Admiral

Economic stimulus? HA! It's more like a credit card company stimulus since the crumbling middle class is simply going to pay down its debts (and MAYBE buy some token Chinese-made garbage at Wal Mart). Speaking of debt, paying down the national debt is something the government should start to do NOW. Think of all the money from just interest that China makes from financing our irresponsible spending.

"Give me an F, O, R, D. What does it spell? On the road to profitability in 2009!"

If it were possible for a car to have down syndrome, that's pretty much what I'd imagine one would look like.

Are you going to Ford's embargoed Chicago Auto Show preview tomorrow night Igor? They said they're showing something about a 'new crossover' IIRC.

Motor Trend is written by a bunch of fucking four year olds. They're never, EVER right when it comes to predicting future automotive stuff. It's like once per month Angus MacKenzie calls a staff meeting and everyone sits around a big table and takes acid until the leprechauns riding rainbow-colored unicorns tell them what to write for the month. I'd bet my life they pulled these numbers straight out of their poorly-written asses, because as far as I know, Ford still hasn't released the power figures (I haven't seen a press release yet). And Lord knows I couldn't get any answers out of the Ford engineers at NAIAS. From the '09 F-150 Preview as found in the March 2008 issue of Motor trend: (Regarding the 5.4-liter V8) "Power is up 10 horses to 310 at 5500 rpm, and torque has been boosted to 365 pound-feet at 3750." Hello, the 3-valve 5.4 made 365 lb-ft when it was first introduced. Last I checked, 365 still equals 365.

Yes. The Focus has always been a fun-to-drive car that just happened to be small. As with my '02 ZX3, the 2008 models are fun-to-drive, albeit homely. But they're quiet, well-built, comfortable, pretty damn efficient and probably very reliable. Why would anyone want a Corolla?

Agreed. The Corolla is a giant hunk of shit. But it's got that upside down sombrero on its slit-your-wrists-dull grill so it must be good.

Last I checked, no one cares.

How about both?

Alright, which one of you guys put a picture of the Town Car here? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxury_good Clearly it doesn't belong.

Surprisingly there aren't any electric savings with the LED headlamps (they basically use the same amount as halogens).

A lot more, but they last 20 times longer than conventional lighting options (I was at the press conference).

Too true How 'bout this?

Probably a disgruntled Tundra owner miffed at Ford's fantastic performance in recent quality studies.

Rear-wheel-drive in a Minnesota winter?! Surely you must be joking. In snow and ice, FWD>RWD every time.

I love stories like this! Anecdotal or not, they rock. Perhaps Mr. Jensen or Robert Lane could add a "high mileage" Ford club to this website. Why not? I'm sure there are other million mile Fords out there.

Hear Hear.

I know. I'm in denial, just like the Panther Mafia. Sticks are going the way of the four-barrel and the CV. They've been dying slowly in this country for decades. And yes, today's new automatics shift quicker than I ever could, are more efficient, CHEAPER to build and make the cars faster, but they just aint got no soul. It's sad when I go to a media event and the valet parking my car has to call someone else on the radio because he CAN'T drive a stick. It's a tragedy in my book. For me, few things are as satisfying as a perfectly rev-matched five-three down shift right before flawlessly carving an apex. I made the shift. I made it perfect. No computer controlled it, no computer timed it. I did. And for the record, I don't hate anything American, except maybe the Panther cars.

Yeah. I bet you'd have to special order a five-speed CD3 if you really wanted one! Lazy Americans won't change their own gears so no dealers stock five-speed cars. It's a shame too, if more people drove manual transmissions they'd probably love them. But they won't, and IMO part of the problem is that car companies don't build enough cars with good manual transmissions. Oh, but that's right, you can't text message, drink a latte and change gears at the same time so Americans just opt for the auto. It sucks for enthusiasts like me because (unless my left leg gets amputated) I don't ever want an automatic. And I don't care how good a 'manumatic' transmission is (even VW's awesome DSD), it's just not the same.

What's wrong with the MTX-75 five-speed manual? It works dandy in my Focus, shifts perfectly every time.

I know! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that with the displacement increase Ford will address NVH and power output issues.

As always, take anecdotal evidence with a grain of salt. But this raises my eyebrows. http://forums.focaljet.com/duratec-tuning/...umption+duratec Other assorted issues: http://forums.focaljet.com/problems-servic...tml#post5659505 http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthr...=engine+failure Oh, and there are also reports of the Mazda version MZR/Duratec having issues with its cartridge-style oil filter. Seems it's easy to install the o-ring on the filter wrong and easy to over-torque and crack the filter housing leading to leaks. It's installer error so it's not really the engine's fault (maybe Mazda's for making the damn housing plastic).

I've read of a lot of blown Duratecs on Focus and Mazda 3 forums. Seems they like to suck oil through the PCV until the crankcase is dry. Not to mention they have fragile connecting rods that snap with as little as eight pounds of boost. Stock Zetecs, when PROPERLY TUNED, can handle (from what I've read) up to 15 pounds of boost.

That explains everything. I hate the Mazda-designed MZR engines, but not as much as I hate the Nissan QR25 2.5-liter four cylinder. The QR is my least favorite four banger on the market today -- droning exhaust note, vibrations and suspect reliability. I drove a Nissan Altima Coupe with the 2.5 a couple of months ago and every time you started it the valves would clatter terribly for about three seconds. Awful! The cammed, solid tappet, 80K mile old Zetec in my Focus doesn't make as much noise at startup, even in the winter!

The last mid size sedan comparison test they conducted with the Fusion was, IIRC, in 2006 (V6 cars). The Fusion beat the Sonata. Neither car has had any serious updates since then; why does the Fusion fall to the Hyundai?