BoomerSooner

[ I have a 2011 Taurus, though, obviously, not the MyTouch. Just curious: Since my electronic suite of Sync gear is also not instantly responsive when starting the car, back-up camera occasionally cuts out/fails to engage (one time, it came on but the image was upside down!), Sync voice command is often slow or non-responsive shortly after starting the car and the iPhone/USB setup is a continual process of resetting/rebooting....anyway, I'm wondering how much of this is MyTouch versus issues also evident in Sync? Also--and I haven't sprung for one yet--I was wondering if your iPhone 4 consistently works as a USB-controlled iPod through Sync? This all reminds me of the message I got from HP when their printer refused to communicate with my new Windows 7 laptop. The message from HP's tech support was something like, " you have chosen to participate in a leading edge deployment of technology and should anticipate some delays as compatibility issues are resolved." 6 months later, HP finally deployed the driver to make my printer work again.

The car's styling as a whole isn't wearing well with me. Adding ill-conceived taillights isn't helping. As a taxpayer, can I go return one and ask for my money back?

Here in the Heartland/Flyover part of the country, what's getting people in the door is still the bailout issue. It is particularly evident in pickup sales, but has also played a role in car sales. Once in the door though, I'd have to agree with the other posters: quality, styling, features, SYNC are all what's going to make the sale.

Ford knocked the ball out of the park on styling. I particularly like the creases and angles on the hatch and rear quarter panels. I was concerned it would look too much like the Edge and come off as a longish Edge, but the two will look like very distinct entries. Now, I'm just hoping it isn't as expensive as it looks! Good job, Ford.

Have you had the iPod part of the iPhone randomly start playing during a phone call yet? That's happened a few times on business calls. Depending on what I've been listening to, it has made me feel pretty foolish on a business call.

Actually, I have been! After losing amazing talent from last year and taking a serious loss with Hand's injury this year, I have to think Coach Coale has definitely earned her keep. Having to play in the Big 12 this year apparently made them battle-tested and game-ready. Let's see how the Final Four goes, but they've already had an awesome season.

If by choppy, you mean the Bluetooth cuts out about every 20 second, then, yep, I've got the same experience. From calls to both Apple and Sync, they are each aware of this glitch. Has Sync completely refused to recognize your iPhone yet? I have to periodically disconnect the ground from my battery to get Sync to recognize my iPhone through the USB plug. And, have you figured out a pattern to when it reindexes? Mine does it randomly (sometimes quickly, sometimes after 20-30 minutes, though), even if I haven't changed the content of my iPhone in weeks. Don't get me wrong: I love my iPhone and I love Sync. But, I wish they would just learn to get along and play nicely together. Having more Apple gear in a car leaves me a little cold.

So is TTAC the place where trolls go who have banned from BOF? Kind of like an automotive forum purgatory then, isn't it? I suddenly feel very sullied that I've left my IP address residue on that site. I'm going to go say three Hail Marys to cleanse my computer's soul.

I really like the brown/mocha color of the MKS' interior. I've always been a big proponent of making the leather seats on cars look like things that are made of leather. Who ever saw a gray saddle? Or parchment-colored wallet? Those MKS thrones look very rich, indeed!

That's funny! Our nearest Walmart was very near a large honky-tonk. Before the bar finally went out of business, its patrons used Walmart as a day (night?) care center. After 10:00 PM there were kids everywhere, riding bikes, playing tag, aimlessly wandering the aisles and who knows what else. And, of course, "drunk shopping" seemed to be the game the whole family could play, too. Freak show is an apt description!

Y'know what's just about as interesting? The collection of comments below the article. I can't recall the last time a group of comments was universally favorable toward anything Ford did/said/produced. Usually, I just have to cringe when I read the poison pen remarks from the great unwashed.

I don't have a Taurus, but my '05 Freestyle is basically the same. I wash the wheel wells and undercarriage, too, and have noticed a similar issue. Mine usually develops in the passenger-side rear first, but I've heard it on the driver's-side rear, too. I've simply used copious amounts of WD-40 on the suspension attachment points to make the noise go away. Works until the WD-40 wears off.

I wondered about whether the RSC was defeatable when I read the article. I take it that it is? This seemed like a really petty criticism by C&D--especially since they have gone to great lengths to defeat Toyota's stability control systems in the past to improve their skidpad numbers. IIRC, they actually modified a Toyota once to defeat its system, which I thought was unfair when I read it. Now you're telling me that the Escape's RSC can be turned off and C&D didn't bother to do it? I guess the only surprise to me is that Tony "I Love Imports" Swan didn't write it.