theoldwizard
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Posts posted by theoldwizard
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I've found that the new EPA numbers on conventional cars pretty accurately reflect the mpg I get.
That was the point for making the change in testing. And my point is, all hybrids will have greatly reduced fuel economy stickers for 2008MY.
No New York city type driving here.Then don't expect to get the kind of fuel economy numbers that hybrids are advertising ! It was no coincidence that Ford introduced the Hybrid Escape in Manhattan. It's a perfect place for a hybrid.
If you drive what I call, "suburban", some stop and go with speed up to 40-45 plus some highway, I don't think you will get anywhere near the advertised fuel economy for a hybrid.
In other words, even at $4.00 a gallon, I don't believe hybrids are cost effective. I don't know where the "break even" point is, but I'm pretty certain it is higher.
You will save more fuel (i.e. $$$) by driving less and buying/leasing a smaller car (once it is time for a new one) or at least one with a smaller engine and manual transmission !
The real solution (gasp !) is more mass transit or a new source of clean, cheap energy (high efficiency photo cells, clean safe nuclear ?)
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MULALLY'S MANTRA: ONE FORD
...Instead, Mulally's structure will let regional business units save money on vehicle development while introducing cars customized for local markets...
Of course this make the assumption that local management understand local market/government requirements vs. Rest of World !
Like, why US need a unique fuel injection system for the B-car (RoW don't have anything like OBD-II !)
It takes a long time for engineers to train the newbie managment !
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...Mulally ordered that B-car engineering teams in Asia, North America and Europe be merged into one Europe-based team. That team will develop a single subcompact for the globe, with styling and tuning tweaks for various regions...
...In the 1990s, two Mondeo variants dubbed the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique debuted in the United States. They bombed...
...The Ford 2000 restructuring of former CEO Alex Trotman was supposed to generate a portfolio of global vehicles, but that plan also failed...
Color me skeptical. Very very skeptical !
I was there for the Contour (still own one) and the "Mistake". I was there for Ford 2000. I was even there when the first B-car came to the US, the '78 Fiesta. None work out well enough to form a "new way of doing business." Why ? I'll be the first to say "I don't know !"
The difference between myself and the current management, the current management were not there when these previous attempts failed ! The current management seems to believe only the short version of the Henry Ford infamous quote "History is bunk !" Personally I believe in "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
First, many "parts" are not common. US windshield standards are more stringent then RoW. Front and rear bumpers. Front and side impact. Headrests. While European emission standards are much tougher, they are different.
Second, there is unintended/unforeseen consequences. The '78 Fiesta used to "eat" front brake pads ! Why ? Extra weight from US bumpers, glass, etc made them switch to softer pads to meet federal stopping standards plus the fact that the rear drums were not self adjusting !
During Ford 2000, the different platform groups were urged to think of themselves as individual companies. Talk about NO economy of scale ! Gratuitous changes were made just because "We need to be different !" Now, I'm starting to get sick of seeing te exact same interior door latchmechanism on everything from a Focus to a Jaguar !
This round of "globalization" actually started in 2006. Thousand of pages of European Powertrain Control "requirements" have to be reviewed to 1) find what is similar and then 2) where different, determine if they can be commonized. Who is going to do this work while still keeping the '08, '09 and '10MY on budget and on schedule ?
While cleaning out his desk before retiring this past February a friend threw out a very large (several thousand pages) book with the tile something like "Ford 2000 Powertrain Requirements". If they spend as much on this effort as they did back then the company will fold.
I'm not against "globalization". Study the past to find out what went right and what went wrong. It takes time and effort, something Ford does not have any to spare !
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... all it would take is a slight redesign of the front subframes on the D3's to accomodate a traditional 90-degree configuration.
I wouldn't bet on that !
You need as much crush space as possible "up front" to pass the front barrier test. The IIHS offset front crash is even harder to pass and that is the one that gets shown on TV !
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So I'm over at the Toyota lot the other day and I took a look at the Prius. Not bad you know, for about 23 to 24 grand you can get a hybrid that gets really great mileage. They claim 60 around town, the car mags are saying more like 44 to 45...
First, remember that EPA has changed the testing procedure for 2008MY (obviously not '08 all ready in production) so that the fuel economy sticker will be "more realistic". This will have a huge effect on hybrids.
Second, remember what is "around town". Think of New York City traffic jam. Lots of stop and go. Never over 35. Do you really drive like this ?
Fusion hybrid will be here in less than 12 months !
If you really want to save gas you need a "B size" car. Honda Fit or Toyota or Toyota Yaris are the only ones available today.
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There was a press release saying that some Ford plant was going to be making a 6 Speed auto for both the F-150 and Escape starting next year...not the same tranny obviously!
IIRC, those trannies will come out in 2008CY for 2009MY applications.
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... At the end of the day a van is a van.
I don't agree with that statement. The E-series (aka Econoline) has a much higher GVW and towing capacity than the Transit.
A few years ago there was a serious plan to drop the Econoline and only sell the Transit in the US. Cooler heads prevailed when they explained that almost 100% of the ambulance/min-bus/Class C motorhomes were E-series.
Of course Ford is going to loose a lot of that business now that you can't get a diesel in the 2008 E-series.
I do agree with these statements !American and European styling tastes aren't significantly different. Sure the grade of plastic used on the interior and the engine options may differ but the basic vehicle will sell on both sides of the pond. So why has Ford only just spotted this? The Transit has been around since the dawn of time. It's disgracefull really.... you have too try and eak out sales wherever you can!
Get with the program Ford. Sell your cars in more markets!
Sounds like something Alan Mullaly has said recently and why Ford will be selling both in the US !
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Wait wait wait... Ford owns Getrag transmissions and these Trannys are not even used?!
Is there a reason why Ford is NOT using these transmissions?
Getrag is 100% owned by the Hagenmeyer family.
Getrag and Ford are 50/50 partners in GETRAG FORD Transmissions GmbH
Unfortunately, there is no exclusivity. Getrag is now getting in bed with DaimlerChrysler
As for why Ford is not already using Getrag dual clutch transmissions, I can only guess they were not cost effective or durable enough ... at the time !
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is it cheaper? I heard it basically costs the same...
It might cost about the same per gallon, but the fuel economy of E85 vs. gasoline is much worse !! Ethanol has less energy per gallon.
Just to remind everyone, the government allows E10 to labeled as regular gasoline. No disclosure to the consumer is required.
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I thought Cali was trying to be a green state? How come they don't even sell Ethanol.
First, 100% ethanol is almost impossible to make. It is very difficult to get the last 5-10% of the water out of it, and if you did, it would just absorb it out of the atmosphere !
Second, it is very difficult/impossible to start an engine on 90% ethanol when the temperature is below about 50F. That is why in Brazil, where they do use 90% ethanol they actually have a small tank of gasoline to start the engine on cool mornings.
As for no E85 in California, I can only speculate. Ethanol must be transported to the refinery/tank farm via truck because you can't run it through normal petroleum pipelines. This means that the distillery must be relatively close to the refinery/tank farm. Maybe there are no distilleries in California ?
Or maybe California is more "green" then we all think ! It seems that E85 emits other pollutants that are not regulated !!
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europe isnt exactly a hot bed of cheap labor but I bet the socialist medical systems are helping
Ford NA has been "out sourcing" salaried work where ever they can ! Either that or "off shoring".
A large portion of IT is now done by contract companies in India (The biggest problem they are having there is turn over ! It seems that the contract company is paying such a low wage, all the can hire are kids just out of college. They leave as soon as they get a year or 2 of experience.)
There was a big discussion a year ago about moving a lot of engineering to Ford Mexico.
Most/much of the engineering on the B car will not be done in the US.
Yesterday Mullaly said no more salaried "involuntary separations". Sure. Right. That's assuming 2,100 salaried retire/quit by the end of 2008 ! The Freep
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hey i heard that a company is making the intake for the 6.2L Boss, they have the intake moldings and believe that ut will be OHC, but i got this from another forum so take it as you like
The new Boss (regardless of size) is OHC ! Last I knew only 1 cam per head.
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The 1.6 Rocam engine is quite old and already feels heavily stressed with the weight of the current/outgoing Fiesta in Mexico.
It is somewhat noisy even at low revs, definitely one of the less refined engines in the segment.
This is bad news if true.
I agree with everyone !
Remember, my data is now 3-4 months old ! I hope I am wrong !
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I see, but why aren't they working on making it handle more torque? Instead of cheapening it.
A dual-clutch in the MKS TF would be a killer.
More torque capacity ?
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I just hope some of these groundbreaking technologies make fruition...
Who says they are groundbreaking ? These technologies are only "new" to Ford Motor Company !
Ford was truly a pioneer in the early days of EFI, but that was a long time ago.
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When do you perceive the wheels start falling off, the panic commencing?
Late this year or early 2008.
What scares me is, by then, I don't know if they will have be able to fix it.
Very few people know that the Electronic Throttle Control system on the current F150 was a major "crap shoot". There was a "back room" meeting at one of the "water holes" in Dearborn about 6 months before job 1. That's when they found out it "had to work" because there was no fall back ! Thank God (and a very few dedicated, hardworking engineers (not me)) it did work !
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mullaley has given the Axe to a few already....and I think some of the secret handshake, boys clubs guys/ gals took their severence when they saw a red dot aimed at their foreheads or realized they were constantly looking over their shoulders.......
Mullaly is being "handled" (...as was Billy. It was easier with Billy, he thought everyone always told him the truth !)
The "good old boys (and girls)" have circled the wagons and are spend extra time "getting their stories straight" so they both give the same answer to upper management (who, in some cases, is so clueless they don't even know what questions to ask, "Is it on time and on budget ?" Important question but easy to bluff.)
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dammit...first hand is always easier....hopefully they will all see fruition and not be quashed by corporate BS and penny pinching...and good luck for the future...
What limited amount I am telling you was first hand and was accurate at one time !
I need to stop by POEE (EEE for all you old timers) at least one more time before they close the doors on it for good !
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You're either being overdramatic ...
I have been accused of that by many management types. Must be why my career advancement ended over 10 years ago.
Part of my signature at work was
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." George Bernard ShaW
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I can only assume you had to sign a gag order because I am curious as hell.....
yes !
But I haven't said anything that you couldn't find in the "public domain" if you know where to look !
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What's a Powershift Tranny?
Powershift is the internal name the Ford-Getrag Dual Clutch used in the new S40
The Powershift 175 is scheduled for the B-car and is a cost reduced version of the Volvo tranny.
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Well, true globalization of platforms can't be limited to just the chassis itself or internal manufacturing. To truly be successful, they need to embrace their global suppliers like ZF. Only then will they really be "global". All depends on manufacturing capacity of the supplier I guess.
No, it all depends on costs !
Ford and ZF got married and divorced over the CVT. I don't expect them to do another big deal with ZF.
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I think there is just some animosity with the old wizard and Ford...namely since he doesn't work there any more, they can't do anything without him
I was a very small cog in the big wheel of Product Development. After 30 years I know it takes a lot of bodies to accomplish what management wants.
However, when you have had 5 Department Managers, 3 Chief Engineers and 3 VP in less than 2 years, you loose faith that anyone really knows what is going on.
Actually I like to think I convinced one of the Chief Engineers to take the buy out last December after I had a "skip level" meeting with him. I explained how many of the recent decisions had added a huge amount of complexity to the engineering process. His response was "I didn't know that !" and "Why didn't the Managers tell me ?" The answer to that was "Because they don't understand it either ! Why didn't you ask your Technical Experts !!"
There are 5 new major "technologies" that still have not really left Research that are schedule for production in MY2009-10. The joke inside is this is a tsunami. No one is heading for the hills or even moving the the second floor. These technologies are key to various vehicle programs that I essential for the survival of FoMoCo.
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It was supposed to on '08 SD trucks. Great idea and I hope Ford doesn't abandon it.
It was thrifted as part of the Way Forward.
Ford CEO: It's all about leveraging the assets
in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Posted
This is the biggest difference from Ford 2000 ! The buck stops with Derrick.
The only thing left is for middle management to tell the truth instead of "what the boss wants to hear" !