Ford motors is killi off nearly all it's cars in favor of SUV's

[Oceander]

Also if you don't mind being lied to about the performance of your vehicle, VW will do fine.

Actually, the “problem” was they performed better than they were supposed to, and just throttled it down for smog-testing.  I’m all for cheating the EPA nanny tests, so VW’s fine by me. 

The 1.8 turbo will kick a lot of butt, even in the Passat. 

[WingNot]

Actually, the “problem” was they performed better than they were supposed to, and just throttled it down for smog-testing.  I’m all for cheating the EPA nanny tests, so VW’s fine by me. 

Oy Vey.

[Frank Cannon]

The 1.8 turbo will kick a lot of butt, even in the Passat.

Yeah. If I was a teenage girl I would think that was really cool. Unfortunately, since I am an adult I'll just have to suffer with my luxuriously fast S-Class Mercedes. 

[Slip18]

Yeah, I don't believe his Heineken commercial, either.

I have had two Ford Explorers.  Great SUVs!  Never had a problem with either one of them.

I have also had two Volvos -- do not close your window when shutting the door.  Good car all around. 

Mercedes Benz, 240D -- forget about diesel stick shifts.  O to 60 mph in about an hour.  But it would make it to 85 mph going downhill.  Very pretty car.

And a bunch of sundry other vehicles.  I prefer Ford.  But I have not tried the Range Rover yet.  Next vehicle.

I really want a Humvy.  That would probably be too difficult to drive.

I guess I could do a Red Green to get the Humvy by putting two vehicles together.  Great episode of Red Green!

 

[Frank Cannon]

I really want a Humvy.  That would probably be too difficult to drive.

H2's were built on basically a Suburban frame. They are not any bigger than those.

[Slip18]

H2's were built on basically a Suburban frame. They are not any bigger than those.

I have driven a Suburban.  No biggie.  I did not know that.

TU!

 

[Frank Cannon]

I have driven a Suburban.  No biggie.  I did not know that.

TU!

 

Whatever you do stay the hell away from Land Rover. They are only fun until the warranty is out. Then they become a misery.

[thackney]

Whatever you do stay the hell away from Land Rover. They are only fun until the warranty is out. Then they become a misery.

The couple I have known to own them would say the misery begins long before that.  Although that may depend on the loaner the shop provides while repairs are constantly being made.

I knew one owner of a pipeline construction company.  When they were doing really well he bought a Range Rover to replace his Bronco.  He got stranded so many times in that piece of junk, he was afraid to go to the grocery store unless his wife was nearby to come get him.

[Frank Cannon]

The couple I have known to own them would say the misery begins long before that.  Although that may depend on the loaner the shop provides while repairs are constantly being made.

I knew one owner of a pipeline construction company.  When they were doing really well he bought a Range Rover to replace his Bronco.  He got stranded so many times in that piece of junk, he was afraid to go to the grocery store unless his wife was nearby to come get him.

I've dabbled with a couple Disco II's and an LR2 over the years. At least the LR2 had a Volvo motor. The Discos have easily the worst Bosch engines ever conceived. At least with a Yugo you know you are buying low priced junk. Land Rover gouges the hell out of you for the same experience. Just garbage cars.

[GrouchoTex]

Hey hey hey!   
If the Germans hadn't bombed pearl harbor we'd all be driving Jap cars!

I must confess....

I have to admit, I have a 12 year old Toyota Tacoma, still driving it, that I bought new.
The funny thing is, I traded in a Ford Ranger that I bought new.
I didn't make it 4 years, 80k on it, and I had already spent $2,000.00 on repairs, and it never got right.
The last guy I took it to said, if I like small trucks, I should be a Toyota, so I did.
No issues with it.

[RoosGirl]

Actually, the “problem” was they performed better than they were supposed to, and just throttled it down for smog-testing.  I’m all for cheating the EPA nanny tests, so VW’s fine by me. 

The 1.8 turbo will kick a lot of butt, even in the Passat.

If you want a motorcycle engine, then buy a motorcycle!

[Frank Cannon]

If you want a motorcycle engine, then buy a motorcycle!

And that right there is why I love you Roos.

[roamer_1]

They killed off sedans when they converted them into sports tanks.  An old sedan had a comfy ride, quiet tires, and good visibility.  Now you may as well get a truck, or one of those SUVs for people with bad knees.

That's right... I'd have a car if I could get at something like a 60-80's Bonneville or Caprice... nothing today is made like it... so pickups. 

[Oceander]

If you want a motorcycle engine, then buy a motorcycle!

I want an engine that performs.  The VW 1.8T does that quite nicely.

An engine is an engine is an engine. 

[RoosGirl]

An engine is an engine is an engine.

Sure it is.

[WingNot]

And that right there is why I love you Roos.

She's a natural-born world-shaker.

[musiclady]

Well, I still drive a 2002 Chrysler minivan with more than 220,000 miles on it, but I'm happy to say that we're completely out of debt.  ^-^

(It still runs like a top).

[cato potatoe]

Whatever you do stay the hell away from Land Rover. They are only fun until the warranty is out. Then they become a misery.

Supposedly, they got better when Ford bought them, and then received another boost when the Indians took over.  I still would not drive one past the warranty.  Parts alone are ridiculous.

[Frank Cannon]

I forgot another car we all have to have a moment of silence for. Passed one today on the highway and marveled that it was still around.....



What an ugly royal piece of shit this car was. If you think you hate it now, just wait till you drive it.

[mountaineer]

DETROIT — The passenger car isn't dead yet.

Ford Motor's announcement that it is killing almost all of its traditional car models is dramatic proof that sedans have lost their luster for U.S. automakers and drivers.

But is the passenger car really headed to the auto graveyard? And is Detroit's fascination with larger vehicles a sign of danger ahead should economic winds shift?

Not exactly, according to industry experts.

Ford's rival, General Motors, isn't ready to call for last rites.  ...

That doesn't signal an end to cars in Ford's lineup, said Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets. It's just that what now are called SUVs will be considered cars, he explained in an interview.

"We're going to have a fantastic passenger car lineup. They just won't be traditional sedans," he said. He said consumers will look at vehicles such as the next generation of the Escape, one of Ford's most popular SUVs, and won't "classify them as a truck at all." They'll have space, comfort and good fuel economy.

He called it a "new era of classification." ... More from Detroit Free Press via USA Today

Notice you don't hear anything from Honda, BMW, et al., about discontinuing sedans.

[WingNot]

Notice you don't hear anything from Honda, BMW, et al., about discontinuing sedans.

The big 2 and a 1/3 are ceding that busn to the Import Co's

[Jazzhead]

This appears to be short-sighted, as gas prices are bound to rise (they just pierced the $3.00 mark here in Pennsy for the first time in four years). 

Still, they are keeping the Stang and the Focus, which are the two best cars they still make here in the USA (although I believe the Focus will be moved to Mexico).   The Taurus sells poorly, and Ford will likely pitch Lincolns to the oldsters (like me) who still like large sedans. 

I was sitting at the lunch counter last week with a guy who owns a Ford dealership, and he says Ford will soon be importing cars from China.   I told him, respectfully, that that could be the move that turns me away from Ford for good.   I've always preferred to "wave the flag" for an American brand, but hell,  at this point Toyota builds more small and midsize cars here than Ford and Chrysler do (Chrysler I don't think builds any cars here at all (the 300 and Charger come from Canada)).   I've learned to accept Fiestas and Fusions from Mexico, but China?  No way, Jose!   

[Silver Pines]

Communist!!!

@GrouchoTex

Nothing but Hondas for me. 

Stalinist?   

[Frank Cannon]

Forgot another stellar passenger car offering from the Blue Oval......



And who could forget this monumental piece of shit.....the Ford Elite....



I wish I could forget it.

[WingNot]