Wall St Journal - May 1, 2007

...Sales of Ford cars and light trucks...fell by 8% last year and are
down by 15% for the first three months of this year. Ford brand sales
in 2006 were one million vehicles behind the brand's sales in 2000.

...Chicago-area resident Scott Young, who had been a loyal Ford
customer for more than 30 years, says he has been turned off by bad
experiences at dealers and quality problems he has had with Ford
vehicles. He says he will likely buy a Honda the next time he shops for
a vehicle. "I don't know what they could do to get me to change my
mind," Mr. Young said.

Barry Engle, Ford's North American marketing chief, says, "I want it to
be cool to buy a Ford again."

Engle's latest hook is a new ad campaign that kicks off today for
Ford's the F-150 pickup truck http://doiop.com/Ford_F150 - its best-
selling model and one of its most profitable. One of the new
commercials talks about safety and the F-150's five-star crash-test
rating, which takes a jab at the four-star rating of the Toyota Tundra
http://doiop.com/Toyota_Tundra - The ad doesn't specifically name
Toyota, but a Ford engineer in the ad says "some of the others didn't
do as well."

...Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Bill Kwong said the company is still
studying the four-star rating because internal tests showed that the
Tundra deserved five stars.

Sales for the F-series this year are down 14% through March, but [lead]
the new Chevrolet Silverado http://doiop.com/Silverado by about 20,000
vehicle sales, Autodata Corp. says. The F-Series has a significant lead
over the Tundra, which Toyota redesigned to be more competitive against
the pickups of the Big Three. But Toyota is pushing to more than double
sales in the segment.

The new F-150 ad illustrates the more aggressive "Us versus Brand X"
style that Mr. Engle is pushing at Ford...
==========
Ford F-150: http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/index.asp
Toyota Tundra: http://www.toyota.com/tundra/index.html
Chevrolet Silverado: http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/

George,

I want to point out Ford's flaw in that article you found:

"George Orwell" wrote
The US Auto Makers can't seem to figure out that consumers purchase a
vehicle because of its reputation for dependability and low cost, not
because they want to be "cool" - unless they still have a high school
mentality and want to impress others. ...Maybe NASCAR fans.

Personally, I drive a 1986 Toyota 1-ton flatbed. It is old, and I'd like
something new, but nobody makes anything comparable.

My flatbed, with a gas engine and a manual transmission, gets about 24 MPG
with a welding machine and a cutting torch rig in the back. No, it will not
win the quarter mile race with a 1500-lb load*, but then anyone with a heavy
load *really* should not be trying to drag race!

*I assume some of you have seen that Toyota Tundra commercial above - proof
that Toyota is trying to enter the "cool" market as well. Toyota needs to
stick with their winning strategy - sell dependable, long lasting trucks
with excellent customer service that should never be needed.

"SnoMan" <admin (AT) snoman (DOT) com> wrote

It's in the trucks now, I think. It came out in 2007.

"jp2express" <jp2mail-tempforum (AT) noSpamyahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Yeah - I was looking at epa gas mileage web site, and they allow you to look
at products by "class". Guess what's in the light pickup class. (tick tick
tick Ding!) The answer is - Nothing! Nobody actually makes a product in
that class of products that you can buy in the US.

Hey, auto makers - Got a total monopoly just sitting there waiting for you.
Don't be chicken.

So while we're bashing Ford, let's just note that the Ranger, due to their
failure to update it, is now the smallest, most fuel efficient pickup
Americans can buy. Look on fueleconomy.gov and you'll see.

After all the crap my dad endured with his ford, he gave up and bought a
Tundra.

I think he will be VERY happy!

-SP

In article <4ca4b35313b47f66ed1068e168577b40 (AT) mixmaster (DOT) it>
George Orwell <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck 2007 standings:
http://snipurl.com/1izf3

On Tue, 1 May 2007 17:47:32 -0400, "Joe" <Joe (AT) dontspam (DOT) net> wrote:


2008 is going to add a hybrid function too with a starter built into
bellhousing in the form of a 20HP electric motor. (just imagine what
that will cost to replace)
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

On Tue, 1 May 2007 17:52:52 -0400, "Joe" <Joe (AT) dontspam (DOT) net> wrote:


The problem is there is the ratings and reality. Check out link below

http://forum.snoman.com/viewtopic.php?t=193
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Please keep us posted as to how it does.
Scott

Joe wrote:
My local Dodge dealers are pushing "Free Hemi" deals.