I'll have to side with 150ford on this point, the Camry is very uninspiring. If you have ever driven one, you know what I mean. People buy them as appliances, which is why bad drivers seem to buy white ones.

Those of us on these boards are, by definition, passionate about trucks and cars. We are not the target market. Automotive writers are more like us, not the average buyer. Ford needs to do whatever is necessary to find and satisfy the mass market that Henry invented in the first place.

Jim

 

My brother has a new Fusion and it is a awesome car, one of the best cars Ford's has put out in quite some time IMO. He looked at Toyota's, Honda's, but instead bought the Ford. It's has 50,000 miles on it without a problem. While I think Ford's making a step in the right direction with the Fusion/Stang, they really need to keep pushing the issue and come up with new cars, that are reliable and can compete toe to toe with the Imports. It's not impossible, I also think Toyota has some of the blandest, boringest styled cars, I've ever seen. But as long as everyone keeps buying them, why change?

 

I think Ford has several problems based in a lessened focus on the customer. They botched the 6.0 PS diesel. They've tried to fix it, and are apparently now blaming cutomers for the things they could not fix. That's a bad idea on a $40,000 purchase unless you can prove it is true.
They are attacking smaller companies that support older model that Ford will no longer support. That ticks off formerly loyal Ford owners.

Gas mileage is not a huge issue. If you're going to trade in a payed off F350 for a new Honda your understanding of economics is poor. The gas saved won't offset the payments required, and you chances of dieing in a car wreck skyrocket. It is not a good trade.

As for Chevy's... every time I look at a new Chevy I see mis-aligned doors, crooked fenders, irregular hood gaps, and I shudder to think what the engine tolerances are like if they cannot put a fender on straight. They simply do not have the same build quality as a Ford.

All that being said, why am I not buying a new Ford? They are too expensive. I can get a 5+ year old model that will work just as well and cost a fraction of the price. Pollution control, safety standards, NVH, are all good things in the long run, but they are simply running the price of new cars to ridiculous levels.

 

Want amazing???.......

How about me owning Ford's flagship sedan with 305 HP (Mercury Maurader) and getting spanked by v6 mini-vans........having same car nuetered to 119 MPH because Ford is too cheap to balance the driveshaft when installing 3.55 gears.....Uninspired is too kind!!!

While I don't own the new Shelby GT 500, let's talk about abortions;

A car that costs $42,000 will have 500HP, BUT WEIGHS 4000 pounds!!!!...So basically it has ALMOST equal straightline performance with a 400HP Corvette but gets stomped at the track (I'm only making the Vette/Shelby comparo because of the ridiculous price Ford chose to market the Mustang at)

How about YOU answer some questions??

Why can you get 270 HP in a Camry (again DESTROYING my old Marauder on the street) but 220(?) is Ford's top offering in the 500 or Fusion?

Why is Ford marketing 3 cars (one brand used to be considered upscale) off one front wheel drive chassis, while Toy and Nissan and Chrysler and GM still have some spirited rear wheel drive cars? Uninspired??


Please remove the blue oval blinders and maybe you'll understand why Ford cars are in a funk..........they're pitiful.

 

BS..........you have not driven the 270 HP Camry or even looked at the new styling. The thing has a 6 second 0-60 and it's a family car!!!

Even though Toy didn't have to do the major makeover, they did....there's a HUGE difference right there.

Your point about people on this board being passionate about their cars is mostly right on.............and that is EXACTLY why Ford cars pale in comparison right now............no passion. (with the only exception MAYBE being the Mustang)

 

I haven't driven the current Camry - but every other Camry I have driven is downright boring. The have no damping, they drive like a soggy turd, and I honestly couldn't care if it had 5000hp and hit 60 in 1/2 a sec.

I would much rather have a 4cylinder Mazda 6/Ford Fusion/Acura TSX.
Everytime a Camry is released they tout about how much of a drivers car it is - and I eventually drive it only to be seriously dissapointed. I doubt this one will be any different, but I will reserve judgement till I put my bum in the drivers seat.

 

I'll give you the Mazda 6 chassis has garnered many accolades.....but the old, tired Dura-tech motors are still a notch below their competition.

 

How new? My wife and I bought a 2005 Focus wagon in Nov 04. Haven't looked for another new car since then.

 

 

Maybe Ford should snag that motor from Mazda????


Or maybe even the 5 cylinder turbo from Volvo...........I drove my brother-in-law's S40R (?).......I came away impressed.

 

150ford,

You keep comparing Ford to Gm..You need to compare Ford to Toyota and Nissan, thats what the trouble is for Ford. Have you driven a Nissan Maxima (sleak, very fast and smooth) with 270hp and gets up to 30mpg on the hwy.. The Ford 500 can't compete with that..

When Ford had a great engine in the f-series pickups (7.3) they got caught up in trying to beat the Duramax when it came out(not wanting to give up market share in the full size pickups) and pushed the 6.0 out without long term testing and its been a nightmare for them.. Now it's a fight just to get a dealer to fix anything under warranty....all you need is one bad thing to go wrong like this on a grand scale, and your branded.. Toyota has had a good rep for years.. They always seem to back their product, and without hassle.

Just think about the Ford Expedition, it's getting a redesign that is going to be up against the GM products(Suburban and Yukon) which lead that market. At a point when gas prices are heading towards 4.00 a gallon.. I think Ford is going to have it tough.

 

GM an Ford both have Toyota an Nissan to worry about. Thats a fact. No two ways about it. The Fusion an 500 can compete with Nissan an Toyota very well. The Fusion will get 32 MPG. If everybody drives like they should. The speed limit an no faster. Why have more power. If you wanna go down the highway at 9oMPH I guess you better not buy a Ford car. Whats enough power anwhat isnt would you answer me that. Toyota has a good rep for years. If Ford had the best reputaition






now you would keep saying that. The highest number off recalls for cars was Toyota. Oh I guess you didnt know that huh. Well the newsmedia is pretty good about playing Toyota up an not mentioning there weaknesses.

Toyota backs there product without hassle. Thats up to debate. There replacement parts are much more expensive then the Big 3 so they better not need parts.

Like I said Ford an GM are both backing on the trucks an SUVs to pull them out off the whole.800 to 900,000 trucks a year between both companies. Theres a market out there for them albeit a smaller one.

Like I said have you owned a Ford car latly if you havent how do you know they cant compete. You really dont. Ford is making lots off changes. Changes are happening fast in the automotive business an Ford will be able to capitalize them..

Ford will never get things turned around if peoples perceptions off Toyota are they can do no wrong an Ford cant compete. When Ford is down an out you guys keep harping Ford cant do this they cant compete. Believe me Ford is competing an competing quite well. But if you have the mindset that Toyota na Nissan is the only way to go. Well thats your opinion. Consumer reports has done more damge to the Big 3 then any other American publication. I do not listen to what they tell me to buy.

 

You're missing the point..........if you're comparing two cars and one has a smoother, more powerful motor........which are you going to choose? We know, the Mexican built Ford Have you ever thought of how many jobs you're taking away fron the American auto worker by purchasing that Fusion???




Don't even go there.........please provide links or some other form of proof. Yes, everyone has their recalls, but Ford is the undisputed recall king.




Very well, and the American public doesn't listen to what you tell them to buy....sounds like a fair trade off.

 

I am not responding anymore to this thread. You guys are to funny. I just laugh when I read your posts. I really didint think we had so many Ford haters on here I guess I was wrong. Quote [Ford cars are a funk there pitiful]Quote. Thats a pretty strong statement about Ford cars isnt it. Sad very sad people have that kind off atitude.

 

Other then the Mustang, Ford cars are not that great. (I am not hating on Ford at all, let me explain)Fords big sellers are trucks, and they build one hell of a truck. Toyota's always built great cars and they big seller is cars. Now Toyota found a nitch in the truck market. In my opionon, the Toyota car drivers are buying thier trucks now too. No one is blaming the friggin oil companies. They are making butt loads of money right now and noone seems to care. Every time oil prices go up, oil companies make more money. They are killing the market for the American car companies. I thought us Americans liked big cars with big loud engines and a big thrist for gas. What happen to driving a car that was fun to drive?