FordBuyer

The real strength of the Escape is the 4 drivetrain choices. With most rivals, you get 1 or 2 at the most. So maybe that is why they cheaped out a bit on the interior. They have slowly been correcting with appearance packages that have spruced things up a bit, especially the stealth package on the SEL. And they certainly are doing the same with the Explorer.

I would think Ford is under pressure to do a major refresh on the N.A. Escape, both exterior and interior wise. While Escape is still a volume seller for Ford, it has lost significant ground to its rivals. So it needs to step up, especially against upstart Hyundai/Kia. Ford can't afford not to significantly improve the interior both appearance and material wise. The latest Stealth package with red contrasting stitching shows that Ford is starting to get it.

That is not good in that when it's raining or otherwise slippery reassuring to know when and if AWD is kicking in.

Well, the Ford needs to work with the railroads better since they are paying customers. When I order something online, I imagine all of us get a tracking number and expected delivery in our Email. Now if you add are ordering a $40,000+ vehicle, I would expect effort from Ford and the dealer. There are lots of customers on here with no idea when their vehicle will show up.

I've always felt that Ford needs to set up a team dedicated to tracking and expediting customer and dealer orders so that there is clear communication on where the vehicle is at any given moment. With today's tech, this should be easy. Even with Ford Pass, I know where my vehicle is at all times. For decades, customers have been complaining about the delays and not knowing much in general either where the vehicle is or when it will arrive. So customer gets the feeling that Ford doesn't care. Now I get it that supply constraints make it tougher, but Ford can still communicate better and give the customer timely feedback. These super long delays with virtually no feedback are inexcusable.

Yeah, Payne's place is south of Traverse City on Crystal Lake or some other lake similar to that. I would imagine in a few years the situation will be better as lots of high income people seem to love BEVs. And that area has a lot of high income buyers, especially from Chicago area. They are probably salivating for the new Cadillac Lyriq with the flashy exterior lighting scheme. Or the EV6. Lots to choose from in next couple of years and all expensive.

Auto reviewer Henry Pane recently reviewed the Mach E taking it up go his 2nd home in Nothern MI and really complained about lack of charging structure up there. He even had to ride his bike up there to save range. Adding the cold temps and I wonder if that is good environment for any BEV. And charging station charge more than gas fill up in many cases.

Hey, Farley only has about 3 years to get BEV production up to 2 million/year worldwide.

This earthquake didn't seem too bad.....mostly 2 minutes of shaking and power outages. MI gets huge power outages all the time and in a few days it's back to normal. Hopefully that is the case as they estimate the damage.

Looks like Traverse City for BEV or maybe Petosky. I'm sure Gaylord Ford can make a nice living selling FSeries and AWD Explorer and Escape. Nice area up there for Bronco family also. And of course Ranger and Maverick. Ford has been losing market share for years now, and Ford dealer numbers have not dropped accordingly. So good opportunity for Ford to prune. Ford doesn't sell 250,000 vehicles/month anymore even before covid.

I believe Ford requires a sizable investment to sell and service BEVs. Many smaller, family owned dealerships will probably opt out of that investment and stick with ICE vehicles. As stated, most rural dealers sell mostly pickups and not willing to spend the required amount to sell and service BEVs. So over the next 15 years or so many Ford dealerships will leave the scene. Mostly mega dealers will be left.

With interest rates headed up, maybe a good time if you can find something on the lot that you can live with. Looks like 0% loan rates have limited life span as fed raises rates every other month. Six more rate hikes coming this year unless economy caves. Ford Credit just reported that very few customers are paying cash since they are giving free money basically. With the average new vehicle now costing $45,000 and rising quickly, rising loan rates will hurt for those who have finance.

Many other auto dealers pull this stuff also. Subaru dealer by me does it.....one reason why I went from Crosstrek to Escape. Dealer had $3,000 markups on their stock even before covid and chip shortage. No way was I dealing with this dealership. Ditto for Mazda closest to me with big markups on CX5. Ford dealer by me treated me fairly with no surprises. Now I notice this same dealer since chip shortages marking up Escapes over $2000 over sticker. To give them a break....very small dealer with maybe 10-15 used vehicles on lot and never have more than 50 new vehicles on lot since covid.

My girlfriend during Fox Body time had a 1991 Notchback with 225 hp 5.0, and that thing was super quick. Very light and power to weight ratio must have been very good. It was significantly quicker than my '83 Convertible. Mine felt like an anchor compared to hers.

Too bad the tour doesn't include the new Lightning plant next door. Hopefully it will in the future as retail production begins shortly. Wonder if new plant has catwalk system to accommodate tours as ICE plant does.

Good post. Too bad Ford doesn't have the power to standardize dealer practices so that we don't have one dealer charging $695 in document fees and another almost nothing. Or one adding in all kinds of bullshit add on fees and another nothing. Dealers have all kinds of ways to add more revenue without gouging consumers. Many you listed above. For example, Mullinax has 2 times more used vehicles on lot than new. And the value of them is up 40% year over year. So to screw consumers on buying new is short term greed in the extreme that consumers won't soon forget.

Great looking 5.0 Fox body. Love it. Mine was triple black with red pin striping and the slot wheels with the Michelin tires. Only mods were bigger Holly 4 barrel replacing the Motorcraft for better throttle response. And headers so it could breathe better. Sold it in 2000 for $3,500. Never tired of that unique 5.0 burble. I know you probably enjoy yours. I'm jealous.

Yeah, I had an '83 Mustang Converible 5.0 and had passengers in the back seat many times. Of course, back then we were young and lean and fit in everything better. And in the summer the top was down all the time with great headroom and burbles from that 5.0.

I believe ACE Hardware advertises auto remotes at cheaper prices. I would try Home Depot also.

I go for the option as to keep the price within reason as in affordability. But AWD should be available. Porsche has been offering AWD as an option on the 911 for decades. AWD should be standard on the GT500 and other high end Mustang models with a delete option and credit as it will add weight.

I'm starting to wonder if hybrid supply chain issues are actually worsening. I haven't seen a new Escape hybrid in months. Lots of 1.5 Escapes are still out there, but zero hybrids. Either Ford has a ton of hybrid orders, or Ford just can't build many adding to an even longer wait. Or both....most Escape orders are for the hybrid only and the 2.0 who need to tow.

Ford has stated that only CONVENIENCE features will be deleted. Safety features of course will not be touched. Many convenience features are rarely used. For example, how many times are rear seat HVAC controls used as 90% of the time only driver in the car. And HVAC in the rear is a luxury feature most vehicles don't have. Or lighted cup holder. Nice feature, but not a big deal to lose. I get it, convenience features become expected over time, but most of us have never had these features if we are old enough. My last car had auto dimming mirror and puddle lamps, and my Escape doesn't. Hardly notice the difference now. So IMO Ford is dealing with supply chain problems in right way.....delete comfort features, give a credit and chance at getting the feature at a later date. Beats parking the vehicle for months outside as before.

Congrats. Wise decision in today's market.

Don't think it's a good idea to tune out economic and foreign policy news. Now as for Hollywood and sports news, I could care less. I also care if my freedoms are being taken away. Don't care about political theatre either. And I care about local news that affects my community and state. So yeah, I know how to glean important news from the superfluous that sometimes infects the media at whatever level. For me, the last 6 years of news has been soulcrushing. Hard not to notice. Kind of like witnessing a 100 car pileup on the freeway that could have been avoided.

So you think what Ukraine is going through right now is exaggerated by the media? Schools, hospitals, and residential areas being blown up. Fleeing civilians being shot at by Russian soldiers. Ukraine soldiers fighting back. Cities slowly being destroyed. 2.8 million so far escaping to safety. Chances of war widening growing by the day let alone nuclear power plants melting down. What a heartbreaking, soul crushing tragedy.