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bobbyd

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Everything posted by bobbyd

  1. There are many reasons why we have the situation we are in. Culture is a main reason. You have this culture in Japan..its Japanese...in Korea..its Korean...but in the US its "multi-cultural!" Hispanics are growing at an incredible rate....The market has shifted in the past decade or so to buyers that are multi-cultural. Asians buy Asian...San Fransicso is now 60% Asian...and if you have recently gone there you will have difficulty finding American cars. Also, the market shift to women and minorities,who also are traditionally buyers of imports. Popular Mechanics' article had shown the purchase of Camry's by women buyers at 50%! Ford holds its title on F-series trucks, because of the middle class guy ...and not by women or most minorities. Once a person buys or mostly leases a Honda, Kia or whatever...they stay with that import. Your average import driver has not driven a Ford and most likely never will. Perception is their excuse and an easy way out. If Ford had the acceleration problem with millions of their cars , like Toyota had, you can bet today that Ford would be considerably smaller and probably terminal eventually. You only have to look at how Toyota rebounded to confirm the sad fact that "perception" is only an excuse and not a fact .
  2. Not sure why this "sniper" is anti-American, but in response to him regarding the Asian invasion he needs to remember a few things. Read the book "Agents of Influence" and maybe, just maybe, you'll open your closed mind to the fact that Japan is still at war with us, but this time its against Ford and GM, primarily...since Chrysler is really foreign owned. We all know about the impossibility of shipping Fords/Gms to Japan..they tear them down for the so-called phoney import inspection. Any car imported into Japan is slapped with an insurance policy that charges 3 times above their domestics. Japan, starting with Marysville Hondas and continuing throughout EVERY state that allows them to build are given incentives, big tax incentives...and they are not usually purchased plants but rather leased. However, the domestic US plants for Ford are bought and paying taxes and supporting the community for decades upon decades. Ford also pays high pensions and health to retirees....close to 100,000. the IMPORTS pay nothing and will NOT pay anything for decades to come. Also, as we all know, the profits from the imports go back to their protected homeland. Whenever I see protected workers like tenured teachers and federal employees driving imports and slamming Ford/GM I ask myself, "things would sure change if the Asian importers started importing teachers and competitive workers who would take their jobs away!" WOW, you would see protests all across the nation. The bottomline, our country has dug a whole and destroyed our domestic capitalism to a point of desperation where people will line up for and fight for a minimum pay job. Our government sold us out...unlike the Japanese and now Korean government who maintain protectionism for their car companies. Its an unfair playing field, but its like a cancer that has invaded our country....its too big to kill..and if you even mention these disadvantages the usual response is : "but these imported companies are giving America jobs....just like Walmart is doing!" Forget about the nose of the camel in the tent...the whole beast is inside with no way out!
  3. Guys, thanks for the info on the AWd vs FWD.....so I'm safe to say my Taurus can do 0-60MPH in the high 6's! Vrooom! HOWEVER, that police chase clip was so incredible. Unbelievable. If I was a cop that had to deal with that idiot driver...I'm not sure how controlled I would be after what they did. That driver deserves a prison sentence!
  4. I have to add that taking a 4200 lbs car from 0-60MPH in 7.0 seconds flat is respectable. I was looking at a few turbo charged , much lighter weight cars, and even the New Mercedes C class which was on Motorweek lastnight (I hate Motorweek) and it was in the 8 second range. Also the Taurus doing a 15 second quarter mile is decent. I also looked at my EPA window Sticker on my 2013 Limited and it had 19 City/29 Highway compared to Car and Drivers 18 City/26 Highway. Think they will report a retraction....NOT! FYI...drove my car the first 125 miles and filled up to check mileage.....28 MPG! Wahooo! I love my baby!
  5. Right on...or similar to watching a basketball game....its the last couple minutes/laps that might be interesting...but in NASCAR, if the leader is far ahead and NASCAR can't pull a caution for fake debris to bunch the field.....its YAWN...boring. True or False: when you read the word YAWN....does it make you YAWN?
  6. I also heard about the maintenance issues with the Dodge cop cars. Before Ford finished production of the CV police car, I heard California's police (I think it was LA) bought and was storing 150-200 new Crown Vics in a storage yard for future deployment. I always enjoyed watching California police chases on TV with a whole swarm of Ford CV's going after the bad guys. Maybe the Taurus will fill in...but not in volumes like they are with the Fiat Chargers. I'm sure the cops will miss that massive trunk and front seat room of the CV compared to the Charger. I almost laughed when I saw my local cop who was sitting in his Charger....not much wiggle room behind the wheel. Its got to be a challenge getting in and out of that small area all-day-long!
  7. FYI...Tony quit Joe Gibbs Toyota Team a year or so ago and went back to Chevy. Dodge is pulling out soon and Ford really only has one full time team /Roush with 3 drivers. Kenseth will probably jump to Toyota. As mentioned, its all about the $$$. I still think Tony gets credit for his loyalty to GM. Its Joe Gibbs and Michael Waltrip's Toyota Teams that will soon dominate. Plus, idiot brother Darrel will be doing all the yapping with Mr Microphone. I predict it will eventually go the way of the Truck series....Mostly Chevy vs Toyota, once Jack R Retires.
  8. Sad about the loss...but at least Cousin Carl finished 6th. He moved to 11th in standings. There is still hope. Man, all the big sponsors are supporting the Japanese Toyota teams! I don't watch the Truck series since its almost dominated by the Japanese Toyotas! This is the New Generation...us old Ford USA Loyalists are becoming dinosaurs to the new generation who seem to want foreign! Ouch!
  9. I noticed the Charger is a few dollars cheaper than the Taurus and was offering a $2000 rebate. I bought my Taurus too soon...drove it home and a week or so later...boom they added $750 to the rebate of $1000. wAHHH! I see the Chrysler 300 has $3000 rebates/incentives. Charger sales will continue to grow with the police cars, now that Crown Vic is gone.
  10. I was wondering if anyone can explain how Biffle lost the race to Stewart at the end, especially when he and Kenseth were leading. I went to bed early, but did notice a huge number of empty seats.
  11. I read the article and they were pretty fair. I agree that the 4100 pounder can do 0-60MPH in 7 flat...pretty impressive. I can't argue with the concern on stopping. Overall they referred to the Taurus as "Deluxe!" Its always annoying to see all the anti-Ford snipers comments in the article. These are idiots who never drove a Ford and carry the 'I hate Ford no matter what attitude!" However, the true fact is Taurus is a top seller in its category!
  12. HERE IS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH: The most race-track-ready Camaro ever, the * * * * 2012 ZL1 coupe lifts the performance of Chevrolet's all-American pony car to Olympian heights once reserved for demigods like BMW's M and Mercedes-Benz's AMG specialty models. The pony car has hit the big time, and it's PULLING AWAY from the competition. (KEY PHRASE: "PULLING AWAY") Most people only read the first paragraph, and as we read the above direct quote it leads the average person to assume the ZL1 is "pulling away from the competition!" Couple that with the Free Press FRONT PAGE (top left corner) claiming 'Camaro ZL1 Ready To Take On The Shelby!" (Phelan NEVER admitted the Shelby was faster..he never posted the 0-60 MPH or quarter mile...Only showed the Camaro's times!/ Thus no comparison and leading the average reader to ASSUME the Camaro was "pulling away!") Also this quote :"I can already see the Camaro owners flapping their arms and making chicken sounds as they challenge the Shelby to drag!" Do you want to explain that statement? I'll bet I get a response from the Ford detractors like: " If it walks like a chicken and clucks like a chicken...its not necessarily a chicken." Please!
  13. Here we go again..this time its our own Mark Phelan from the Free Press. Read his bias article today about the ZL1 taking on the Shelby. He boasted how the Camaro is the fastest pony car, but failed to mention the usual Shelby dominant features...0-60MPH...faster quarter mile...faster top end speed 200 MPH...better braking 60-0...no gas guzzler tax. I'm surprised since Mark is usually pretty 'fair and balanced!'
  14. All you seem to have for your defense of the Camaro is an extended Laguna road race where the GT500 might fall a few tenths behind after a number of laps. However, I want a car that is fastest at 0-60 MPH...fastest in the quarter mile (by train lengths and growing)...a car with no Gas Guzzler Tax...a car that gets up to 5 Miles per gallon better and a car that will safely stop a shorter distance than the OTHER car. I'm not concerned with using the car in a extended road rally. So, if you look at all those factors...its the GT500. CASE CLOSED.
  15. Hey old guy, you sure are a cranky one. Its evident you are either losing your eyesight when reading or maybe having a senior moment. First off, the base Camaro and base GT500 are both virtually the same price $55,000. If you added 'GAS Guzzler Tax'....you are slapped with extra $$$ for the Camaro. As far as the brakes, after continuous road course braking (they had to find a fault) and a number of laps, the advantage faded...BUT (Use your reading glasses) the article admitted the Camaro also lost braking by a couple of tenths. At the end of the total laps run they both still were only a couple of tenths difference between the 2 cars. Bottomline, if the article would have simply used the real world, average driving tests, that they NORMALLY use with every other car they review....which is : who has best gas mileage, best braking 60-0 , best straight line/drag racing and best road course times....(rather than assuming the cars were going to run a race at Laguno for extended laps)...the GT500 would win. You can either agree with me or admit you are wrong! Go Ford! People like you are usually "snipers" who hate Ford but act like they are members.
  16. MT just announced the Camaro over the GT500 based on their subjective view. The GT500 stopped better, had better gas mileage, was much faster on the drag strip and also on the Laguna Road course. As expected MT had to find fault so they assumed the GT500 brakes would possibly fade faster than the Camaro if they raced all day on the track. MT never mentioned top speeds, since the GT500 is near 200 MPH compared to near 175-180 MPH for the Camaro. They also did not mention the Gas guzzler tax that you pay on the Camaro, since the GT500 is exempt. It was very bias...but it feeds many readers and gives them the impression that the GT500 is inferior. If they would have used a computer to load all the test results...the GT500 wins. Scott Evans at MT is clearly a GM fan....he should have gone with the test results.
  17. Just returned from the Ford Dealer. They are submitting request to have the 'buckle' in the door fixed. They indicated painting was not the way to go. 2-3 days before decision is made by Ford HQ.
  18. I look at the INDY Car series..its now mostly Honda and Toyota. I look at the truck series..its mostly Toyota. I will expect NASCAR Sprint Series to soon be mostly Toyota and GM. Ford can't pay the price like Toyota for drivers. There is no loyalty in NASCAR....eg...Dale Jarrett...Bill Elliott...Mark Martin...all were promoted by Ford....now, you see them driving Japanese Toyotas. Jarrett is the worse, since he helped goofy Waltrip with his once struggling Toyota Teams before going to TV announcing. Hey...why is that loser Kenny Wallace ALWAYS wearing that Toyota shirt on the Nascar talk show......he bugs me. Bottomline...I think Ford should pull out...it doesn't sell cars like the old days. NASCAR hasn't sold out a Sprint race in a long time.
  19. NLP Racing.....I'm not on facebook...please tell me what that site is showing? Is it a similar crease or what?
  20. If what you say is true about the dealer saying: "you didn't see it before you signed the deal...you are screwed" that will be a sad shocker that I will deal with. I've talked to knowledgeable sources explaining how the door panel sheet was possibly the end of a worn die, and /or either crimped or pressed too hard when they wrapped it...a somewhat common problem that is easily fixed when they catch it.The other point about repairing the door, not only is matching the paint not an exact science, since even though the dealer will use the same paint code... the exact match for that code comes from a different batch, it happened to me before...especially with black metallic. ...but also the 'tear down' on the door...taking the door , mirror , trim apart and replacing it. I will never go that avenue...the rattles start usually a year after re-assemble. I appreciate your comments, but I know real bump guys and car painters..plus my own experience with re-paints and 'filler' to know "its a gamble' ....plus, as I said: "I have to admit to my potential buyer down the road that I had the car door repainted." That would de-value the price. Not to mention that the dealer announces an additional $750 discount on this car only weeks after I bought it. I'm not a happy Ford buyer...but, I will see what Ford decides on Thursday. Please keep in mind that I signed a contract to buy a new car...not a used car or a car that needs to be bumped and repainted. I also would not be concerned if it was a lease..but its a retail sale and hard earned purchase. I'm the ONLY one losing out on this !
  21. One reason is you never match factory paint..ever...plus when One buys a new car they expect to buy a new car...not one that needs to go to the bump shop! Ask any true car guy...and they will say the same. I paid almost $34,000 on a car that should not have to be bumped out because of Ford's Fault! Secondly, when I sell it down the road or trade it in... the first question is "did this car ever have an accident or been repainted?" I appreciate your comments..and I don't mean to be so upset....but I am!
  22. I bought a new 2013 Taurus last month and drove it only 3 times. (120 total miles) . As I had it parked in the sun recently I was shocked to find a crease line running up from the front passenger door. It's clearly a flaw in the body panel stamping. If it was a lease I would not care..but I bought it. The dealer tells me Ford will probably only pay to have it "sanded down, bumped and repainted!" Madness! I will never allow that. They won't trade it and so I am asking anyone...do you think Ford will allow me to trade my retail purchase to a 2 year lease? I can't believe this happened. We have looked at comparable cars and they DO NOT have the crease. The dealer guy of 20 yrs experience said he never saw a problem like my new car. I am ashamed to tell my Honda buddies..they would laugh! Any suggestions!
  23. I'm confused on what model year they were complaining about the MFT. The JD survey said the Ford 2011 models had the old system. I thought the My Ford Touch was OK for the 2012 models...problem solved...right???. However, in the article today they said Ford is sending out updates for the MFT THIS WEEK. I bought a new 2013 Taurus and its super simple to use. Is there another update coming?
  24. Just read that GM is offering lump sum buyouts to salaried retirees. I believe they have 118,000 retirees. I think Ford has already mentioned they were doing something similar. GM stock jumped 3% after today's announcement...but later dropped again to around 22.3 or so a share. I also read that Ford retirees should get our numbers in August! None of this affects the union guys...I wonder why?
  25. I have a concern about "blowing out the water" from the seams, jams, mirors etc... after rinsing the car. I spotted a great compact air blower on Amazon (JND)for under $40 and it has a max 200 mph . My concern is "Will it affect the seams or possibly blow out any sealed moldings" due to the high force of air? Keep in mind I will take care NOT to hold it directly or too close...but still would like opinions. Again, I believe the compact blower really alleviates those pesky , continuous drips after a rinse that seem to drip, drip, drip...plus the lightweight 3 lbs blower gets into spots where water will sit no matter how many towels you use to dry it. Hey, for under $40 it saves me from staring up my cumbersome heavy leaf blower which will sooner or later bang the car. I need encouragement! Can I get an "AMEN!?"
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