Louisville Joe is right on the money.

One thing I would add is that the US version of the Focus is obsolete and the newer model has been sold in Europe for more than a year already. When, if ever, are they going to get serious about entry-level cars again? Toyota did not take the market overnight. Many people form brand loyalty at a young age. That means selling young people cars with low profits and getting them into higher priced models as they get older. A real sad thing about the Ford brand is that you can buy a Mazda 3, which is nearly identical to the Euro-Focus in the US today.

Jim

 

Well take away trucks an SUVs away from Dodge an GM there gone as well. Sorry but you guys excuses are pretty lame. You guys must definitly own some Toyotas the way you talk. The idea that Toyota is perfect an Ford isnt is a crock. Ford is in the car business they have great new cars an can compete very well with Toyota. Toyota made them wake up an they did. Comsumer reports has probably done more damage promoting foreign cars then the domestics. I have read that magazine for years an lo an behold the cars they have said should avoid I have bought an have been the best vehicles they ever own. One thing is clear trucks an SUVs are the profit makers. 900,000 trucks an several hundred thousand SUVS sales a year. Its critical that those vehicles sell. F seres has been fords biggest profit center for the last 50 years sice they have had the F-series. Ford would have to sell 4 times the cars on what the trucks make. The same way with GM an Dodge. I am surprised on a Ford site I have yet to read one thing bad about Toyota. You guys are kind off like the news media Toyota can do no wrong an Ford can do no right. When the smoke clears if gas prices would have stayed cheap an Fords big vehicles SUVs sold like they did for years. We wouldnt be having this dicussion. When the SUVs quit selling Dodge,Ford an GM are all in big trouble.

 

Difference is Chrysler is making a move into the car segment with some new entries. The 300 is still doing well, they have also announce plans for adding the stretch 300 and Charger seems to be doing ok, and now they have announce plans to move into the pony car segment which is a Ford strong hold. We see signs of them moving forward into the transmission hybid group and diesel group with a V6 and small V8 diesel.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../60807009/1041

Where and when is Ford going to get something that can compete on the street with this line up? And don't use the Mustang argument either, the Mustang can not be the answer for everything.

GM is already established in the car market as they sell more than anyone in the world. They are also moving in the tranmission hybrid business which makes a lot of sense.

So were does this leave Ford?

Can Ford actually compete with the likes of Toyota and GM in the car segment? The up and coming Chrysler car offerings?

I don't see any signs right now of them doing it (not talking simply about sales but overall) and I don't have any indication that things are going to change as I don't see any long term car segment plans for Ford that is any different than they have right now. If anyone has any info please share, until then, stock at 7 dollars a share, credit in Junk status and no long term stratigy in the car segment, (which I believe is very important as someone has to start competing eith Toyota who just posted a 19% increase in sales)

To tell you the truth, if I were looking at a FMC car, it would the mercury group. They just look better to me. It is simply my view that Ford is in the ditch and doesn't have any plans to pull itself out. I'm surprised we don't here any take over rumours.

 

Do not forget Toyota's trucks are up few percents! Existing Tundra has higher consumption than Ford and Gm, it is smaller, can pull only 6,000lb, it costs more... Ok why people are buying Tundras?

 

The 500 an Fusion an 500 compete very well with Dodge. The Fusion is outselling the 300 as off last count. Dodge is having a difficult time moving inventory. There nimber off days inventory are way higher then Ford is right now. They have even had to shut there truck plant down close to 2 months to clean out old inventory. None off you guys own Ford cars do you. Its easy to critisize when you dont own the product. To me Toyota cars are the blandest uninspriring vehicles on the road today yet they are big sellers. Give me a break you guys dont own Fords an never will. You could care less about Ford cars. GMs car sales are actually down compared to Fords. It must be bash Ford day. You guys must wanna see Ford fail. So do you guys own a Ford car currently answer me that. Last i checked Ford car sales are up about 15% because off the new models. Oh guys I guess you guys didnt see that stat. You just here Toyota news.

So why is Toyota better then Ford. Give me your reasons. Its all percieved no basis in fact.

 

I think something needs to be understood here at least as far as truck sales go. First it was a huge drop for Ford but on a year to date bases they are only down 12.3%. If that trend would continue for the rest of the year Ford sales drop about 120,000 units. That was the total amount of Tundra's sold all of last year.

The thing people need to remember is that Ford and GM totally dominate this market accounting for almost 80% of the sales. Either company by itself sells more trucks the everybody else combined. In a way I feel sorry for Toyota trying to launch a new truck with gas prices still expected to go higher through the end of the year.

 

I think G.M. is in the process of putting more emphasis on cars, like Chrysler has done. The next Impala/Monte Carlo are going to be RWD, and the whole Pontiac line will be RWD as well. Ford needs to move inthe same direction. The Fusion my post larger sales numbers than the 300, but how many Fusions are dumped in the rental fleets? Seriously, which would you really rather own? I like Fords, but given the choice between a Fusion or 500 and a 300 or Charger, let's just say it would be a very easy choice for me to make. Something to think about: My local Lincoln-Mercury dealer shut it's doors after 45+ years. A Subaru dealer is taking over the facility. Subaru.

 

The Fusion has sold 85k this year through July. The 500 has sold 55k. The 300/Charger/Magnum have sold 173k.

 

Stop by your nearest GM dealership and take a look at the new Suburban/ Yukon XL or Tahoe/ Yukon! I have a need for and have to have a large SUV. I recently traded my wife's 06 Expedition for a new 07 Yukon XL. One look at these new GM SUVs will give you an idea what the new GM pickups due this fall are going to do to F-150 sales. Ford is in big trouble!!! I am not a troll. I currently own an 05 F-150 and when I bought it I thought it was head and shoulders over my old 98 Chevy. No more with these new offerings from GM.
The GM dealers cannot keep these things on their lots and the rebates are small compared with the $7000 rebate on Expeditions. Want to know what that kind of rebate does to your resale value? Thanks Ford!
I could have bought a new Lincoln Navigator for around the same price as my new GMC Yukon XL with the hugh rebates on Navigators and chose the GMC. No comparison even with the Lincoln!
If Ford is in trouble now and they seem to be, just wait a few months and if things do not change, they may be bankrupt.
Glad I didn't buy Ford stock a few months ago when I was thinking about it.

 

Is it true that Ford is planning on dropping the Crown Vic? Will there be a RWD replacement? Or, just as Chrysler and now GM are re-discovering that there is a big market for RWD sedans, Bill Ford will prove just how out of touch with reality he is.

The Fusion/Milan/(Mazda 6) is aimed at the Camry/Accord, not 300/Charger/Magnum.

Jim

 

If you add the Fusion,500, an there twins the Milan an Montego there outselling thos Dodge products combined. The Fusion sales have been 97% retail. Pretty impressive for a new model car. Id rather have a Fusion any day off the week. Lots off local dealers are closing there doors off all brands not just Ford. Have you guys have ever driven Fords new cars. Looks are only part off the story. Driving those cars is another story.n Youd be impressed. Sorry but GMs SUVs the new models sold good early an now are backing up in dealers lots. High gas prices the culprits. So do you guys own any Ford cars currently? If Dodges cars are like there trucks I wouldnt have one. Nuff said. Ford is in the car business you guys must be living in a closet. I cant believe what Im reading on here.

 

No and yes

 

Oh...oh....oh...I know, I know.....


'cause Camrys are made in the good old USA and Fords are made in Mexico???
(on a Mazda chassis to boot!!)

How about the availability of 270HP???


How about Camrys are the best selling car in N. America (isn't that always the argument Ford truck zeolots use?)

 

[QUOTE=150ford]. Have you guys have ever driven Fords new cars. Looks are only part off the story. Driving those cars is another story.n Youd be impressed. QUOTE]

If they are like anything the magazines have said, they are quite boring, and uninspiring.

I like my Ford truckbut even I see that the Ford cars are not where it is at which is why we are having this discussion.

 

QuoteIf they are like anything the magazines said they are uninspiring. Quote. You take a magazines advice on what to drive. Really well ok each his own. Its easy to talk when you havent driven one or owned one. Thats whats Fords fighting peoples perception and as I figured none off you guys own a Ford car. Have no intentions to. If they were perfect you say they were uninspiring. Toyotas about the most uninspiring car out there yet they sell. If you guys are letting magazines tell you what to drive thats a sad state off affairs. So does nobody on this thread own a new Ford car currently. So far nobody. I really didnt know people let other people make there descisions about buying cars for them. You guys amaze me.