stpatrick90

There are two versions of the RAV4 worldwide a LWB and SWB version (with less than 4 inches of difference). The SWB version is only available in Japan and Europe. The LWB is available in North America, South America, Australia, and also available in Japan as the Vanguard. The two versions share the same mechanical bits and even a lot of sheet metal (for example they share the same doors). Also the CR-V is the same all around the world. Additionally the coming CX-5 will be the same around the world.

I took a quick look over at the Ford Australia website and nowhere on there does it show a conventional 6-speed auto option, only the Powershift.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this assertion. The Lambdas are not leaders in any sense of the word. I recently went out and compared most 3-Row CUVs when I bought my Explorer. Given this I feel that the Highlander, CX-9, Explorer, Flex and Durango fulfill the best blend of dynamics, comfort, quality, and refinement. In my opinion the Lambdas drive much too like an early 2000s Grand Caravan especially relative to its competitive set; also the craftsmanship of the Lambdas was lacking in many measures, they actually reminded me of my 2002 Sable I had in this respect. I know that many of those measures are subjective and that overall in the grand scheme of things my opinion means nothing.

Some things never change at GM. It would take a lot of changes to make any of the Lambdas even palatable in my opinion. They are overly cheap feeling for the price they demand, especially when compared to the Explorer, Highlander, or CX-9.

And the front center mounted airbag! My link

For some reason when I look at this I see Avalon meets STS...not necessarily in a good way either. Something just seems off about it. It might be that the wheels appear seemingly small on it but I don't think it is just that. Nothing about it is groundbreaking in anyway and if anything it looks somewhat old already. Don't get me wrong there is nothing offensive or off-putting about it, it is just very pedestrian. Granted this is just my opinion.

It is simply despicable to compare someone to a monster such as that judge. It sickens me when people possess this level of arrogance and naivety, when people stoop to these depths to insult others it simply demonstrates a lack of maturity and an extreme irrationality. Also the other person's commit about Aspergers is equally distasteful if not more so.

My link

I think it is the hood because if you look you can see windshield wipers and also the grill/headlights.

Well there still is the Siri server crashes, the original iPhone 4 battery issue, and also OS X screen and security issues. To say that Apple gets everything right is a bit of a stretch.

Yeah I had a similar experience. My Focus I had was a manual and I loved that thing till the day I broke my left leg and tore my ACL. When you have major leg injuries you quickly learn that a manual isn't very friendly. Luckily I had my Cherokee otherwise I would have had to rent/borrow a car with an auto. From then on I have had autos.

Go to a better service department...

You apparently missed the part where I said, "If you weren't simply complaining for the sake of complaining you would still be making attempts to resolve your issues." I have no issue with individuals complaining about issues so long as they are attempting a resolution of some sort.

Simple answer, yes that is what I think you are doing. If you weren't simply complaining for the sake of complaining you would still be making attempts to resolve your issues. As for the topic of this particular thread I am hoping Ford makes some more announcements at SEMA surrounding the production timeline of the Fiesta ST.

Well truth be told I just dislike people who complain for the sake of complaining

Yes it is a widely known problem however there are plenty of people who have a Fiesta or Focus that have none of the issues you talk about so to pretend that everyone who has one is in the same boat as you is an over generalization. I have read about the "crappy" performance on many forums and as I already have pointed out there are people who have zero issues as well on those forums. I get that you are jaded by your experience, and understandably so. Yeah your car might have a crappy transmission but there are many people out there that have had great luck taking their car to another service department and actually getting results where their cars are fixed. I am sorry but I simply could not be happy with myself if I didn't try more to fix my car if there was something wrong with it, especially when another service department is only 20 miles down the road. You do have every right to complain but why don't you try to do more about it instead of giving up. Also I am far from upset, I could care less if you car doesn't work or even stranded you on the side of the road (not that I wish that upon you) but you keep complaining on hear as if one of us is going to fix it for you or that we should feel bad for you.

I am sorry but given the fact that you are not in the least willing to go to another service center to get your issues looked at relinquishes you of nearly all your rights to complain. Lets face it, some dealerships and service centers are just simply terrible and this is true across all brands. But your unwillingness to at least drive a short 20 miles to another service center is simply mind boggling. If you put as much energy into complaining on here about how 'terrible' your Focus is and instead invested that time and energy to drive to this other service center you might be surprised what you could accomplish. Is it terrible that your Focus isn't performing perfectly, yes. Is it terrible that your local service center isn't willing to properly look into your issues, yes. Should you at least attempt to have another service center look at it, yes. Ultimately it is up to you what you wish to do but I don't think complaining will accomplish that much.

Dude, bragging only worsens your case. I am certain that not all of your former cars have been gems either. Also trying to bring politics into a discussion about dealerships shows that you simply don't have an adequate defense of your original complaint. As for your original complaint, you claim that the dealership had "hundreds of loyal customers" if that were the case would the dealership truly be closing? The answer is probably no and lets be honest a vast majority of Lincoln dealerships have been struggling for years now. There is truly very little incentive - and for some there is no incentive - to buy a Lincoln over another brand and when that has been the case for awhile you see customer loyalty wane. I understand that it is inconvenient to have to drive further for a dealership but this seemingly hasn't prevented you from buying a BMW, so I don't fully see why it should be an issue.

Well actually the Ranger uses a 5 speed manual or automatic... Also the E-Series has both a 4 speed and 5 speed automatic available depending on configuration

More spy shots

My link

Here is a link to the Chevy Brazil website for the Blazer. I have to say it has gotten rather ugly through time... My link

I might be missing something but heated seats were still available post 2008.

I think he was merely mentioning the notion that as a company Hyundai/Kia are doing really well in the midsize sedan sector and that Ford, GM, Toyota, etc as companies are probably taking notice. I fully acknowledge that the two sedans should have their sales counted separately but taken together they do represent a threat and are encroaching on the perennial leaders in the midsize sedan sector. Like I said I am not suggesting that they should combine their numbers much in the same way I don't call for GM combining the lambda triplets either but from a purely business perspective a manufacturer would certainly be taking notice of said sales numbers, to think otherwise would be purposely ignoring the basic fact that while they sell under different brands, they are essentially the same product in the same market.

What he was getting at was the fact that the new Sonata and Optima share the same platform and powertrains. So while they do look different they share many of their components.