kyle

how can you blame fields-I mean really? I give the guy a hell of a lot of credit...he has been straight up....change or die....don't get any more direct than that....and I would bet he is taxed on all of his personal use of company aircraft.

and the other element of this is the dealer's want a different direction with the advertising. Forget about us...they have millions of $$'s invested in the business....I think they have a lot more creditbility than us (well maybe me excluded!!)

nice article richard....and I agree it not the UAW's fault but management. It is not like they put a gun to the guys head and had him sign or offer him a contract. You watch what happens this next go around....if you don't think there is going to be some serious come to jesus sessions your crazy. Ford is staring bankrupty in the face if they do not get things turned around quick. I happened to like bill ford....I just don't think he had the experience to do what he needed to do. The best thing he has done since he has been there is hire mulally-a complete outsider to the industry. And unlike some of you I happen to like ghossen-he is a take no prisoner's kind of guy as well.

Not nearly the same.... I don't fix a tv....and that is my point. What do you think the lifespan of that unit is....120k..maybe 150k...maybe 100k...so if you average 15k a year it may take 7-8 years...but in atlanta where the average commute is much higher that would be down towards 6 years and I would be willing to bet the cost of replacing one of these is north of $1k...and you cannot live without your heater, ac, etc. I just do not see the point....give me a choice even if it was a no cost option I would rather not have it.

I could not agree more. It is kind of a hobby of mine to compare brochures from not only the auto show but the one's available at the dealerships. And it has been my experience that their literature is absolutely terrible....they will show one version...one picture...usually do not even show a pic of the engine comartment, etc. Then I will pick up a honda brochure and they will explain and educate the buyer about how good this vehicle is-engineeering, manufacturing, safety, etc. all in a readable format...and you wonder why the honda buyer is so loyal-they are educated from the very first time they look at the vehicle or read something about it. For some products (f250-mustang ) I think a engineer or someone from the plant explaining how and why they did certain things would be much more effective then someone driving off into the sunset.

Heh any good news at this time is something to build upon!! As Richard likes to say...baby steps. NOTE: I did not say that! But I could care less about a nav system in a vehicle...they dominate the center console...add confusion and how much do you think they will cost to repair in 5 years...it is like a tv...when is the last time you took one to the zenith repairman? But heh...that is what people want so give it to them.

I got the same impression. And if you think lincoln's got unique interior's then you must be one of the bean counters because they share way way to much stuff. and the 3.7 will not be here for two more years...so until then we can bitch all we want! because that is what we do BEST!!

Now here is what RJ want's from europe!! http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/14/german-...-mustang-wagon/ Me...I will take the s-max with it's red ip lighting any day!

That was one of the other vehicle's I was thinking of. Why show up in an escape-that is such a sissy car-I mean you are visiting the president of the US!

Long overdue meeting happens today....Mulally's going to drive up in a hybird escape.....screw that...why not head up there in a mustang gt and smoke the tires on the way out of the meeting-or even better...donuts on the front lawn! Which car do you think he should drive up in? btw...wagoneer is in a saturn vue hybird...and lasorda is in a new sebring (ugly!)

I am almost 100% positive that it is a 3 channel system....very few companies use a 4 channel setup....but suprising hyundai is one of them. and borg...I like the rear camera/back up assist...no reason why it is not on that vehicle..hell ford pioneered that product on the explorer?

Rick Titus was hired by ford to promote their vehicle! Hardly an unbiased source. And Richard if the magazines cater towards market leadership why do you see the accolades for the mazda? For the infiniti? I just don't buy it. If one magazine gives a glowing review and the other's bury the product then maybe that person just does not get the vehicle...and vice versa..but multiple reviews indicate a problem.

well I respectfully disagree (as opposed to last week-not so respectfully...just kidding!) and I will give you an example....the f150 is lauded by not only in the market place it is perceived to be the best truck in in it's segment....so if the magazine's are so biased why would they not pick the toyota over the 150?

If they buiilt the best vehicle then the accolades will come....including the magazine reviews. And I dare ask why in the world would you spend the extra $$ on the lincoln when you can get an almost identical vehicle in the edge? How many of you have sat in the lexus-maybe even driven it? I hate to give them credit but you have to wonder why they have features that the lincoln should have. It is the same if you jump in a bmw or mercedes or a cadillac or infiniti....the design is more engaging and they have more features. Come on guys....I am not comparing an edge with this group...but if the lincoln is $45 you cannot tell me with a straight face that it is in that class.... As I have said many times....I like the lincoln-think the grill works great on that vehicle..but it is a half ass job. You don't get than many times ot launch a vehicle and get favorable press....trust me they would much rather have positive reviews....and if I am so naive...why do you think that they keep promising that the upcoming vehicle will differ more from their ford counterpart? and again I continue to argue the position that this is why ford continues to struggle (and I know I am not the only one!) their vehicles are built with to many compromies in them.

hell if they killed the edsel they will certainly get rid of mercury!!

consumer reports does not allow it's name to be used in any advertising for any product. That is why you will hear "a leading consumer magazine." If any thing it shows that the mexican's sure can build some damn good cars!! They also build the tahoe's, subarban's as well. I give detroit credit because it shows with their new products they are at least getting the quality right.

the reason why we don't have to complain that it does not have a maual shifter is numerous. 1. they are the undisputed leader-from the dealership experience to the residual value of the vehicle. 2. their target maret is slanted more towards the female buyer-is that what lincoln is going after-NO. 3. It has so many more features that the lincoln does not even offer. From the information system on the vehicle to the auto down/up windows for all 4 doors to the one pass key (or whatever it is called)- If ford wants people to migrate towards their product they have to do a better job than the competition-not good enough-not almost-i just don't like excuses. If you don't care for the design-fine-it is personal-but you can't say it uses better materials and is not designed well. Don't get me wrong....I like the lincoln-I just would purchase the edge for 10k less. When you go over the $45k price there are no excuses-none! Especially if you are the guy who is trying to get to the front. And for the guy who is purchasing the mkx-i am going to go out on a limb here...but do you have a xplan discount or affilated with ford? Heh-I hope I am wrong-but as the saying goes.....where there is smoke there is fire...by that if only one magazine or critic called them out on it...so be it...but it is getting to sound like a wave of critics. Just imagine if every magazine wrote articles of praise and it was by far the new benchmark in the segment....that should be there goal.

I need to get what ever drugs you are on.....if you don't think the lexus interior uses better quality materials and design originality....I don't know what to say. I HIGHLY doubt I am the only one who feels that way. This to me is the mentality of why ford struggles.....some of you guys are not realistic. Let me turn the tables....I think the 150 is vastly superior to the tundra-not even in the same ballpark....now do you agree with that or feel that the tundra is just as good?

Maybe it was the way you said it that just cracked me up...."the major complaints seem to revolve around the interior design, handling, steering, breaking, and rear seat comfort." Those are some major shortcomings that's for sure-more than enough to damage a vehicle before it even launches. I guess they are not going to be quoting any magazines in their advertising that's for sure! Of all the things they are complaining about (and I happen to agree-plus a few other's-smart key, etc.) the one I am most disappointed about is braking. That is one of those over looked stats that mean a hell of a lot in the real world-60mph stops should be no more than 120'-125'-max. With distances approaching 160' this is totally unacceptable. I am not an engineer but I can tell you that the extra 26' in stopping distance will not only result in a vehicle getting totalled out but someone possibly severely injured. Maybe ford needs to look into this: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/ebrakin...ng-distance-50/ I hate being a monday morning quarterbacking but the question will be is should they of waited one-two years and got all of these things corrected along with unique sheetmetal?

Maybe I am biased but I certainly think consumer reports is unbiased. Why would they be biased and towards whom? They take no advertising $$'s (unlike consumer digest), sponsorship $$'s (unlike npr) so I think it is a stretch to lump them in with other car magazines. Now I will say that if you could build a durable box that is safe, affordable and gets good gas mileage they would like that. And let's face it....it is better to be recommended by them as opposed to being on the bottom of their list. Anyone going to the vehicles on the bottom of the list....didn't think so!

but still no auto shift option.....damn thing is going to be a disaster!! Just kidding......seems alot smaller for a replacement of their minivans though....did happen to see their target market with regards to the interior is the pacifica, pilot and freestyle. This is the type of vehicle that you really want to have demand exceed capacity (that could be true for all vehicles!) because it is such a retro design it may have a short shelf space-kind of like the bug-how the hell do you update that damn thing! No slider's on the 2nd door-nor did I suspect they would put them on the vehicle. Noticed my buddy mark fields involved...say what you want but the guy is making things happen regarding product.....

now that is what I am talking about....what a great review....car and driver sure know what they are talking about..... unless of course it is a Edge, Naviagor, Fusion-then they are just a bunch of useless slimeballs who don't know who the target market is and all they want is a vehicle with a unique radio and a auto stick on the transmission!!!

well they have the ability to warranty things on a good will basis that is for sure....but I still think that the warranty is expired due to the time limit. But if you think ford is the only one with cat problems you would be suprised how many converters we are seeing needing to be replaced on honda civics ($1k) and to a lesser extent accords. And these are cars with 60-90k on them. btw....If I was trying to convince my 25 year old financee to buy a ford product it sure as hell would not be a freestyle....what were you thinking! At the very least tell her to get the mustang so when you guys get divorced in 3 years she at least has a hot car!!

Well why not hold them to a higher standard? If you just lost 8pts of market share than just average is not good enough. The only way the domestics are going to get back on the shopping lists of import buyers is to have a better product. I think that the dash layout works "ok," but is nothing special. And I am already sick and tired about them bragging about a ipod plug-that feature is on just about everything right now-and besides who wants to have it in the center console-it should be on the center stack down low. I do like the moon roof-but is is expensive. When you go over $30 in a vehicle you expect more refinement. It is obvious and well known that ford has cut costs in this area. In the detroit news article about lincoln yesterday it mentioned that the tradeoff for better wood trim was the tradeoff of cheaper materials in the console. I still think this vehicle is going to do very well. I mean the honda pilot's interior is nothing special either and that has not hurt sales of that vehicle.

That Nitro is definitely nice looking....and on top of that it is produced on the same platform as the jeep liberty....now that is what I say are unique vehicles that have successfully shared a platform along with the same manufacturing facility. That mazda looks terrible-very disappointed