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Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 9:09:35 PM

Vendaval

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Sales of larger trucks and SUVs are down. Ford is shifting to smaller vehicles.

"Ford to retool factories, focus on smaller cars"
Source says company will make announcement after earnings statement
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

"DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. plans to revamp some U.S. plants and bring six small vehicles to the U.S. market from overseas to meet customers’ growing demand for more fuel-efficient options, a person briefed on the company’s plans said Tuesday.

Ford has no immediate plans to close U.S. plants despite overcapacity in a slumping market, the person said. Instead, the automaker will retool plants to increase production of smaller cars and engines. The person requested anonymity because Ford isn’t confirming details until Thursday, when it releases second-quarter earnings."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25805248/

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 9:12:59 PM

Thadius

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GM is doing the same thing... there is alot of concern amongst friends of mine that work (and worked) in the Pontiac, Mi plant. A few were smart enough to take the buyouts that were presented over the last year or so.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 9:15:27 PM

Leatherist

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I'm happy to see this happening.

Huge vehicles are a waste unless you need towing capacity. I think the old market was a lot about the whole "small dick wants big truck" than anything else. It's about time they matched.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 9:26:33 PM

Vendaval

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The penis compensation angle is my take on the situation too, Leatherist. If someone needs hauling or towing capacity, then a larger truck makes sense. However, much of what I see on the road here suggests that such vehicles are frequently status symbols for spoiled rich kids.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 10:04:39 PM

petdave

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

"Ford to retool factories, focus on smaller cars"

It's about goddamn time. i keep waiting for Henry Ford (the original) to climb on up out of his grave and start kicking some Italian suit-wearin' asses over in Dearborn... You know, the Henry Ford who built an industrial empire on the novel concept of a car that his own workers could afford to purchase.

And V, i love ya', but goddamn am i sick of the if-you-don't-drive-a-Prius-you're-compensating-for-a-small-penis bullshit. i mean, holy fuckin' shit already. i'm gonna start telling people that they're compensating for a small penis because they're wearing a red shirt instead of a black one, because if they were confident in their penis size they'd be wearing a black shirt, like me.

(Henry Ford knew that, too).

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/25/2008 10:34:37 PM

Vendaval

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Dear dave,

I have no doubt that you are very blessed by the gods in the wealth and abundance of your loins, whatever vehicles you may own, operate or ride.

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So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
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http://KinkMeet.co.uk

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 12:29:04 AM

SummerWind

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It'll be alot more cost effective for them to make small shitty cars.....

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 4:53:12 AM

MmeGigs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leatherist
I think the old market was a lot about the whole "small dick wants big truck" than anything else. It's about time they matched.

Ford has been big news here in MN this week for this very reason (kind of). They make the smaller Ranger pickup truck in St Paul. That plant was scheduled to close in Sept 2009, but sales of the Ranger are up more than 20% so they're going to keep it open another 2 years.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 5:23:03 AM

Raechard

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The other problem with the whole big car vs small car situation was the road safety factor. With people buying huge protective environments because in endless tests it was deemed the size of the vehicles involved played a big part in who came off worst after an accident. So in the end it leads to people buying bigger and bigger cars to protect themselves; almost like going for a drive is actually like going to war.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 5:25:15 AM

Irishknight

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I'm glad that I need the towing capacity. Otherwise it would mean that I had a small penis.

Although. I know exactly what you folks are talking about. I've seen guys go out and buy a 1 ton, crew cab, dually with the biggest diesel and four wheel drive and they never haul anything. They are merely using the truck as a status symbol. I haul lots of stuff that a ranger wouldn't even budge so I stepped up to an F150 with the towing package. I would like the above mentioned monster but don't need it just yet. In a few years, the heavier truck will become a neccessary purchase as the size and number of horses I need to transport keeps growing.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 5:34:43 AM

slaveboyforyou

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I agree with going toward smaller vehicles, but what about pickups? I drive a '97 Nissan pickup, which was the last year that compact pickups were made under Nissan. We now have only two manufacturers still making compact trucks, and both have said they are discontinuing the models. Ford and Toyota have been the last two.

I don't know if people realize, but some of us need pickup trucks. I have never needed a huge, gas guzzling bastard. But most companies used to sell compact pickups. All of that stopped in the early 2000's. Most of the car manufacturers switched to mid-size and full-size designs.

So now Ford and many American car companies are hastily switching their factories back to small cars. Well I want to see small pickups make a comeback, but I am not seeing it. We had all of these cars avaliable before. Cooper made their Mini in many different models. It was a good, solid, reliable car. But hell no, we won't get that from our manufacturers.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 5:40:53 AM

housesub4you

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leatherist

I think the old market was a lot about the whole "small dick wants big truck" than anything else. It's about time they matched.

I could not agree more. That is why I drive a Daewoo Lanos

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 7:44:17 AM

bipolarber

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Hummm... and I'm a VW bug enthusiast in my spare time.... I wonder what that says about my penis? (If you're guessing that I'm huge, you'd be wrong... average, I'd say.)

But I think there IS a compensation angle.... guys see things as: "If I'm not sure if I can satisfy, then I have to have something else to offer..." But it's not from a "look at what a great car I drive..." angle... no, it's more of a "Hey ladies, look athe great car I can afford."

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 8:26:18 AM

bipolarber

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Oh, and as far as Ford itself goes: I've had three Fords in my lifetime. A Pinto wagon, a powder blue Fairmont, and now an older Bonco II (hardshell) Except for the Bonco II, they were all the crappiest cars I've ever owned. They could be trusted to strand me somewhere at the worst moment possible, they all had rubbish transmissions, and they all had electrical problems that woul blow alternators, and corrode the hell out of battery terminals.

While they are retooling, maybe they can hire some new design help from Germany, or Japan, and start turning out a well engineered, dependable product for the first time since the early Mustangs.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 11:25:28 AM

housesub4you

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I really don't care what people think about the car I drive.

It is just a means to get from point A to point B. I have never really been into cars, just never seemed like a good thing to do with my money.

I do have a good laugh when I see all the huge 4X4 and hummers rolled over after the first snow because they think they can drive really really fast in the snow. Which you can, it's just the stopping and turning that causes all the trouble.

Plus I would rather people have no idea how much I can afford. I will say this, I have never heard of anyone getting carjacked in a Daewoo.

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 12:11:18 PM

bipolarber

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housesub,

Yeah, I used to live in Colorado. It was amazing to see how many 4WD owenrs ended up in the ditches. Just overconfidence on their part, I'm sure. They get this idea in their head that the 4WD allows them to drive with the hammer down even in slick conditions...

My favorite part of that would be to pull up behind some guy in his big-ass SUV after he planted it in the ditch, and offer him a ride to the next gas station in my '74 bug... LOL

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 2:58:46 PM

pahunkboy

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cheap ass tight wad - drivers!!!! get a job! live alittle. dont be a party pooper

by the biggest car there is. then drive to take in the sights. . sell a kidney if you must- but consume consume consume.

?

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Post #: 17

RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/26/2008 10:56:35 PM

Celeres

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It's funny to see how most of the big-city (metropolitan) people all drive or strive to get smaller, more cost-effective cars because it's easier to find parking, and less paid at the pump. However, drive to anywhere in middle America and every other family (if not EVERY family) owns at least one huge truck. It's not that they "want" to consume, but there aren't necessarily roads everywhere (unincorporated parts of America).

In my opinion, it's not just a matter of "rise in consumption equals a rise in price." That is part of the issue but small cars are prevalent in any corner of the U.S. Give me any city in the US and I can guarantee that I can find a cheap, sub-compact (reliable) car to replace your gas guzzling Ford F350. (And by reliable, I mean as reliable if not more reliable than what you are currently driving). Problem is, the "fad" right now is on Civic hybrids and Prius Hybrids. Car manufacturers do not tell you that if you drive a Prius Hybrid like a "regular" car, you will only get about 17-20 miles to the gallon. (By that, I mean people drive like most people drive on freeways in Los Angeles). Meaning you'd have to re-learn how to drive. On the same note, someone who owns a BMW M3 (notorious for gas disappearing in the engine bay), if you drive it the way Prius owners "should" drive, you would actually get about 18-19 miles to the gallon.

No, i'm not saying that everyone should rush out to get a Prius or a M3... but really, think about how you are driving from day to day... how much time will you really save by cutting this slower car before exiting in a 1/4 mile? If you tuck in behind them and coast to exit, you'll spend an extra 5 seconds getting to the light... and the light or stop sign will most certainly delay your trip anyway. Also, something that most people do not know... when your car is in neutral, the engine uses a little bit of fuel to keep itself from stalling. However, if you leave your car in gear, (not neutral) and your foot is not on the gas... the modern engine uses ZERO fuel: as in NO fuel at all. Which means, you're getting those 50-100 yards for free! (instead of pedal to the metal to the stop light and then pedal to the metal on your brakes.)

Just an interesting thought... take it or ignore as you will!

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/27/2008 1:23:35 AM

PrincessJ77

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Ford is producing smaller cars? So this is the new redneck birth control?

*slinks back to my warm stable*

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RE: Ford shifting to smaller vehicles - 7/27/2008 6:46:15 AM

bipolarber

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LOL... (writing that one down, Princess...)

When you look at it, owning a full size pickup or Hummer, or whatever is just NOT the best way to get the most out of your money... Probably 90% of my driving is to and from work, and to the grocery store... andother 8% is a trip of about 25 miles to Little Rock on weekends... the other 2% is made up of maybe one or two cross country trips a year. (Trips up to Illinois to see family, trips back to Denver to see friends, and occasionally Thunder.)

I need to BUY a huge gas guzzler for that? Hardly. I'll buy something economical for local, and when it comes time to take those 10 hour drives out of state, I'll go out and RENT a vehicle that will do what I want. (I had to drive up to IL for my father's funeral a few months back, the rental company gave me a brand spanking new Mazda 3... The gas it used, compared to my Bronco, saved me about $300 (estimated)... more than twice the cost of the rental fee.)

I think one of the big side effects of the gas "crisis" will be that America will begin to shake it's ego loose from the "car as status symbol" mentality. Instead of sexy, super "Top Gear" performance... the real point of pride will be how many times you can go to and from work without having to gas up. Already, Hummer and SUV owners are feeling the pain at the pump, AND being considered crass in their ownership of such guzzlers.

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