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Everything posted by akirby
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GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
akirby replied to RangerM's topic in Competing Products
If the Volt is such a "high tech tour de force" then why does it only get 37 mpg after the battery runs out while the new Fusion Energi reverts to normal hybrid mode getting 44-47 mpg? The Volt is nothing more than an electric car with an onboard generator and a damned inefficient one at that. Put a Honda Generator in the trunk of a C-max energi and you'd have the same thing. Fusion and C-max Energi have a 20-25 mile range on battery but use a more efficient direct drive mechanism when the ICE is running. The technology for Ford's plug-in hybrids is the same as their regular hybrids but with a larger battery pack. Therefore the only new R&D really required was for the onboard charger. GM is a one-trick pony at this point. If Ford has the battery and transmission capacity I expect the C-Max to sell very well, similar to the Prius. The Fusion hybrid, just like the Camry hybrid, is targeted towards a different buyer and the market is not as big. And we all know that fully electric vehicles are just for show and research purposes right now. We lack the infrastructure to make them viable to a large number of buyers. I still don't understand why you think it's good that GM sells thousands of Volts when they're losing money on every one. And how do I know that Ford isn't losing money on hybrids? Because Alan Mulally is still the CEO. -
GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
akirby replied to RangerM's topic in Competing Products
People have been duped into thinking the Volt is something other than just a plug-in hybrid but it's not. Ford's plug-in hybrids are not due out for several months and I assume they'll qualify for the same tax credit as the Volt so that should make it a more level playing field. Of course Ford isn't going to subsidize their plug-in hybrids to pump up sales so they can lose money like GM. The fact that you think it's all about sales (and not sustainable profits) is really laughable. -
MyFord Touch is Still Not Right for 2013
akirby replied to transitman's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Yes, a recall. It was posted for download for a couple of days, then removed. That's way worse than delaying the release. -
Anyone found an electronic copy of the NAV manual?
akirby replied to PajamaGuy's topic in Escape & Kuga Forum
zero -
GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
akirby replied to RangerM's topic in Competing Products
So basically you think the Volt is better because GM is giving them away at a loss while Ford produces 6 different vehicles with batteries (4 plug-ins) in 4 different body styles most of which cost less than the volt and turning a profit? That's the stupidest thing you've ever said on this board. Ever. -
Global small pickup shoot out
akirby replied to buddysystem's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
This simply proves you know nothing about scientific comparisons. It isn't about right or wrong it's about consistency. You can't use the EPA ratings for one vehicle and your anecdotal results for the other and call it a valid comparison. What you SHOULD do is take your current mileage in comparison to the current EPA ratings and apply that difference to the EPA ratings for other vehicles. E.g. if the EPA rating for your vehicle is 16 city and you get 19 and your looking at another vehicle that has an EPA rating of 18 city then you should expect to get close to 21. They didn't just guess - they looked at the difference between the old and new ratings on then current vehicles and scientifically determined how to adjust the old ratings. I'm not doubting someone could get 29 mpg in a Ranger but that is totally not the point. The EPA rating for that truck was 26 compared to the current F150's 23 mpg. Neither one is close to 30. -
GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
akirby replied to RangerM's topic in Competing Products
And none of that has anything whatsoever to do with technology development. GM is putting all their eggs in the Volt basket while Ford (and Toyota) are diversified. GM only has one money losing $40K plug-in hybrid while Ford will have 2 regular hybrids, 2 plug-in hybrids and 2 electric vehicles that will all be less expensive. And Ford can put their hybrid powertrain into more models if necessary. Which brand do you think will have more sales in 3 years? If you said GM you'd be dreaming. -
Global small pickup shoot out
akirby replied to buddysystem's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Way to TOTALLY miss the point. The point of the EPA ratings (other than CAFE) is to allow you to COMPARE 2 vehicles. The only way to COMPARE 2 vehicles is to have a controlled test where the test conditions are identical and the EPA test provides that. Consider that I can get anywhere from 15 mpg to 24 mpg from my Fusion on the same route depending on traffic levels and how I drive. So if you're comparing to another vehicle do I use the 15 or the 24? The answer is neither - you use EPA ratings. The question was which F150 model gets 30 mpg (answer none). Then RangerM said the old rangers got 29 highway but that was under the old ratings. The equivalent under the new ratings is 26 which is not 29 or 30. If you're comparing older vehicles with newer vehicles then you have to use the same EPA rating procedure for both or else the comparison isn't valid. You might as well be comparing epa city for one vehicle to epa highway for the other vehicle. -
I don't think the OK to buy has been given yet.
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Global small pickup shoot out
akirby replied to buddysystem's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
I wasn't talking about the current model year. If you go to fueleconomy.gov you can get the EPA ratings for older vehicles using the new procedure. The OLD rangers get 25 or 26 hwy under the current EPA rating procedure as compared to current F150s. You can't discuss current fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg and then say that an older vehicle came close using the OLD EPA ratings. You need to use the new EPA ratings. -
MotorTrend Police Car Shootout
akirby replied to TopCat501's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Shootout? Really? -
Global small pickup shoot out
akirby replied to buddysystem's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
The MPG examples were current EPA ratings. You said it got 29 and it doesn't get anywhere close to 29 under the new ratings. It gets 25 or 26. You can't mix and match old and new EPA ratings and anecdotal evidence. -
Making Push Button Start a Standard Feature
akirby replied to Furious1Auto's topic in Ford: Wish List
Simple - you demonstrate it, then you take out your wallet and show them the card every time. And all your friends go "yo dog - that's SICK!". Rinse and repeat. Of course you could do the same thing with the fob in your pocket - just pull out your wallet and show them your AAA card and say "that's what starts the car". -
Making Push Button Start a Standard Feature
akirby replied to Furious1Auto's topic in Ford: Wish List
You'll have more success doing this :banghead: :banghead: And it won't hurt nearly as much. He wants the "bling" associated with a credit card RFID just because nobody else has one right now. It has nothing to do with actual functionality. -
Ford considers low-cost subcompact
akirby replied to mackinaw's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Maybe if we keep saying this over and over and over it will finally sink in. It means make one vehicle and sell it everywhere you can, not that you sell every vehicle you make in every market. -
GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
akirby replied to RangerM's topic in Competing Products
GM puts all their money into the Volt and "mild" hybrids while Ford invests heavily in class leading regular hybrids and plug-in hybrids (Fusion, CMax hybrid and energi) and electric vehicles (Focus, TC). But hey - they got those V performance caddies so it must be worth it. -
Next Gen Mustang to get Nano V6 and IRS
akirby replied to Sherminator98's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
And it was true for the next 20 years. -
They'll be developed at the same time just like Fusion and MKZ. But the 2013 Escape was already "in the can" when work started on the Lincoln version. There was already a MKZ so some work had already been started on that. The Lincoln Escape had no such luxury and was only conceived about 18 months ago when the Lincoln turnaround plan was put into place.
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The point was that you can't trust GM's decision making on these things. The LX platform was basically a leftover E class from parent MB which makes the business case much easier. Also Chrysler was trying to make inroads into a new market segment for them and they had no other existing products to worry about. And the jury is still out on Caprice. Given the success of GTO and G8 I really doubt that Caprice will succeed either. The full sized sedan market is small and shrinking to begin with and the market for high performance sedans is even smaller. It can be done with the right platform (shared across multiple vehicles) and proper planning (shared production facilities) but it's more difficult.
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They thought there was a business case for the XLR. They thought there was a business case for the STS. They thought there was a business case for the GTO. They thought there was a business case for the G8. They thought there was a business case for the Solstice. Any more questions?
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Global small pickup shoot out
akirby replied to buddysystem's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
And get twice as many MPG.... -
From the Ford F150 website under models: Equipment Group 502A Features include: - Universal garage door opener - Reverse sensing system - Rear view camera - Remote start system - PowerFold® heated side mirrors with turn signal indicator and memory feature - Integrated Integrated Trailer Brake Controller - 6” chrome angular running board - HID headlamps - Power moonroof - Sony® Audio System with single-CD and HD Radio™ - Navigation System with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link - Heated and cooled, 10-way power leather-trimmed front seats with memory feature - Flow-through console and floor shifter - 110v inverter