FLLMTR

When did Ford fall so far behind in alternative fuels? Wasn't it just two years ago that Ford was backing off hybrid technology in favor of E-85? Well where the is the E-85 option?

I went to the Lincoln.com website and was struck by the presentation of the car. It is really a sharp looking vehicle. I was really surprised by the price and list of standard options. At under $43,000 grand, it offers more than the BMW and Lexus vehicles in its price range. Based on the way the MKX is kicking the RX350 in the balls, I think the new MKS will be a solid hit. You guys will probably see me trolling here for an X-PIN a few months after this car comes out. By the way, I am glad that Ford is finally taking its websites seriously. The graphics and displays on Lincoln.com were top notch.

I thought I was hearing a similar problem. It turned out to be the 6spd transmission making the sound. After a couple of months decelerating to a stop started to become clunky as the vehicle kicked from 2nd to 1st. Fortunately, Ford was able to repair it under a TSB. And sure enough, I don't hear the whirring sound anymore. I hope your problem is not the same as mine was. I worry what is going to happen when my vehicle goes out of warranty.

So what is the latest news on the Sport Trac? I just had the 6 spd transmission serviced for a kick it delivered when coming to a stop. The dealer had it for two days because parts had to be ordered. It is running smooth now. I wonder why Ford doesn't step up and replace the transmission? That is what Honda did for one of my coworkers and the job was done in one day and everyone was happy. As far as the tires go, I will be lucky to get 20,000 miles out of my Michelins. I will probably go with Good Year or Khumo on the next tire change.

The same syptoms are showing up in my 2006 V8 Mountaineer. It kicks when coming to a stop. Once the drivetrain warms up (about 15 minutes) then it comes to a smooth stop. There is a TSB that addresses this: 05236. I am going to have to make an appointment to have my vehicles taken care of at the dealership.

I doubt the feature you're interested in will ever get integrated since the key fob and keyless entry system can lock and unlock the vehicle. If you have keyless entry, you can hit two buttons (the bottom two, simultaneously) to lock all of the doors at the same time without having to open any door. If you do not have keyless entry, then you may have to do what the rest of us do... just hit the lock button on the key fob.

Check the transmission fluid. It is either low or needs changing.

I am happy Consumer Reports is finally reporting what many Ford consumers already know, reliablity has been in the product for at least 3 years in the majority of its product line. Toyota has been falling in quality (engine sludge, transmission) for years and CR has ignored it. That is why I still think CR is a shit magazine that has no business rating cars no matter how much Ford's position "improves".

Can anyone recommend an aftermarket brake pad that offers a shorter stopping distance than the stock brake pads? :reading:

With all due respect, sales dictate how well the interior and exterior of a car looks. And right now, judging by sales the Fusion isn't looking too hot. Next year my girlfriend will be trading in her Acura for the new Accord and I am not going to talk her out of it. The '08 Accord is not only bigger than the Fusion, it has a more powerful V6 that gets better gas mileage and a leather interior that actually looks and feels like leather. After I sat in the new Accord, I sold all my shares of Ford stock. (Jim Cramer is going to lose big with the buy recommendation, because Ford has no car product that can compete.) With Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai showing up with progressively better midsize cars than Ford, the Fusion is going to have a hard time maintaining market share over the next few years.

I have never heard of this before. But hey, anything is possible. My last two Ford's were purchased with X-Plans using PINS I obtained on this board. Each Ford employee is given a certain allocation of X-Plan pins to give to friends and family members as an incentive to purchase Ford vehicles. X-Plan PINS cannot be bought or sold.

The sad thing is a significant number of American's just don't care, so long as it doesn't affect the prices of their Toyota's and Honda's.

I think overall the car looks great. I had my heart set on getting a 2006 G35 sedan more than a year ago, but one thing that kind of surprised me was the 6 speed manual gearshift. It doesn't tilt towards the driver for quick shifting. It instead pointed straight up as if compromising for both left and right hand drive configurations. It is nice to see that they upgraded the materials for the new model. Overall, it is a great car. But I would honestly be more inclined to buy a new C class from Mercedes Benz if I was looking for a sedan. It is just a matter of personal preference though.

If a T-bird is considered for a come back, it has to be a 4 seater. Otherwise it is a complete waste of time and resources.

I don't know. I believe that the reason PAG failed is because people who want to buy a domestic/American car would not consider a Jag or Land Rover over a Cadillac. And the buyers who would consider an import luxury vehicle would not choose a Jag or Land Rover over a Lexus, BMW or Mercedes. Ford has to sell of PAG. Now as far as Volvo goes, again, it falls into the same trap. Granted Ford has incorporated roll stability control and other safety technology to make the Explorer and Taurus/Five Hundred two of the safest vehicles on the road. But unless Volvo styling can compete with Lexus or BMW, it is hard to justify keeping it when it may be wise to sell off or spin off its controlling shares in it. Just my two cents.

For years women have been complaining about the door pulls in the Mustang, Escape and now the Fusion and Mercury variants. Why can't Ford Motor Company install handles instead of cups? Not only do Ford's door pulls feel cheap and collect crap, but they also break or chip the fingernails of female drivers. Laugh if you want to but this is serious business. Ford need's to take a page from other manufacturers and install handles in the doors. I cannot emphasize enough how many sales are lost simply because this issue is that important to drivers.

Don't fret. Ford will sooner go private than go bankrupt. In such a scenario, it means that the stock holders will not lose any more than has been lost over the past several years. While sales are flat (or falling) relative to Toyota, Ford is holding the line on prices. One trick is maintaining the residual value of the Edge, Taurus, and Fusion by maintaining quality and safety. This will make lease prices more competitive on the East and West coasts and keep sales on pace. I also think the Flex will be a great product that stands out while adding a level of refinement, fuel efficiency and functionality that the families are looking for.

I use the Motorcraft 5-20 in my 2006 Mountaineer Premier. It is a blend and its cheap.

You know, I was looking for a hitch cover for my 06 Mountaineer and had no luck finding one. But if the IM Explorer has one from the factory then there has to be a part number from Ford for it. If it is an aftermarket, does anyone know where we can find it?

Geez, if Ford does go with a CUV for the Explorer, what will be the tow rating? 3500 lbs? I bought the V8 Mountaineer so that I can pull twice that much.

The politicians will not do anything about high gas prices. That I promise. Republicans are getting rich off the gasoline stocks and the Democrats will say, "Drive less or buy a more fuel efficient vehicle - Stop global warming." Well, no one is holding a gun to our heads. That is why I am not trading in my SUV for a Civic.

The issue is choice. People who go over to Chevy and buy the Vette will likely not come back to Ford for their next purchase. With so many car companies out there, Ford should do more to control the pricing its dealerships charge. And save the bullshit about how Ford cannot control prices. Every manufacturer - Coach, Sony, Samsung, Starbucks, McDonald's have control over the selling price of their products. Sure each franchise owner may choose to participate in discount specials, but they cannot simply set a higher price than MSRP just because of higher consumer demand. If they did do that they would lose future product allocations. The auto industry thinks all of the sudden that it’s selling a commodity. Believe me, the GT500 is no gemstone. Dealerships should be reminded of the story of the “Golden Goose” and understand that there are many choices out there. Dealerships don’t seem to understand that in their attempt to get a huge payday, they are unwittingly turning away customers who won’t come back when supply catches up. Think Thunderbird. Even the Mustang GT’s are beginning to pile up on local dealer lots. I wanted one last summer. Bu after such a bad experience with Maroone Ford over the dealer mark-up, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy another Mustang.

My friend at the office bought a Pontiac G6 2-door and liked it a lot. She also considered the Mazda 6. But in the end, the warranty brought her to GM.

? Your post is sort of a comparison between apples and ... a block of cheese. Seriously, to knock a truck for fuel mileage and resale value in comparison to a car isn't a fair comparison. People buy SUV's and trucks for the utility of these vehicles. If a person is really keen on saving money on fuel and having a strong residual value, buy a Honda Civic. They're safe, cheap to own and have one of the highest resale values in the industry. If, however, you want a vehicle that can haul mulch and fertilizer for the lawn this spring, haul a boat on the weekends while having one of the quietest interior noise levels, and one of the strongest safety performances in its class... it is really hard to beat the Explorer.

Its the dealerships. I have several friends of mine who cannot stand the outdated look and feel of the service centers and the Ford & Lincoln/Mercury dealership experience. I went through it twice. Only because I had an X-Plan PIN. Even then, I still got jerked around by dealers who would pull the bait and switch about the availability of a vehicle or the pricing. And when I finally struck a deal, it still took too darn long (nearly 3 hours for each vehicle purchase from two different dealerships) to finally get the keys and leave. Both times the vehicles were not fully detailed and required additional prep after I got them home. Then when I go for service, the waiting room has no complimentary coffee or television or newspapers. And I generally have to leave the vehicle the whole day for a simple oil change and tire rotation. Now that is just bullshit. So why did I buy a Ford? It just so happens the Mustang GT Convertible and the Mountaineer Premier had exactly what I desired at the time I bought them. There was no better vehicle in either class for what I was looking for. There are a number of people in my office who might trade their imports, but the ones who are considering it are looking at GM because of the stronger warranty and sportier styling of the Corvette and SUV's.