joihan777

Cool! Might be better to shorten it up though.

Would you like it better if it had a panorama roof option and a Shaker 1000watt Audio option? That may be seem like overkill, but it would set Fusion further apart from the imports. Honda thinks coupe sales will increase. A 'totally radical' Fusion coupe would be... totally radical!

I bought a Toyota Sienna 2 years ago because IMO there was no competition for my needs. That minivan is very smooth driving and has decent power. The interior is extremely practical. It is perfect for a young family and our stuff (and in-laws)when we travel together. That being said, I want something a little easier to park and with better fuel economy. Plus it'd be nice to drive an American car because it's an American car. For Ford to make the Flex successful (^sales/^profit) they have to remember the target customer most probably has children, a daddy that likes some performance, a mommy that appreciates creature comforts and a family that needs good fuel economy and REQUIRES 5-Star safety ratings all the way around. The panorama roof & entertainment system mentioned in the articles sound great too. Also, FORD needs to prove to the masses (that fear FORDs are unreliable) that todays FORDs are much improved in reliablity/ fit & finish. An extensive warranty may be needed initially. In a year or two, I will be KEENLY interested in trading in my minivan and the FLEX sure looks like a contender. //On a side note, can the Duratec 35 employ selective cylinder shut-off for improved economy?

Do ya'll think the new RWD platform will completely replace Crown Vic? I ask because I'm thinking of all the police/ service fleets around the world that use the Crown Vic. But those fleets must be starting to show their age. Would those agencies prefer a new RWD platform with improved fuel effiency & performance envelope? Is Mullaly seeing the big picture? I sure hope so.

What would you guys think of Ford returning the Thunderbird name? The originals were quite pretty. The 80's version were OK coupes. But then Ford brought it back in 2000(?) and Oprah drove it around. And the price SKYROCKETED, and few everyday people bought them. The name is secondary however. Using the Reflex name is cool too. Bringing the Thunderbird/Reflex as a less expensive version of the Mustang might get a lot of 1st timers in the door. Especially younger customers who think the Mustang is too big/ heavy. These would probably be the kids who think Civics are the 'shizzle.' The car would be based on a shortened/ trimmed down Mustang platform. The back seat, engine bay & trunk would be a little smaller. The front windshield would be more angled. It would come as a coupe and convertible. RWD too. Most of the mechanicals would be right off the current Mustangs too so the aftermarket/tuner crowd could easily get parts for toying around. The base model would have a solid 4-Cyl but the top-of-the-line would employ Ford's Duratec 35 engine. The hotness model would have the V-6, 6-speed manual or automatic and sport suspension. It would even have the racing stripes. You could call it the Thunderbird or Reflex Hellfire Edition. (I'd buy a Reflex Convertible 'Hellfire Edition' as my fun commuter) Since most of the engineering has been done and most parts are pre-existing and shared with Mustang, the prices would be $15-20+. Whaddya think?

I've considered this same topic myself. How about a shortened & lowered Mustang chassis? The largest engine would be the Duratec 35, with a 4 cyl as the base engine. The rear seats would be shortened for more of a real 2+2 configuration. Give it a slightly more aerodynamic rake. The beauty of basing the vehicle on a Mustang is keeping the chassis' torsional strength. Get rid of the current Mustang's B-pillars as well... a coupe look is great. A convertible version would be nice too. And I pictured this car taking sales away from Boxer & 350Z as well. I thought of the name Wildcat, since Buick doesn't use it. I originally thought of the WW2 Wildcats, the ones that gave the IJN hell!

I LIKE the name Escort. Why? Because my very first new-car was a 91' Escort LX. I totally miss that car. If a lady hadn't pulled into traffic without checking her blind spot my ol' Escort would still be around. 1.9L I-4 on a 5-speed manual. I drove that thing like a wanabe Porsche! It looked good in midnight blue too! So yeah, I would love to see the Escort return.

You hit the nail on the head. Ideally, we could drive the Ariel Atom for a fun go-go car. But since collisions occur, and collisions with F-450's, Escalades and big rig trucks occur too, being in a highly safety-rated car is now a REQUIREMENT in the U.S. In Japan & Europe those big vehicles aren't seen as much. The biggest Hino I've seen in Japan is a bobtail! Would Americans pay a little more for fuel if they were made aware of how safe their Fords were? I think so.

I stand corrected! I did mix up Fiesta & Festiva. (I'm thinking I may not be the only one however!) And the current Aveo isn't much to look at! Mazda has a pretty nice car that Ford can base a B-Car out of. I think it's called the Mazda 2.

From the IIHS web site, only the Edge is a top safety pick. From NHTSA, the Crown Vic & 500/Taurus are 5-Stars. The Focus is not as safe as an Audi A3/Jetta/Rabbit. Otherwise I would have bought one. The Fusion has mostly 4-Stars. And the Mustang convertible oddly lacks a safety feature most other convertibles have, a rollover safety system. Sorry, but I sadly disagree with your statement as far as safety issues. As for reliability, I state this on countless 1st & 2nd hand experiences where Toyotas and Honda outlasting, and while giving their owners less grief than, Ford or GM/Chrysler. But I will admit I don't know of a 'definitive' source on reliabilty issues. I sure as hell am NOT going to consider Consumer Reports. Do YOU have an accurate source for rating vehicle reliablity? If so, please share! I would still love for Ford to own the slogan: "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars in the World."

I think the Free-Style name would fit the Fiesta. Or maybe Jazz. But Free-Style is more a youth oriented name.

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make the next Mustang convertible have a pop-up rollover safety system. My wife has 'graciously' agreed that my next car should be a Mustang, but only if it has a rollover protection system. Since nearly all of the tuners/ weekend racers/ speed addicts drive the coupe, the convertible wouldn't lose sales from adding a few hundred pounds in the name of safety. PLEASE FORD!!!!!!!!!!! Daddy needs a new set of wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone agree with this logic?

I'm not a Ford employee, so I hope this post is appropriate: As gasoline approaches $5/gal., B-cars become better choices for commuters and people needing run-about vehicles. There are few points Ford would do well to consider: -Lose the Fiesta name. A lot of us remember the Korean Fiesta. Maybe the FreeStyle name would fit here better? -It would need to do at least 110mph and achieve 0-60 around 8secs. Thats important for hwy commuters. -Don't skimp on the interiors. My wife loves the heated seats in her Rabbit. -How about a BOLD panarama roof or targa option? A commuter car should be a blast to drive! -As a commuter I love having audio options. A hard drive based jukebox (like Flex) is worth the money! -Get 5-Star safety ratings all the way around, THAT is MORE important than losing 1-2 mpg. -How about a really fun performance version...aka a mini-Mustang? My 2 cents

Dear Ford Motor Company, I hope your company actually listens to fellow Americans. I am a father and a husband. What I want most in an automobile is safety & reliability. Performance, practicality, economy & style follow. As an American I wish Ford could one day rightfully own the slogan: "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars In The World." Please consider the 'family generation' when engineering your automobiles. I would love my next car to be a Ford, more than anything else. I felt pertubed to buy a foreign make for my last car because the Ford offering, a Focus, simply wasn't safe enough to put my family in. My first new-car purchase was a 1991 Ford Escort. I was young at the time, but even then I paid attention to safety. BTW I loved that car! My next purchase will hopefully be a Ford, but it needs to be safe! It needs to be the safest in its class!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PAY ATTENTION FORD! Also, I would like nothing more than Ford consistently beating Toyota & Honda in reliabilty! Where I live, in Northern California, most people consider buying domestic a huge gamble. They swear by their Hondas. There is truth to their feelings. Please rectify this! Thanks, Johann in Elk Grove, CA