jpd80

It was sickening watching this end Holden go through the whole yes/no/yes contortions and then the GM brass sticking their noses in wanting a bigger (heavier) car than Holden originally planned. Holden originally wanted the Commodore more like the concept Torana size and a full sized car above that. What they got was a large and very large vehicle, GMNA then backing out at every opportunity.

Yeah and GM at $32/share used to be about eight times the value of Ford stock. GM trading debt for bonds, maybe there is some hidden traps in that area too....

It's hard to prove either way, I think that's where the neighbour owning one steps in. True, turbos are something people have to get used but there will be plenty straight in the deep end too.... Here's an example of that territory you disses on another thread:

You're right, Ford needs to get into the heads of teenagers and 20 somethings and give them the cars and extras they want. Listen to the kids, give them what they want and they will buy in droves......

When it was presented to the Ford chiefs in Dearborn in 2000, they stood to a man and applauded. Kia actually copied it from us, it was a concept shown in the late 1990s on the falcon platform. We've have a 4.0 turbo available in it that would make you sick with envy.

I had a good look at the new Fiesta at my local Aussie dealer. Internally, the car is bigger than the outgoing version and almost the size of the first generation Focus. I think the global Focus will increase a tad in size to almost a small mid sized car, perfect for Ford NA.

Aussie government has given them $150 million towards local Cruze production. Exports of Zeta based products to USA and Middle East have collapsed in the last 4 weeks. Until things pick up, Holden is back to local production only. It's looking like FoA was right with their no business case for exporting a LHD Falcon. FoA starts local manufacture of RHD and LHD Focus from 2011 so exports toNew Zealand, South Africa and Asia will happen. Plans to include Kuga and C-max as well. Falcon will continue for now on this cycle, Foa has until end of year to decide whether the 2013 version is another RHD or FWD/AWD on either EUCD or D3:) *If Falcon stays RWD, it and the Mustang will be joined at the hip as much of the GRWD engineering was completed to but halted at green light stage...

This looks so much like the discussions in 2002 when the Falcon XR6 Turbo was introduced. Once your after market parts suppliers catch on, the sky is the limit for performance. The SHO will become a cult car and Ford's fortunes will begin to soar........ Don't worry too much about the gearbox capacity, once the after market knows what eventually breaks they will develop stronger parts for those bullet proof set ups.

It's a thing of the past, water cooled center bearings on the turbos stops the oil frying the bearings. It's been around since the early to mid 1990s.

Loco weed? So no V6 engine that's emission legal can make power on gasoline above 365 hp? Wouldn't it be easier for a turbo engine with geometric power delivery to meet emission regs than something like Ford's S/C 5.4 or GM's s/C 6.2 putting out over 600 hp? Or maybe the myriad of after market S/C kits for Ford and GM V8s are all illegal?

And it's already beginning for GM. I wonder how many Rest of world divisions will be swallowed up, Opel also includes Vauxhall.

Well I'm the opposite, I'm completely sold on the Falcon's control Blade IRS. Mid corner you can hammer the thing through bumps and pot holes that make an SRA jump sideways. You don't know what you're missing.

I don't think they bother printing much of the money any more, it exists on computers and gets created or evaporates before your eyes. I think that's why we have alcohol, to get past those awkward periods.......

That Taurus SHO is going to be a real weapon, I wonder if there will be a Fusion SHO as well, that would be an amazing ride!!!

At some point you just know Ford's share price will go up past GM's and then the wailing will begin...........

Engine horsepower numbers haven't all of a sudden ballooned, the US ignored turbos for 20 years. Shows how far engine development and engine computer management has come. Water cooled centre bearings on the turbos make them almost idiot proof - no idle down required.

You realise the amount of money GM is now asking for is the same size as the whole Australian government stimulus package? How many countries is GM going cap in hand to, USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden (for Saab)?

Ford Territory LoL, FNA copies Territory to make Freestyle and Explorer American................

I just looked at some of GM's other vehicles and I don't think so............ FWD V8 SS Impala for $33K - what a joke!!! To my thinking GM did not fail because they had a daring RWD vehicle plan, they failed because they chickened out without developing a back up plan to bring suitable FWD vehicle to market in place of the planned Zetas.

Well now you have a twin turbo putting out 365 hp. There is huge potential in that engine, don't be surprised to see lots of 500 hp examples in a few years time once the after market gets going, I predict they will become more popular than small blocks.

You remember that question, "would you be prepared to work for $1.00 annual salary?" and I think Mulally said something like " I'm good where I am." I'm glad Ford stayed away from that pack of jerks, politicians forfeited any say by squashing the bill.

why Richard, isn't just like a politician to change the rules when it suits them? I guess that way they have a form of independent or legal oversight for the car makers that gets the government off the hook or at least one step removed from hard decisions...........

Yes, but instead of calling it bankruptcy, call it "Under Regulation" as opposed to CH 11 Reorganization.

Just goes to show performance never goes away, it just changes form. I was doing some research on the '98-'02 V8 FWD Continentals, seems they had up to 275 hp/275 lbft. I'm no expert but it looks to me like Taurus and MKS fans get to have their cake and eat it too. Ecoboost V6 puts the AWD SHO and Lincoln over the top. Congratulations on your purchases guys, I wonder how much fun you can have in the snow with an EB V6 - looking forward to the reports.

I just think it would have had a much better interior and cleaner external lines than the Camaro. Maybe they could have just called it the G8 Coupe and had a winner, easier sell than the Sport truck..