Jump to content

ZanatWork

Member
  • Posts

    2,144
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    11

Posts posted by ZanatWork

  1. That 7.3 swap makes for interesting thoughts...and I already figure that "enhanced" versions will be at SEMA, so I'm sure that Ford Racing will have some toys to free up some ponies.

    If they get headers and other basics figured out for popular applications, the new motor may be a real option for those that aren't all about supercharger whine.

  2. 23 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

    When was the last time you saw a wagon on the road that wasn’t a Subaru? Seems like a weird market to chase. 

     

    The roads here in the NW are thick with Subarus...but also Flexes, and Volvo wagons.

    As Ford as barely offered wagons beyond the Flex since the old Taurus/Sable wagon were killed over a decade ago...and the CMAX is fugly...that distorts the numbers, somewhat.

  3. I like the concept, though I'd like slightly more cargo area.

    I think that Ford could truly carve out room for their niche "Outback", but it'd have to have the goods and Ford would need to show something like Subaru's charisma and patience to drill it into the market.

    I won't lie, I'm a huge fan of the Flex (mine recently had a tragic transmission failure, I miss it every day) and think that Ford has room for a stylish, capacious, AWD wagon that draws just enough cues from CUVs to fit within current trends.

    I love real SUVs, but I'm a musician at night; I also love low lift-over and having a powerful AWD vehicle that can cope with the often slimy streets of western Washington.  Hence, I loved my Flex.

    A vehicle like the one rendered would be a great compromise for people like myself that would own a separate, "real SUV" for actual off-road driving.

    • Like 1
  4. I just read the Autoblog review, and it seems that they like the powertrains, found the steering/suspension to be kind of numb and "springy", they loved the styling, but weren't stunned by the interior materials and various issues involving the back row.

    While I don't see the criticisms as damning, I do hope that the ST answers the steering/suspension gripes somewhat.  The hybrid appears to be more about torque than mpg, which is both kind of refreshing but potentially damaging to perceptions.

    I find it odd that Ford didn't go all-in regarding USB connectivity throughout the vehicle, as that's become the new "cupholders" standard for interiors.

    All in all, I look very forward to the ST reviews.

    • Like 1
  5. I'll always think that Fields' greatest issue was that he couldn't "take the room" with leadership charisma.  He wasn't admired, respected, and/or feared enough to keep the old bad habits from returning.

    He may or may not have had the political clout within the company to do much, either...but I'm well aware the my viewpoint is basically up in the nosebleed section.  I don't have any real insider information.

    The new financial guy may be a boon or a curse...but what's unchanging is that the next few years of Ford's future are at least as important as those heading into last decade's recession.  The new products need to be pretty amazing, and to set precedent for a genuinely strong step into a very nebulous future.

    • Like 1
  6. A huge amount of the current frustration with Ford is the extended limbo period that we're currently inhabiting; we're years into the rumors regarding the Bronco, the forthcoming electrification, which we've seen the cars getting cut and two recent offerings (Ecosport and Ranger) coming in as aging place holders.

    Granted, the Ranger is being welcomed with impressive sales...but the big news with Ford has mostly been news, not anything in the metal.

    This is an odd position for me, as I'm very much an analog guy that's always interested in the performance models first and foremost; I generally spend little time caring about the run-of-the-mill offerings.  That said, I'm with many other Blue Oval fans that are watching carefully to see if Ecosports and Escapes will truly supplant the Fiesta/Focus/Fusion sales in the market.  Does and Edge make for an attractive Taurus alternative?  Will the showroom suffer from being 70+ percent CUV blobs, with only the occasional Mustang or F-series making and visual difference?

    The undeniable importance of the new Explorer and Super Duty aside, we're still just around the corner from...well, we're not quite sure.  We get snippets about dealers being impressed with "Mach E" previews and get glimpses of forthcoming PHEV tech in the imminent models...but we've basically been led to believe that there's a new Ford era dawning in the next 1-2 years, after years of rumor and delays.

    Wall Street can go commit a physical/carnal impossibility for all I care...but the brand's fans have plenty of cause to be frustrated.  How much of that rests on Fields vs. Hackett, I'm not certain.

  7. On 2/19/2019 at 8:44 AM, akirby said:

    What about the others that are available here and not in Europe:

    Mustang GT350, GT500

    F150 Raptor

    Edge ST, Explorer ST

    Oh, I'm grateful for what we have...but this is a familiar annoyance, even if it's not as bad as the old days of Cosworth Fords overseas while ford kept trying to re-invent the Fairmont.

    Living near Seattle as I do, having a Ford hot hatch to deal with the traffic/parking issues there would be ideal.  Well, that, and my now-dashed hopes that the Focus Active was going to bring a real WRX competitor.

    I'm still hopeful that the "whitespace" vehicles have a good surprise or two ahead.

  8. ...aaaaand once again, the Ford's USA performance customers get to be pissed about offerings that are offered elsewhere, but not in the company's home country.

    Hey, I get all the math involved, and even kinda-sorta agree with the large "car phaseout"...though I still think that a couple of Focus Active models would have served as easy Subaru competitors.

    Still, this feeling is as maddening as it is familiar; I'm back to wondering why we can't have the Sierra Cosworth all over again....

×
×
  • Create New...