156n3rd

GM has never been any good as far as I am concerned. They have built some good cars, occasionally. But their king shit attitude of dumping Chevy anywhere it felt like proves that the name isn't what it once used to be. The European marlket has some very goods cars being sold there, and the loss or gain of Chevy is not going to be missed.

It was announced in December of 2012 for the 2013 model year. I am but a simple man. I have owned over 30 cars since 1969, including 8 Fords. At present, I am disillusioned with owning a PT, but do not have any way of making a change. When I move to Scotland, I will have to buy SOMETHING to drive. The last time I drove there, 3 years ago, I drove a turbo-diesel Mondeo. It had a 6-speed and was very capable. I would not own something that large on roads built for ox carts. Many cars that are considered crap by one could be considered primo by another. That's why the make so many to choose from.

Not only are you wrong, you are stupid wrong. Top Gear chose the 4 X 4 Panda as SUV of the year for 2013.

Well, I have checked UK prices lately and it was 1.37 pounds per liter. For 12 gallons, about $65.00 or more. I really like the Skoda Roomster due to it's ratings, utility value and weirdness. That's just how my tastes run. My buddy, who lives in Melbourne, just picked up a 94 Falcon XR6 and he's replacing many parts to get it up to snuff to be a daily driver. It really looks good in a meduim blue and he is thrilled with his progress so far. I have had issues with the Focus. I have a bad back and getting in and out is a problem. So is the seat placement and the comfort level.

As I mentioned on another thread, I have been spending too much time on facebook. I have been out of the loop with newer American products because I have no need nor intention to buy any. I have been researching products sold in the UK for the Scottish market because we will be moving there in the summer of 2015. That's where my wife's family lives and we will join them to live htere. In that market, the Fiat Panda is highly recommended. Ford products are very expensive there and I would have to be sure about pricing on any of them. I know that we must have a small and efficient car whatever it may be. The U.S. market is just getting a taste for them now, but they have been the mainstay there for years. Smaller roads, higher fuel prices makes for much smaller wheels.

I have to admit that I spend too much time on facebook. I have been out of the loop regading certain models and their comings and goings. I have been concentrating on cars that are sold in the UK as my wife and I will be moving there in the summer of 2015. My step daughter lives in Scotland. She's a nurse and drives a 318i. I will be conctrating my purchase efforts on something very small, good on gas and cheap. It's the Scottish way.

Lee Iaccoca once said that having fleet sales represnts a product demonstration every time a car is driven by another person.

Holy shit. I am so confused. That explains one thing anyway. But I stick by my reasons for the death of the PT. I have been schooled. GM killed that one quietly.

Yikes! I just read that Lancia is being brought back to the UK for the first time in 20 years and they have panned them completely. A publication called the telegraph says that Fiat should allow them to stay dead.

I have read the publications from the UK that do not say they are junk. But in any business, OPINIONS sell. I have been told that Fiats are scrap in Italy, but certain models sold in the UK are rated highly. One example is the Fiat Panda. I use the UK as a comparison point because I will be living there in the future. By revision, if you mean content, I doubt their models have any less than American cars. They could have sold them as Lancias, Alphas and Fiats and eliminated the lower model and middle junk they have been selling. BUT, when it comes to the PT, I do not agree with anything said about the SSR and HHR. Pt's were de-contented and cheapend in 2005 which was done to save money and get higher profit per unit. This process was the impetus for their lagging sales. With all the ownership switiching, upgrades were swept away. HHR is still with us, it still sells and was designed by the same guy who did the PT. If Chrysler would have improved the fuel consumption and put back things that were removed. I know of many, many people who would have continued to buy them. I am on my 2nd and many others own multiple units and are looking for more. They are represented in clubs around the world for good reason. They are sturdy and fun to own. You can knock them all you like. If you never owned one, then you just plain may not appreciate it.

akirby, I would appreciate you're NOT telling me what I should or should not do. I began this thread to talk about one topic. I am not in business and have no inention of doing so. I merely wanted to discuss the subject. I am pleased with the responses that were shared here, they show real knowledge. Whereas I still do not agree with all the data, it is my priviledge to feel what I feel and articluate same.

The F-150 is the top selling truck in the land. Therefore, any argument made here against the Fusion is all wet.

PT sales dropped as a result of the unwillingness of engineering's desire to stop improving. Of course they will stop building. The Magnum, yeah, you're right. But, Chrysler still needs car of all sizes. What damaged the Neon name? It was just pulled by people who decided to replace it with a model that was DOA. When I say re-bagde I mean just that. Tooling? What tooling? Badges!

Sorry, I cannot understand why there are so many negatives about being on top. Dropping prices? Makes no sense. Manufacturing issues? That cannot be true. If you sell the top selling unit, you make it happen and sell and build more. And I can't discuss the original Taurus, which only sold 8 million! Ford did screw that up but by making the design crap. I have never heard of anyone NOT wanting to be ON TOP! Your reasons are silly.

All of your arguments make perfect sense. But what about pride in the name of Ford? Being number one in any competition is a coveted position to attain. When you stop trying to be the best by NOT trying to be, it shows in your customer loyalty base. Toyota is a pain the ass! It steps all over Ford in one of the most segments right here at home. The Camry is ugly. It is not like it is a trphy car. The Fusion has real beauty. Why WOULDN'T car buyrers NOT want one? Anyone whjo thinks being number one in this segment is blinded by odd values. Ford is American. It beats Chevy. It should beat Toyota too.

Nick, you hit the nail on the head. And, those models have been proven all over Europe, not just in Italy.Meeting U.S. regs has already been done with the engines in the Fiat 500. mercedes and Cerberus (whatever than name is) ruined Chrysler further than what it was before Fiat took over. But Marchioone thought he could use domestic money to shore up the Italian operation. That might have worked with less stupid Jeep models and the caliber, OMG, what a POS! I test drove one before I bought my PT and found it to feel like a Russian taxi cab. Poorly laid out. You can't hope to sell junk. There are several Lancia models that do just fine in Europe and the UK whcih could have been badged. The same can be said for Fiat. But I know how bad their rep is and it's just too bad that Chrylser is what it is. Trucks and Jeeps are one thing. The 300 and the Charger/Challenger are not enough. bring back the Magnum, even the Neon would have been welcomed. Just like the PT, they cut the Neon while it was still viable. But all companies do the same thing. Shucks!

I feel that by being number one in the most important model on sale in this country, that Ford would be able to move up on other models as well. It has to do with selling the best car, which is the Fusion, and having the support to achieve it. The Camry still looks like yesterday's news. Being number one is about proving that an American car should be in that psotion. besdies, Toyota is just as afallable as GM and they do not deserve to be tops either. Toyota's design leave me cold and I am sure that Ford can and should do better. That's all there is to it.

I am sorry to participate in this topic so long after it was started. But I suggest that Chrysler is wasting it's time in building this car. Chrysler should stop building the 200 and the Avenger and they didn't have to create the Dart. They could have done something that would have benefitted FIAT in Italy and bring new models to market here. They could have done a GM. They could have brought over Lancias and Fiats and re-badged them as Chrysler's and Dodges to have an immediate impact on both markets.Could those cars be crap? Could they be worse than the crap they currently build? I don't think so. The idea is to sell cars. IF those cars they brought over were good, they could have built them here. As it stands right now, this company may still go belly up. Chrysler could have built trucks and Jeeps and floated cars over by boat and had a good supply of running. working sell-able cars to fill their market. The Avenger is an all-out insult to Dodges and passenegr cars everywhere. The Dart is something that looks like a used car, even though it's new. The 200 should have been aborted. That c-pillar looks like the Cruze (or vice-versa) but it is still ugly. It is a cheesy POS. People buying it have fallen for pricing. They say that's what sells the Avenger over the Dart. That only proves they still have no idea how to sell cars. They could have done it differently, but Macrhionne is feeding his ego and that may be a fatal error of judgement.

Toyota just keeps on holding the number one spot with it's Camry. I know how good the Fusion is and can't believe it isn't number one. I know Chrysler can't sell cars in this class because they haven't built one in years. Thye have cars being built in Italy they could use.Some very attractive and ecent models at that. Haven't they heard of badge engineering like GM? Okay, so they don't have a real contender and it is doubtful they ever will. GM has the Malibu, ruined by GM the last time they tried to tweak it. VW is trying to take over the world, but I doubt they will ever sell enough of anything in this country to achieve an in-roads any time soon. Hyundia/Kia have the Sonata and Optima respectively and while they do sell some, they are not in a positiion to become #1. So what is it gonna take to become king?

I have decided to do this over and simply ask.....why do the current Lincolns have such weird names? Whatever happened to the great names of the past? The latest Lincolns appear very Ford-like. They don't have bodies of their own. I know Cadillac hasn't built a classy car in years. It's a shame the Town Car had to die. I always thought it was a great American car. The loss of Mercury seems to have left a big giant gaping hole in the product line, causing Lincoln to be 2 different lines into one.

So, NOW is it possible to ask about the original question? I have read quite a bit about cars built in Oz. I just wanted a dialogue about Ford substutiting imports. What's it like in Alpharetta? Is the fishing good?

First, don't mock health care, that's what I do. Second, keep youir mind out of and off of my pants. I will see just how much YOU can take in the future.

Oh so this is amusing to some of and you think I need to be reprimanded. I think the interest in my underwear and what might be in them is very insulting. It's just too bad that I have to endure something like this. You're all so serious and dark. Why not grow a sense of humor. How old are you people? This is a car website, not religious instruction class. It's either too mean or not mean enough. What gives with you people? You like to lord yourselves over people who don't act the way you do. get over yourselves.

My apologies for coming across as rude and moody. I lost my patience and took it out on you. Sorry and thank you for checking for me.

In that case I will surely offer an aoplogy to Hoser 768 since I can see that I was short regarding his effort. You on the other, should still grow into maturity. I am certain it will enhance your experiences throughout your life. I am not a bully, I am intolerant of those who are crass, indignant and just plain rude. Have a nice day now.