akirby

Dentside??

How are you getting the 13 mpg? Are you calculating it manually or using the dash readout (if it has one)? If the odometer was off and was only registering half the mileage it was supposed to then that would cut your mpg in half - that's why I asked. To test it just drive a 3-5 mile route with one vehicle, measure it then run it again in the Focus to make sure they match. If it was dumping twice as much fuel as normal then it wouldn't be driving normally. The other thing to check is operating temperature - make sure it's warming up properly. If not the thermostat could be stuck open.

If the engine seems to be running ok then I would suspect a mechanical problem with the wheels/brakes or the driveline. Does it coast ok when you put it in neutral? Does it seem to respond to normal throttle input? The other thing to check is the odometer - make sure it's accurate on miles driven.

The Ford engineers said they had to electronically limit the torque to protect the driveline components. We didn't make it up. Also note the same engine in the F150 makes 420 lb/ft.

Here is the torque curve. When we say it's flat, we mean flat!

Ford figured out years ago that what the press says doesn't have an impact on sales.

80% of 1 series drivers think they're FWD.

All of the Transverse 3.5LEB vehicles limit the torque to prevent damage. That's why the torque curve is so flat.

Car and Driver is the one that mentioned "vinyl seats". Thankfully they were wrong.

They didn't start with a dedicated cheap coupe platform and turn it into a sedan.

It's very difficult to make a sedan from a coupe platform without huge cost and/or huge compromises.

20 years starting in 2009

The loss on the balance sheet is $9.7B. That loss does not include any losses in future income tax revenue by allowing GM to carry forward the $18.9B in losses that occured prior to 2009 or any other tax breaks. I can't make it any clearer.

The tax savings are separate and in addition to the $10B shortfall.

Filling it in is how you repair it. The only other choice is to replace the windshield. In most cases they can repair it so you can't really see it, but not always. The DIY kits do not work as well as the professional kits where they use a vacuum pump to draw the filler into the voids. If the new one is in your line of sight while driving they will usually call for a replacement covered by insurance.

The $18.9B were losses from previous years. They can use that $18.9B to reduce their taxable profit. So if GM made $2B they can claim $2B in previous losses and they owe no income tax and they now have $16.9B left. They can do this for 20 years or until they use up the $18.9B. The rest of the supposed $45B tax benefit came from other things. It's a reduction of income, not a credit against taxes owed.

That's not the point. I'd be happier to see GM repay the $10B out of their profits over the next 3-5 years. They're making enough money now that they can afford it. That's the rub - they can afford to pay it back but they're not required to.

Lincoln specific was in the context of similar Ford vehicles (MKC vs Escape, MKZ vs. Fusion, Navigator vs Expedition, etc.). Fords would get the 2.0L eB while Lincoln gets the 2.3L. Since Mustang is a performance vehicle and doesn't compete directly with other Lincoln vehicles it makes sense to give it the new engine. Same for F150. I also expect there to be a 2.7L EB option for MKC and the 2.3L becomes the base engine. And a hybrid option. But none of that is confirmed.

They're obviously saving some things for the L.A. reveal. Black label won't be available at launch - it's later in 2014.

That's why I suggested the 2.7L instead. It wouldn't need as much boost. Although the 2.3L would be perfect for a smaller lighter F-100.

I think the 2.3L would work fine on the Mustang but the heavier F150 might need a bit more power in the base engine.

I think a retuned 2.7L EB would be a better candidate.

Not publicly - only through the dealer bulletins that showed ordering and job 1 dates.

I can buy that.

And blinker fluid (if you use synthetic)