J-150

the KR leather could be working both ways. Its not letting the heat through which means its heating up more inside the seat. The heating elements could be overheating as a result which is why they won't stay on. Like I said, I have never heard this complaint with the leather in the Lariat and FX4. If the heating element is operating within spec, it must be the KR leather. I cant think of any other car/truck on the road with leather seating surfaces as thick as the KR leather is so its tough to compare. Let us know how you make out.

I work in advertising so I know how this works firsthand. You also underestimate the power of the internet. People spend more time with the internet than any other media with the exception of TV and Radio. Radio listening is pretty much all in the car. The nature of TV being in 30 and 60 minute blocks forces extended viewing. Internet will be the number 2 medium in total weekly hours consumed and total ad media spend within the next 2 years. Now these are averages. Total TV is being propped up by the older folks who watch ALOT. Under 35s? More internet usage than TV viewing in the average week. Ford hit it on the head when they opted for more internet vs TV. Also, when in the market for a new car.... you dont watch TV. You read the newspaper and car mags and you check out internet car sites.

given the percentage of F150s that go to fleet and individual contractors, its something that needs to be addressed. Issues you raise like side loading, are an issue for these buyers too. this would be great as the frame for the next gen Lightning. Make the truck light enough and they wont need 600 lb ft of torque to let it keep up with the SRT10

yeah. try a full page, full color ad a minimum of once a week in almost every newspaper in the country. Newspaper moves cars. television does not. Ford is still a major advertiser in total spend Just because you do not see it doesn't mean it isn't there.

there are too many domestic dealers. A few uncompetitive ones need to close up to increase sales to the competitive ones. Funny that Toyota sells as many vehicles as Ford with half the dealers. As far as new Toyota dealers, thats geographic expansion (into red states)

Ford & Gm have no choice. The bottom is falling out of the SUV market. Lincoln cant compete with the other luxo makes. They have no choice but to compete in the small and midsize car segments. I don't know where the KA is made, but the Festivas were sourced from abroad (Koreas or Brazil, cant quite remember which) If GM can bring in a Korean subcompact, Ford can also do that. They make small cars all over the world.

I'm think exact same size as an F150 with F150 sheetmetal, but far less payload and a much smaller, lighter frame. Less electronic crap (ie auto dimming interior lights) A very simple truck like we had in 89. Now you still offer it with power windows/locks etc. Again, picture an 89 XLT Lariat as far as trim and interior appointment under current F150 sheetmetal. And thats all. Forget the rest of it. I dont want auto headlights or an overhead rail. ANd loose the other gizmos, like the seat sensors that tell you to buckle up. Can you imagine the 5.4 in a truck 1000# lighter? The key here is not about being a smaller truck. Its the same size. Its not decontented, its minimized. People woul;d still want the XLT/FX4 appointments in a lighter duty full size truck.

TV doesn't move cars. Newspaper does. TV and Magazine are for image only. But also factor in demographic targets and their media usage. Ford bought a ton of internet ads for the Fusion. You coulsdn't go onto any site without seeing an ad. Ford and their ad agency researched the media usage of the Fusion target and Internet won out over TV. Believe me, there is a lot of time and money spent on researching how to reach your target.

An F150 body on a much lighter frame. A truck very much like what an F150 was like in 1989. Not everyone needs a 3/4 ton frame/payload in their halfton. Make it $5000 cheaper than an F150.

there was a time, back in the 80s when Ford engines had higher output than their GM and Dodge counterparts (302 had more power than 305 or 318, 351 had more than 350 or 360) Even so, the 3v 5.4 is a tremendous engine. If the F150 was 500# lighter the truck would be a smoker! Maybe on the 2009 redesign, they shouldnt worry so much about putting a 1/2ton body on a 3/4 ton frame.

I have an idea, maybe if Ford would actually produce some of the vehicles we see at NAIAS, they would be 2 share points higher. 427 Anyone? Forty-Nine Diesel Bronco and so many more great ideas shown at the past 10 NAIAS shows.

thanks, Harry. I think 2009 for major refresh is realistic. As long as there are minor refreshes and options changes between 04 launch and 09 redesign.

1. Minivan... seeing as how this segment is shrinking, I wouldn't "waste" too much here. There are other segments more important. What should be done is to carve out a niche in minivans. Be something the others are not ie Luxury. But if we are talking diesel vans, lets talk about bringing over a Sprinter killer from Europe. I think part of the popularity of the Sprinter is that GM no longer makes the Cargo Safari/Astro which contractors used to love. 2. Euro Focus wont fly. Look at the Jetta. Wayyy too expensive for the segment. 3. A coupe would be desirable (andno, the Focus 3 dr doesnt count) The easiest way I think would be a Fusion coupe (with a HUGE parts sharing to keep the vehicle profitable) 4. Forget the Aussie cars. Too expensive to change to LHD and upgrade to NA safety specs. A 4 door Mustang would answer this question (only it would have different body panels) Offer it in 6 and 8 cyl options with, of course an SVT option too. A replacement LS could be the sister car of this 4 dr Mustang (keeping the LS as a RWD) 5 see above 6 Ford makes some great diesels in the world. Let's start importing some (which can be done, ie German made V8) 7 I agree with the KA. Great competition for the Yaris, Fit and Kia Rio. Could also help with CAFE numbers. Best if equipped with a small diesel to take on the SMART (which has an ignorant waiting list)

Exactly. Those who remain will still need their paychecks.

Wow! Richard, its offical. Your ideas are not needed at Ford in 2006. A fair days wage for a fair days work... but you are okay with a foreign made Ford because Ford stockholders make the money, even if the American workers are laid off in the process. You seem way more concerned about the profits than the workers. Or is it just a pure hatred of any automaker with a head office outside of Michigan? Your antiquated ideas are whats bankrupting GM and Ford.

even if that vehicle is made outside of America, employing non-American workers? Wouldn't you agree its better to see the worker get the money than some rich snob that has some Ford stock in his million dollar portfolio? The only people getting rich under your definition of Americanism are the rich stockholders and senior executives. Hom much money does Bill Gates make when he offshores American jobs to India? The profits still come back here though.

I didn't say thay I'm going to buy Japaese, but there are many current Ford owners that will. I could buy Japanese, but I could very well end up in a Ram before I buy another F150. And yes, My 2004 F150 is substandard. For how much money I paid, there is a lot missing. Maybe instead of spending so much money on the frame, they could have spend some time on fit & finish or quality materials in the cab. These new F150s are lemons. Go over to F150Online and see how many people have problem after problem. Owners of 2004 and newer Rams are not having these problems. Dont get me wrong, I love the F150, but it is sorely lacking for the amount of money being spent. Also, I am not saying that you did not work hard and you did not contribute. But the old ways of thinking will not work anymore. The only ones that are touting JD Powers and Harbour Reports are the die hard Detroit loyalists and apologists. The people that have left Detroit to buy a Toyota or Honda dont care. They were stung one too many times to give a another chance. What I am saying is that there are a lot of people ready to trade in that Ford or GM on a Toyota. This isnt about second chances. Detroit has already been given that. They are now on the 4th or 5th opportunity to prove themselves. When I am ready to drop $40k on my next truck, I don't really care where or by whom it is made. As long as it is a good truck, that will not be spending an excessive amount of time on a hoist (like many current F150 owners) And if buying a truck designed and manufactuered in the US (by American workers) makes me unAmerican because that plant is in Texas, not Michgan, then so be it.

fit & finish. this is the company that sent out PR photos of the new Zephyr with a misalighned trunk.

so it's unAmerican to stop patronizing a company that delivers substandard product? Firstly, you are a hypocrite. If you can prove to me that there is absolutely nothing in your house that is made in Japan, India or China I will eat my hat. And let's not forget about all of those nice new Ford made in Mexico. Am I unAmerican if I buy those? Am I unAmerican because I once owned an F150 made in Canada? But what about those American made F150s with Canadian engines? Or how about that Explorer with a German engine? Your unAmerican rant proves my point. Keep thinking that way and Ford is sure to go bankrupt.

No. There was a mild refresh for '06 MY. Maybe expect a 2008 redesign next year of year after. What we might see are some more option packages (similar to King Ranch and Harley)

they way Toyota is kicking GMs ass, they'd be silly not to. That and Ford telegraphed a long time ago they wanted a V6 diesel in the 1/2tons. We also know that Toyota will offer a diesel in the redesigned Tundra. For GM and Dodge to not see this writing on the wall, they must be dense. I would expect that within 3-4 years, all of the halftons will have diesels.Any manufacturer not on board will lose out.

I don't work for Ford. I happen to be one of those loyal customers that keeps you employed. But even my patience is wearing thin with the crap that continues to be pushed out. If Ford starts putting out crap again like they did in the 80's, I'm out of here. The only reason I continue to buy Ford is that they are putting their past behind them and starting the get competitive again. Now is not the time to relive those past glories. Those methods only worked because Detroit OWNED the market. Guess what? There is competition now and those trains of thought will no longer work. You can think I'm an ass all you want but remember, there are hundreds of thousands of Ford customers thinking the same thing right now. The smart ones at Ford realize that many customers are on their last Ford car. One more chance and thats it. They blow this and those customers are off to the Tokyo Auto Show. Look at GM... thats what happens when only fleet and employees are the ones buying your cars.

still waiting for his "pal" to chime in on this.

here's a theory. the heating elements are powerful enough to heat the bum under cloth and regular leather. They only put out so much heat to avoid burning the bum and getting sued. KR leather is pretty darned think (compared to that cheapazz leather in the Lariat) It could be you need a higher output heating element that Ford does not make/offer/sell because no one thought out the impact of the KR leather on the heating element. Kind of like taking a pot out of the oven with a bare hand vs an oven mitt vs a welding glove As far as this being a new problem, the KR wasnt available in 04. I have also not heard of any complainst with the heating elements on FX4s and Lariats. Just the KR. Just a theory.

so if you offered nothing then, what can you offer now? Nothing has changed with respect to Sr Mgmt decision making. If they tied your hands then, they would do the same again.