Joe771476

You're right, there were no combination Freightliner/Dodge dealers that I know of. But it doesn't mean they couldn't send them to the other one. Well like I said, the MDC garage was loaded with Fords until around late 1990's/2000's when the class 8 biz was bought by Daimler/Freightliner and rebranded Sterling. Did you notice that the "S" was still squeezed into an oval logo? A Ford stipulation? Anyway, when I started seeing non-Ford class 8 trucks in the MDC garage/lot, I began to see Dodge and also Chevy light trucks. Ditto for CTDOT. Coincidence? Maybe. I think I noticed the same thing with MASSDOT. GM made everything back then! Detroit Diesel, Allison and Electromotive. Ford and GM are shells of what they used to be. And why is the logo for General Motors now gm instead of GM? Yeah I know, they wanted it to be more mellow or inclusive or modest or whatever. Talk about emasculation! Hideous. It's GM, not gm. I'm a Ford guy but come on! Ford just sold a bunch of F750's to the CTDOT which had been buying Freightliners and Internationals for the last 25 years. I can't believe that Ford OUTBID them!

Glad to hear that, but here in CT back around 1997 when they found out they couldn't purchase anymore Ford class 8 trucks, the DOT and the MDC water agency noticeably started buying Chevy and Dodge cars and pickups. They had been used to buying all Fords from cars to class 8 because it was convenient to do business with the same make/brand and dealers for 50 years! Before 1997, I can't remember seeing anything but Fords in the garages. They even bought Ford backhoes/loaders and mowing tractors! That's how loyal to Ford they had been. Chrysler/Dodge gained the most because when customers went looking to a new source for heavy trucks in 1997, Daimler (Freightliner and Sterling) had merged with Chrysler around that time. The Freightliner dealer(s) told customers, "Hey we sell smaller trucks and cars (Dodge) too!" I think the main reason why anybody buys as many Ford light and medium duty as they do is because of the aluminum rust free bodies.

If Ford does something stupid like abandoning the medium duty segment, then all credibility that they've accrued will be tossed out the window and they will kiss the class 1 thru 5 biz goodbye!

Recalls are nothing new to Ford. If Ford doesn't get their act together soon, recalls alone will bankrupt it! Check this out. I remember that it just didn't feel like it was all the way in PARK. I never knew about the decal though. Don't be confused about the term "Dodge" in the link/title. Here it means "avoid." How Ford 'Fixed' A Deadly Problem With A Sticker To Dodge The Biggest Recall In History - The Autopian

Yeah Bob! I was shocked when I read it the other day!!

Just came across this. I never heard of it, but when I told a buddy of mine about it, he knew all about it and how it worked! Bob or 7M probably do. Some Old British Trucks Had One Of The Weirdest Diesel Engine Designs You've Never Heard Of - The Autopian

Just another reason why I don't buy new cars.

Give them time.

too small? Last I read, the F-Max tractor is exported to Europe and Asia.

Another mistake!

Another mistake!

Too much gadgetry for one thing. Cars shouldn't need heated seats (get real) , backup cameras, taillights with weight sensors, parallel parking assist and other nonsense. I was just looking at lawn tractors at Home Depot just for laughs. I've had my Craftsman/Sears tractor for 15 years that I paid $999 for and which I plan on keeping for another 15! So one of the Ryobi electric tractors had a shiny metal button on the dash. Upon closer inspection it was for.......wait for it.........cruise control!!!!

I don't go to casinos much except for birthday parties at a restaurant or a show, since I don't gamble. They have new vehicles on display in the main corridor at Mohegan Sun in CT. One was a new Chevy Silverado EV for $94,000! I ordered two! Anyway the place was mobbed! Walking around later around 9 PM, I saw a Tesla store. While every other place was open, the Tesla store was closed!

Those are probably State of CT owned vehicles!

Of course we know back before the 1980's that Cadillac had the lock on the biz. But during the 80's Cadillac lost their luster. In fact even Lincoln ads made fun of the fact you could barely tell the difference between a Buick, Olds or Caddy. Limo builders switched to Lincoln and the ubiquitous Town Car --just like it's counterpart Crown Vic in the police segment -- became the new standard of luxury whether it was in Vegas or transporting high school grads to the prom. I don't see many Town Car limos anymore even though the owners held onto them as long as they could. Lincoln Navigators -- as well as other SUV makes -- and Lincoln MKT's appeared for a while but now it seems now that Hummers and truck chassis vehicles like the F650 are becoming the "standard." Anybody have any comments or observations they'd like to share?