As I understand it:



For Sales or profit or all included or something, the rankings are:

#1 - General Motors
#2 - Ford is swapping with Toyota
#3 - Ford is swapping with Toyota
#4 - DaimlerChrysler


So it looks like it is TIME for the biggest little merger in our auto world:
a merging of equals, of FORD to GM,
to stop the rumors of GM or FORD going bankrupt,
to prevent an offshore company take-over(like DaimlerChrysler),
to take and hold the #1 spot proudly,

Ford Motor Company + General Motors Company = Ford General Motors
FG = finding greatness(among other more colorful metaphors )
Before you reply in anger, or mildly amused confusion, think of the line up:

Ford GT (over 100,000$)
Chevrolet Corvette (under 100,000$)
Cadillac divsion(market it to the "when you leave work you drive a" crowd)
Lincoln division (market it to the "when at work you drive in a" crowd)
Pontiac GTO (no need to bring back F-bodies)
Ford Mustang (no need to bring back G-bodies)
Ford 500/Mercury version(2 tired to think!)
Chev Impala
Ford F150, SD, and Ranger, Expedition
Chev/GM Silverado, Colorado, Canyon, Hummer

The Ford/GM line-ups would merge so well!!! and put the fear of GOD into competitors(DURAMAX/6SPEED in a SUPERDUTY, WHA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!)

Compared to DaimlerChrysler:
Viper
Magnum
Charger
300C
Neon
(brain tired, cna't think otter car names)
Ram & Dakota

Compared to Toyota:
Fast Car?
Cheap Fast Car?
Corolla
Echo
Tundra & Tacoma

One-Stop truck shopping down at your local Ford General Truck Dealer
One truck with integral trailer brake controls & On-Star in any GVWR you need

I know I'm forgetting a lot of vehicles, but what a good basic start to the line-up! I know my Toyota and D/C lineups are meager, please add to them.

I want to see your take on how the FORD/GM lineups would be integrated, and what cars/brands would you drop from production.
I've already mentioned the Duramax & 6SPD in the SuperDuty, what new product would you create with parts sharing? (This oughta be good...real good.

 

I named it Ford General Motors because DaimlerChrysler sounds stupid to me(makes me think of "DamesCry"), shoulda been alphebetical ChryslerDaimler. So I went alphabetical, and the initials are great, I mean, come on, we all know FG is BLANKING GREAT
For Good
Fix Good
Found Gold
ForeGone(conclusion I'll buy one!)

And I thought GENERAL FORD sounded too much like GENERAL ELECTRIC.

Although we could name it the shorthand company:
FoMoCo + GeMoCo = GeMoFoCo (HEE-HEE )

 

No disrespect but why would ford want to hook up with GM? In my opinion FORD vehicles have much better quality. Also, why hook up with a sinking ship??

 

I think a merger would be a terrible decision and lead to their downfall. The size is a lot of GM's problem. The bureauracy in a very large company inhibits innovation and fresh ideas. By the time a fresh idea goes through the committees and managers, it has been changed so much and diluted that what started out as a great idea ends up being something like an Aztec.

 

whatever happened to diversity, why should the 2 of the big 3 manufacuters merge, it would be stupid, less to choose from and it just wouldnt be right. it would be like trying to a square block in a circle hole,

 

I think it would be great really. I think it would bring back pride as a general US company name rather than all the division of Ford vs GM. I mean I think both companies were so concerned about beating the other one out that they forgot about Toyota and they just blew right on by. "Right now leaving a sinking ship" ford can't say much, they went down to Toyota before GM did "hello?". Worst case senerio is that GM has to cut companies and go down to the size of Ford. You all act like GM is going to fall off the face of the planet. Which I highly doubt. It is just a ford lovers dream and gives you all something to speculate on.

 

Ford GT (over 100,000$)
Chevrolet Corvette (under 100,000$)
Cadillac division(market it to the "when you leave work you drive a" crowd)
High-end SUV & Sports Sedan market?
Lincoln division (market it to the "when at work you drive in a" crowd)
High end Luxury Sedan Market
Pontiac GTO (no need to bring back F-bodies)
Ford Mustang (no need to bring back G-bodies)
Ford 500/Mercury version(2 tired to think!)
Put a 3800 in one and watch it fly?
Chev Impala
Leave this as the 5300 model for the gearheads
Ford F150, SD, and Ranger, Expedition
Chev/GM Silverado, Colorado, Canyon, Hummer

The Ford/GM line-ups would merge so well!!! and put the fear of GOD into competitors(DURAMAX/6SPEED in a SUPERDUTY, WHA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!)
But would the truck have independent or solid front axles? Be kewl if they offered both...in both trucks (there's a use for either design).
One-Stop truck shopping down at your local Ford General Truck Dealer
One truck with integral trailer brake controls & On-Star in any GVWR you need
In two sizes, the handy take home size (Silverado), or the mac-daddy no-excuses size (SD).

Wouldn't be that bad- GM has a lot to offer in chassis/engine design and quality control, Ford could show them how to style an interior/exterior. Now if we could just get Toyota to build 'em.

 

Thats stupid merging GM and Ford together. Were's the competition in that.

 

As much fun as it may be to entertain this idea, I think it'd be a bad move for both companies. There are way too many psychological aspects involved. Alot of folks would feel alienated or betrayed. Sure, there'd be a few open minded folks who would enjoy taking advantage of merged ideas and technology but it would'int be enough.

If your talking of preserving the current car/truck lines, then whats the point of mergering aside of increasing profits by eliminating incentive competition? They already share some technologies so that's almost no benefit to the consumer for a merger. If your talking of integrating product lines (Super Duties with Duramax diesels), you risk losing the guys who wanted a Silverado with a 6.0PSD.

I'd say DC would benefit most from a merger like this. Regardless of whether they're domestic or not, they are precieved to be and that's all that matters. What's more, they would not be seen as "sell outs". And they still have Cummins going for them.
I could see many an alienated GM or Ford buyer finally being turned to Dodge for the reason of seeing GM or Ford as sell outs to each other along with the fact that the Ram is the only truck which comes with a Cummins. I can't say about cars, but I think a merger would hurt both in truck sales.

 

This was meant in fun, to imagine the best possible outcome of a merger, not the worst outcome. So be creative, instead of reactive, ok? polarbears shared his take on the idea, anyone else?

 

To polarbear:

Silverado with PSD, trailer brake control, On-Star, Quad steer, solid front axle or IFS
SD with 6.0, trailer brake control, On-Star, Quad steer, solid front axle or IFS
2WD Silverado SS with V10 supercharged 6Speed
Ranger with inline 5cly eng and 6Speed
SSR with a 500hp 5.4 supercharged Triton
F150 Lightning with quad steer

 

In all fairness, all of the above examples (with the exception of quadsteer) can almost be had out Fords current catalog with some mix'n'matching

I don't think the best way for Ford and GM to attack Toyota is to merge.
Consolidating will only give Toyota more market share.
The best way to hit Toyota, and hit them hard, is to build products with equal quality and relaibility with some brand cache AND excitement.
Even Toyotas most extreme road car (Supra) felt far too much like a Camry to drive, quick yes, but not horribly exciting.
A 500hp Mustang with Toyota and quality and reliability anyone???
Yus Pullleeaase...

 

All the big three need this "to build products with equal quality and relaibility with some brand cache AND excitement" and now not latter.

 

Do you think it would work out as well as the AOL-Time Warner merger?

 

I don't think it would work well at all they have been in competition from the begining. This is the battle of who puts a better product or brand loyalty. Ford people wont want it if its got GM in it as the same with gm people.
Who ever bought who out would probibly do like Chrysler did with AMC only thing thats still remembered from AMC is the jeep. I see it this way yes GM is having its issues with money, recalls and all, but its American anymore thats the biggest thing.

Just my 2 cents
Curtis