Sherminator98

Well the housing market in some areas have grown beyond the amount many people can afford..I know my Condo is work 70K more then what I paid for it and some people I know who bought before me, well their prices have doubled. hell my parents placed added on 100K to the house a year after they moved in because of the demand...it was the low intrest rates and people refinancing that caused prices to skyrocket.

hmmm no wonder why the Edge is kinda a porker

Huh? What planet are you on? Its just over a year..Summer 08, not Fall (September 2008) Anyways back on Topic..guess the SVT Rumor was just a rumor... Anyways...with nothing being said, it just reinforces that the next SVT Product will be a new Lightning. I'm sure a bunch of Lightning owners want another truck instead of waiting for the GT500 like what was offered to them.

Forgot about that!

I really dig that brown leather GM is using in their newer cars..then again I do have a red leather interior on my mustang :P

Center Dashmounted Shifters are gay! Anyways about the Cost...I would have no problem paying 35-40K on a loaded Flex...then again it would be closer to 30K with Z plan though my dad LOL

They did, just didn't have enough money for it, since they where too busy trying to unfuck their mid-sized cars... They knew the SUV market was going to die, just it happened faster then they expected.

Thats understandable, but that same Duratech is in a Mazda product and it doesn't get bashed...go figure Anyways...I think people are looking at the 3.5L as the Performance option for the car and making 10-15K Fusion ST's isn't going to get anyone excited or changes peoples perceptions. I'm almost thinking that the Fusion WILL NOT get the 3.5L (at least in a non-sporting trim) to keep it and the Taraus "differentiated"..esp with it getting the PI 3.0L and a DGIT I4 in the future.

I wouldn't be the least bit suprised to the Lincoln with V8 in it Waiting for suppliers to get tooled up to make the parts for the car is a big one, Plus Ford is launching the Taurus this summer, the Focus in the fall and the Flex Spring/Summer along with the new F-150 and Mustang, well things get to be a bit busy for them.

For all of you who want the 3.5L, a 240ish HP 3L won't do it either? or a Turbo I4 with 260+ HP? I don't get people at times...it would be nice, but seriously does the car need it just to satisfy benchracers?

I have an idea, if they come out with a Mini-SUV on the B-car, why not call it an Escort? It would fit in well with the current E SUV naming Scheme and not to mention Escorts are normally smaller then the things they are escorting Thats if the Bronco name isn't used, which has bad connotation with people since they first thing they think of is OJ

The Ship already sank, no reason to advertise them now. Lets see how the handle the renamed Taurus. Though it should be really interesting if Richard's info about the NYIAS provides to be true, the current sales could double, but it might impact Fusion sales.

Investors don't know that...they are too fixated on the future...

Lets see...people who don't work for Ford don't care, but the people who do are the ones making the issue over it...look at this way..would you rather not have a job in a couple years because you couldn't get talent in to fix the problems? You have ever right to bitch if the company goes under, but the guy has been on the job 6 months and your calling for his head since he's getting paid too much? Most people are bitching on CNN are bitching because they are jealous. I know I am but I'm not going to cry over it...

Uh He started September 2006...so your going to blame all of last year on him?

Blue II hinted at it...there are rumors the D3 might be able to be converted into RWD, which would also play into this becoming a Lifestyle pickup.

See that's the problem, People will not consider an American made car over the same type of Japanese car, unless there is some sort of hook... The Flex's hook is that its "different" then everything else on the market, that in itself draws attention to it. You can't bring back Customers by outdoing Japanese by copying the Japanese. They automatically discount the American makes due to experiences they had 15-20 years ago and don't believe it when their Japanese car breaks just the American car they replaced.

Ford's original plan for the 500/Freestyle and Montego was roughly 200-250K units a year. Have to figure about 300K units a year to run a plant at full capacity, and the MKS and whatever else they decide to do with it...will meet that goal no sweat.

I don't disagree with you, but in the grand scheme of things its way overrated. Theres no harm in pointing it out, but harping on it is something totally different. I just hate how certain people get so nickpicky with things without taking a stepback and saying hey this is a pretty decent product, but hey they need to fix this the next go around.. All in the wording

Uh direct words from my Sister: "I will NEVER DRIVE A MINIVAN OR STATION WAGON" She has an 06 Explorer, as does her best friend and sister in law...all with kids under 5 Minivans are overrated with sliding doors...I bet if you ask someone to chose between a Flex and a Minivan, they'll take the Flex since its better looking and unique I'd say that Price, Styling and Reputation are the biggest things people look for when it comes to a car. Not if they feel the switch gear is cheap or not...that isn't even on the radar.

my comment was as to the 05 Explorer frame and the F-150, not ranger...it hasn't shared the Ranger Frame since the 02 model

Uh isn't that a good thing? To do something DIFFERENT? So your not lost with same ole same ole...

So how can they make this work?

No we don't want Ford to be Walmart, but a cheap looking swtichgear isn't going to turn off a consumer thats interested in a product. You really have to be splitting hairs over a car if that tips the favor in your car buying purchase. Thus all the winetaster comments..

LOL "minor" then again doesnt the Explorer share the same frame?