Explorer4X4

As if this even needed to be posted. I highly doubt any trucks are going to see sales increases, at least, not for a decent amount of time. Until gas prices drop significantly, or trucks get more fuel efficient. You choose what will happen first.

Please, nobody take my previous posts as offensive. They are not intended to be in any way. I am merely posting my view on this subject. I will post more on my reasoning on this subject soon, but for now, look at it this way. Honda. Like Ford, a global company that sells cars in numerous countries and continents.. Unlike Ford, they have 1 truck line. According to Jalopnik.com yesterday, Honda is projected to be the only mainstream manufacturer to have sales increases for the month of June. A couple weeks ago Edmund's InsideLine.com published an article on their prediction that Honda is on its way up in the world, and could very well replace General Motors and Toyota as the leading automobile manufacturer. Now, one will argue that Ford =/= Honda. Especially when you look at the sales numbers of the Ford F-Series trucks. The best selling motor vehicle on the planet for 31 years (or so I have read/heard). However in May, the F-Series lost that title to: Honda's Civic. If you add up sales of the Toyota Matrix and Corolla, the F-Series was bumped from #1 to 3rd. Sales of trucks all over have been falling. Even Toyota, they are not going to set records this year because their new Tundra pickup isn't selling as predicted. Fact of the matter is gas is only going higher, and our technological advancements are simply too slow to save the pickup. Its not going to die, oh no, its still going to be one of the biggest segments. But more and more people are buying cars, and less and less are buying trucks. I feel its one of the reasons people are opting for Toyota and Honda (who have been focusing on compacts and mid-size cars for decades) then Ford (who have been putting too much weight on truck and SUV sales). Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think I am, and looking at sales, and just general consumer and media popularity and favoring it just seems that cars (especially the compact economy sedan and the mid-size family sedan) should be the main focus of all mainstream brands. Also, let me clarify what I meant by "Americanism" on this topic. We seem to be looking at what is happening now in the U.S. We aren't looking at the future, or at other countries, or at real long term alternatives. We are also not looking to the past. I wasn't alive in the early 1970's but I have read numerous articles, seen plenty of pictures and videos, about the oil crunch of the 70's. Now, in the 00's, we are complaining twice as loud and doing half as much. Then look at the 80's. Ford owned the car market with models like the Tempo and Taurus. Now, I know competition and the economy are different in modern times. However, you can't deny the facts. Ford's lucky to sell 200,000 Fusion's in a year. Tempo was Ford's third best selling sedan, and they were selling 400,000 or more a year. Yet nowadays, Tempo is a bad word. What happened??

Now I'm wondering, what does this post have to do with anything? I fail to see the difference for workers at manufacturing plants if Ford is building 50,000 Super Duty's a month or 50,000 Fiesta's. If anything you should be agreeing with me in the sense that Ford, and Americans, should stop focusing on trucks. All this "Ford is nothing without the F-150" bs is just extremely tiring to hear. Ford needs to start building cars (not trucks and SUV's) on a quality level higher then the "Asian Big Three". Which they are close to achieving, but its going to take a while to convince the soon-to-forget American consumer that their products are better then what Toyota or Honda offer. Thats just it. Americans are so easy to forget and only focus on themselves. In Britain gas has reached the equivalent of over $14USD a gallon. We are complaining about $4 a gallon. Yet we are complaining a hell of a lot louder then them, and continue focusing only on 5.4L Triton V8 equipped Ford F-250's. Gotta love that.

I love the Americanism of people on the topic of the Ford Motor Company. Firstly, Ford has been worse of before and came out on top. Not only that, but came out as the leading car manufacturer in North America. Secondly, everyone seems to think all that matters is Ford sales in the U.S. Believe it or not, there are countries outside of America. Where in Ford builds cars, and mainly cars. For example this little known continent called Europe, Ford builds 1 truck, primarily for commercial use. Then you have over a dozen compact and mid-size cars. Thirdly, last I checked Ford was the worlds third largest automobile manufacturer. Fourthly, there are numerous reasons for poor truck sales besides moderately, ever so slight fuel price increases. I hope you are all able to figure out what those reasons are for yourselves. Fifthly, I could have sworn Ford was doing better then other brands (financially). I do believe both Chrysler Corporation and the Mitsubishi brand are doing far worse, and hey, they're still fighting.

Dude. What the hell. Where were you in the 90's?? Windstar's were probably one of the best minivans at that time, only truly bested by the Dodge Caravan. The Freestar wasn't a bad car either. Certainly miles better then the piece of sh*t known as the Chevrolet Uplander. Freestar could have been better, if Ford had put more effort into it. I'd say Windstar was an over all good success for Ford. As was the Aerostar (in sales terms). Ford and GM are just letting the flood gates open to the minivan market to both Dodge and Honda, and emerging reputable brands like Hyundai. Old Nardelli is probably laughing his ass off at Ford (and GM) for leaving one of the biggest segments in the industry, for a possible emerging one (crossovers).

More examples of typical Honda quality and their "owner friendly" approach to customer care. Mind you, this news comes directly after the 270,000 Acura TL's recalled about a month ago. - The Consumerist, Click here for link to article and news video. Basically a load of '07 and '08 Civic Si owners were all having similar problems with transmissions, Honda ignored them, then the news got wind of the story and made a big deal out of it. Coincidentally soon after Honda complied and said they are now aware of the problem and are working to fix it.

Yes. Simple, import the Galaxy (European Ford).

Obama or Huckabee. My family is Republican, but that doesn't mean we always vote Republican.

I haven't seen any new Corolla TV ads. But I don't have TV, so.... But I've seen some banner ads on YouTube for the Corolla, and I will admit, it caught my attention. More interesting ad then what I see from Ford and GM by any rate.

I just can not see a Mazda Taurus. Besides, Mazda is getting a new 6. Mazda6 is sort of the equivalent of Taurus, which isn't exactly full-size (it seems to be just slightly above mid-size).

So Ford has the #2 most popular full-size SUV, and #1 most popular mid-size SUV (despite dramatic sales drop)?

Probably. Most of you forget, Ford's been in far worse trouble before. Specifically the late 1970's and early 1980's, before Ford's modern, aerodynamic models (Taurus, Tempo, Escort) replace those pointless eight cylinder boats (LTD, Fairmont, Pinto).

F-150 starts at $17,345. How is that overpriced? Thats dirt cheap. Most compact and mid-size sedans don't even start there. Malibu certainly doesn't. Does Tundra start at 17k? Nope, try $22,290. Same with Grand Marquis, how many other full-size, rear wheel drive, eight cylinder sedans start at $25,000?

I'll repeat what I've said countless times before. It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.

Ford said they won't be selling Volvo. How could they, half their car lineup consists of Volvo sourced technologies and platforms! Ford will not merge or buy Chrysler Corp. It be as pointless as Toyota buying Hummer.