Ford getting out of the car game (basically)

cygrads

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Jul 27, 2007
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I haven't read the whole thread but my wife and I are in our 50s and the next vehicles we get will be an SUV or crossover simply because they sit higher off the ground and are easier to get in and out of.
 
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madguy30

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I also had several conversations with crossover owners and their real world mpg never touched what the vehicle was rated for while most Asian sedans overachieve their ratings. It is such a CRAZY misconception that if you have kids you need an SUV/Crossover. The whole "I want to sit higher" is truly the only reason I could see in justifying a crossover over a sedan. If you are willing to part with multiple thousands of dollars over the life of a vehicle than I guess an SUV may be right for you

I drive a '12 Forester and my reason was more room for my outdoor pursuits but not so much room that I would have too much crap.

Works perfect in that regard. Also comes up big in times like last summer--was on some pretty iffy national forest fire roads that I don't believe my old Civic would have made it through.

Agree on the MPG though. It's not as bad as an Explorer I once had but it's certainly not what it was rated.
 

cyfan92

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I drive a '12 Forester and my reason was more room for my outdoor pursuits but not so much room that I would have too much crap.

Works perfect in that regard. Also comes up big in times like last summer--was on some pretty iffy national forest fire roads that I don't believe my old Civic would have made it through.

Agree on the MPG though. It's not as bad as an Explorer I once had but it's certainly not what it was rated.

I really really enjoyed the Forester we took for a test drive! If I lived in Colorado that car would be in my garage no doubt
 

agardini

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I did a quick comparison between the edge and the Taurus. The interior space is larger in the edge, it weighs less, is actually slightly shorter and is rated for better gas mileage. I also looks at the escape and the focus. Was nearly the same,but the focus got better had mileage by a handful of mpg's.
Looking at this, I can see why people are picking the crossovers.
 

Tailg8er

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Yes, it is an unwritten rule of truck ownership: if you just got a truck, so did your friends, neighbors and relatives.

EDIT: I don't own one, but I learned this way back when I did.

You must have had some ****** friends, neighbors & relatives. In the ~5 years I've had mine, I've only been asked to use it a couple times even though I'm more than happy to lend a hand.

I'm the kind of guy who hates to ask people to borrow a tool/truck/anything, but I will go out of my way to lend something to someone else or help with anything. Which is part of the reason I got a truck, and I've used it plenty. It was 5 years old when I got it though, don't know how sooo many people can afford new ones for $40k+. Most of them gotta be leased, right??
 

IcSyU

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You must have had some ****** friends, neighbors & relatives. In the ~5 years I've had mine, I've only been asked to use it a couple times even though I'm more than happy to lend a hand.

I'm the kind of guy who hates to ask people to borrow a tool/truck/anything, but I will go out of my way to lend something to someone else or help with anything. Which is part of the reason I got a truck, and I've used it plenty. It was 5 years old when I got it though, don't know how sooo many people can afford new ones for $40k+. Most of them gotta be leased, right??
My experience has been the same. I'll see a neighbor trying to wedge something in their van or pull a trailer that's too much for their vehicle and I'll send them a "do you want me to help you out?" text.

I don't know that I see myself ever having something that isn't a truck. It's too damn convenient to throw brush/grass/etc. in the bed and not pull out the trailer or have smelly bags of brush in the back like when I had my Edge. Mower/snowblower needs gas? Easy to toss the gas can in the bed and not worry about spilling it or anything.

I do enough maintenance type things for my in-laws that being able to haul the basics for tools around is nice as well. I'll also stop and help people with flats or jump batteries...makes my wife feel like the tools in the truck were worth the money we spent on them...or like the truck was worth it when you pull the mower she got stuck in mud out.
 

Bobber

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We have a Dodge Durango, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Avalon. I think the Avalon is the best road vehicle by far. Rides the best, best mileage, quietest on road. Think this is a myopic move by Ford that will hurt them next time there is a gas shock.
 
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BryceC

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Except this is all wrong. Look at any SUV that costs around $35k. For the same price you could have a loaded Honda Accord that had more features, faster, handled better, got a lot better gas mileage, more reliable, quieter, rides better, and on and on.

The problem is fitting 3 kids and their stuff into that vehicle.
 

VeloClone

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You must have had some ****** friends, neighbors & relatives. In the ~5 years I've had mine, I've only been asked to use it a couple times even though I'm more than happy to lend a hand.

I'm the kind of guy who hates to ask people to borrow a tool/truck/anything, but I will go out of my way to lend something to someone else or help with anything. Which is part of the reason I got a truck, and I've used it plenty. It was 5 years old when I got it though, don't know how sooo many people can afford new ones for $40k+. Most of them gotta be leased, right??
I don't have bad friends, neighbors or relatives. When I had the truck they always nicely asked. My point was that it is a commodity that just about everyone needs from time to time and when you don't have one and a friend does you are liable to ask. I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. They generally expressed and showed their appreciation as well.

Sorry if my comment was misleading.
 

VeloClone

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Yes, I can see if you have a bunch of kids. Although then I would argue that a minivan is an even better choice.
Depending on the situation. For my BIL in KC, sure. For me in Minnesota, not so much. Having clearance and 4WD comes in pretty handy in the winter whether it is for bad roads or just getting into my driveway after the snow plow plows it in and then the second one for the side street pushes around the corner and drops it all at the end of my drive. Also, a lot of the other drives and parking lots don't necessarily get plowed before I have to get in them.
 

isufbcurt

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My experience has been the same. I'll see a neighbor trying to wedge something in their van or pull a trailer that's too much for their vehicle and I'll send them a "do you want me to help you out?" text.

I haul racing engines in my Mercury Mountaineer. Lol

My wife wants me to get a new Explorer but I told her that's be to nice and I couldn't haul racing stuff in it.
 
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BoxsterCy

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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

Worried that all of the tariff sabre rattling from the White House will do the same to the German cars I like. :( Last three everyday cars have been Audi's.
 

lionnusmb

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Didn't American car manufacturers make more efficient vehicles (at a near loss) to satisfy EPA mandates that their vehicles average a certain mileage per gallon? If this is the case, Ford is banking on the EPA relief of the present regulations to be long term. If I'm wrong, please disregard.
 

agardini

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Didn't American car manufacturers make more efficient vehicles (at a near loss) to satisfy EPA mandates that their vehicles average a certain mileage per gallon? If this is the case, Ford is banking on the EPA relief of the present regulations to be long term. If I'm wrong, please disregard.
The new crossovers are classified in a different class for CAFE mandates. They are not considered cars. They are in a different class, which has different mandates.
 

clonebb

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I drive a fully loaded F 150. I get 19 and 21. No little cracker box for me.
 

Blandboy

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Worried that all of the tariff sabre rattling from the White House will do the same to the German cars I like. :( Last three everyday cars have been Audi's.

How have those restyled VWs worked out for you? I owned four VWs (2 Rabbits, a Golf and a New Beetle). All had electrical issues. I now have a Tacoma and a C-RV and both have been bulletproof.
 

besserheimerphat

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I can fit as much stuff in the trunk of my 2012 Civic as my wife can fit in the back of her 2009 Grand Caravan (and her old 2005 CRV). Except the Civic gets mid-30s mpg combined and is easier to drive and park in Seattle traffic. The only reason we need the minivan is to haul the four kids around.