Ovaltine

Ruh roh, Raggy! Just don't get TOO close! ;-) No recall for Ford Everest or Ranger ute: fire was caused by a loose battery cablehttp://www.news.com.au/finance/business/manufacturing/no-recall-for-ford-everest-or-ranger-ute-fire-was-caused-by-a-loose-battery-cable/news-story/9d3bea1a30bd2e486aa57c5236fe6d75 In any case, make sure that the battery cables are connected properly! -Ovaltine

Here's the actual J.D. Powers overall results page: http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study/Vehicle-Dependability-Study-%28VDS%29-by-Make/846ENG

Ignoring the 'RR' on the front, now THIS is what I think the next-gen Continental should have looked like! Do a little prettying up of the headlight area, and replace the 'RR's with the Lincoln Continental Star, and NOW we're talkin'! :-) http://images.cdn.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/rolls-phantom.jpg?itok=GvdG3fTa A little coupe inspiration here:

My wife and I bought a new '93 Acclaim V6 BECAUSE of that roofline/rear entry when we had our first baby. We found that it was the most convenient affordable vehicle for getting the baby bucket/carrier in and out of the car. A side benefit was that the car had space like a d@mn limo in the back! We had the car for nearly 12 years and 127k miles, with nary a large problem ever. It still looked great and ran great when we got rid of it. So go ahead an make fun of the boxy styling - those were actually pretty good cars! -Ovaltine

Answer: Because Obama and his minions Bloom/Rattner "engineered" the Fiat/Chrysler mash-up in the first place! THAT'S what makes it so "special"! -Ovaltine

What I want to know is: WHEN is this gawd-forsaken all-black wheel rim fad going to end for ALL the auto makers? Geez - I haven't seen a car yet that this even REMOTELY looks good on, IMHO. All I can think of when I see this treatment is a.) The car looks like a #@!% test mule! and b.) CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAAAAPPPP! -Ovaltine

The headliner/B-pillar issues I could probably live with - although I totally "feel your pain" regarding them. But - for "fifty large", that door sill is an abomination. I hope they can snap it back together properly, and get it to lay flush without too much remaining twist/torque remaining, so that it just doesn't keep happening. I suspect that issues like these are still indicative of the old "don't buy the first year of a new model or a major redesign" phenomenon. Here's hoping these problems get resolved to your satisfaction! -Ovaltine

Since when was a 2005 Lincoln LS classified as an "eco car"?!?!? Either A.) you need to update your .sig BIG TIME or B.) you're a friggin' Troll playing the "self righteous" card to annoy the motorheads on here. HTFH -Ovaltine

Nick: I understand what you're saying. BUT..... keep in mind - your Saturn didn't have a big-block in it that could bury a 120 mph speedo in less than half a mile on the long straight country roads like I grew up on. Nor did it have an ass-end and exhaust note very similar to THIS! -Ovaltine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNzWgkJGFy0

Well.... SOMETHING quite possibly is going on at Ford along the lines of my thinking! See: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/06/10/lincoln-wont-rule-out-mustang-based-performance-car/?intcmp=features Now - if they could just squeeze in a Ford version called the "Thunderbird"! ;-) -Ovaltine

Here's a picture of another '72 'Bird that's very close to what mine looked like. (Pic of red '72 T-Bird) The minor differences are: Mine had the nicer factory turbine wheel covers, the MANDATORY front cornering lamps (that's a HUGE front-end on those things!), and mine didn't have pinstripes. Loved the car, loved the 429 cid big-block, loved the throaty roar of the bullet muffler dual exhaust, but DIDN'T love the 10 mpg the #$@! thing got! Had to sell it because I couldn't afford to drive it. But all in all, some of the BEST times any16 year old has ever had was the year and a half I spent behind the wheel of that 7 year old car! -Ovaltine

As a younger Baby Boomer whose first car was a used 1972 Ford Thunderbird (with a 429 4bbl, dual exhaust!), I present the following article as "Exhibit A" why the time has come for Ford to consider resurrecting the Thunderbird marque as a true 4-adult passenger personal performance luxury coupe! http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2011/02/01/hmn_feature2.html "The country was aghast when the new-for'58 Thunderbird was stretched into a four-seater. Everyone, it seemed, loved the cute, cozy styling of the small T-Birds that preceded it. For the era, they were sensational-looking cars--they still are today--but not everyone who lusted after a 1955-'57 Thunderbird could justify buying one due to their limited seating capacity. And so, many didn't. Adding those two extra seats in the back changed everything. Sales skyrocketed, and the all-new, bigger, roomier and more practical Thunderbird became the must-see car in Ford showrooms that year. It was the talk of the town, and Americans everywhere wanted to be seen driving one." Find a way to stretch the new 'Stang chassis into a true 4-seater, add just a dash of retro muscular, squared off true-American styling (ala Chrysler 300), return to the trade mark full width T-Bird taillights, and add an Eco-Boosted V6 (with a small V8 as an option!), and you will have a car that will set tongues a wagging AND hanging out of mouths! Make it happen Ford, and I'll be one of the first in line to slap down a down payment! -Ovaltine

This is a game of BIG stakes poker, being played here. This is the key part of the article that the UAW is eyeing: "Under Marchionne, Chrysler has mounted an unlikely comeback that has pushed its valuation to around $10 billion, according to some analyst estimates. The U.S. automaker is now propping up Fiat's bottom line, rather than the other way around. Chrysler's success has complicated Marchionne's efforts to buy out the fund. The more than $5 billion price tag pushed for by adviser Brock Fiduciary represents the highest possible payout under the terms of the bankruptcy agreement." Who's going to blink first? -Ovaltine

A little more Mustang II fodder...... Around 1977, a '75 Mustang II (with a 460 cid wedged in between the shock towers) named "Sudden Death" graced the pages of Hot Rod magazine. I SOOOOOO wanted this car. http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz146/75MustangII/SuddenDeath59.jpg It could peel off 1/4 mile ETs at 10 seconds flat / 140 mph! Jack Roush had a little hand in its creation, according to the very interesting information and vintage photos. The car still exists, and is being restored back to its 1977 condition, shown in the photo above. Here's the forum thread with all the info on this car. Be sure to scroll down to see where the Mustang II section starts. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=461052&page=all Here's a pic of Jack Roush driving this car: http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz146/75MustangII/RoushDrivingSD1977.jpg Very cool! -Ovaltine

As a Ford fan who came of "automotive age" during the mid-to-late 1970's, I always had a soft spot in my heart for these: http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1970-1979/1977-Ford-Mustang-Cobra-II.jpg ( Hey - times were tough in the insurance/emission laden late 70's! There wasn't much to root for, beyond the GM F-bodies !! ( Z28 / Firebird T/A ) -Ovaltine

Very interesting article. The ironic thing about it is that I was posting similar sentiments about the same juggernaut that I was able to detect was coming by the build quality, warranty, etc. of my 2004.5 Kia Spectra back in 2004 when I bought it new. Most EVERYONE on here thought I was nuts, full of sh*t, etc., etc., but I had to keep telling them that I had enough automotive experience to know that these two companies were the real deal. Many of the "oldsters" on here who remember the beatings I took will attest to the above. I had always said that the main purpose of my postings were to be a warning to anyone willing to pay attention and spread the word internally at FoMoCo. At this point I think Ford has responded well product-wise, but I still think there's room for improvement on a handful of fronts: 1. Warranty. Match H/K , no ifs, ands, or buts. 2. Value. Watch the pricing. Profit is good, but so is finding ways to build competitively priced autos. 3. Dealership experience. One of Ford's age-old problems. Keep trying to eliminate the disaffected and dishonest ones. Time will tell which will be the last companies standing. -Ovaltine

Here's an interesting read on the topic: The Auto Industry Moving South: An Examination of Trends http://www.cargroup....-southpaper.pdf It's from back in 2003, but I suspect that much of its information is still relevant, based on what I read. The addition of Hyundai/Kia's two plants, VW's new plant, etc. since then seem to bear out the document's accuracy. One additional factor I read about in another article somewhere online, regarding the relocation of manufacturing to warmer climate states had to do with the savings companies experience in their climate control costs. That's something that the North will never be able to compete on - unless the whole climate change issue truly comes to be. The ONE saving grace that our area has in spades, and that manufacturing plants CANNOT do without, is good 'ole H2O. If the South ever dries up completely, like what was happening around Atlanta just a year or so ago, our bountiful water supply up here will start to look MIGHTY attractive to manufacturers. -Ovaltine

As an owner of a 2004.5 Kia Spectra, I can attest to the fact that great MPG is NOT one of its many virtues. It's got over 85k on it now, and has been a great performing car in nearly every aspect. But the day-to-day city MPG has always been low for a 2.0 IMHO (anywhere from 20 to 24 mpg), and merely adequate on the highway under optimal load and weather conditions (30-32 mpg). I had hoped that after licking the durability issues, that the next gen H/K drivetrains would have the MPG bugaboo resolved, but real world numbers apparently are not bearing that out. I'm not surprised. I'm sure that wringing optimum MPG out of a vehicle is an "art" that is only perfected after many, many years of development and manufacturing experience. -Ovaltine

Being an IT guy, I've seen quite a few of these parodies. THIS is definitely the best one yet - esp. with the denim shorts/Def Leppard/mullet comments, followed by the looks on the general's faces when Adolf brings up the whole Volt topic. Classic. -Ovaltine

I wonder if they'll resurrect the (mandatory - for a Dart or Duster) passenger-side fresh air vent "box", that held either 8 beers or a fifth of your favorite liquor? A very nice feature for keeping these ice cold during the cooler months! Anyone else old enough on here to remember this "feature" on those cars? It was just too convenient not to have been designed for that purpose. :shades: -Ovaltine

I think you meant "WOE" above - unless you're talking about Mr. Ed! WILLLLBBBBUUUURRRR!!! :shades: -Ovaltine

Verrrrryyyyy cool! Great job! This is the same exact car as my brother's '65, other than the fact my brother's didn't have the white roof. Scary info about the frames on these things - esp. thinking back to how fast he used to drive it on occasion! Thanks for the post. -Ovaltine

I think you're missing JM's comparative point, which is related to this quote: "Could be worse the Bob Lutz said the future of GM hinges on the Chevy Volt sales." Volt = future of GM 500 = future of Fiat (at least in U.S.) The size/make of the vehicle IS irrelevant, IF it is deemed the "salvation" of the firm manufacturing it. A one car vehicle line for at least 2+ years for a reintroduced brand sure smacks of "hinging" or "salvation" from my perspective! So JM's original post IS relevant, IMHO, for this thread - as long as the thread doesn't get hijacked into a pro/con debate on the Volt itself. -Ovaltine

Oh HELL no to a car that combines no heat and constant stress about whether it's got enough "juice" left in it to take you on a 15 mile commute and back. I live in Michigan with winter approaching, and the the combination of those two issues at best makes life damn uncomfortable, and at worst: dead. REAL WORLD FAIL. -Ovaltine

Geez...... I can't believe that Fiat required brand new dealers and facilities to sell just ONE model line! It's hard to believe that there were any takers for a deal like that. I'm sure there was alot of "Gotta get in on the ground floor..." mentality that went into that decision for the new Fiat "dealers". It's going to be a LONG two years, if the 500 is all they've got to push. -Ovaltine