Roadrunner
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Posts posted by Roadrunner
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The only thing the BMW might be able to get an upswing on is the perception it can haul more people than a Mustang.
Then again, neither really are built for that, are they?
Can a family commute in a Mustang?
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Here is an idea, when the new Explorer comes out, bring out a new Flex a Mercury. I think the Flex has the higher level of class to fit into the Mercury environment. The Sports and Utility of the Explorer would appeal to the masses for Ford.
I could agree with that but my hunch is that the Flex will be killed for the new Explorer.
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There are a couple companies in town with Transit Connects. I like them. I kind of want one, except I don't deliver anything.
It seems like a good fit for the market.
Could they convert these into light-load passenger vans?
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Hi all,
It was the throttle body, a problem seen with 500s and Freestyles. (Apparently it is a common problem with them). Or at least I heard that's what the dealer was looking at replacing.
LoveTaurus - yep, the true mileage is 5,000 and the car is 5 years old. Bought new. Clean as a whistle.
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Man you guys put on a whole lot more miles than I do.
The 2006 Fusion I-4 has 39,000 miles on it.
Better get roadtripping! Ah oh wait... have to be at the office Monday through Friday with little room for vacation. Ack.
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This got forwarded to me and now I'm sending it out here--
ALAN MULALLY, CEO OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO DELIVER OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOWCASE JAN 7
You are formally invited to watch Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s opening keynote address at CES and the unveiling of new Ford technology
DATE & TIME: January 7, 2010 at 8:30am PT / 11:30am ET
LOCATION: Live Webcast @ http://fordlivemedia.cadence-inc.com/rsvp.aspx
President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, Alan Mulally, will deliver the opening keynote address at the 2010 International CES highlighting the latest innovations behind Ford’s commitment to delivering a smarter, safer, and simpler way to connect the driver with their in-car technology and to their digital lives.
Senior Management Speakers
Derrick Kuzak
Group Vice President, Global Product Development
Jim Buczkowski
Director, Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering
Doug VanDagens
Director, Ford Connected Services Solutions
This event is for all media and industry analysts. No live Q&A or call-in session.
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A family member has a Ford Five Hundred that rarely is driven. It's a five year old car with only 5,000 miles on it.
Last week, the car seized up. That was because the fuel tank had not been flushed out with new fuel over the years (sediments built up in the tank from old fuel). It is driven one or twice a week short distances but it gets refilled with fuel at a half-tank each time.
That one was understandable, but here is my question:
This week after dealership repairs the car entered a fail safe mode. This is the traditional mode where the engine operates at low power to allow the driver to limp home.
Techs: could the fail safe mode be caused by the mechanics' work? Or is it an extenuating situation due to the sediments in the tank that went through the system?
Your thoughts?
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Check out what Warren Smith said in this Q&A ( link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9101603083.html )
He tells the reader to opt for the Fusion over the Lexus--
(Question from) Annapolis: Hi, Warren. I have a 2004 Solara sport six-cylinder that is so totally reliable even at 106k, but I am getting the itch (also tired of it pulling to the left; always has, always will). Along with the itch is the wish to better my gas mileage. So, I am looking at that new Lexus 250 hybrid which seems to be around $40k, the Prius of course, which can be mid-20s to mid-30s depending on the model, and the BMW diesel, the 335D. Or I could stick with mid-20s for mileage and go Acura TL or Infiniti G37 or the BMW 328i at mid-30s price range.
Or just drive the Solara until it keels over. Help me, sage one.
Warren Brown: Hello, Annapolis:
All of the alternate models you're loking at are good. I particularly like the 335D. When it comes to gas-electric hybrids, I advise you to do this, seriously:
Drive the Lexus 250 hybrid.
Then, drive a fully loaded Ford Fusion hybrid.
Then, come back here and talk to us about your experience. I'm betting that, for several thousand dollars less, the Fusion Hybrid is going to make a pretty good impression.
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I hear it's Mary Kay pink...
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Not to hijack the thread, but may I ask what color your T-Bird is? I live in the Seattle area now and if I see a T-Bird I'll give a friendly wave on I-5 or I-405, whichever the case may be.
Me? White Fusion.
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See, from reading through this thread this is what I thought would happen.
Give the guy a break. He's proud of his high-mileage Mustang, has put in basic maintenance, and seems happy. I believe his mileage number, your results may vary.
The only advice is taking a look at your serpentine belt just in case. Traditionally we changed ours every four to five years on the Oldsmobile. Reminds me that I need to check mine tomorrow, and the air pressure...
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E-series also are not optioned out with margin heavy convenience items.
a few years back Ford did say that the F150 was their profit driver. I think it was towards the end of the Nasser days when they said that the pickups were 25% of volume but 40% of company profits.
If that ratio is still true, then that qualifies as most profitable to me.
Those were the days when they were selling the Mercury Cougar at a loss by a few thousand dollars (read it on this forum many years ago).
What is the Focus doing now for profitability?
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That article blew. Here's why:
From what I can tell, they are gauging the depreciation value of the vehicles as a harbinger to what goes on the list.
Forbes is throwing the term "clunkers" around because these vehicles also are gas guzzlers.
The fuel cost was another major determinate, which kind of goes hand in hand considering these are fuel-thirsty vehicles.
The end result, in reality, is a list that had a very bad headline to get internet play on the Cash for Clunkers program. A disconnected hack job nonetheless. Not all journalists can crank out winners all the time.
Note that journalists get judged not by their overall stream of work, but the material the public reads. In this case, though, it appears Hannah Elliott handles automotive content as one of her beats.
More from the author: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=+site:w...b1c6ebfff7f9103
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Using the Taurus as the next police cruiser would, IMHO, be a mistake.
Civilian version resale prices would drop. Customer perception would diminish. Same thing that happened to the Crown Vic.
Please, Ford. Do not kill the Taurus by adding a police cruiser. Let another auto company take over providing a vehicle before you do this.
Bingo. You get it.
Would someone want a Taurus if the cops (AND taxis!) had one too? The cool factor sinks immediately as you would be associated with the police. No disrespect to the men and women in blue, but people looking at the Taurus would not want the added image of being connected to "The Man".
What MIGHT be okay is if they took the Taurus SHO, changed the name and design and made it the Interceptor (or something similar to that). As long as the public does not connect one thing to the other, all should be well.
If the car is a hit and they can make it RWD, why not also sell it -- under the new name -- to the public as the Interceptor.
Or-- hell, could the Explorer be a RWD Taurus derivative we don't know about?
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...but the info was too personal to post :-/
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A couple of things:
In the video they show the GTO. The nose is pretty well torn up but the rest of the car is in pretty good shape.
The Taurus was a station wagon and the impact occured near the rear wheels. That's a big open area in car without a lot of structure. I'm not surprised it sheared it off and there wasn't much damage to the GTO.
"Station wagon" seemed to have been missed by all the reports I saw.
I that case, yes -- lots of space.
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Interesting conversation.
I feel that amber taillights can be done in a provacative way but there are so many cars that do not need them.
The best use of amber taillights on a Ford -- believe it or not -- was the Ford Tempo. (Explorer4x4 you can call that a win.) The Buick T-Type also did it well.
Then again, some cars I can't fathom having this. That includes most modern designs.
I would rather see the amber turn signals be buried thatn shown prominently. Isn't everyone more used to straight red turn signals?
I also believe amber taillights are not beneficial to the eye. I would rather see designs with multiple taillights, some designated for turning, instead of the mandatory introduction of amber lights. I think the current VW Jetta does this with its ringed turn signal -- although I guess it is some popular aftermarket deal (video w/ crappy rap music :
)Side note:
Did anyone notice that the latest gen Mercury Sable has (had) amber turn lights while the Taurus has all red?
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RE: NUMMI last UAW plant for a foreign automaker
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Wait........ wasn't the Kentucky Toyota plant a UAW plant? Didn't someone tell me that the trucks built there are UAW?
I mean, no way that the Southern plants are UAW (correct me if I'm wrong), but Kentucky is still a union state despite attempts to make it "right to work", correct?
Relevant news links
Pro-union side (from a local perspective) - http://www.teamsters89.com/PDF%20files/89N...rch-April06.pdf
Anti-union side - http://www.nrtwc.org/states/ky.htm#statenews
On a side note from the UAW on that Kentucky plant:
http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=406
"Toyota is the world’s most profitable automaker – but workers at the company’s Georgetown plant say the Japanese auto giant often ignores the human cost of its success. There is growing concern among workers and community members about Toyota’s treatment of injured workers, its reliance on a large and underpaid temporary workforce and the company’s plans to reduce labor costs at the Georgetown facility. Kentucky residents have provided $371 million in state and local tax subsidies to the plant since it opened in 1986. "
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This happened in a city near me.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51572182.html
A 17-year-old in a late model Pontiac GTO allegedly was doing 80 when he broadsided the Taurus and split it in half. Thankfully no-one was in the rear seats, which took the impact.
If you can identify the Taurus by year, I would be impressed. (The wheels may give it away?)
It's too bad it was a Taurus, and too bad it was a GTO as well. That kid :slap:
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Will it last? That's what I want to know.
The new Fusion has many things going for it, but I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much compared to the first generation model.
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I spotted a new Mustang turning right with the blinkers on and I was impressed with the sequential system it has.
Is it taking from the heritage of the Mercury Cougar though? Will we ever see a Cougar anyway?
Just thinking aloud.
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Oh, I know that, I was just curious how knew and/or why he assumed I was that young, since I don't have my birthday posted (at least I don't think I do).
I was 9 and you were 10 back then...
You guys are younger than me??
I was ~16 in 1999.
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Chevy Cruze looks like...
in Competing Products
Posted
Oh dear goodness.
\Chevy has made their own Dodge Caliber.
I mean, seriously: http://www.chevrolet.com/cruze/pictures/
Hate the grille. Wouldn't want to walk up to that car regularly and say "yep, that's mine".
Greenhouse is unappealing, and the side profile looks Korean. (Perhaps becaus it is).
I never thought I'd say I'd take a Cavalier over this -- and take a Cobalt over a Cruze.