Ford To Raise US Factory Production 13%
 

They make nice cars, the new 2012 Focus is really nice. What a great little car to run around town in, you can get them pretty cheap to I think the base hatch starts at $16k.

Ford said they used the Audi A3 as their benchmark car for it.

I tried sitting in a new fiesta this weekend. I did not fit, and I am only 6'0--unless there was some trickery to getting the seat lower, I had it all the way down. Funny enough, I was fine in a fiat 500 despite looking ridiculous

Question. Is that a good thing? I thought the Japanese makers do more of a "Just In Time" thing? IIRC, they way they had it set out, if they stopped production today and Ford did the same thing, they would run out first.

I guess my question is whether it is a good thing to have more inventory on the lot or build them as you need them?

I fit in the Fiestia great, but don't fit in the W123... not enough headroom.

It makes me happy to see Ford making good, relevant autos.

-J

Mid-90s, early 00 I would never buy a Ford. But they sure have come a long way and improved quality. Before, their "Quality is job one" line was just marketing, but today they could legitimately use it.

Oh good, there will more to bail out in a few years when they step on Mr. Winky.

Same as they copied the steering set up of mercedes for the grenada I suppose. Granada never handled like a mercedes of the time though.

Yeah well things have changed a lot. Go test drive a new Ford or GM; than go and do the same for a Lexus, or a German car.

Report back.

Different strokes for different folks. Ford builds quality cars. It all depends on what you want in a car, van, suv or truck.

Nope, I lost interest in domestics about 30 years ago; I will never own another one.

Why compare the junk that rolled off the lines 30 years ago to the new cars?

I rented a '09 focus, and it was a very nice runaround. Decent power also, although not as much as I would have wanted. It did get a good 25mpg being absoultly flogged between Albuquerque and Santa Fe (best time of 28mins on HWY 85 ;) )

Comfy small car also.
~Nate

rented a Ford Crown Vic with small V8 a few years back in Texas. Good ride and handling, plenty of power and returned over 22 MPG at all speeds with my lead foot. Tried to rent one again next year in AZ but was stuck with Dodge Charger. Not as much room. Plenty of power. Handling did not seem as good. Maybe tire presure was off because it seemed like it wanted to oversteer if you just said the word. Terrible MPG. Give me the Ford, thank you.
I have a 2000 Diesel Excursion for towing and people hauling. Not a bad ride but it needs another gear in the transmission. Turning over 2100 rpm at 70 MPH. Puts a hurt on the MPG.

From the Mid 80's to the Mid 90's Ford did catch up quality wise to the imports. So, the slogan did have some merit. Then Jack Nasser became CEO. Pinching to many pennies. That can and did cost them down the road. He didn't last long as CEO. I think Bill Ford (Jr. ??) tired to get it right, but didn't have the experience.
Presently, Ford looks to be taking care of bussiness. Spending money on the meat and potatoes. They sold off the foreign makes they had.
Tom

I got rid of my perfectly fine working '98 Taurus. It had over a 100k miles on it and never needed anything except an oil change. Stupidest thing I ever did.