asia and Europe, the new South African plant will cover Latin America and perhaps USA and Canada....

That's true and Ford have had that for years with Changan. It's only the Bankok head office that's relocating, not manufacturing.

Nothing like harsh reality to sharpen the buyers focus, bet that technique saves a lot of arguments too.

End of July is the cut off for FoA deciding power train use beyond CY 2102 ( the next Falcon platform)

How often do you find people wanting to buy a new vehicle are impulse buyers that come in unprepared and with no research on either their trade in or the vehicles they want to buy. It's almost like they want to use the salesman as a research tool and get cranky when the figures don't match their fantasy expectations. I find most dealers are helpful and if they cant offer reasonable money for a trade will suggest a good figure for private sale and a no trade price offer on the desired car. If you're not in a hurry, that's the bet way to fly - oh and buy a vehicle other people will want.

Exactly, Duratec 35/37 captures all the features Ford wants including Ecoboost. Who would have thought the Aussie I-6 would have outlived a lot of other Ford six cylinder engines, 290 lb ft @3200 and 260 hp @ 6000 with a log manifold and single exhaust no less. It pulls like a train and should be in the Mustang, maybe next product cycle........

In proportion with the 4.6 3V, a 3 valve 4.0 V6 would give similar power/torque as the Duratec 37. A lot to change to justify when the Duratec 3.7 already exists with 4 valve, VCT and alloy block.