Ford getting out of the car game (basically)

[Sigmapolis]

I can honestly say I have never looked at car ratings when buying a car. I simply see something I like and buy it.

I get a lot of rental cars for work.

Once I was in the market for a new one of my own, I bought the make/model that I liked.

Drive around Ankeny, West Des Moines, Johnston, Waukee and all you'll see are trucks, minivans, and SUV's. The people buying new vehicles have been gravitating towards bigger vehicles for quite some time.

They better hope petroleum prices are low for a long time.

Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai would eat them alive if gas went back to $4+ per gallon.

 

[HFCS]

Makes sense. The small car sector is being driven by European and Asian markets. Since Ford was never really able to get their foot in the door there, they only have the North American market to lean on. Honda, VW, Hyundai, Toyota, and Kia have reacted to those market needs better than Ford. Small, turbo charged engines were never their strong suit and that's where the market is headed.

When I studied abroad in Rome in 2000 Ford Euro was actually pretty big and I even met some guys that worked for Ford there. They had a few small car models that weren't available in the US. Not sure if it's still like that because I couldn't judge from any vacation trips I've taken since then. For all I know they lost it since then though.

 

[Cyfan1965]

l

in ireland that could mean literally ran into!

Let me rephraze that- Female we met at the pub and her boyfriend

 

[CTTB78]

Nor would 90% of people know anything about handling, ride, noise level, or reliability.

Finally, someone mentions ride. For long road trips I wouldn't trade anything for my Cadillac DTS. My next car will be a CT-6.

Ford does make a nice truck, have driven a F-150 for years.

 

[VeloClone]

People choose the stuff in between because they have a bunch of kids, and around here, drive in snow. I have a Camry now, but when the kids were younger had various SUV/crossover types. I certainly didn't need a legit off-roader and a sedan wasn't going to cut it. A minivan was a non-starter.

This exactly. I don't have a huge family but we do drive in a weekly sports carpool and often travel with Grandma and Grandpa and can take the whole group. When we got our huge rush hour snowstorm a couple of months ago I was glad to have 4 wheel drive and higher clearance as I passed car after car that had gotten stuck - even high centered - just trying to switch lanes on their evening commute. With the low clearance there were a lot of minivans that were stuck as well. I'm willing to give up a little in gas mileage and pay a few bucks more for a used SUV when it can make that kind of difference in the upper midwest. I always said we wouldn't be a two SUV family, but living up here it just seems to make sense to have a smaller SUV and a mid size SUV.

 

[Cydkar]

I don't have anything against small SUV's, including the CRV. I actually owned one of the first year models and my wife has had 3 small SUV's in a row. What I'm trying to point out is that dollar for dollar you almost always get more bang for your buck when choosing the sedan equivalent. You're probably correct that the average person buying a SUV doesn't care about little things like ride quality, performance, reliability, etc. but I think that is something that is a little more important than the grocery bag hooks or the ability to change interior light colors.

I know I'm in the minority on this opinion, even in my own house.

You are actually correct. Just wrapped up car shopping. You get more car for your buck with a sedan.

Everybody has different wants. No real need to argue about it.

 

[StClone]

I average about 42 mpg total on a non-hybrid Hyundai rated 37mpg highway.

Japanese cars? No, South Korean cars like Kia and Hyundai have as good of ratings, cost less and have appealing designs.

 

[StClone]

“combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility.”

Higher ride height is needed as people show signs becoming "larger" physically, decline earlier and normal aging populace produce big inflexible bodies. I have acquaintances who have destroyed the seats in their sedans and needing to switch to something more able to haul their mass around.

As tax revenues decline, roads will suffer (here in Wisconsin) and big trucks and SUVs with big tires and high clearance will be needed. Snow removal too has declined so AWD may make sense.

 

[herbicide]

I get a lot of rental cars for work.

Once I was in the market for a new one of my own, I bought the make/model that I liked.

That's how I ended up with my last car, Jetta TDI. Never would of considered a VW until I had one for a weeklong rental.

I still do research; I don't want to end up with a high dollar turd.

Ratings need to be taken with a grain of salt and skepticism. They can be bought, and also biased towards certain features.

 

[dmclone]

That's how I ended up with my last car, Jetta TDI. Never would of considered a VW until I had one for a weeklong rental.

Kind of off topic but did you participate in the VW buy back? If so, how did it go?

 

[herbicide]

Kind of off topic but did you participate in the VW buy back? If so, how did it go?

Yes, but I haven't turned it in yet. It is a process, although an easy one if you have all your documents. You have to get your paperwork done and approved by August or September, then have until the end of the year to turn it in.

You just need title, registration, sales agreement, etc to get approved. I did it all from email/scans.

As long as the car drives under its own power, they only penalize you for mileage.

 

[BoxsterCy]

My neighbors eye me with suspicion because I have three cars and none of them are a crossover, SUV or a pickup.

 

[herbicide]

My neighbors eye me with suspicion because I have three cars and none of them are a crossover, SUV or a pickup.

Like.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Had just purchased a 2014 Ford Fusion. I asked the dealership to tighten up a few things, throw some new tires on etc. and so they gave me a loaner for a few days. It was a 2015 Mazda 6 i Sport. The thing handled so nicely, had a lot more HP than the Fusion, looked amazing in comparison, and had the edge in fuel economy. It was a no brainer. After just 2 days, I took the Mazda back to the dealership, cancelled my order on the Fusion, and told them I wanted the Mazda instead. And actually saved (!) about $1000 (could be due to the Mazda having 10k more miles on it, but who cares)

 

[besserheimerphat]

People choose the stuff in between because they have a bunch of kids, and around here, drive in snow. I have a Camry now, but when the kids were younger had various SUV/crossover types. I certainly didn't need a legit off-roader and a sedan wasn't going to cut it. A minivan was a non-starter.

*****

 

[Gunnerclone]

Can’t wait for the new Bronco. I’m gonna get my OJ on all over town in that thing.

 

[dmclone]

Had just purchased a 2014 Ford Fusion. I asked the dealership to tighten up a few things, throw some new tires on etc. and so they gave me a loaner for a few days. It was a 2015 Mazda 6 i Sport. The thing handled so nicely, had a lot more HP than the Fusion, looked amazing in comparison, and had the edge in fuel economy. It was a no brainer. After just 2 days, I took the Mazda back to the dealership, cancelled my order on the Fusion, and told them I wanted the Mazda instead. And actually saved (!) about $1000 (could be due to the Mazda having 10k more miles on it, but who cares)

I could swear that at one time Mazda/Ford co-produced the Fusion/6. Maybe I'm thinking of another model.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Part of the reason trucks (and cargo vans) are so expensive is because of a 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US. I'm sure Nissan, Toyota and Honda trucks could be much more competitive if not for that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

 

[AuH2O]

Can’t wait for the new Bronco. I’m gonna get my OJ on all over town in that thing.

Same here unless a new IH scout goes into production in the meantime.

And I think technically speaking you'd be getting your AC on unless you have a buddy driving you around.

 

[mywayorcyway]

Higher ride height is needed as people show signs becoming "larger" physically, decline earlier and normal aging populace produce big inflexible bodies.

My girlfriend had a Honda Civic when we started dating. I'm 6' 3" and if we took her car on a trip longer than an hour or two, my knees would start bothering me. I don't have knee issues and this is the only time they would bother me.

We bought her an SUV a few years later (Nissan Murano). Knee issues vanished, can drive as long as I want now without issue. I would prefer to have a car that got better mileage, but I won't trade it for the SUV comfort.