Ford reputation

[Yannis]

I am really interested in your opinion about Ford as a company.Some comments on its image for example!

[whiteballz]

image as what?

their corporate image?
their styling image?

anyway, i think ford can and are doing some really good things in australia and europe, i wouldnt know or really care what ford US are doing, especialy because all of the good cars are over here in australia and europe. all that ford US do is produce muscle, and us aussies do that better.

[jcp123]

all that ford US do is produce muscle, and us aussies do that better.

Yeah cuz the f**kin EPA won't let the good cars on the road here. Freakin hippies.

[d-quik]

^^^wtf are you talking about

[Sweeney921]

I hate ford with a burning passion. they make low quality, slow, unreliable engines. their designs are also very boring (interior and exterior).

screw bill ford

[jcp123]

^^^wtf are you talking about

Sorry. EPA's a sore subject for me. Had to vent.

[Yannis]

OK,I did puzzle some of you!
I know my question was very general,but the answers from whiteballz and Sweeney921 is mainly what I'm looking for!

[jcp123]

I hate ford with a burning passion. they make low quality, slow, unreliable engines. their designs are also very boring (interior and exterior).

screw bill ford

I like my Fords. Reliable as heck, entertaining to drive. After 2-1/2 years, I still look forward to every time I get to drive. That's really something for a daily driver.

Otherwise, I think Ford is the best of the Big 3, at least here in America. Of course, most of the good models are imported from Ford of Germany, but oh well.

It just seems to me that in terms of sophistication and the dynamicness of design and engineering, Ford's got it goin' on in the US.

[Yannis]

Actually corporate reputation mainly!

[Karrmann]

this sounds like a thread I'd create!!!!!!!! LD

I don't mind all ford except for the Focus.

read this story and you'd be laughing out loud.

http://www.tgrigsby.com/views/heatherm.htm

read more ford problem letters here.

http://www.tgrigsby.com/views/bymodel.htm

[jcp123]

I agree the Focus was a nice idea that needed better glue. A pothole bent my front and rear suspensions. My passenger side mirror fell off while I was driving it. The brakes never did stop squeaking. I only had that thing for 8k miles.

[Karrmann]

there is a story of the steering wheel coming off on one.

[jcp123]

That sounds a little far fetched, but OK. It wasn't a bad car to drive, but...I knew I didn't wanna maintain that. So I got a real car and all I've really had to do as far as maintenance (that's besides all the resto work I did) is normal stuff (change oil, replace coolant, check brake pads, etc). Did have to replace the alternator a few times in about 3 months the summer before last, but whatever that problem was, it went away. Been a rock solid car for me.

[Matra et Alpine]

Guys, I thought we'd already covered this American Ford Focus is shit stuff ?

You get cheap Cars, you get cheap servicing, you get what you pay for.
Want a decent Focus ? Import a Eureopan one and get better engineering and more up to date design. You're still lumbered with the servicing problem though

Karmann, do we REALLY need all that BS repeated again. Thought the message had got through that EVERY car can have problems and if you REALLY want to compare then look at recall notices. See http://www.alldata.com/TSB/59/035983AN.html -- 15 bulletins for the PRIUS. One of them an inpsection on ball joints - so there must be a failure mode there that can effect the safety and steering. Not much different to Ford then - especially if we take VOLUME into account !!!!!!

Anyway, to the question ....
Ford have lost their way. The classic performance successes are beign put aside and that is losing them the image. F1 and WRC ahve only dented their reputation as they failed to understand and invest in it. I think they now have too much of an American view and dont' understand the need to compete worldwide. A few gems in markets around the world but they may get lost as the corporate control mentality takes over in cost reductions
Summarising -- "Lost the plot"

[Karrmann]

that's the 03 Prius matra, all that shit was taken care of for the 04 05 Prius.

besides, can't wa just vent on the Focus and share our thoughts on that piece of crap.

but jcp03 the car following straight behind the Focus is my 98 Caravan Lemon.