Open Letter: Ford Motor Company's new slogan

[joihan777]

Dear Ford Motor Company,

I hope your company actually listens to fellow Americans.

I am a father and a husband. What I want most in an automobile

is safety & reliability. Performance, practicality, economy & style

follow.

 

As an American I wish Ford could one day rightfully own the slogan:

"The Safest & Most Reliable Cars In The World."

 

Please consider the 'family generation' when engineering your automobiles.

I would love my next car to be a Ford, more than anything else.

I felt pertubed to buy a foreign make for my last car because the Ford offering,

a Focus, simply wasn't safe enough to put my family in.

 

My first new-car purchase was a 1991 Ford Escort. I was young at the time,

but even then I paid attention to safety. BTW I loved that car!

 

My next purchase will hopefully be a Ford, but it needs to be safe!

It needs to be the safest in its class!!!!!!!!!!!

 

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION FORD!

 

Also, I would like nothing more than Ford consistently beating Toyota & Honda in reliabilty!

Where I live, in Northern California, most people consider buying domestic a huge gamble.

They swear by their Hondas. There is truth to their feelings. Please rectify this!

 

Thanks,

Johann in Elk Grove, CA

[J-150]

I think they need to fix all of those cruise control issues before people consider them safe

[suv_guy_19]

Dear Ford Motor Company,

I hope your company actually listens to fellow Americans.

I am a father and a husband. What I want most in an automobile

is safety & reliability. Performance, practicality, economy & style

follow.

 

As an American I wish Ford could one day rightfully own the slogan:

"The Safest & Most Reliable Cars In The World."

 

Please consider the 'family generation' when engineering your automobiles.

I would love my next car to be a Ford, more than anything else.

I felt pertubed to buy a foreign make for my last car because the Ford offering,

a Focus, simply wasn't safe enough to put my family in.

 

My first new-car purchase was a 1991 Ford Escort. I was young at the time,

but even then I paid attention to safety. BTW I loved that car!

 

My next purchase will hopefully be a Ford, but it needs to be safe!

It needs to be the safest in its class!!!!!!!!!!!

 

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION FORD!

 

Also, I would like nothing more than Ford consistently beating Toyota & Honda in reliabilty!

Where I live, in Northern California, most people consider buying domestic a huge gamble.

They swear by their Hondas. There is truth to their feelings. Please rectify this!

 

Thanks,

Johann in Elk Grove, CA

 

Well, Ford now does have arguably the safest cars and the best reliability among domestics....not really any noticable difference from any other non domestic company...If you took the time to do research you would learn those facts which you say concern you so much.

[joihan777]

Well, Ford now does have arguably the safest cars and the best reliability among domestics....not really any noticable difference from any other non domestic company...If you took the time to do research you would learn those facts which you say concern you so much.

 

 

From the IIHS web site, only the Edge is a top safety pick.

 

From NHTSA, the Crown Vic & 500/Taurus are 5-Stars.

 

The Focus is not as safe as an Audi A3/Jetta/Rabbit. Otherwise I would have bought one.

 

The Fusion has mostly 4-Stars.

 

And the Mustang convertible oddly lacks a safety feature most other convertibles have, a rollover safety system.

 

Sorry, but I sadly disagree with your statement as far as safety issues.

 

As for reliability, I state this on countless 1st & 2nd hand experiences where Toyotas and Honda outlasting, and

while giving their owners less grief than, Ford or GM/Chrysler. But I will admit I don't know of a 'definitive' source

on reliabilty issues. I sure as hell am NOT going to consider Consumer Reports. Do YOU have an accurate source

for rating vehicle reliablity? If so, please share!

 

I would still love for Ford to own the slogan: "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars in the World."

Edited April 29, 2007 by joihan777

[J-150]

The Fusion has mostly 4-Stars.

 

 

 

that would look good as fine print under the slogan

[suv_guy_19]

From the IIHS web site, only the Edge is a top safety pick.

 

From NHTSA, the Crown Vic & 500/Taurus are 5-Stars.

 

The Focus is not as safe as an Audi A3/Jetta/Rabbit. Otherwise I would have bought one.

 

The Fusion has mostly 4-Stars.

 

And the Mustang convertible oddly lacks a safety feature most other convertibles have, a rollover safety system.

 

Sorry, but I sadly disagree with your statement as far as safety issues.

 

As for reliability, I state this on countless 1st & 2nd hand experiences were Toyotas and Honda outlasting, and

while giving their owners less grief than, Ford or GM/Chrysler. But I will admit I don't know of a 'definitive' source

on reliabilty issues. I sure as hell am NOT going to consider Consumer Reports. Do YOU have an accurate source

for rating vehicle reliablity? If so, please share!

 

I would still love for Ford to own the slogan: "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars in the World."

 

Well, Ford's new commercial says...the most five star ratings of any car company...and the fusion is better now...it was changed for 2007....Roll stability control becomes standard on all cars by 2009, a year ahead of requirements....and they have not tested the 2008 focus yet.

[twintornados]

In a recent report, all of the cars in the Volvo lineup provided "good" rear crash protection due to their superior seating systems to prevent whiplash and other neck injuries. ( A "good" rating is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety top honor)The seat system in the Five Hundred/Taurus has the same system and it too was given a "good" rating. Ford needs to keep Volvo actively involved in safety designs and let the public know that the Volvo safety systems that the company is famous for are available on every new Ford.

 

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr040507.html

 

When you look at the site, see just how badly Toyota faired ....not one "good" for the entire lineup and alot of "poor" ratings in the "overall rating" category, but there is hope for them..it seems the Avalon has a good rating going into the 2007 model year.

Edited April 15, 2007 by twintornados

[joihan777]

In a recent report, all of the cars in the Volvo lineup provided "good" rear crash protection due to their superior seating systems to prevent whiplash and other neck injuries. ( A "good" rating is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety top honor)The seat system in the Five Hundred/Taurus has the same system and it too was given a "good" rating. Ford needs to keep Volvo actively involved in safety designs and let the public know that the Volvo safety systems that the company is famous for are available on every new Ford.

 

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr040507.html

 

When you look at the site, see just how badly Toyota faired ....not one "good" for the entire lineup and alot of "poor" ratings in the "overall rating" category, but there is hope for them..it seems the Avalon has a good rating going into the 2007 model year.

 

I hope Ford listens to your point because it is a good one. Ford should very well incorporate all of the Volvo safety 'DNA' into Ford vehicles. Only the Volvo derived 500/ newTaurus uses Volvo safety technology at the moment however. One of the reasons I bought a Rabbit was because the Ford Focus DIDN'T EVEN HAVE REAR HEADRESTS!!! That point jumped out at me from reading the IIHS article. Ford's decision to delete rear headrests was, I believe, monumentaly stupid. FOR WHAT? To save $50?? The safety of my wife & kids is paramount to Ford's beancounters! I think Ford chose to sacrifice sales to save money. I hope decisions like that are behind Ford. They would do well to incorporate all of Vovlo's safety genes. That would go a VERY long way in courting America's families. Keeping up the ever increasing trend in increased reliability is a good work too.

 

I don't agree with part of your post. Only little of Volvo's safety engineering is available on Fords.

Ford needs to produce: "The Safest and Most Reliable Cars in the World"

Sheesh Ford are you listening?

[MKII]

I hope Ford listens to your point because it is a good one. Ford should very well incorporate all of the Volvo safety 'DNA' into Ford vehicles. Only the Volvo derived 500/ newTaurus uses Volvo safety technology at the moment however. One of the reasons I bought a Rabbit was because the Ford Focus DIDN'T EVEN HAVE REAR HEADRESTS!!! That point jumped out at me from reading the IIHS article. Ford's decision to delete rear headrests was, I believe, monumentaly stupid. FOR WHAT? To save $50?? The safety of my wife & kids is paramount to Ford's beancounters! I think Ford chose to sacrifice sales to save money. I hope decisions like that are behind Ford. They would do well to incorporate all of Vovlo's safety genes. That would go a VERY long way in courting America's families. Keeping up the ever increasing trend in increased reliability is a good work too.

 

I don't agree with part of your post. Only little of Volvo's safety engineering is available on Fords.

Ford needs to produce: "The Safest and Most Reliable Cars in the World"

Sheesh Ford are you listening?

 

It appears the 2008 Focus does not have rear seat headrests.

 

Everytime a poster has a beef about Ford, the reaction is always "wait for 2009 or 2010 or blah blah blah.

 

Excuses do not sell vehicles

[Deanh]

awful lot of paranoia in this thread.....agree with the rear headrests, comparison of A3's and focus interesting, Volvo tech IS crossing over slowly but surely...and while I realize a LOT of people base their decisions on safety...how do you explain DROVES buying product that doesn't hold a candle to their domestic equivilents....that and HOW dramatic is the difference between 4 and 5 stars???? right or wrong I think people would be better off thinking more of their driving habits like OFF the cell phone...leave ADEQUATE braking distances and UTILIZE that little stalk that controls blinkers...THIS from someone that rides a motorcycle and witness's stupidity on a daily basis...but thank GOD their vehicle has a high star rating.........wonder if those ratings are paramount in china?

[TStag]

Jaguar may now be able to justify that slogan I think?

[Deanh]

Jaguar may now be able to justify that slogan I think?

lost me........

[joihan777]

awful lot of paranoia in this thread.....agree with the rear headrests, comparison of A3's and focus interesting, Volvo tech IS crossing over slowly but surely...and while I realize a LOT of people base their decisions on safety...how do you explain DROVES buying product that doesn't hold a candle to their domestic equivilents....that and HOW dramatic is the difference between 4 and 5 stars???? right or wrong I think people would be better off thinking more of their driving habits like OFF the cell phone...leave ADEQUATE braking distances and UTILIZE that little stalk that controls blinkers...THIS from someone that rides a motorcycle and witness's stupidity on a daily basis...but thank GOD their vehicle has a high star rating.........wonder if those ratings are paramount in china?

I can only guess why droves of people would buy less safe foreign products. I think they 'gloss' over the safety factor because they are wowed by the reliability alone. I bought the VW Rabbit BECAUSE of safety & performance. I refused the Toyota Corolla because of safety issues, even though the Corolla has great reliability. I think a lot of people are sooooo cheap that they would actually prioritize reliability OVER safety. Part of the reason I wish Ford could rightfully own the slogan "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars In The World" is to garner sales by giving people little excuse to shop elsewhere. A safer car would be a little heavier and engineering safety, even carried in from Volvo, would entail a slightly higher cost..... but to the prudent buyer that would not be a deterrent. Especially those of us with little ones!

 

FWIW, I used to ride too and I know what you mean. You'd think blinkers have been banned! And ever notice how the drivers who NEVER turn their heads to check their blindspots all look the same [dimwitted]? I've seen a Chinese made Chery crash tested...WHOA, never'll even consider one of those deathtraps!

Edited April 18, 2007 by joihan777

[Deanh]

I can only guess why droves of people would buy less safe foreign products. I think they 'gloss' over the safety factor because they are wowed by the reliability alone. I bought the VW Rabbit BECAUSE of safety & performance. I refused the Toyota Corolla because of safety issues, even though the Corolla has great reliability. I think a lot of people are sooooo cheap that they would actually prioritize reliability OVER safety. Part of the reason I wish Ford could rightfully own the slogan "The Safest & Most Reliable Cars In The World" is to garner sales by giving people little excuse to shop elsewhere. A safer car would be a little heavier and engineering safety, even carried in from Volvo, would entail a slightly higher cost..... but to the prudent buyer that would not be a deterrent. Especially those of us with little ones!

admire your priorities....and the Slogan WOULD be great bragging rights...don't think you have to cross your fingers on the Volvo safety crossing over..already seems to be happening...and for what it is worth I think out of EVERY manufacturer ford prides itself on it's star ratings...it may be one reason the Edge is considered "porky"....press doesn't give a rats you know what about that do they?....and beleive me...i would MUCH rather be in an Edge than a Murano or Highlander in a smack..

[joihan777]

admire your priorities....and the Slogan WOULD be great bragging rights...don't think you have to cross your fingers on the Volvo safety crossing over..already seems to be happening...and for what it is worth I think out of EVERY manufacturer ford prides itself on it's star ratings...it may be one reason the Edge is considered "porky"....press doesn't give a rats you know what about that do they?....and beleive me...i would MUCH rather be in an Edge than a Murano or Highlander in a smack..

 

Same here.... I talked my brother into buying an Edge for that reason. Personally, I'm hoping Volvo's pop-up rollover bars appear in the refreshed 2009 Mustang convertible, otherwise I have to shop elsewhere