Motor Trend's Todd Lassa on Mulally

[Edstock]

"3. Scion having in-dealer support for the tuners was a very brave move...though I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that tuners after serious performance dismiss the Scion x-series in favor of Civics and others that have more motor potential. The xA and xB are seen by many as "poseurs", as most of their aftermarket support is aobut appearance. The TC does better, but it still takes more money and effort than the previous Celica to get real numbers...I consider axing the Celica to be a dumbass move."

 

Yes! These dudes influence the purchases of lots of people they come in touch with, so Toyota is wise to try for them.

 

There is a letter by Zora Arkus Duntov concerning the launch of the SBC. It has been posted previously on BON. Anyway, Zora points out that the availability of 'speed parts' will be a necessary component of the engine's successful introduction.

 

Worked then, works now, 50 years later.

 

I would like BON to ask Ford what they are doing about putting heavy-duty Haldex parts in the catalog, so somebody can get the parts to convert that 2-dr Focus into a WRC AWD sled with 300-400hp out of the 2.3 turbo. How about a transmission, too?

 

And really, all that's necessary from Ford is the transmission and the heavy-duty Haldex parts. The SEMA members are doing the rest just fine.

 

Because, soon, people are going to put a 300+ hp turbo kit on a 3.0 Fusion, and it's my impression that the Ford/GM 6-speed auto cannot be made to take that kind of power. Maybe some enthusiasts might like to make it AWD. It would be great if the Ford parts catalog allowed them to do that.

[ZanatWork]

I completely agree, although you know that I'd add the CD3 to the disappointment list, notwithstanding all of the little "plant-at-capacity" spin.

 

I'm kinda curious how a plant with a 250,000 annual capacity and 20,000+ sales per months constitutes a "spin"...so would the pretty phenomenal number of auto journalists that describe the CD3's success in increasingly glowing terms.

 

If the cars continue selling as they are...and they likely will...then additional capacity needs to be located, ASAFP. I certainly think the MKZ is a potential sell-out for 2007, given its A6-on-a-budget harware.

[dr511scj]

Funny, that's how Toyota beat Ford. lol

Really?

 

Toyota built crap like Tempo, Escort, EXP, exploding Pintos, killer Explorers (featuring Bridgestone tires), Iacocca's "little jewel" -- Mustang II (which came in 6th place in a six-way Car & Driver "Super Coupe" shoot-out back in 1974), 1996 Taurus, Contour (which describes what it did to the spines and legs of tall people who mistakenly ventured into the back seat), J Mays' "poser" retro Thunderbird, Festiva (although not really a Ford production), the collapsing-roof "O.J." Bronco, Grenada, LTD II, Elite, Mercury Bobcat, the two-seat Mercury Capri (courtesy of our Australian mates), Mercury Villager minivan, the grossly underpowered 2003-04 Mercury Marauder, the integrated-head Falcon 6, the 2.3 HSC (grandchild of the Falcon 6), the 1.6 CVH, the 6.0 PowerStroke (actually an International product), the 2.0 Mazda diesel (used in Escorts and Tempos, begging the question "which part of the whole was worse?"), 1980-82 Thunderbird/Cougar, the 255 (Windsor-style) V8, the pre-PI 2V 4.6 Modular V8 (great block, door-stopss for heads, the 2V 4.6 PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD . . . .

 

Who knew?

 

I'm kinda curious how a plant with a 250,000 annual capacity and 20,000+ sales per months constitutes a "spin"...so would the pretty phenomenal number of auto journalists that describe the CD3's success in increasingly glowing terms.

 

If the cars continue selling as they are...and they likely will...then additional capacity needs to be located, ASAFP. I certainly think the MKZ is a potential sell-out for 2007, given its A6-on-a-budget harware.

 

I'm sure the 30,000+ Americans who are losing their Jobs on a sped-up basis will all celebrate and drive a CD3 on the way to cash the buyout check or the job bank . . . .

 

BTW, how many Kentucky-assembled Camrys is Toyota selling each month?

 

"3. Scion having in-dealer support for the tuners was a very brave move...though I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that tuners after serious performance dismiss the Scion x-series in favor of Civics and others that have more motor potential. The xA and xB are seen by many as "poseurs", as most of their aftermarket support is aobut appearance. The TC does better, but it still takes more money and effort than the previous Celica to get real numbers...I consider axing the Celica to be a dumbass move."

 

Yes! These dudes influence the purchases of lots of people they come in touch with, so Toyota is wise to try for them.

 

There is a letter by Zora Arkus Duntov concerning the launch of the SBC. It has been posted previously on BON. Anyway, Zora points out that the availability of 'speed parts' will be a necessary component of the engine's successful introduction.

 

Worked then, works now, 50 years later.

 

I would like BON to ask Ford what they are doing about putting heavy-duty Haldex parts in the catalog, so somebody can get the parts to convert that 2-dr Focus into a WRC AWD sled with 300-400hp out of the 2.3 turbo. How about a transmission, too?

 

And really, all that's necessary from Ford is the transmission and the heavy-duty Haldex parts. The SEMA members are doing the rest just fine.

 

Because, soon, people are going to put a 300+ hp turbo kit on a 3.0 Fusion, and it's my impression that the Ford/GM 6-speed auto cannot be made to take that kind of power. Maybe some enthusiasts might like to make it AWD. It would be great if the Ford parts catalog allowed them to do that.

 

Excellent points. I wouldn't hold my breath, though. While you wait, check out the soothing environmentally-friendly music over at Bill Ford's new little corner of the WWW.

[Guest Sixcav]

No not really dr511, it was just a joke, just doesn't translate well over the internet where there is no voice inflection and facial expression. I understand there are numerous differences in the histories of Ford and Toyota. I was actually just making reference to the Tundra. It was such a knock off of the F150 style wise. Everyone knew it and the auto rags just made excuses for it. If Ford had pulled something like that the rags would have slammed them.

[ZanatWork]

quote]I'm sure the 30,000+ Americans who are losing their Jobs on a sped-up basis will all celebrate and drive a CD3 on the way to cash the buyout check or the job bank . . . .

 

BTW, how many Kentucky-assembled Camrys is Toyota selling each month?

 

 

Ohhhhh, I see...the old "it must be a failure, it's not built stateside!" babble. I hadn't seen that from your direction yet, but from plenty of others.

 

I guess all the Americans involved in its creation-form development all the way through the Americans that work in the Hermosillo plant-somehow don't count. It's absolutely amazing how many people write off the work of so many AMERICANS.

 

I can't believe that got thrown in...HAR! What other plants are set up to make the CD3 cars? No? How many COULD BE without hurting its bottom line?

 

 

Funny, nobody has EVER answered that...across a number of boards.

 

The Mexican assembly also gives the car tariff breaks in other markets...but hey, car guys know these things, right?

[dr511scj]

I guess all the Americans involved in its creation-form development all the way through the Americans that work in the Hermosillo plant-somehow don't count. It's absolutely amazing how many people write off the work of so many AMERICANS.

 

Question: How many "Americans" does it take to reskin a Japanese car that's already been in production for several years and build it in a low-wage Mexican plant? (not counting all the bureaucratic committees who decided to call Lincoln's CD3 the "Zephyr" . . . no . . . make that the "MKZ")

 

Question 2: How many "Americans" actually work at Hermosillo? Would it even be enough to fill one of Mulally's "Dreamliners?"

 

Question 3: Doesn't it seem a little bit odd that one can buy a Mazda6 assembled at Flat Rock, Michigan with UAW labor (i.e. fellow United States TAXPAYERS), while Ford's version of basically the same sled has to swim the Rio Grande, allegedly just so Ford can turn a profit? What's wrong with that picture? (Okay, so there were two questions)

 

Questions 5 & 6: Bill Ford's a big-time environmentalist--so does that Mexican plant live up to U.S. environmental and safety standards? And what about the supplier plants it supports South-o-th'-Border?

[ZanatWork]

Question: How many "Americans" does it take to reskin a Japanese car that's already been in production for several years and build it in a low-wage Mexican plant? (not counting all the bureaucratic committees who decided to call Lincoln's CD3 the "Zephyr" . . . no . . . make that the "MKZ")

 

Question 2: How many "Americans" actually work at Hermosillo? Would it even be enough to fill one of Mulally's "Dreamliners?"

 

Question 3: Doesn't it seem a little bit odd that one can buy a Mazda6 assembled at Flat Rock, Michigan with UAW labor (i.e. fellow United States TAXPAYERS), while Ford's version of basically the same sled has to swim the Rio Grande, allegedly just so Ford can turn a profit? What's wrong with that picture? (Okay, so there were two questions)

 

Questions 5 & 6: Bill Ford's a big-time environmentalist--so does that Mexican plant live up to U.S. environmental and safety standards? And what about the supplier plants it supports South-o-th'-Border?

 

 

OBOY!

 

1. Your question is irrelevant, as the car's structure updated (not just reskinned, sparky) for more interior space while the suspension was updated, and there's a pretty phenomenal amount of change from the "reskinning". Call over to Ford, and tell the Fusion team chief how little he's done. Be sure to publish the answer!

 

2. Actually, I'm tempted to send that question to Pioneer, who pointed out that they're more expensive per hour or something like that on a previous thread. He's a Ford employee that posts here regularly.

 

3/4. Way to ignore the tariff avoidance, and maybe the question should be sent to the UAW. In any case, I don't know that Flat Rock has 250,000 in "spare" capacity...and Mazda was already there.

 

5/6. Other plants in other industries down there have to comply with some serious standards, and it's not like the technology doesn't exist. Mexico is tryIng to host a huge amount of the industry, as Toyota and others also have parts operations either already going or being built.

Edited September 12, 2006 by ZanatWork

[dr511scj]

Allegedly. I love that word. Allegedly, UAW workers make $81 an hour, which has been proven false. It's proven false with the Mazd6 that the Fusion could be built in the U.S. profitably. Using Mexican plants proves Ford is just greedy.

 

You hit it right on the mark, Sir!

[ZanatWork]

So...I'm dyin' to see the business case that shows how the Fusion could be built in the US not just profitably, but without losing margin! As for Ford being "greedy"...only the truly, deeply, challenged would hack on a company swimming in red ink for protecting its profit margin.

 

I haven't seen anyone come forward with that yet. Is Ford supposed to kick Mazda out of Flat Rock? Would it have enough capacity for the CD3s? Would the margin be protected?

 

Then again, union logic has been...interesting...in its approach to the profitability of other industries as well.

[dr511scj]

Flat Rock and Mexico are the only two places in the whole Ford empire where the CD3 could be built at a profit?

 

And how is it that DCX builds three-shifts of Calibers at Belverdere, Illinois, without going to the poor-house?

 

BTW, does Ford have any moral obligations to its American workers? Or in search of the sacred "margin" should they just off-shore everything (engineering to Japan, Korea and India, assembly to China . . . advertising and customer service to India (after all, they speak English, don't they?) . . . ?

 

What if everyone in American business followed Ford's lead?

 

"[O]nly the truly, deeply, challenged would hack on a company swimming in red ink for protecting its profit margin." Maybe Mulally or Fields ought to repeat that "classic" when they sit down with Gettlefinger . . . .