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Showing content with the highest reputation on 12/18/2020 in all areas

  1. explains all the Bikini clad Russian Brides that pop up everytime Im on here...bwahahahahaha
    3 points
  2. OTA software updating as a way eliminating design cycles is BS ! It is there strictly to reduce the cost of "re-flashing" modules ! I worked on engine control software last century and was on the "support" side until 2007. I believe that the PCM software is still the only one that is "mostly" (>90%) written internal to Ford. Some modules may have a combination of Ford and vendor software (ABS/traction control). The dozens of other small modules are all purchased as a "black box". In the 90s, Ford got "burned" when they started using more computers for "other" tasks. I think it was a very early version of the GEM/SJB that they had to replace 3 times during one model year. Yes, I said REPLACE because the software was "cast" into the silicon (true ROM, not EPROM, not Flash). They quickly redesigned the module to include Flash. (PCMs had been using some type of re-programable memory since the 80s.) Segue - The F150 has always been the most complex PCM software because of the number of engines, 2wd/4wd, rear axle ratios and emission regulation (and in the past, transmissions) combinations. They would commonly have a dozen or more different software calibration. (Some may be familiar with the "tear tag" system. It used to be only 2 letters !) There was not enough space to store that many modules, pre-programmed, on the final assembly line, so the modules were pre-arranged in the proper build sequence "off line". It was only a few years ago (<10) that an "in process" programming device was custom built to flash the module as it went down the line. (They were retrieved at the end of the line, recharged and delivered back to the front of the line.)
    3 points
  3. The $1.6 billion from VW's own AV division added to it equity in Argo AI arguably gives VW a greater technical standing than Ford who simply bought a share in the company. Under Hackett, Ford discovered that it's better using existing tech than reinventing the wheel, VW already has tech developed and wants to share to recover some money. This is an interesting alliance that Ford and VW are playing....
    2 points
  4. Sounds like the Mach-E has reached OKTB.
    2 points
  5. It is odd you can get the 2.3EB in the Corsair, but not the Nauti...
    2 points
  6. yep....and Ford penalizes the Dealerships by reducing advertising revenue if the Dealers DO NOT enroll consumers...they have to have a minimum 70% penetration. Cannot wait until its universally rejected when people learn of its true purpose....IMO the carrots they dangle to the public in the form of $ towards service etc, are mere distraction. That said Ford has pulled this crap numerous times before. They literally did the same shite when they mandated us getting e-mail address's. For the 30 plus years Ive been doing this they consistently hammered us on building "relationships" with customers to build loyalty...then completely circumvent that scenario by sending e-mail blasts to them endlessly....with ZERO mention of the Sales person that spent time garnering said relationship. This is why in all sincerity, Ive come to the conclusion Ford really does NOT care about their Dealerships and their personnel in the slightest, contrary to what they promote....they will circumvent at any opportunity they can...well barring when customers have issues...then they conveniently disappear....lol...Don't mean to sound bitter, Im not...just telling it as it is.
    2 points
  7. It's on subject but long. Makes you go HHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM From the Epoch Times 2020 Election Investigation: Who Is Stealing America?
    2 points
  8. I think Ford missed the opportunity...theres a gray in the catalog called Dark Matter Gray...looks fantastic....and a perfect partner to Antimatter Blue.....and , seriously wheres my Army Green and Lead foot Gray?....
    2 points
  9. I for one object heartily to Ford Pass. I will not be traced for my information to be sold as data and subsequently BLASTED with spam marketing e-mails etc etc ….not that that's much different than cell phones but hey...enough enough...plus the fact FOMOCO is literally leveraging Dealers through financial penalty, if consumers aren't signed up, I find insulting. If its such a bloody good program Ford...how about sharing how to install the feature IN THE VEHICLES MANUAL ? ( theres literally NOTHING ) ….or better yet, a nice glossy leaflet explaining its glorious benefits to consumers IF they want to take the time to add the app to their phone, and download all their personal info....( and with the dis-claimer that the information garnered through the app is being sold as Data to marketing Companies )...can you tell it irks me?...
    2 points
  10. We got an email about this the other day... Bronco owners will get a total of $300 in FordPass Rewards that can be used for accessories, swag, etc. Not a bad olive branch.
    2 points
  11. https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/media-room/2020/12/gt40-development-.html
    1 point
  12. that would be NOT me....hate the f'in thing....if we weren't so damn dependent on the things I wouldn't carry one at all...
    1 point
  13. Phone as a key is something that I have zero interest in.
    1 point
  14. Didn't I tell you guys every single exterior panel bolts on with a few screws?
    1 point
  15. I have Ford Pass and open the app from time to time and check out my vehicles health, but not that impressive so far. I use the door key pad to lock and unlock the doors, not my smart phone.
    1 point
  16. Yeah, I traded in my 2014 when I got my Ranger and only got $4k for it. Mine was an SE hatchback but had leather heated seats and the upgraded 17" wheels. Had ~ 60k miles and was in great condition, but did have a minor accident on the CarFax.. I couldn't in good conscience sell it to someone with that transmission. I figured if it was sold via a dealership, the buyer would at least have the option of a warranty.
    1 point
  17. Yes, I've noticed the eye popping colors on Tacomas. And their impressive resale value. Just saw a 2016 Tacoma with 50,000 miles listed fof $29,900. Unbelievable.
    1 point
  18. Holy modularity... I must have one of these!
    1 point
  19. Roll bar is in but it's not bolted down yet.
    1 point
  20. Im just saying they’re probably not going to have leadfoot in addition to carbonized grey and cactus grey.
    1 point
  21. Cactus gray is new for 2021.
    1 point
  22. I don’t see how the 2.3L would feel any different than the 2.0L. Just a bit more power. If they were serious about Nautilus long term I think it would have gotten the 2.3 base and 3.0 optional.
    1 point
  23. Agile is based on continuous development and deployment (every 2 weeks). It could be used for software development internally but probably not continuous delivery even with OTA updates because of the amount of testing and certification required. I would expect OTA software deployments to happen every 6 months.
    1 point
  24. 1 point
  25. I suggest you watch "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix. Even being on this site builds algorithms about you.
    1 point
  26. I considered using the bed liner type paint on the rollbar as well. So far I have used the same semi-gloss black as I did on the interior side of the doors.
    1 point
  27. I didn't realize Ford pass was an advertising gimmick? Ford is using it to sell customer data? If that's true, then that's a hard... pass for me.
    1 point
  28. Yes, I’m a big fan of Lead Foot Gray as well.
    1 point
  29. Also it's first model year. There's PLENTY of time for color options to change.
    1 point
  30. I've kept just about all of the receipts for parts (I think) but I couldn't even begin to guess the amount of time I have spent on it. To be fair I would need to include all of the costs incurred on this years ago when I did the drivetrain and suspension changes, among other things. Bottom line though is doing this kind of stuff truly is one of my favorite hobbies and if I kept track of all the expenses I would probably be disappointed in the end result and that is not the goal. I have friends who started out building project cars for their own use but eventually started building them just to sell and make a profit. Just my personal opinion but at that point it would become too much of a business (i.e. job) and would no longer be as enjoyable for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm also not into spending (or wasting) unlimited amounts of money that I don't have anyway. One of the things I enjoy most about these projects is finding the parts I want for the best price. Sometimes you have to put some sweat equity into making them useable but for me that's a big part of the fun. The roll bar is a perfect example of that . I got it as part of the deal when I bought my '70 Mach 1. I have spent an ungodly amount of time cutting it down and cleaning it up. I could have just bought a brand new rollbar and bolted it in but would not have gotten the same satisfaction. BTW, that storm that came through here yesterday dropped 21" of snow in about 14 hours.
    1 point
  31. Absolutely phenomenal to see. They will absolutely enjoy their new found success
    1 point
  32. 1 point
  33. Lots more than just Oracle and Musk. Below is a partial list (and a link to a CNN article on this) of who has moved out of the SF Bay Area to Texas last year, with Austin being the most popular destination. The second most popular state to move to is Florida. Hewlett Packard Enterprises: The company announced plans to relocate its headquarters from San Jose to Texas earlier this month. Houston is already its largest employment hub, and the company is constructing a new campus in the city. Oracle: Oracle is moving its headquarters from Redwood City, California, to Austin, though it plans to maintain a presence in California. "We believe these moves best position Oracle for growth and provide our personnel with more flexibility about where and how they work," spokesperson Deborah Hellinger told CNN Business. Elon Musk: The Tesla CEO revealed his move from California to Texas during The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council annual summit last week. He previously suggested on Twitter that he would move Tesla's headquarters to Texas — that hasn't happened yet, but the company is developing a large facility outside Austin. 8VC: Londonsdale's VC firm is moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin. "It's just become really obvious that there are a lot of places to build around the country, not just Silicon Valley, due to cost of living, talent and all sorts of other things, culture and what not," Lonsdale told the Austin American Statesman last month. Drew Houston: The Dropbox (DBX) CEO has purchased a home in Austin and plans to make it his permanent residence, according to a report from The Information last month. FileTrail: The formerly San Jose-based firm, which makes records management software for law firms, moved to Austin in April. DZS Inc.: The telecommunications equipment firm said in March it would move its headquarters from Oakland, California, to Plano, Texas, and create a new "engineering center of excellence" in the city. QuestionPro: This online survey software firm announced its move from the Bay Area to Austin in January. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/13/tech/silicon-valley-moving-to-austin-miami/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0cmPj9AR9AKavBbTG3UEOYSQiKZyRtPhxuaun7qGkGtBEFgkJHNvwWa5s
    1 point
  34. I will be curious to see how the very clever Japanese and Korean manufacturers find a workaround to this. Our supply chains with China simply cannot be trusted. I am not sure why anyone ever trusted them in the first place...
    1 point
  35. One of my favorite progressions: BON, 2011- The Explorer CAN'T go FWD, it's bound to fail! BON, 2019- The Explorer CAN'T go RWD, it's bound to fail!
    1 point
  36. He forgot to mention the Studebaker Museum is in South Bend.
    1 point
  37. Ford giving Bronco reservation holders $100 due to production delay. Money will come as a credit to a customer's FordPass Rewards account. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/ford-bronco-reservation-holders-delay
    1 point
  38. How is that conspiratorial in the slightest? China bought up medical PPE around the world and shipped it back to China before the wuflu was well known. Cargo ships were turned around mid trip and returned to China. They absolutely will take care of their own needs first.
    1 point
  39. Wins Edmunds' "top-rated luxury EV for 2021" (and the new F-150 won for pick-up). -------------------------- "Last December, Ford said it planned to manufacture 50,000 of the Mach-E sport utility vehicles in the first 12 months of production. First delivery of the new EVs will begin next month, with the premium-priced ($61,000) First Edition models. The basic Select Mach-E carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $43,895 and is expected to arrive in early 2021. Other models include a Premium edition, a California Route 1 and a GT version ranging in price from around $52,000 to $60,500 and all expected to be available later in 2021. "To nab the award, the Mustang Mach-E had to beat some pretty stiff competition. The luxury EV category (list price greater than $40,000) included the Audi e-tron (starting MSRP of $65,900), the Volvo/Polestar 2 (MSRP of $59,900), the Tesla Model Y (MSRP $49,900), Volvo’s XC40 Recharge (MSRP of $53,990) and Volkswagen’s ID.4 (MSRP of $41,190). "In its comments on the Mustang Mach-E, Edmunds noted that the vehicle 'isn’t an electrified version of Ford’s classic pony car. Instead, this is a midsize SUV that emulates the two-door coupe’s signature athleticism in a more family-friendly package.' Edmunds also commented that the luxury component of Ford’s winner played a role in its win with 'upscale interior materials and [an] attractive central touchscreen, which is more user-friendly than what you’ll find in other luxury EVs.' " https://247wallst.com/autos/2020/12/16/fords-massive-home-run-with-mustang-mach-e/
    1 point
  40. Fingers crossed. It’s like waiting for Christmas to open presents as a kid. I’m hoping that is what it is. Specific output of the voodo V8 with more displacement. 700hp naturally aspirated. Otherwise, I’d consider it redundant in the lineup. The coyote has naturally aspirated up to 500hp covered and the predator and HO 3.5EB the 650hp to 750+ boosted. The specific output of the 6.8L would need to be significantly greater than than what can be obtained with the 7.3L to offset the displacement deficit. I’m thinking at least 85hp/L, based on the 6.4L hemi and 6.2L Corvette engines. A 600+hp naturally aspirated motor would fit nicely between the Coyote (and 7.3L) and the predator. Get the specific output up to 100+ (voodoo territory) and you have a naturally aspirated hellcat competitor. Shouldn’t cost much more than the Coyote to build and be lighter weight than the predator or super charged 7.3L. Aftermarket tuners could have a field day boosting that motor.
    1 point
  41. Pretty sure any time a manufacturer does this, try get their own thread too (including Ford), nice try. And I know exactly what Musk is doing. Stop producing the higher margin more expensive vehicles and push the hell out of the lower prices, lower margin vehicles so they can try to hit their sales goal so their stock keeps rising. Exactly why Musk is offering free supercharging now for new owners if they buy this month. Anything he can do to make that number regardless of profit.
    1 point
  42. Too much outsourcing and we’re too damn dependant on China and other jurisdictions. Everything is cost related but my goodness can’t some of these things be built over in N/A for an affordable price!
    1 point
  43. VW is not taking the lead. Argo is taking the lead on AV. Argo was setup as a separate company that was majority owned by Ford (I believe 90%) and fully consolidated. VW's investment into Argo (25% now, 40% eventually) means Ford now doesn't consolidate the financial results but Argo is still a Ford owned business based in the US. In fact, as part of the deal, VW is transferring its AV division to Argo, which will become part of Argo Europe. Basically, VW is turning over its AV R&D over to Argo and getting out of the way. Meanwhile, Argo was Ford's AV R&D division so nothing has changed for Ford, other than $1 billion cash it got from VW and a sky high valuation for Argo. BTW, Ford invested $1 billion in Argo, and sold a portion of what it owns to VW for $1 billion. So in just 2.5 years, Ford has turned that initial investment into valuation over $4 $7.5 billion. Not bad... ? https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/30/self-driving-startup-argo-ai-hits-7-5-billion-valuation/#:~:text=Autonomous vehicle technology startup Argo,billion investment in Argo AI .
    1 point
  44. I'm not sure that is totally correct: https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/28/ford-postpones-autonomous-vehicle-service-until-2022/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEJaQzA7O2gFrLJIy0NHvBoSyr06e_nPxe5IoceXd6T3laEYHzsi_SqJLd9GbEA7YMUX9xE4VWfn8ptb6iq6tmFqg8YIe2sguuRt3OGbqjHHuwssozCA4ZEbyEgvctsvdw6JL3OTg24HMmJqgl0wPF-wGH55hct8MwSubhoyt_p3 I'm also not sure that it's not totally correct! LOL
    1 point
  45. VW has taken over lead development of AV so heaven knows what they are doing with regards commercial vehicles. I think bzcat nailed it above but you know Ford, things are never that simple.
    1 point
  46. Don't think VW is going to bother to make Caddy FMVSS compliant so it will be up to Ford to do that. Maybe cheaper to actually do a Maverick panel van instead of trying to Federalize a VW van that you have no skin in the game. And you have to deal with Chicken Tax if sourced from Europe. Maverick panel van made in North America can also be sold throughout Americas if so desired. The strategy actually makes a lot of sense. US market could use a slightly longer/beefier Transit Connect that would encroach on Transit Custom in Europe. So in Europe, Ford rebadges VW Caddy which solves that problem. In other markets where Ford only sell the large Transit, a van that is sized between Transit Connect and Transit Custom could be the sweet spot.
    1 point
  47. Nope and as I've been saying for a while, Ford silently cancelled building Transit Connect in Mexico. The communication also dispels any doubt that Ford will be building the Transporter for VW, significant expansion in Turkey is good news for Ford. A panel Van based on Maverick is possible but I wonder about Ford doing that while outsourcing a new TC from VW, that sounds like duplication.
    1 point
  48. Like I said earlier, there's a sucker born every minute, and if they're dumb enough to pay extra on a mass produced, non production limited vehicle then that's on them and if a dealer can get away with charging it, good for them too as long as it's not egregious. Doesn't necessarily make it right but that's the free market for you.
    1 point
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