Ford's Attitude toward American Buyers

[reball]

Opposite to some others who have posted here, I have come to Ford late in life after spending years in VW's and Voyager/Caravans. We are very pleased with our curent '02 Focus ZX5 and '03 Escape AWD. However, I see changes being made in the newer models that suggest to me that Ford believes American drivers want or will settle for dumbed down products..

1. First, I note that the new Escape (and Edge and Freestyle) have the handbrake positioned as a left-foot brake. All for the sake of a bigger storage bin or bigger cupholders! Think logically, the centrally located pull-up hand brake is an immense safety feature. Maybe I'm thinking like an old foggie, but if I'm driving with my wife or anyone else, and I have a seizure or stroke, in my current Escape or Focus, my wife can pulll up on the handbrake and at least slow the car down a bit. With those footbrakes,, the passenger is helpless to cut car speed. In my view, I think handbrakes, centrally located, should be mandatory in all cars. What a step backward.

2. Just as important, I think, is the ability of the driver to be able to select , in an auto transmission-equipped car, a reasonable lower ratio for descending steep hills or negotiating slippery mountain roads. Well, in my current Focus or Escape, there is a nice pushbutton for locking out the OD, but there is also a position 2, or 1 on the shifter. I can approach a downhill, maybe snowy or icy, at say 25 mph and select 2 and get fairly gently, reliable engine braking. So I look at the new Edge, 2008 Focus or Fusion, and I see PRNDL choices, and it appears that there is no way to effect a predictable downshift. I gather, from Edmunds.com test of the Edge, that if you select L at highway speeds, you get dramatic downshift to 2nd, and this is surely not good for the trans or engine, and on slippery surfaces, may be a dangerous change. Well, the obvious answer is that Ford auto selectors should allow D, 3,2, or L, but they do not. Yet, please everyone , look at the European Ford websites, and you'll see that even the Focus can be had with a much more controllable manumatic type selector. So what can I conclude, but that Ford decision makers are more interested in gimmicks and less interested in giving consumers the sophisocated equipment other companies are successful with. If I were to have to replace a car right now, in this current lineup, I see no Ford that suits me and would likely go to the nearest Subaru dealer for an Outback! Please, Ford, give us Americans credit for being on a par with our European cousins, and truly give us car choices that are really competitive. By the way, I've got nothing but praise for my Ford dealer (Marcotte Ford, Holyoke MA), and I would like to support them and the Ford company, so I'll give you a couple years to correct this trend.

[Roadrunner]

I'm iffy with you about the handbrake issue. But I do agree that a central handbrake makes the car feel more "exotic".

 

Don't get me wrong: I love the central handbrake on my Fusion, and it makes me feel like it is equal to a Toyota or Honda (which always have handbrakes). But I don't know if a Freestyle or Escape buyer will give a crap because those are utilitarian vehicles, IMHO.

[reball]

I'm iffy with you about the handbrake issue. But I do agree that a central handbrake makes the car feel more "exotic".

 

Don't get me wrong: I love the central handbrake on my Fusion, and it makes me feel like it is equal to a Toyota or Honda (which always have handbrakes). But I don't know if a Freestyle or Escape buyer will give a crap because those are utilitarian vehicles, IMHO.

Roadrunner, But to me it's not an issue of feeling "exotic"--it's simply a question of safety. Whether it be an SUV , sedan, or two-seater, it's a real safety advantage if a passenger can also apply a brake in an emergency. I can understand many people not caring much about this, I've been driving for 51 years and didn't take this seriously until a few weeks ago. I now think it is an important consideration, though I would probably be willing to purchase another car, even if it had a foot-brake, if other features were compelling.

[reball]

The only time I ever used an emergency brake was when I borrowed my friends Escort when we were in high school. The ensuing doughnuts were simply amazing.

 

OK, one more time, short and sweet--an emergency brake is a potential safety feature that ought to be as accessible as possible. Also, an easily downshiftable, controllable transmission is also a safety feature. Both are effective before the accident!

[MGallun]

meh, this post really makes no since.. nit picking about E brake and shifter? lol.. k

[Ovaltine]

However, I see changes being made in the newer models that suggest to me that Ford believes American drivers want or will settle for dumbed down products..

 

2. Just as important, I think, is the ability of the driver to be able to select , in an auto transmission-equipped car, a reasonable lower ratio for descending steep hills or negotiating slippery mountain roads. Well, in my current Focus or Escape, there is a nice pushbutton for locking out the OD, but there is also a position 2, or 1 on the shifter. I can approach a downhill, maybe snowy or icy, at say 25 mph and select 2 and get fairly gently, reliable engine braking. So I look at the new Edge, 2008 Focus or Fusion, and I see PRNDL choices, and it appears that there is no way to effect a predictable downshift. I gather, from Edmunds.com test of the Edge, that if you select L at highway speeds, you get dramatic downshift to 2nd, and this is surely not good for the trans or engine, and on slippery surfaces, may be a dangerous change. Well, the obvious answer is that Ford auto selectors should allow D, 3,2, or L, but they do not. Yet, please everyone , look at the European Ford websites, and you'll see that even the Focus can be had with a much more controllable manumatic type selector. So what can I conclude, but that Ford decision makers are more interested in gimmicks and less interested in giving consumers the sophisocated equipment other companies are successful with. If I were to have to replace a car right now, in this current lineup, I see no Ford that suits me and would likely go to the nearest Subaru dealer for an Outback!

 

The automatic transmissions in all KIA products (except for the entry level Rio and next step up Spectra) are predominantly 5-speeds with a Manumatic-like shifter.

 

Go figure.

 

-Ovaltine

[NLPRacing]

The only time I ever used an emergency brake was when I borrowed my friends Escort when we were in high school. The ensuing doughnuts were simply amazing.

 

MMM...Donuts...

 

The automatic transmissions in all KIA products (except for the entry level Rio and next step up Spectra) are predominantly 5-speeds with a Manumatic-like shifter.

 

Go figure.

 

-Ovaltine

 

I can see your point about the safety thing, but in utility vehicles, I would rather have the extra room in the center console. Getting cheap on transmission gear selection is getting annoying. As Ovaltine as pointed out, even cheap crappy Kias have the goofy manumatic stuff along with gear selection. Hopefully Ford will get with the program soon.

[Roadrunner]

OK, one more time, short and sweet--an emergency brake is a potential safety feature that ought to be as accessible as possible.

 

I agree.

 

But I also feel shortchanged, like I received a dumbed-down car, when I drive a midsize with a foot e-brake, because so many Japanese cars have handbrakes.

Personally, I see footbrakes as being more for the full-size car market.

[reball]

The automatic transmissions in all KIA products (except for the entry level Rio and next step up Spectra) are predominantly 5-speeds with a Manumatic-like shifter.

 

Go figure.

 

-Ovaltine

Ovaltine, Exactly--I think the same goes for Hyundai and so many other makes. If you check out the Ford.com website, go to world websites, and pick, for example Ford South Africa, you will find the Focus sold there also has a manually selectable auto trans. It galls me a little that Ford does sell in South Africa a better equipped Focus than the 2008 Focus will be here in the US, but we will get illuminated cupholders and variable colored footwell lighting!

[cheri/ck]

The list could go on and on. Why don't we have a better Ranger like is built everywhere else in the world? Why don't we have the European Focus? Why don't we have the new Mondeo? And, maybe some of those "whys" add up to why Ford is doing so poorly in North America and is profitable just about everywhere else?

 

I like the center console hand-brake too. Not so much as an emergency issue for the passenger but as much easier to use as a real emergency brake when needed for the driver. Since I mostly drive trucks, I have only had a few occasions to enjoy a center console hand-brake, but I have liked them. For one thing, the "emergency" brake is easier to use with your right hand than a foot and also to disengage in a split second when it might really be needed in an "emergency".

 

I figure Ford doesn't do it in North America because it is cheaper to put it on the floor.

[NLPRacing]

The list could go on and on. Why don't we have a better Ranger like is built everywhere else in the world? Why don't we have the European Focus? Why don't we have the new Mondeo? And, maybe some of those "whys" add up to why Ford is doing so poorly in North America and is profitable just about everywhere else?

 

I like the center console hand-brake too. Not so much as an emergency issue for the passenger but as much easier to use as a real emergency brake when needed for the driver. Since I mostly drive trucks, I have only had a few occasions to enjoy a center console hand-brake, but I have liked them. For one thing, the "emergency" brake is easier to use with your right hand than a foot and also to disengage in a split second when it might really be needed in an "emergency".

 

I figure Ford doesn't do it in North America because it is cheaper to put it on the floor.

 

I've only used the parking/emergency brake in an emergency once. My parents 1990 E150 raised roof conversion van (that had over 200,000 miles on it) had a wheel bearing failure on the front left wheel on the freeway while I was driving it going over 60 mph. The caliper came loose as the wheel & rotor were coming off the spindle. Since the brake pressure was gone, I had to use the foot emergency brake to bring it to a stop. I slowly clicked it down and pulled over on the shoulder bringing it to a complete stop before the wheel off. When we put the jack under the i-beam, the wheel with the rotor & caliper fell right over. I think I got pretty lucky. Point is, the foot e-brake can be pretty easy to use in an emergency situation .

[reball]

I've only used the parking/emergency brake in an emergency once. My parents 1990 E150 raised roof conversion van (that had over 200,000 miles on it) had a wheel bearing failure on the front left wheel on the freeway while I was driving it going over 60 mph. The caliper came loose as the wheel & rotor were coming off the spindle. Since the brake pressure was gone, I had to use the foot emergency brake to bring it to a stop. I slowly clicked it down and pulled over on the shoulder bringing it to a complete stop before the wheel off. When we put the jack under the i-beam, the wheel with the rotor & caliper fell right over. I think I got pretty lucky. Point is, the foot e-brake can be pretty easy to use in an emergency situation .

nlpracing, You did well in that tough situation. Possibly in that situation, the foot brake might have been even better than a handbrake, since you were able to keep both hands on the wheel. But I still think a centrally located handbrake, accessible to the passenger too would be better, overall. I notice you're in Texas, so probably my comments about engine braking are irrelevant in your area. In hilly New England, more control of the transmission is pretty important.

[BlackHorse]

I figure Ford doesn't do it in North America because it is cheaper to put it on the floor.

 

 

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

 

This one statement drives the nail right to the core of the problem with American automakers in general. They got by for too many years making cheap products and charging just as much as everyone else out there. But the American consumer is getting pretty sophisticated and will no longer accept the blue light special interiors of the 1970's, 80's and 90's.

[FLLMTR]

The issue comes down to majority rules. The majority of SUV/CUV buyers prefer the storage space and cup holders over an hand brake. You know, I don't even think the Jaguars and Aston Martins have hand brakes.

 

I have owned vehicles with handbrakes and vehicles without them. When I am driving my SUV, I see no need for the unsightly handbrake and get no function out of a manumatic transmission. I suppose it is a difference in priorities. Some vehicles are tuned for comfort and others are tuned for performance.

[MGallun]

auto shift in a automatic car is for them people who think they are cool.. it does nothing for performance of car, if you want to play with a shifter buy a manual lol.

[reball]

auto shift in a automatic car is for them people who think they are cool.. it does nothing for performance of car, if you want to play with a shifter buy a manual lol.

MGallun, Suggest you reread my message--regarding the auto shift selector, it's not a matter of being cool or getting extra performance, it's a matter of being able to select an appropriate lower gear for engine braking. Driver control when needed!

[Deanh]

The list could go on and on. Why don't we have a better Ranger like is built everywhere else in the world? Why don't we have the European Focus? Why don't we have the new Mondeo? And, maybe some of those "whys" add up to why Ford is doing so poorly in North America and is profitable just about everywhere else? May be wrong but I would think federal regulations here ( which are totally over the top due to predetary attourneys and consequent lawsuits at tha drop of a hat....SOME I will admit have merit though, but they do set a precedence ) are partly to blame as are crash standards etc which raises THIS question...wouldn't it be cheaper to mass produce a vehicle to ONE standard and sell a "world"car rather than specing a different vehicle dependent on its final destination?