jpd80

So funny that people are harping on about $3 billion being spent in the community yet that $3 billion pales to the $60 billion loaned to GM or the trillions loaned to the banks. With respect to the above, I think that "measly" $3 billion has given great "bang for bucks" and is probably one of the government's better stimulus ideas.

You do realise that a starter motor is not entirely necessary to start a 6 cylinder gas engine.... If the engine's piston is "parked" at the right spot, DI and ignition will make it happen.

Read it again, they mean disengaging the entire converter and that's what happens. With drive by wire, the instant you touch the throttle, the converter is back in. Friends at FoA who have confirmed that under part throttle loadings the ZF does lock in every gear.

ZF have bee doing it successfully for years, reduced converter slip = improves efficiency

Let's not because getting finance these days is very difficult.

The national fleet is over 260 million vehicles, ther's no way $3 billion will put a dent in clunkers. C4C is a stimulus package for new cars and dealers, if it achieves those aims then it's worked. There will still be plenty of clunkers out there for people to moon over......:rolleyes:

Mate, This is not a criticism of you but even I found you post a bit over the top but not for the reason Timm did. You can't throw out the big bait and then pass the cheezy grin - they don't understand dry humor here. The biggest problem we have here is not understanding each other's English So please don't broad brush your criticism, you need to tactfully pin point which areas are of concern. If you have a problem with the scalloped headlights looking that way then explain why you don't them maybe some background on experiences we've had like the earlier XR6s from EL and maybe AUs I only offer this information as a friend, it's been my survivor's guide on this site for years. John timm, I think the later version of your work looks a lot better and a little familiar..... I meant to ask you earlier whether there was a fault on the early pics that seemed to distract the eyes. In the early one's, the left side head light scallop seems to be pointing the wrong way? It just looked a little odd, I must have stared at it for about 5 minutes before realising.

Thanks, timmm55 Would you please PM it to me some time as I'd like t see it.

No. the LaCrosse and the new Lucerene will both be on the Epsillon II platform.

Doing a 350 odd mile trip in an EV with 100 mile range, not a very amusing morning. I still see an evolution of Ford's Hybrid Fusion fitted with an EB 1.6 as an even better car. A car like that would up give around 60 mpg on the highway and still have good performance.

timmm55 and Aussie_Ford, I often wondered how much work would be involved converting the Falcon into an MKR. Why don't you both think about a project like that and if you're interested have a crack at it. Remember you're both on the Lincoln pay roll and buyers have different expectations.

That's the plan and if Kuzak get his way, the EB 2.0 will be an option in everything from Focus to Flex/Explorer and maybe even F Truck. RWD Falcon is getting it in early 2011 EB V6 starts out in high end FWD/AWD products and then migrates to F Truck and Mustang.

Maybe in Ford transmissions but the ZF HPs have been doing it for years. They don't seem to have any of the issues you state :shrug: I'd love to know what they do differently to achieve this, maybe thats where the added cost comes in......

Agree, B cars are not for everyone but if you're going to have one, make it a good 'un. Our sales of new Fiesta have doubled in Australia, even with restricted supply. Once Thailand comes on line Yaris is in for it big time.

Never a truer word spoken. For all of GM contorting through bankruptcy, the majority of GM's sales are Chevrolet. Of those sales the only ones reaping genuine profits are trucks and larger SUVs (& GMC Trucks). It confounds me how GM avoids doing important changes to its volume products and wastes time and effort on fringe products that add precious little to the bottom line. The days of trucks and SUVs subsidising their other vehicles are gone and if GM bosses think that they can go back to their old way, they are sadly mistaken and in for another rude shock.

You cannot convert UK prices like that - it doesn't work that way. The US Fiesta will compete with the Yaris and will be price accordingly. So figure on a price range between $12,000 and $18,000 for top of the line.

The crazy thing is he would have got $10K to $15K selling it to an an Aussie importer. Some of these dumb asses are throwing away cash without ever knowing it.

FoA uses the ZF transmissions which can lock up the converter on all forward gears improving efficiency and fuel economy. I believe this is something the older Ford and GM transmissions could never do but I have no doubt that this is entirely possible in the 6F and 6R.

I thought the new GM would be sorting out their volume products first before worrying about niche vehicles but that's what you get when you leave the same people in charge of the store.....

The rumor was (from theoldwizard) that the 4.4 exceeded power outputs and was closer to the 6.7's power and torque, I think overpowering the intended transmission was also mentioned... Sounds like Ford built a 4.4 when the original 3.6 may have done the trick admirably....

No doubt a mildly modified 6.2 w/ 500 hp is cheaper to make than a blown 5.4 4V. I don't believe 500 hp would be too hard seeing that the base 6.2 gets 400 hp without raising a sweat. The trick is getting emission compliance but hey, GM did it with their push rod Corvette 7.0 V8...... Stack all of that up and you'll probably find the fans still want a nice light S/C DOHC 5.0 V8 .

You are right, it is deemed as High Sulphur. Yes they allow up to 3,000 ppm but in reality, it has wide variability but in 2006, the military are already advanced in reducing sulphur of JP-8 so it can power other things....

JP-8 spec is now considered high-sulfur <400 ppm but nowhere near ULS Diesel's 10 ppm.

yes, manual trans and 6-speed auto have both been mentioned

The game changer for Ford will be the EB I-4 Falcon's fuel economy. If they make good on their claim of similar fuel economy as the current Focus 4-speed auto (24/23 mpg) then that will change a lot of opinions on the viability of RWD, especially if it's then teamed with hybrid technology and taken to another level....