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On media.ford.com http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?...p;make_id=trust

We'll have to wait and see, but I have a hunch this one will be more than a sticker. I liken it to last time. The 35th anniversary was a sticker, followed by Bullitt with a brake/suspension and minor engine upgrade with the Mach 1 finishing with more motor. The current GT/CS is the sticker package (like the 99 Aniversary) and I suspect that the Bullitt will have GT 500 suspension/brakes and either a premium fuel 350ish HP 4.6L 3V or even a 5.4L 3V (looks like Ford will have plenty of spare F-150 engines). Then in 2009 or 10 I look for the real car be it Mach 1 or Boss.

In todays Way Forward broadcast Mark Fields said that Mustang would get a new model every year and that 2008 would mark the return of the Bullitt Mustang. No details on the car, but at least we know its coming!! ------------------- added by Staff: CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE -------------------

I could agree with that except that they are almost as bad on new car loans. They have the 0% and other rates specials that we send them (but I was told that Ford reimbursed them up to the equivalent of 9% APR on thses), but if the customer wants the rebate it is usually better to finance elsewhere. I know one of the local banks was teaching cusomters to finance with Ford credit to get the "Ford Credit bonus cash" offered earlier this year and then they'd refinance them after 30 days a 2% or more interest savings.

They haven't been the cheapest source for used financing in many years, but until the last few they've always been close enough that we'd use them quite a bit since it was conveinent and if they were within 1% it usually made very little difference in payment. This month the only thing we've sent them is low APR new, and CPO units that get 4.9% (but that goes to 5.9% on the 1st). Another thing that I think hurt Ford credit was the Bonus cash. They had a programs for most of the year that paid additional rebate if you financed. Many of our cash paying customers would finance and then pay off the balance 2 weeks later. It had to have cost Ford Credit lots of money to set all this up and then make no interest on it. I guess these stupid rebate programs should suprise me since Ford keeps a never ending list of poorly designed rebates that make selling more work than it should be.

They are pushing some leasing on new, and most new vehicles (even 2007's) have low APR options so the new isn't as much of a problem. However, there are more used vehicles sold than new (3-4 used for 1 new at our dealership) and this is where they are loosing big money since next to no one will pay Ford's rate's. The very few we send are in two groups, the first is very Ford loyal, and the second is the one's that are likely to get repo'd and are refused by other banks (tier of people just above the special finance level). For example Ford's rates on used. 2004-5 MY best rate 8.5%, but if you have a 660-719 credit score and are tier 1 you pay 9.25% 2003 MY best rate 9%, but again if 660-719 credit score and are tier 1 you pay 9.75% 2002 MY best rate 11.5%, 660-719 credit score tier 1 is 12.25% Now we can also get loand through the local credit union. Their rate on a 60 month loan is 6.09% on any 2002-2005. And this rate is offered by several other places in the area so it isn't some special. Compare 6.09% to 12.25% and you can see why Ford Credit is loosing lots of buisiness.

Unfortunately Ford Credit's problems are only going to get worse in the near term. If they have really found creative ways to get their borrowing costs down, they are cheating the customers. Otherwise their costs have made them extremly uncompetive in the current marketplace. Ford Credit's current rates are almost 3% higher than the local banks rates. Its gotten to the point that I'm about emarased to show the Ford credit rates to any customers. Luckly the dealerships have other financing options (low APR specials on New and CPO, and outside bank finance sources) or Ford would be lossing even more market share than they currently are.

Don't laugh, that's happened in the past. On the 2000 Taurus the first few months of production all the cars were labled Taurus SE, despite the change to SE, SES and SEL made for that model year. There was a TSB that allowed dealers to change the emblems on the SE and SEL's that were just labled SE.

Rural dealership, and although your theory of they'll pick the easiest is correct, locking devices aren't the thing the theives use to determine the easiest. Locking gas caps take about 30 seconds to break off (take pliers and pull of the top and you're done) and locking fuel doors even less. What they look for is the one not underneath a light and off the street as far as possible. I've seen them take the locking ones over non-locking due to being easier to hide while doing it. Locking gas caps have a purpose and it's to keep their owners feeling warm and tingly, not to keep fuel from being stolen.

You may want a locking fuel filler door, but as some with experience with this I NEVER WANT one on ANY car I own. There are 2 reasons for this, one is ice and snow sticking the cable and freezing, not a major problem, but it does happen. The major reason is due to fuel theft. Anyone willing to steel your fuel has no problem with using a screw driver to bend the fuel door out of the way, or on the lot we've had several where they just drill holes in the bottom of the tank. I've even seen cut fuel filler tubes, so I'd just as soon they steel $40 worth of gas as do $300 worth of damage

Anyone hear anything about the three stooges getting fired (probably will be worded as retiring, etc if it happens), I'm hearing rumors that Hazel, Lyons, and Padilla may all be gone, anyone else heard this?