Ford May Report Worst Loss in History

ap ^ | 1/24/07 | Tom Krisher, AP Business Writer

[devane617]

Buy Ford at $8.20 and prosper. Mullaly is turning around Ford quicker than most people thought. The next couple of years will be tough, but the map has been made, and it is being executed. One thing you can always count on is: When Americans get shoved into a corner, they come out fighting. Ford is America...

[devane617]

Crossovers = MMV ( MetroSexual Mini Vans)

[BobS]

I have an F-250 Super Duty 4WD that got so big you will blush just by sitting next to me:):) It also makes bigger noises than you can. Would you like to get worked up and have a little fun?:):)

[martin_fierro]

It is only a matter of time before Toyota, Honda, and Nissan design and market a pickup that farmers, hunters, and contractors in Indiana, Iowa, and Georgia will buy.

That time may soon be at hand. 

[SmoothTalker]

"UNION workers and pension plans."

True but it goes much deeper than that. Ford drove away generations of loyal customers by putting out cars that didn't drive as well and were less reliable than the Japanese. Now those costumers are loyal to brands like Honda and Toyota. In order to win them back, Ford has to put out cars in mainstream segments that aren't just as good as Hondas and Toyota but better. They haven't done that. The Mustang is nice but it isn't exactly in a real high volume segment and cars like the new 500 are real yawners.

What has kept Ford afloat lately has been SUV sales. Those are falling off too as Japanese companies put out cars in that segment that are much more innovative and drive better than the stodgy Ford Explorer and Expedition and as some shoppers are getting tired of the fuel bills associated with the vehicles and switching segments.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Not necessarily - the PGBC can simply default. Right now - under current law there is no full faith and credit guarantee of the pension plans assumed by the PBGC. But you can bet it will come up in a Democratic Congress.

[VOA]

the car industry relies on old ceo's old accountants to make designs decisions

Just my naive guess...
but I wouldn't be suprised if it is really a combination of
old ceos and younger (under 50) accountants/MBAs.

I'm not totally sure of the age brackets...but that seemed to be
the combination that brought down Enron. (Ken Lay as the older CEO,
and the "innovative" younger underlings working like speed-junky termites)

[festus]

I thought Ford died last month ?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Ford maybe. I have my doubts about GM. But Ford is going to have to sell some stuff off and go back to what made them big in the first place. Building high quality cars that the average family can afford.

[festus]

Chrysler's second nearest bankruptcy .....

LOL. Sounds like some relatives I have..........

[BW2221]

You're right. Mismanagement at Ford had as much to do with its decline as anything.

While the UAW definitely played a role in the company's demise, union workers weren't the ones that designed and approved losers like the Five Hundred and Freestyle.

[BW2221]

GM is starting to come back. It's new pickup trucks are hot and the 2008 Malibu is supposed to be dynamite.

[Panzerlied]

"the jag looks like ford Taurus with 20 cent more expensive head lights"

...and a cat glued on the hood!

[Flavius]

thankfully it seems im not the only one

[spunkets]

That's not a truck for farmers, hunters and contractors. That's a suburban vehicle. Strictly hwy, nothing else.

[Panzerlied]

Fix Or Repair Daily!

[The South Texan]

You are correct. Unless Ford continues to try to market things like the pic below to Men , they are going to rightfully lose more market share. I can't wait to see one of those New Tundras in person as I am going to get a new truck next month to replace my Ford Supercrew. I am done with Fords. Chevy and Toyota are going to have to fight for my business.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

my GMC Yukon is awsome

in 6 years omly had to replace a pin valve in the air conditioning unit

[martin_fierro]

That's not a truck for farmers, hunters and contractors. That's a suburban vehicle. Strictly hwy, nothing else.

No, you're wrong. So there.

Hey, this bald statement stuff is easy!

[SmoothTalker]

"That's not a truck for farmers, hunters and contractors. That's a suburban vehicle. Strictly hwy, nothing else.
"

If done right it isn't. I've owned big American trucks and they don't come close to matching the toughness of my old Toyota FJ40 or the T100 I used to own. Those things could take some serious abuse and the FJ could get into some really tough country. I have full confidence that Toyota could make a big truck that matches the American companies for capability and blows them away in terms of durability.