jpd80

Care to qualify that with a time frame, like Tracinda is saying -18 months or sooner? I think you're just guessing, BMW looked twice last year and walked away.....

Judging by Yaris figures of 11,434 (+45.9%) the Fiesta will do well, maybe 8,000-10,000/mth

Tough crowd. The Focus sells strongly, gets good media reviews and qualty reports yet some still don't consider it good enough - lofty ideals for a budget priced car?

If the same as other C1 Plants around the world, the US will build volume versions and import specials. Vehicles like Cabriolet, ST Sports and even C-Max may be imported or built at another NA plant. Australia is also to stamp and build C1 Focus then so maybe some specials sourced from there.

That's true and those that want a C1 can quit whining get one from Mexico fairly easily.

In fairness Nick, when you look on the Ponitac site the offers range from $4,500 for the '08 Grand Prix down to $1,000 for the G8 - it's the smallest amount. I think Pontiac is feeling the pinch and felt they had to offer something on all cars, probably psychological inducement for G8 buyers. Pontiac Cash back offer This would have to be the worst possible time to launch a V6 & V8 performance sedan and they still sold over 2,000 of them without heavy discounts!!!! There is no doubt that a RWD Ford sedan with Ecoboost V6 would outsell the G8 by a wide margin. If not a Falcon, perhaps a RWD Fusion sold as an SVT.

Ah I knew I'd run foul of the sizing changes.... Mid-Sized cars in the 1960s and 1970s are the same as Today's Full Sized cars. 1974 Torino is the same size as today's Crown Vicky, would you call the CV Mid Sized or Full Sized? Pontiac G8 is classed as a Full Sized car, the Falcon is near identical in size.

I think Grand Torino had 4-speed manual through to 1974, can't be sure after that. If you want to include them, Falcons still have 6-speed manuals availiable on some models.....

Focus went 21,269 in May 2007, so what are the chances it will eclipse that and by how much? Are we looking at a possible 25,000 month or is that a bit optimistic?

If it has to stay around for another three years, the least they should do is give it a new top hat, maybe a mix of styles like D3 MKS and Aussie Falcon - something to really snap heads around. D37 and 6R transmission as a base and 4.6 3V and 6R as option. Put some zip back in the RWD market.

Chasing market share is fool's gold, what's the point of making cars with little or no profit? That's what GM does and look wher they've landed. I hope Ford continues to shring loss making US production until profit is reached.

If York's crystal ball was any good, Kerkorian would have never invested in Chrysler or GM.

They're really tough on speeding in Australia, speed cameras everywhere! - 2 to 10mph over is 3 demerit points and $180 fine. - 11 to 25 mph over is 4 demerit points and $250 fine, a second time in 12 months and it's double demerit points. If you accrue more than 12 demerit points in any 3 year period you have to show cause why your open licence shouldn't be revoked. Usually a provisional licence, 12 month 4 points ensues, lose that and you can then play double or nothing for 3 months suspension or 12 months on one demerit point. Fail that one and it's a mandatory 6 month walk. They're tough on alcohol, the boose busses lock up whole rows of cars and test everyone - over 0.05% and you're gone!

Well, that makes no sense on the grounds of: 1. The intergrated nature of Lincoln and Mercury dealerships. 2. Mercury is totally dependant on and linked to Ford designs. For goodness sake, surely he's not suggesting Mercury become a trim version of Volvo in a package deal! That's a lot different to selling right now, maybe Kerkorian can't wait that long.....

One could only wonder what might have been if all the D3 products had also been CD3. Surely that would have been an accountant's dream, similar to Fox.

Didn't you say Volvo was used for collateral on the existing loans? Also, surely it's not hard for Ford to do Mercury variants of Focus and Mustang to add some product flavor?

So if the Ford's Special B Stock gives them 40% of the voting rights, that means all the remainimg A Stock = the other 60%. To circumvent the Fords, Tracinda would need to get 51% of the Vote. In order to do that, Tracinda would have to convince 85% of A Stock Holders their assertions are correct. I can't see that happening.

So Tracinda plays chief agitator amongst stock holders, rallying the troops to push for axing Mercury and Volvo's sale? Pressuring Ford management into moves it's not ready for or prepared to do?

Like the line off the Simpsons, something like: "If your fingers are to fat to type the numbers, mash the key pad after the tone" My red beast often walks across the key pad, like now....

I'll agree, the Cobalt is behind the Focus but it trending the same: Cobalt 18,636 (14,899) 25.1%

So he's the one that uses "Ergo"

That would be around 3,000 Toyota conquests that Chevrolet can claim - good news in tough times I suppose....

Correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like near on 140,000 CD3 cars and CUVs for Q1 If so, that a brilliant result!!!!!

I see Toyota truck sales are off 14.9 % so the trend is across most makes http://www.cnbc.com/id/24407432 GM truck sales are in here Silverado/CK PU is off 24.7% http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/..._Deliveries.pdf

Thanks Igor, Hmm, Pontiac G8 Sales = 2128 They were hoping to sell at least 30K of these, either the ship's late or they're sitting on the dock of the bay waistin' time.....