“By shunning government loans, Ford Motor Co.’s top executives say they hope to buff up the automaker’s image and set it apart from its cash-starved Detroit competitors, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.”
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My first car was a Ford Mustang Mach 1. I still love that car and dream about finding one in perfect condition and buying it again. Of course, the roughly 10 miles per gallon dash that dream quickly.
The real question is would you buy a new Ford?
When I was in my teens and early twenties FORD stood for two things: “Fix Or Repair Daily” and “Fastest On Race Day”. In the early 90s, when I was in my late 30s, I bought a Ford Taurus SHO. To my surprise both of those sayings were still true. It was amazing how often I had to fix something. Frustrated, I sold it.
We now own two Honda civics, one is a hybrid.
So again, I ask, would you buy a Ford?
My answer: I would love to, and will, when they are as good as my Hondas.
I don’t own a car, living in New York. I do rent cars and often get a Ford Taurus. They seem cheap-plastic and do not get good gas mileage. If I bought a car, probably go for european, BMW, Mercedes, maybe diesel Jetta. I do give Ford credit for using this latest crisis to set itself apart but they need to perform head-to-head with Honda, Toyota and BMW.
no
I grew up with an uncle that owned a Ford dealership, so all of my early experience with autos involved a Ford or Mercury of some sort. My first was a used 1962 Mercury wagon (oh so not the Mustang that I had dreamed of). Then there was a new ’69 Bronco. Both of those vehicles were very sound, good autos, but not exactly what I considered to be my sort of style. Then I had a couple Volvos (’68 and ’71 P1800s) and a ’69 BMW 2002 – all purchased used and all incredible cars, great handling, performance and low mileage. Then I made the mistake of buying a new 1982 Mercury LN7, which broke down and left me stranded on I95 in the pouring rain, the week after I bought it. And it was all downhill from there. That car spent so much time in the shop that I was on a first name basis with all the mechanics and service managers at the dealership. I vowed never to own another Ford. However, have I ended up with a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, which has been an absolute workhorse. It has only broken down once in 11 years, and then it was polite enough to limp into the gas station. It is not fuel efficient, and the only way I can rationalize this, is that I only drive it about once a week. So Ford pretty much redeemed themselves in my opinion, as far as quality is concerned. However, after hearing Mulally’s testimony before congress, I think that it is unlikely that I will purchase another.
This is too much! I just went to leave for an appointment, and my good ole Ford is dead as a doornail. Wouldn’t even make a tiny chug when I turned the key.