JM

I hope it has wifi or some type of broadband connectivity... Forget navigation systems, forget Onstar, just make cars their own traveling hotspot, I want to be able to pull up a yahoo map or check local movie times, search for local restaurants and post to BlueOvalForums all inside my Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, Jag, or Land Rover :stats:

It could have been worse. Has anyone at Ford listened to Kelis' music or seen her music video? So instead of the Enzo it will be an Edge in her next music video

Thanks for the info. We're definitely a Ford family, within the past year we bought a new F150 & Focus, & have a Mustang, and Explorer. We've never used the X-plan before, but I think she's looking at a Fusion, does anyone have an idea of how much the price will be on one after using it? I would prefer she get the Edge (she has 3 young boys) but it is probably out of her budget.

Grand Praire Ford My sister is a little tight on money but really needs a "new" vehicle. Has anyone heard of this promotion or used it before? Would it be better to just use the X-plan and buy it, or can you use a employee special when leasing? (*nobody in my family is an employee)

I was always curious what you did Richard, seems you are on here often enough. If it's not too personal do you mind elaborating? Me, I'm usually on here after after work (I work at an accounting firm, & when I have free time I'm working on my own business which requires me to be on the internet or at my desk quite a bit).

Same as the attachment in the first post...

Reply to a message and then scroll down past the area that you type your message in, past the "Post Options" sections and to the "File Attachments" section, then browse your desktop for the image and click "Add this Attachment" then "Add Reply"

UPDATED: Since I heard the Navigator's chrome strip is selling so well...

Very admireable, people are entitled to their opinion and others are entitled to prove those opinions wrong. After some prodding, the moderators have removed the true junk (remember Kornholio?), everything else is what you would expect of a board. Exciting times for Ford, but while it is welcome, it's almost too bad if Mercury gets killed, I think all of Ford has some good potential in the coming years. Over the weekend I rode in a female friends brand new Milan, and I was very impressed. She's the type that would consider herself a failure if she owned a Ford, a young professional fresh out of college in a real career, so I guess Mercury hit the demographic perfectly. Come to think of it I'm not even sure she knows Ford owns Mercury. I'm surprised the future F150 is leaving people underwhelmed...Seems to me if it gets the SuperChiefs face, it might seem unproportional, the SC's face has to be larger & bulkier, and when paired with the current body it might seem out of place.

Similar does not mean the same, but just similar. Whether or not it is true, pics of the new camaro were released first and this mustang second, so just be prepared to hear people say it. You can only do so much to distinguish cars... I mean the front fascia is similar to the concept evo and maybe even a little Z4, and the rear side shot seems "full" like the G35. Maybe it's just me but this car looks more like an evolution from the prior body style, not the current style, because it has more crisp edges/lines reminiscient of the 2000 body style...or maybe moreso a combination of the two styles, the current fastback & hips with the prior's edges...kind of like the new corvettes evolution (edgy/sharp)

Definitely looks similar to the new Camaro...but yeah rigth to the entire design, why even make it, to show us a sneak peak of what the next wave of cheap aftermarket bodykits will look like? I really hope Ford builds this Mustang, true to the concept, this time, and I hope they keep it in Europe to give us more things to complain about!

Exactly. No one will pay this much for a Ford in the US...because we aren't given the choice.

I'm not sure what Trip Tunes is, but I did an iPod install on my mustang ($40 total parts & labor at Best Buy -not including head unit) and it's not that bad controlling the music through the iPod. That's what playlists are for, hopefully you've already created a playlist you can drive to and not have to skip to many songs. As for me, my cord goes through the center console (where the cd player used to be, the bottom slot next to the shifter, '00 year model). I can put my iPod in front of the shifter, in the cupholders, in the center arm rest/compartment, in between seats, you name it, the cord is pretty long....I considered getting a remote for my iPod so I could leave it in the empty bottom tray but the way I have it now isn't bad enough to justify a remote. The only thing that I would want in the future is for either a hard drive head unit with iTunes software, or a built-in wireless stream through my car & iPod, but not radio based. *FM transmitters are horrible, and even the best one (iTrip) still is made cheaply, breaks, and has poor sound quality. Plus, you still have to dig through the center console to take your iPod in/out of the car when you leave it. The inside of cars get way to hot during the summer and to cold during the winter to be able to safely leave your iPod in them.

Don't forget, the RX-8 is a little more expensive to own, premium fuel, mpg, replacement parts, maintenance, etc. I can only imagine that the tendency to drive at higher rpms in the RX8 also increases wear & tear on the car, I drove a friends RX and it definitely wants to be driven at higher rpms!

The WSJ article. Maybe the Chinese should design more interiors!

Autoblog: China's Cadillac SLS More photos Looks like it's not only Ford giving their better models overseas. When I test drove a STS one of the main reasons I decided not to get one was because the interior just didn't cut it, didn't feel "luxury", and the backseat felt like any other car not big & roomy like Cadillacs are known for being. STS SLS

Only thing the F150 needs to take cues from is the Super Chief. The truck is absolutely amazing.

Alright, I'm convinced, Lauren Fix couldn't make the interview so they put a wig on the intern: Lauren Fix The Intern

But the real question is....in that link, is that a man dressed up like a lady in the video section, or is it really a lady? Sounds like a bunch of nothing will come out of this, even though Pelosi hates Asia, our relations are to important and too sensitive to do anything but keep the "dialogue". Shinzo Abe seems to want to move away from their "old skool" system, but it won't happen overnight and when it does happen, Ford & GM will already be profitable.Healthcare-speak is just political fluff, nothing will come of it of significance. The only thing Bush can do is offer incentives for alternative energy & innovation.

Autoweek: Seeking Street Cred At least they're honest... Seems like Chevy has plenty of urban appeal...for their older models...just a sample of what is currently on local radio stations: "Inside peanut butter, outside jelly, seven days of the week, seven different Chevy's"Tum Tum: Caprice Musik

This is exactly the business model Ford needs....a ton of models selling at low volume sharing the same platforms/parts but different sheetmetal. Mulally seems to be addressing all of Ford's issues: Ford of Europe vs. America, bad/too many/outdated dealers... They say they need to, but how is Ford going to work better with suppliers? Only way I can think is for them to backward integrate, and do their own supplying in China, or take on Mac's integration approach.

What the auto industry really needs is more models & fewer sells volume per model. This way you can pinpoint and target your specific demographic to a T. You don't get into situations where one vehicle has to appeal to masses and thus has to be toned down. But not like the badge engineering of today, switching out the logo and front fascia, but switching out the sheetmetal and keeping everything else, similar to how kit cars & replicas are made. I mean, a Miata doesn't appeal to me, but a AC Cobra sure does! I think Scion has a good business model with all their options and keeping their vehicles targeted to specific groups, and it could be taken to a new level by having sheetmetal be an option.

Trouble, that's what's going to happen. Big trouble for makers, suppliers, employees, and possibly the entire US. Sounds like Bill is a little scared. The auto industry is going the way the IT industry and call centers have gone. Completely agree, suppliers are going under left & right it seems, & margins are being squeezed paper thin, seems the next move is China.

These are probably the best bold moves episodes so far, I'm surprised no documentary/docudrama is being made about the auto industry right now.

Looks great, reminds me of a Rolls with the squareness.