dave9991

They do hold driving classes located at MPG, I would have to find the information on it again.

Ford needs an affordable truck that can compete with the Hilux that has a V6 and I4 option. One of Fords major pushes is to increase their foothold in the South American markets. Ford is already doing well with suburban and city buyers in these areas, but they are losing the rural market to Toyota . The United States market and other truck markets are fundamentally different. Truck buyers in the United States are willing to pay a larger premium for their vehicles, event though there is a significantly lower percentage the actively use the capabilities of the vehicles. The people buying the trucks are different as well. Those that are actually using the trucks a large percentage of the time are part of a fleet of vehicles, those in growing markets tend to have a real need based on conditions to use its off-roading ability, while still being able to carry large quantities of goods. This is not to say that there are not people with a real need in the United States for Hilux size trucks, but the need is lower percentage than in growth markets. What does this mean? Ford does not need a small truck, they need a midsize truck the size of the Hilux, that is competitively priced with the Hilux. The current world Ranger is undersized compared to its main competitor. There is also the possibility for a city van that would work with small business owners, currently Ford only sells the Ecosport, Ranger, and F-100 in this market.

The Hilux is extremely popular in Argentina, so a more suitable competitor from Ford would be the likely candidate. Hiluxs tend to be popular in Mendoza and the Southern part where there are not many paved roads. I do not see a real need for a B-class truck in the cities since the vans they already have now are suitable for the job.

Remember everyone, this is the same person who said that "thetruthaboutcars" was unbiased. I rest my case.

This is coming from the blog with three sections titled "Ford Death Wath", "GM Death Watch", and "Chrysler Suicide Water". It doesnt have the makings of a "Fair and Balanced" blog.

I wouldnt be laughing, Lexus and especially Infiniti arent on buyers lists in Europe. Lexus thought they could gain european customers by selling their luxury vehicles at a low price. They failed to grasp a fundamental difference between United States and European customers. United States customers will buy a product because of a low price and reliability, but European customers will only buy a product if its what they deem all around quality. We dont want a vehicle with no personality. Lexus is only selling around 36,000/year and this is after 4+ years on the market. Cadillac is aiming to sell around 15,000/year. Compare that against Mercedes-Benz (700k), BMW (779k), Audi (616k), Jaguar (46k), or SAAB (81k). The United States and Canada are the only markets Lexus is doing well in. They arent even doing well in Japan. Sidenote- I have no plans to buy a Lexus, and would definately consider a CTS diesel before any lexus. Many of my european friends havent even heard of Lexus.

Lexus is trying to use a United States based strategy for entering the European market, and because of that they wont be able to break in. Lexus models currently are oriented towards United States taste and as a result they havent been able to get above around 4,000-5,000 units/month.

I was reading a story about a man whos friend only drives Toyotas and Hondas. The man who happened to be a GM fan was convinced that he could convince the friend to look at the new Aura. Despite showing him comparison tests, spec sheets, and even telling him about the Camry, Accord, and Aura test drive at Saturn dealerships the friend refused to even look at it. So imagine how hard its going to be to convince a satisfied Lexus or Acura customer to look at a Lincoln when the reviews theyve seen from Consumer Reports and Motortrend tell them that it is an uncompetitive vehicle. Chances are they wont even bother stepping into the showroom to give it a look.

I think any criticism is good, its just another way to improve the vehicle. So based off this information and consumer reports, here is how it could better appeal to import buyers. -Lower weight (500lb target) -Improve braking distance -Add custom ride settings (Sport, Comfort, Normal) -Add the 3.7L Duratec for better low end torque and improved 0-60 time -Add Manumatic mode -Hybrid or Diesel option -Softer seats -Standard HD radio -Passenger door handles -Glove compartment light -Improved sound proofing (would be difficult to do this while reducing weight) -Heated drink holder -Add cooled seats for 2nd row (important for Southern buyers) -Adaptive cruise control -Voice-activated windows -Voice-activated moonroof (removes need to press button on the top) -Owner-recognition (keyless system) -Xenon headlights -3-zone climate control (driver, passenger, third row) -One-touch start -Cooled storage area in trunk to hold chilled food (ice cream, sodas, etc..) This option may resonate well with Soccer moms -Heated steering wheel -Temperature controls for seats -Cooled front center storage area The 3.7L duratec, braking distance, and hybrid are already planning on being addressed, but the rest would greatly improve its appeal. As much as some would hate to admit it, there are some people who make their purchasing decisions based on Motortrend, and a bad review reflects poorly on the MKX, even if its already selling well.

Focus - S40, C30, V50, C70 Taurus, Sable, Flex, Taurus X, MKS - S80, V70, XC70, S60 Potential breakup costs and lost income would greatly reduce any benefits from seperating Volvo from Ford. Volvo takes the place for Lincoln in Europe and in most other countries. Getting rid of it would be a nightmare for product development.

Remember what happened to the ranger and crown vic. when they took that approach. Its all about Kaizen, theres always something that can be improved or tweaked.

Its for brazil..trust me

I believe the new G37 is producing around 330hp and features a 3.7L with a host of technologies. If Ford can match that HP with the Lincoln version of the 3.7L it will be a great FWD alternative to the G37 and 5-series.

There is one major factual error many have been making in regards to the fleet statistics. The figures are not based on October-February. They ARE based on January-April 2007. The figures from last year are based on January-April 2006. After the survey was completed the Edge has been on sale for 5 months. To date the Edge has been on sale for 7 months. This isnt a significant difference.

50+% fleet sales isnt exactly the stuff of good residuals.