Boeing shit the bed when they merged with McConnell Douglas and the MD executives took over and started slashing costs with no regard to quality or safety just so they could pump and dump the stock.   Mulally did nothing like this.

It wasn’t just to support mfrs - larger trucks and utilities are needed by business owners and large families and people who tow heavy boats and trailers.  And it’s just not possible for those vehicles to get the same mpg as smaller less capable vehicles.   I think it’s more of an unintended side effect of having to support those use cases.

We've been saying for a while that tightening the screws too tight on suppliers will come back to bite Ford, and we've been seeing it with warranty issues and supplier relations.

Rock Auto has several selections of Blower motors.....none are OEM. If it were me, I'd choose the Continental https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2002,taurus,3.0l+v6+ohv,1385771,heat+&+air+conditioning,blower+motor,6916

This morning's updated gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven)  $3.05 Regular (Cash) @ Gulf (No Change)  $3.15 Regular (Cash) @ Citgo (Regular Decreased $0.04)        

Thanks Firedog, I rotated the picture for you...Looks really good, I still can't believe you had to wait 3 years to get the truck, that is just crazy.  Did you ever find out what part or parts were holding up the build?

I think it wouldn't make much difference-everything being equal, a CUV based off a car platform already has a 1.5-2K upcharge over its sedan counterpart-so manufactures are going to try and maximize their profits vs competing in markets that are oversaturated. I'm sure the CUV market is already starting to hit that point, but who will be the first to blink and drop prices? 

Alan Mulally was from Boeing....jus' sayin'.....

Quite simply, the answer is both. The lobby groups were definitely there but it takes two to tango and the government of the day was sympathetic and willing to support manufacturers building larger less efficient vehicles all the way up to the GFC.    I wonder where we would be today if CAFE regs had been more reasonable for cars and slightly tougher  for utilites than Trucks…..water under the bridge but fun thinking about how the government basically legislated a pathway for most buyers to switch to Trucks and utilities.

If you mean the “law” that they have to provide parts for ten years, that’s an urban legend, not a law.