akirby

I think the only reason it uses the ICE directly is that the generator cannot supply enough electricity to drive the wheels on electricity alone. That's the drawback of the Volt architecture - you lose energy when you convert the ICE output to electricity and then convert it back to mechanical energy through the electric motors. It's more efficient to drive the wheels directly. That's why the Volt only gets 37 mpg once the battery is depleted whereas the Fusion Energi should get close to the Fusion Hybrid (40's).

The Hybrid is based on the SE and the Sony radio is only available on the Titanium. Retail order means non-fleet (I think).

You don't understand why most people bought Rangers and other small trucks to begin with. They were cheap utilitarian transportation. Small crossovers and hybrids didn't exist yet and gas was cheap. I bought 2 myself. As small crossovers got better and we got better fuel efficiency on all vehicles small pickup buyers changed to other vehicles. It's that simple. Same thing happened to BOF full and midsized SUVs. The market changed and it's not changing back right now regardless of the products. It may change in the future. But Ford can charge a lot more for a vehicle with better performance and/or fuel economy. It's never about absolute sales volume. In fact keeping sales volume within one plant's capacity gives you the best cost structure and spreading sales out among multiple models and segments gives the company more flexibility to absorb market changes.

The engine in the Volt only charges the battery and does not directly drive the wheels except at high speed (not sure exactly how that part works).

Seriously? This is the stupidest thing you've said in a long time.

Thanks Captain Obvious. Did it ever occur to you that people who are more likely to be shot at are more likely to have a gun themselves? Here's another factoid. Did you know that wearing a batting helmet increases your chances of being hit in the head by a baseball dramatically?

I'm planning to get a loaded Titanium Ruby Red w/19" grey wheels. I actually wanted the black interior so that wasn't an issue. Mine is $32K X plan. FWD.

8" touchscreen LCDs weren't that cheap 10 years ago.

If the ranger was the only product in it's class then that argument might hold water. But even if the Ranger was left to wither on the vine, what about the Colorado, Tacoma and Frontier? Did all of the small truck mfrs conspire together to kill the market? Of course not. The Tacoma especially was a perfectly viable alternative to folks who actually wanted or needed a small truck and the others weren't terrible either. Sometimes the market changes and it's not because of

Sometimes it's cheaper to NOT make something. Ford saved a ton of money killing the old Ranger. If they didn't have the F150 and the small truck market didn't keep failling when gas prices went up there would have been a better business case for keeping and/or upgrading it. You can't make every possible product - you have to pick and choose.

You severely overestimate the average person's initiative. I've seen perfectly capable grown people sit on their ass and collect $800/month welfare instead of working for twice that. Of course most of them lived in subsidized housing (some even second generation). If you allow people to be lazy, they will be. It's that simple.

The Lincoln LS suspension was mostly aluminum - upper and lower control arms included.

It used to cost $2K. And a 8" screen is way bigger than your iPhone.

Ok, I'll buy that. I was thinking more in terms of products.

Parallel doesn't mean "mild hybrid". All regular hybrids are parallel meaning the wheels are driven by both the ICE and electric motor. GMs eAssist only provided start/stop capability. This system is more like a normal hybrid that can operate the car in full EV mode for short periods. It just doesn't have the large battery for extended EV range like Ford and Toyota.

That is what had me concerned, not the "leather trimmed" comment. But obviously it was a mistake.

They were selling plenty of cars. They just weren't making enough money selling them. Honda and Porsche sold FAR fewer cars than GM but made lots of money. It's not the volume - it's the profit level.

My guess would be improper kickbacks or gifts from Manchester United.

That sounds like a serious code of conduct violation.

Innovation applies to your entire business - not just new products. Innovations in design, engineering and assembly are just as if not more important than an innovative new product. New products are always a gamble. If you get it right you stand to profit. Get it wrong and do it too often and you could be out of business. If you're flush with cash you can afford to take more gambles on new products. Look at what Ford is doing with the new F150. Ecoboost. MFT. There is no way you can say Ford isn't innovating just because they're not doing it where YOU think they should. Toyota? Seriously? What did they innovate other than hybrids?

So you don't think the vast majority of Panther owners wanted to see it continue in production? You're joking right? And please stop typing "loan" when you mean "lone".

Late fall means they don't have a set date. I think job 1 is October so they probably won't start arriving on dealer lots until late November at the earliest. Which other Lincoln vehicle has a hybrid drivetrain available? We don't have a hybrid Edge, Taurus, Expedition or Flex so there is no hybrid MKX, MKS, Navigator or MKT. I would expect a C sized Lincoln to offer a hybrid but it's not out yet.

It was way more than a "few" and they were not a"loan". Why do you think otherwise?

The latter. ESPs and other post-sale add-ons are very profitable for the dealer. Why would an online dealer sell something below cost when they don't have any way to make it up somewhere? It would be more likely for the dealer selling the vehicle to do that to close the deal. Except they don't like to do that because they can make big profits in most cases. The dealer can add the cost to the new loan and give it back to you in cash if they want to, but they probably wouldn't go to that much trouble if you aren't buying it from them.

Exactly. That's the only time I recommend someone purchase an ESP - when they can't afford to pay for any big repairs. If you roll it into the payment then it's only a few dollars per month.