RIP

My sister bought an Escape and had bolts fall off the rear axle on the way home from the dealership. She sold it after a year and many trips to the dealer.

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

Well, I've had one for four years and beat the hell out of it up in the mountains on a regular basis. Haven't done anything but oil changes... Most professional reviews would reflect my experience, although if I had had your sister's experience, I wouldn't be too keen on them either...

Did anyone read the initial post? It asked that you keep your old Ford stories to yourself.

So far we have discussed, the F150, the expedition, and the freestar. I can understand the F150 comparison though, as the new Fusion does look similar. I think they are built from the same components.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Ron,

I don’t mean to be picking on the Escape. After your reply I did a search and the first place that I saw had over 200 reviews on the Escape, which were all over the place, but far from a majority were glowing. http://www.carreview.com/SUV/Ford/PRD_49254_1524crx.aspx#reviews

I’m not sure what you imply by ”professional” reviewers, but folk that live with a vehicle seem to have a better perspective of their steed than the folks that use them for a short period and pick up a check for their efforts.

My own biased opinion is that there is no hope that American car manufacturers will rival the quality of the Asians and Germans, not that the Germans are exactly hallmarks of excellence in engineering anymore......

fahrgewehr2 My sister’s Escape was bought all of 2 years ago and sold last year. Do you think Ford has improved their "job 1" recently?

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

Yes, but that's not a fair measure either, is it? Unhappy owners are far more likely to take the time and energy to post such reviews than others. In any case, I'm still open to any and all Ford GT throwaways.

I am now positive no one read the initial post.

The car is basically a updated Mazda with a new look. Some parts seem to come off the european for mondeo, too. So, one could say that it is not really a Ford product. more like a hybrid of design featuring European and Asian design and parts. The 4 cylinder is entirely a Mazda design.

Now. Has anyone had any experience with the new car I want to talk about? have you seen any reviews? That's because it is NOT OUT YET.

I only wanted to discuss the styling, packaging, design of the car.

Maybe the discussion parameters I proposed were unclear? Or maybe I was jsut asking too much.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

There is a pretty good range of responses in the link i mentioned. But that aside, i agree completely

....I'd take a GT throw away, too!!!

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

Aw come on, don't 'cha you know threads take on a life of their own?

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

fahrgewehr2-

As I said before, I like the styling alot for a Ford product, the front headliights are nice, and the rear looks like an enlarged honda civic coupe with its triangluar taillights that wrap around to the sides.... in fact, if you ignoe thhe ford badging and just view the car from a rear 3/4's angle, it looks VVERY asian!.... and as you said, it being based on thhe Mazda 6 could separate this car drastically from other unmentionable ford produucts. It could be a new game- Ford loyalists might be blessed with a car that doesnt have as many recalls and fit and finish issues as previous models. It also shows some genes from the Ford Mondeo, which has been a HUGE hit on the european market for the past 5 years or so.... but only time will tell if the Fusion car will make or break the better quality predictions....

However, if I were looking for a basic mid-size family sport sedan, Id rather go with a Mazda 6, just to avoid the Ford emblem on the trunk, hood, and keys of the Fusion.. LOL

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

Not true at all, GM is pushing as much product as possible into Saab right now. The 9-2x, 9-7x, 9-3 hatchback, and more to be announced. Although the 9-7 is a trailblazer clone, unlike the 9-2x they did put alot into making it feel like a Saab (the key is in the center console for instance).

The 9-2x does get a Saab interior in a year or 2. They needed new product as quick as possible and rushed it into producion.

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Our C280 has highish mileage (185K) and the thought of replacing it with a new car is been in the back of my mind. The 2 cars that have been the only considerations are the new Volvo S40 T-5, or the SAAB 9-5 Aero. There is however an awful lot of emotional attachment to the C280, esp.since its a rarer example, and is still in great shape. Wether it will actually be replaced is questionable..

I have been very curious, and watchful of GM's involvement with SAAB products... and I have to say that im rather disappointed with how they handled the merge- take Ford, and Volvo for example. While the 2 companies are merged, they are keeping the design and engineeering between Fords and Volvos rather separate, aside from basic chassis and engine design sharing. This merge has sucesssfully allowed the 2 car manufacturers to keep their products distinctive from one another. You get in a Volvo and it feels like a Volvo... theres little to no influence in design, styling, or build quality from Ford... Volvos have been able to retain their heritage.

GM has however, marred SAABS distinctiveness with the new 9-3. Sit inside one and you cant help but feel like you are sitting in a disguised and upgraded Chevrolet..... the design of the interior is clearly SAAB, but when it comes down to little design details.. window trimmings, door latches, fit and finish, and the trimming on the A B and C pillars, it becomes apparent that this is NOT a pure SAAB.... which is rather unfortuante.. SAABS have always been known for their smart, unique, and distinctive design... which used to be evedent down to all of these little aforementioned details.They have also been known as durable, like their Norweigian counterpart, VOLVO. I have heard from many experts- mechanics and SAAB experts, that the new models just arent SAABS anymore- underneath their skin they are basically european GM...... and have suffered in quality control because of this. With that said, I was rather disappointed to hear this and more about new SAABS simply because I am hhead over heels in love with the 9-5 Aero..... the design of that car makes me drool, and GM's involovement in it seems less obvious.
Why couldnt this merge have been handled more carefully like the Ford-Volvo merge!?!?!?! I couldnt be MORE disappointed......
The only new SAAB that I would really trust is the Subaru based 9-2x. At least you know that that car hasnt been hampered with GM's engineering daftness. And when it gets a new interior I think it will finally be more of a SAAB than the GM SAABs. The Subaru-SAAB exterior styling even sits better with me than the 9-3-Opel styling. However, I wont even mention the upcoming "SAAB" Trailbalzer....
DAMN if only Subaru had taken SAAB under their wing... a 9-5 based off of the new Legacy could not go wrong!

So it looks like if a new car is coming my way, it will be a good ol 05 Volvo S40 T-5. Pure VOLVO.

So to make this relevant to this thread, I'll start by saying that Ford at least did somthing RIGHT... they didnt taint VOLVO. And thats how i'll end.

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

NEWSFLASH!!!!

THIS JUST IN! (Just aired on ABC News)

800,000 Ford vehicles recalled, after 63 Cruise control actuators spark fires in Ford light trucks across the US!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEK!!!

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

I won't say I told you so...... Hmm.... Changed my mind.... I told you Fords were badly designed, with very little engineering, from drawing board, straight into production. If someone gave me one i'd sell it on e-bay. You can sell anything on e-bay.

Do you really think that the number of Ford recalls come anywhere near those of GM or Daimler-Chrysler? I'm serious about that Ford GT you'd put up on eBay, BTW.