Ford Abandoning Cars

Mechnutt said:
One of Ford's issues was that they kept the Taurus around too long. It was dated and not a very good car. The new Fusion on the other hand is a very good car and right up there with the Camry and Accord. I have driven all 3 many times. Reliability is something else and Fords are not very reliable. The Focus is a very nice car and rides better than the Mazda 3 and Elantra and Kia Forte its competitors. However, Ford never addressed the crappy transmission.

I hope with the U.S. automakers getting out of the sedan business, that the quality of the Japanese and Korean cars do not take a hit. I have not owned an american car for over 30 years. I am not concerned about the German cars though. And don't get me started with Dodge and Chrysler. Not even Mercedes could help them.
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I was born in St. Paul, and oldest of 29 grandchildren. most of my cousins still live in the Twin Cities, and unlike where I live, most drive domestics. but that situation is not country wide. your reality of viewing the Focus as 'right up there' with Camry and Accord is very regional. (whether you are right or wrong, the USA wide retail marketplace says you are wrong). if you eliminate sales to rental car agencies; Ford almost sells no sedans on the coasts. and the writing is on the wall that the numbers don't work. and it's a product problem and a product perception problem. and Ford has thrown in the towel on overcoming both parts of their sedan problem.

if you have not driven the new 2018 Accord, you should drive it before you assume i'm wrong. it's amazing.....and more like luxury brands like Mercedes or BMW or Audi than other mass market sedans.

the quality of Hondas are driven by world-wide pressures, not just the USA market. and the domestic sedans are not considered the competition anyway. so whether they come or go has little to do with their product development. this could change, but that is the current situation.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
I was born in St. Paul, and oldest of 29 grandchildren. most of my cousins still live in the Twin Cities, and unlike where I live, most drive domestics. but that situation is not country wide. your reality of viewing the Focus as 'right up there' with Camry and Accord is very regional. (whether you are right or wrong, the USA wide retail marketplace says you are wrong). if you eliminate sales to rental car agencies; Ford almost sells no sedans on the coasts. and the writing is on the wall that the numbers don't work. and it's a product problem and a product perception problem. and Ford has thrown in the towel on overcoming both parts of their sedan problem.

if you have not driven the new 2018 Accord, you should drive it before you assume i'm wrong. it's amazing.....and more like luxury brands like Mercedes or BMW or Audi than other mass market sedans.

the quality of Hondas are driven by world-wide pressures, not just the USA market. and the domestic sedans are not considered the competition anyway. so whether they come or go has little to do with their product development. this could change, but that is the current situation.
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Mike, I agree. The 2018 Accord is looking like the probable replacement for my wonderful 2004 BMW 330i.
 
Hi Mike, I was comparing the Fusion not the Focus to the Accord. Last summer I drove the turbo Fusion and a V6 Accord. Both are excellent. The Fusion handled better, had more precise steering (the Accord had a bit of input lag which was a disappointment), the Fusion had a better ride and was more quiet. I have not driven the 2018 Accord but I am disappointed that they did away with the V6. I was considering a V6 2D Coupe to replace my Maxima and Acura CLS S type.

I also drove the Buick Regal GS. It rides and handles like a BMW which is no surprise since it was designed in Europe. Unfortunately the Turbo 4 is geared for low end torque and it felt anemic on the highway. I am not sure how the new Regal compares.
 
NorthStar said:
For premium gas right now here we pay $8 a gallon...Canadian gallon for Canadian dollars.

You?
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Bob, the metrics for fuel prices in Canada are totally different than here in the US. But let gas get to five dollars a gallon here (sustained) and thinking will change ......
 
Mechnutt said:
One of Ford's issues was that they kept the Taurus around too long. It was dated and not a very good car. The new Fusion on the other hand is a very good car and right up there with the Camry and Accord. I have driven all 3 many times. Reliability is something else and Fords are not very reliable. The Focus is a very nice car and rides better than the Mazda 3 and Elantra and Kia Forte its competitors. However, Ford never addressed the crappy transmission.

I hope with the U.S. automakers getting out of the sedan business, that the quality of the Japanese and Korean cars do not take a hit. I have not owned an american car for over 30 years. I am not concerned about the German cars though. And don't get me started with Dodge and Chrysler. Not even Mercedes could help them.
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Bought a Mercedes o BMW lately ... :rolleyes:


IMO, Only Porsche today making good cars , mostly everything else ( super exotics aside ) is a POS trade it in every 3-4 yrs to avoid warts. Very little made today are keepers , one of the many reasons big money chasing the good old stuff to park cash ...

Aside many good cars if you plan on rolling them every 3-4 yrs , all good , jap cars dont really work for me , not that they are bad none are really , think of toobs and SS not my Bag, I'm still stuck on German, just trade quickly .. :)
 
Mikado463 said:
Bob, the metrics for fuel prices in Canada are totally different than here in the US. But let gas get to five dollars a gallon here (sustained) and thinking will change ......
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I know that, our gallon is bigger than the US gallon.
Still $1.70 a liter for premium is . . . :bonkers::amazing::badnews:

¤ http://www.gallonstoliters.com/

Edit: Now it is $1.82 a liter for premium gas! ...$1.62 for regular.
• http://business.financialpost.com/c...oline-prices-are-the-highest-in-north-america
 
NorthStar said:
It's because we have the whales. And gas is rare on the Island, very.
There is also a fight between Alberta and British Columbia about a pipeline.

Anyway there's nothing we can do but voting for the right party.
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Voting for the right party maybe, but I'm not to sure that will sway any OPEC or Oil cartel oil price even if the elected official has their hands in oil futures and they strike some deal with a OPEC country. :D.
 
NorthStar said:
It's because we have the whales. And gas is rare on the Island, very.
There is also a fight between Alberta and British Columbia about a pipeline.

Anyway there's nothing we can do but voting for the right party.
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Nothing like finding a good inmate to fix the asylum ... :)
 
a.wayne said:
Nothing like finding a good inmate to fix the asylum ... :)
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Who's going to pay for their new shoes and suits. :)

CPP said:
:what2::dunno:
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Exactemente, us. :)

rbbert said:
It's Canada; their politics aren't quite as screwed up as ours
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It's impossible to determine with reliable accuracy. But one thing is certain, in Canada electric cars are gaining momentum.

On another unrelated subject, taxes for the big companies under the new tax reform in the USA, is affecting big time some Canadians with dual nationality passports...US and Canadian citizenship. ...Those who have tax sheltered investments in some offshore companies. They have to pay big taxes now, and there is no rescue door.

$ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/transition-tax-trump-corporations-1.4639020

a.wayne said:
Met Trudeau..... :)
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You did, how was it, you shook hands?
 
a.wayne said:
Bought a Mercedes o BMW lately ... :rolleyes:


IMO, Only Porsche today making good cars , mostly everything else ( super exotics aside ) is a POS trade it in every 3-4 yrs to avoid warts. Very little made today are keepers , one of the many reasons big money chasing the good old stuff to park cash ...

Aside many good cars if you plan on rolling them every 3-4 yrs , all good , jap cars dont really work for me , not that they are bad none are really , think of toobs and SS not my Bag, I'm still stuck on German, just trade quickly .. :)
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Not true that only Porsche makes good cars today. My experience is that while in the past mostly Japanese brands made reliable cars, today most brands can build good cars.
(Porsche has had its share of lemons by the way: 996 for example).
 
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