Ford to Halt Production at 10 Plants

ap ^ | 8/19/06 | AP

[MSM Hater]

Check out this site that talks about the Ford boycott. It has examples of Ford homosexual ads and the magazines in which it places them.

[MSM Hater]

Check out this site that talks about the Ford boycott. It has examples of Ford homosexual ads and the magazines in which it places them. Here's the link: http://www.boycottford.com/

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

I once rented a Ford Focus SE and drove all the way from Portland to N. California and back. For a small car it was top notch, the best small car I have ever driven. Crisp handling, strong engine and well equipped. Even though I drive Japanese myself, I was really impressed with this Ford.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

LOL! My 1975 Ford Pinto was an exploding time bomb on wheels! Sure as heck wasn't a car!:(

[Malsua]

However, it is not that hard to be prepared and the car companies should have had competent small cars ready to roll out and they do not.

ANY car company that did not have plans on the board for an efficient car simply did not learn the lesson of 1979-80. If I had been the CEO of FORD, I would have had a plan to ramp up production of something small to mid that gets decent mileage. I'd have had it in the wings since the mid 80s. Every year, they update it somewhat and have the ability to push out a bazillion of them at the drop of a hat.

There is no suprise in oil prices. It will again recede some in the next couple years and gas hogs will surge in popularity...not having an alternative is a showstopper.

[EEDUDE]

"soccer mom's driving tanks on flat Phoenix roads always crack me up"

I'd be willing to bet that 75% of these 4WD SUV's will never even see a dirt road.

But STATUS is important!

Witness the latest Hummer commercials where the Mom and kid get pushed out of the line for the slide at the playground...

Solution? Go buy a Hummer! Then you'll BE SOMEBODY.

Madison Avenue is having to scrape the bottom of the barrel to come up with reasons for the average person to own something like a Hummer.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

That's a lot of new white-collar jobs that are going to be created suddenly for or by these laid-off workers. Think of all the new business they'll open and the new jobs those businesses will create. This is great news economically.

At least, that's what we're constantly told will be the result of letting other countries take our jobs.

[apackof2]

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[xarmydog]

I once restored a 1955 Ford F-350 for an old farmer who bought it brand new.At the time,I had recently purchased a brand new 1995 F-350.It came with four wheel drive,long bed,460 fuel injection,five speed.When I asked the old farmer how he got the large dents in the roof,he said that when he would pick up sawdust,his hands would climb on the roof to mash it down to carry more.The sawdust was sold by weight,and when it was loaded,it would hold five tons of sawdust.I was stunned.I had no reason to doubt the farmer,as he chuckled about avoiding the weigh stations,as a very large ticket would ensue.Then I looked at my new truck and thought,it would never hold that much weight.I came to the conclusion that his old pickup would carry two of mine!Mine would maybe carry one of his!Being in a country environment,many pickups would be used to haul hay.Usually as many bales as possible,at a time.Many times I would have farmers come to my shop complaining about their beds being out of square,and what could be done to fix them.The first question I would ask was,you hauled hay in it?The answer was yes, which explained why their beds would be crooked.A truck bed loaded,driving on a slant,would put them out of shape on the first load.I never repaired them,as I knew they would be back.Again and again.It did take a little luster off my new truck purchase though.

[1rudeboy]

I'm sure that somewhere in the constellation of Ford "worldwide" there exists a better-than-decent design. The problem is that (most of? all of?) Ford's North American plants are not tooled to produce the model.

[1rudeboy]

Somehow "letting other countries take our jobs" does not appear to be the problem in this case.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My husband bought a Ford 18 months ago and it has been a lemon! It was his first Ford to purchase in over 20 years and will be the last. I'm working on him to trade it in now....

[Doohickey]

F-Series aren't made in Mexico.

[BW2221]

"You'd think that maybe they'd have an updated Ford Ranger ready to go, but it's not due until 2010! Some real product planning going on there! (sarc)"

Good point. Ford used to be the leader in the small pickup market with Ranger. Now it ranks well behind Toyota, Nissan and Chevrolet.

Ford F-Series sales are likely to further decline as GM introduces all-new Silverado and Sierra models, which have won rave reviews, and a new Toyota Tundra in January.

Ford definitely is in the biggest trouble of the three Detroit automakers. GM is probably in the best shape.

[Malsua]

The problem is that (most of? all of?) Ford's North American plants are not tooled to produce the model.

One would ponder that it's better to invest in re-tooling NOW(well, 20 years ago) than to be left holding the bag when gas prices rise. I mean, who didn't predict gas prices would rise? I understand that it's expensive. Sacrifice some profit during the 90s and be done with it. Now they may go out. Well, tough nuggies. Toyota, Honda, Isuzu et. al. make better cars that get better mileage. Is this any mystery? Reminds me of the girl on Mad TV that holds her hands up to her ears and say "la la la la la" when anyone tries to talk to her.

[glorgau]

Ford and GM are the reason that the recent pension reform bill passed so quickly. Both are getting ready to "restructure" because their business models no longer work.

[Chode]

anybody who sells their SUV cause of the price of gas(unless they buy one with better mpg) proves they didn't need it in the first place...

but for those of us who live in the SnowyBoondocks... we have no choice. luv my 6L-HO Jeep!!!

[uncitizen]

Company officials would not say what specific impact the production cuts would have on workers. In general, hourly workers placed on temporary layoff receive 95 percent of their wages through state unemployment benefits and a supplement by Ford.

We know unemployment doesn't give much, so in order to meet 95% of their earnings Ford must be kicking in around 80-90%%. Is this a stipulation in the union contract or is Ford just being outrageously generous?????

[KYGrandma]

You haven't really driven a Ford lately. My 2007 Escape just drove from Detroit to Toronto last week. Traveling at 67 miles an hour (speed limit is 62), I averages 29.8 miles to the gallon. My son's 2006 Fusion regularly gets 30 mph. There are a lot of uneducated bashing of Ford here.

[lOKKI]

Actually, lots of educated Ford-bashing going on here. Take a look at Consumer Reports regarding Ford's quality. They're Hell to live with.

The Fusion is a nice car - except for the fact that it's underpowered (the consensus of the magazines) but why didn't Ford get the engine power right from the beginning in an all new model.