There are only a handful of people on FTE that I can think of that are objective enought to even discuss other brands rationally.

I consider myself to be one of them....which leads me to start this thread.


What does Ford dominate anymore? What makes it that people can be so blinded by a name???

When I first started loving Fords it was because my parents bought an LTD WAGON with a 429 PI (Cobra Jet) motor.

I remember Ford bragging about Le Mans and Cammers and the like.

When I bought my '83 Ranger V6 while in the USAF I laughed at Toyotas' puny 4 banger.

The '82 Mustang ads showed the CHP "chasing Porsches for a living"

I had a '95 Mustang GTS (a no frills GT) that I bought for $15K new.....I was able to add heads, cam, intake, suspension and kick butt at the track and still came in cheaper than the competition......Now we have $45,000 Mustangs....I don't get it.

There's more.....maybe for later.


What do we have now???

Maybe the best truck gasser in the V10.....I haven't seen it compared to GM's 400 horse 6.2, and I'm scared.


The toughest 1/2 ton? .....I agree, except the power sux compared to the competition.

Mustang GT...............WINNER...........kind of. Ford needs to do a stripped version like the old LX or my GTS.

Everything else we have to make excuses for their shortcomings.....and I'm getting tired of it!!!


It's my opinion that Ford doesn't have a clue of what America wants.....the Ranger WAS the best compact truck..........Ford has ignored it for nearly 10 years and it is now archaic.

SVT Focus............GONE. Doesn't Ford understand that if they hook the younger generation, they tend to stay??? (just come to FTE...LOL!!)


I won't even get into the Marauder abortion or dropping the Lightning and canceling the Adrenaline.


Tell me what Ford you think dominates.....like they used to.
Please don't bring in subjective views like styling etc....



To quote an FTE member, "Some people would buy a turd if it had a blue oval on it"..........and I agree.

 

Great thread, I'm sure it will be blown into a pile of poo in short order though.

I like today’s Fords for vehicles that unfortunately the Japanese don't make. I think the Superduty's and E350's are awesome if equipped with the V10 or diesel but you couldn't get me to touch a car or midsized SUV they make. I play around with a BII for getting to work and back but it has one of the worst engines ever to come out of Germany.

I grew up die hard Ford and it wasn't until I dated a girl with a civic did I even give an import 2 seconds of my time. I always thought they were too expensive to work on and I was brought up to "keep the profits in America". Well after doing some research and getting my hands dirty with that civic I started to see the truth.

IMO and from my experience there isn't a ford car I would go out and buy anymore. Maybe an early 90's Mustang but that's only because of the giant world of aftermarket for them. Same goes for most domestics. The truth is there isn't an "American" car anymore. You're just being blind if you think so. I say just buy what ever car you like. If you want to do something for America then try and pick one that kept an American worker busy building it.

I can't help but think this thread has no more purpose then to stir the pot here but overall I like your style DOHCmarauder and I'm glad you speak your mind. Tough call though, if you don't like the mentality of a site then maybe you should surf another. But on the other hand, a place like this could use the checks and balances your tossing in here.

 

I'd have to say best gas HD engine in the V10 and I like the Superduty truck all around out of all. But other than that, Ford doesn't really do it for me anymore.

All of thier gas engines in the trucks besides the V10 are underpowered. The extended cabs are way too small. The 6.0 PSD has gotten a name for itself as a problem child and I've always known Ford to be at the back of the pack for fuel efficiency.

Also, my last two F150s have given me major mechanical problems before 100K.

Ford's cars do nothing for me. The Crown Vic is nice though in a public service role. Like you said, the Mustang is nice but way too expensive.

That's my $.02. I'm seriously considering a 2500 Dodge Ram with a Cummins and a 6 speed as my next truck. I love the way the Superduty looks, feels, and rides, but the 7.3s will be older than I want in 2-3 years and I don't trust the 6.0s.

Mike

 

The execs at Ford would visit sites like this one and talk to enthusiasts once in a while. You make a lot of good points. I agree with a lot of what you say. It's a very competitive market and in a lot of areas Ford is dropping the ball. I think they need new blood over there. Keep in mind they aren't in business solely for enthusiasts. They need to have a broad product line and a profit statement in the black. I think most of us could see years ago that an energy crisis would hit once again. (I was around for the 70's one) Why Ford was caught so badly off-guard by this who knows? Why no inline 4 or 6 cylinder diesel option in the Ranger and F150? How about a nicely styled small car with a diesel option? Why not put that 500 hp motor into something lighter? Clearly a lot could be done that isn't being done. I think right now Ford is in a state of crisis management. All efforts are being put into cutting costs and stopping the bleeding, but if they don't pay attention to staying at the front of the pack, they will lose anyways.

 

I think what frustrates me the most... is that Ford has market leading vehicles in its area around the world somewhere... but they aren't sold in the US.

I still genuinely believe that the SuperDuty is the best truck on the road, and the F150 the best 1/2 tonne (even if it is the slowest). The Ranger is in dire need of updating, even if it is prehaps one of the most reliable and toughest vehicles around.

The Focus needs updating to the European spec MkII (with the diesel engines), they need to make sure that the 6.4l PSD doesn't have the issues that the 6.0l did (and just as importantly, they need to train the techs on how to fix it this time).
They need to replace the Crown Vic with a US built vehicle off our Fairlane platform, replace the 500 with a US manufactured Falcon.
Import the Fiesta.
Use the Territory as a base "crossover" vehicle - with the 2.7l diesel.
Import the Ranger from Thailand or Brazil.
Put the direct injection turbocharged 2.3l in the Fusion...
Oh, and bring the Lightning back - Ford created a cult vehicle with it, and I would love to see it continued.

I honestly think the days of the large SUV are numbered, and I would concentrate on beating GM where they can (and that means other areas apart from large SUV's).

 

Well, that "handful" of objective people just grew a few members.


All great responses.........Ford, IMO, has the ability, I just wonder what they're thinking sometimes.


That direct injected Mazda 2.3 turbo that Fred posted the other day.............in a Fusion!!! (and please fix the pseudo-razor blade looking grill...sorry, had to throw a subjective view in there) Basically a Mazdaspeed 6 with a blue oval.

The Volvo turbo........which is the chassis Ford uses for the 500......I'd be proud to drive that.


I agree that the Ranger is otherwordly tough.......my son has put one through HELL for 4+ years.........they are just so STALE compared to the competition.

Everyone goes nuts over the DCX hemi's and SRT's........How about a Crown Vic with the S/C Cobra motor???

All these examples are parts bin cars.....maybe EPA testing to certify.

It's the image that would bring people in.......

Some useless history about me. When I got out of the USAF in '84, I sold cars and later became a finance manager.(For a total of about 6 years) I kid you not when I say I would sell many a POS Tempo and base Tauri by taking people for spins in Mustang GT's and SHO's.....I got 'em so excited (and scared) They'd WANT to buy a Ford...........ALMOST like the SHO!!!

 

Honestly, I think the Crown Vic Police Interceptor is fine how it is. It has plenty of power, decent mileage, is simple to operate, is very familiar to everyone, and is very reliable.

It doesn't need more power or handling than it has. If anyone thinks that it does, then that official is just being reckless in thier pursuit. Fire/EMS people don't need to go that fast, and police have helis and radios.

A cop that I work with held up his radio to me one time after I was giving him crap and said that you can't outrun this.

Mike

 

You're 100% correct concerning public service.........But I want bragging rights....I wanna say my old Marauder can kick your 300 HEMIS ****!!!

I don't want to back down from 260HP Honda mini vans who run 0-60 a few tenths faster..

I wanna be proud of Ford cars again......and not have to make excuses.

 

At one time the F-150 was the absolute, hands down, leader in that segment with all kinds of inovative ideas that are now pretty much standard. But Ford doesn't lead anymore. Take the 1/2 ton market, pick any cab. Tundra, Titan, and Ram ALL have 5 speed auto transmissions which helps in power and fuel mileage. Ford is at the bottom along with who? That's right, GM. Lets talk interiors. Decent design on Fords part. But the seats that stain with water is a joke, a cheap joke. And what did Ford do about the storage that was behind the rear seat in the SCrew- it ain't there anymore (can you say cheap). And then there is the sound deadening materials that WAS on the 04's that is missing now ( can we all chant cheap). And the little things that used to make a Ford a great truck like the light under the hood, rear wheel wells, chrome grilles, etc are all gone or they are available on the Lariat which flat won't work for me with the center console. Looks good, ain't for crap in a working truck. And why does anybody buy a truck- to haul things. So Ford in their ultimate wisedom has turned a great truck into a soccer mom hauler. And where are those soccer moms now- driving econo- boxes. So why would anybody buy one? Ah yeah, that fabulous word that all Ford owners have become very familiar with- CHEAP. Most of the F-150s are discounted $8,000+ here. Mine listed for $31000 and drive out was $22000. and zero percent interest. Yepper, I got what I paid for, something cheap. As I have stated here before, unless the shareholders unload Bill Ford, the Ford autos are doomed and so is the company. I guess thats why their notes are now considered junk. Next month, probably their stock will make good wallpaper in the John. Ford being a leader in the industry is history. I don't see much future for them. Too bad, I've been with Ford for over 35 years.

 

i never really thought about ford or any other brand as far as in terms of domination, maybe so in some areas that i am not interested in.

i really only like trucks, its my hobby, to me ford and dodge are nice trucks, i like ford better because of some brand loyalty that devolped when i bought my first new truck back in 1995, it was a beast!

as far as cars are concerned, i never liked new cars, maybe the bmw's and benz's, not because of what they are, its because i like the looks and performance, in ford had the exact same looking car, then i would say the same about it. plus i like the vw jetta to.

the only ford cars i like are the 1969/70 mustang fast backs, even then, the 1967/68 camaro's are my favorite.

and take that with a like the early 70's/late 60/s chevy trucks but i like even the new dodges better than the new chevy's. again, looks are what does it for me.

as far as suv's, i don't like them, but i like some i have seen overseas, and i am a diesel fan, it would be nice to see them in suv's here, that is something ford could work on.

volvo is a darn nice car, i would like it to be pushed more in america, ford could really do something with volvo here in the USA, i hardly see any on the road (see more volvo OTR trucks than cars actually.)

but darn, i never thought in terms of domination, just something i like, i would care less if ford spun off and created a specific truck only division and called it something else, to me, if its a quality vehical that looks good and last for awhile, then i will take a look, no matter what the brand.

 

Other than the Mustang, Ford makes no passenger car I would buy. I switched to Hondas years ago and have not regretted it.

I still love their trucks, but Ford's lack of foresight may soon do them in on that, too. Scared execs cannot make bold innovations. The Hurricane should have been on the sales room floors by now.

They have over-priced the F-150 and overweighted it to make it as tough as an F-250. That cost them a lot of zip. You want a heavy duty truck..get an F-250. Let the F-150 compete in an even weight class, or at least build a different kind.

 

I've ridden in the back of my 2000 F150 Supercab and I thought it was pretty big and nice for a supercab. Then I got in the back of my father in law's Z71 Supercab (An early model with the squinting headlights...03 maybe?).

I was stunned! A lot more room than my 150. Look over there, cup holder in the back of the center console. And holy crap, rear air vents.

It's nothing special either. Cloth interior, I guess similar to an XLT Ford. Felt pretty powerful from the backseat as well.

Mike

 

That is a fundamental problem. The Ford family controls 40something percent of the voting stock and they insist on running the company themselves. Of course GM hasnt done too well with "hired gun" beancounters at the helm either. Where are the "product" people in top management these days? Take all top auto executives out of the back seats of limos and make them drive themselves to work in their own, and competitors products.

I have never owned a Ford passenger car, but my father and brother have,
1964 Continental - pretty car, horribly unreliable
1993 Thunderbird - very good
1995 Thunderbird - very good
2002 Crown Vic CNG - ruined by bad dealer service

My Fords were
1974 E-100 - good
1988 Ranger - excellent
1994 F-150 - lots of trouble

They dont make anything even close to the 1990's Thunderbirds, yet those are the best all-around Ford passenger cars we had. As others stated, the Ranger, which I loved, has been long-neglected.

My taste in passenger cars runs more to Germany, not for reliability, which they are not, but for driving dynamics (handling, shifting, stopping) and longevity (not the same as reliability).

Jim

 

The dealership I bought my Superduty from had a 50th anniversary edition (2005) T-bird in the showroom. Brand new and a beautiful car. They couldn't give it away for some reason. Hard to predict what people will want.

 

That is exactly right. I drive Ford trucks...but I'm still going to brag about the GT being one of the quickest cars available on the market if I'm talking to my friends on the "darkside". I'm still going to point out the V10 has been proven to get better fuel mileage, and deliver more power than the GM 8.1L even though I drive a diesel. Bragging rights are very important. Take the muscle wars of the 60's and late 70's. How many station wagons and 4-door boats do you think we sold simply because one company had a faster...or more powerful car? People haven't changed as much as we'd all like to think.
New products that we can brag about as enthusiasts will bring more market share to Ford as a whole in North America. Look at DCX. New and exciting products...and sales have increased, along with a sizeable chunk of the market.
Ideas like that of S/C Crown Vic, or a turbo charged 500...or sporty diesel cars could end the situation the manufacturers are in. Building a reputation with the younger generation with reliable, fun, and stylish cars will generate loyal customers, laying the foundation of the future.

DOHC...you started a thread that I've been waiting for for a while. I've been constantly thinking about this for quite some time. I was wondering if anyone else had actually thought about this carefully.