Devodev

Good post...not to be funny though, but when the 5ft. fat guy is in the car and it's loaded down with so many people, does the car get the "clown car" squat? You know, where the rear wheels fold in a bit? Sometimes people all fit in a car, but the car is screaming for help. I could really imagine the Mazda 5's engine begging for mercy. Once again, for a load, the minivan becomes a must.

Very true. When I looked up photos, the first thing I thought, "Why didn't they just name it the Focus Wagon?" I understand why of course...plus "wagon" is another kiss-of-death name/style in North America just like being labeled a "minivan".

IMO, Yes and Yes. For the folks that really need a minivan, a lack of 3rd row leg room, low ride height (making getting car seats in/out more difficult) and less space behind the 3rd row make the Sienna the more practical vehicle. People I know (and myself included) cross-shopped the conventional minivan with the Mazda5 and although most liked the 5's looks and fuel economy, nobody wants a vehicle your kids will outgrow. However, if you're a person with/wants a minivan that doesn't need all of the seating, etc., the smaller Grand C-Max may work, especially if there's some decent leg room (which the 5 didn't have either). Guess we'll have to see how Ford prices it as the Sienna can get pretty pricey.

I agree, for folks like us that are into cars, the experience of having a car for my boys will be/is much more than just transportation. My oldest is a Gen Y'er and while he sold the V8 '93 T-Bird I gave him because he said he couldn't afford the gas, he's looking for a peppy V6 to have some fun in (hopefully at the track). But it is interesting that at 20, he's MUCH more concerned about a car's fuel economy and owning the latest technology than I even was...and the price of his tech toys certainly cuts into his car budget.

The car makers are salivating at this generation due to numbers and also because they generally can't delay gratification and love credit. It'll be interesting to see how the tactics change for attracting this buyer. Then again, maybe Google or Apple will enter the car biz and integrate every aspect of our lives...oh what a scary thought...

Heard a rumor that if the Explorer sees police duty, the 3.5EB is likely for a production version as well.

Wow man, I hated to read this as I used to have an '88 LX 5.0 that was black with a red stripe and loaded. And also like you said, I snatched the 5.0 badges off the side and there were a few times "car guys" would ask me, "Do you have a 5.0?" While the LX name does mean something to me, I have to admit that unless they brought back the possibility of owning a stripped down V8, it needs to stay away. That being said, I always hated the "Premium" or "Deluxe" names. I don't want the trim name of my car to sound like the fast food that I order. Mustang V6, Mustang V8, and special variant names work for me.

I agree, and I've had a spin in the base MKS and EcoBoost versions. I actually had to find somewhere to stomp the EB version. So for me, comfort would have more practical use in my urban area and bumpy roads. Now if I lived somewhere that would allow me to open it up and go around some curves, I may sing a different tune. I can't imagine Lincoln and curves even being in the same sentence in my Gen X memory, let alone my granddad's. :boring:

I think it's a good plan on Lincoln's part. Many companies overlook Gen X because they are sandwiched between the larger generations like the article noted. But the Gen X crowd also has a more recent memory of Lincoln's prestige. My dad and uncle had a Mark VIII and it was amazing for its time (it would even morph into a low-rider, the first "Transformer!"). However, right now my Gen Y son would not even think twice about the brand. Seeing cars like the MKS certainly grabs his attention.

I guess the DSG will be later along that 2014 or later range. Seems like the small cars are soaking up the Powershift transmissions at this point. I'd be more convinced on the new American "musclecars" getting one when it appears on something like the Vette first.

I agree. It's an '05. It's geared to scoot from a light, but from a roll the 3.3L struggles to pull the weight, especially when loaded. The 4-sp. tranny doesn't help in the downshifting dept. either.

Thanks, just learned something. Never owned a car with a manual mode and I rarely use it when I drive cars with it (too gimmicky), but you've just given me a reason to mess around with it. My Grand Caravan downshifts constantly with the cruise on with the slightest incline. Very irritating.

It's hard to pass judgement on technology as there is no wrong or right, just how it is used that must be questioned. Therefore the point you raise has some merit. The Fed. Reserve has had to make changes in its workforce as paper checks are no longer physically handled, coins and paper cash are used less. Therefore some folks lost their jobs. That's tough if it's your job. I feel for them FAR more than entertainers. However I agree mostly with SU-FI, things change and we always find ways to change as well. As a father of many, I consider it my job to raise my children to be part of the solution and not the problem so they'll be okay. For every door that closes, another is opening somewhere and they need to be in the front of the line to go through it.

Wow, as soon as I saw the thread topic and before reading the first post, I thought about the car that we called: The Bomb! 1980 Cultass my dad picked up for $50. The folks had the nerve to have duals on the car. After all these years I thought it was just our particular car that was that slow, glad to know it was all of those stinking things!

I agree with your assessment.

Yea, I'm a coast guy myself I guess.

I guess that's why the F100 rumors won't go away. OEs are really looking at how people actually use vehicles over what they just say they want, which is always tricky. Dealerships, Home Depot, etc. know exactly what they need so there's definitely a market for a decent sized 4cyl. truck. Plus CAFE rules or $3.50+/gallon gas will may create a market.

Yea, I don't understand that one either...

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I think the BEV Focus is all battery (I'm not that confident in battery technology yet to want that as my sole power source) so I would think the 1.0L would be perfect for those applications.

Oh my goodness that's probably the most funny thing I'm going to see all day. Good one...makes me wanna buy one and put Nolan Ryan's number on it.

I used to work at a sports complex right up the street from there so I can only speak to that point. That area is pretty hot for sports activities so that may not be such a bad idea and the folks working there would be making more than minimum wage. I've been through there recently and that whole intersection over I-96 has been re-done so something big must be in the works. I just have no clue as to how anyone would get there as I-96 from I-275 past Wixom Rd. seems like it's been continually under construction for the last 10 years.

Wow...got video = It must have happened.

Right! I remember the April Fool's joke. But what made it so good was that before April 1st, the Ford/GM rumor was flying out there (which is what made it a good joke).

Haha, truly...but I gotta see some video to really persuade me.

I agree but months ago I heard this rumor and didn't believe it. However it seems like there was something to the Ford-GM deal as I'm still hearing about it in other places. I thought the light-duty diesels were nearly ready to go for Ford & GM so I couldn't figure out why they were talking about doing a deal together this late in the game. Either way, both are out now (like everybody else), but we'll see if the new CAFE regs pushes things forward a bit.