FlyBoeing From United States of America, joined May 2000, 866 posts, RR: 2 Posted (11 years 8 months 1 day ago) and read 554 times:
Will this get as big as Boeing vs. Airbus?
Let me fire the opening shot for Ford:
I love the fact that they have the only large V-8 sedan (the Crown Vic) and my family rents one whenever on vacation. SWEET car; plenty of room, fast and smooth.
I love the new Explorer (I don't own one but I sat in one at the New York Auto Show) and it's roomy and supposedly smooth handling. My family has a '97 Mountaineer, which is a pleasant vehicle to drive. It's got a lot of room and great acceleration.
I love how Ford is such a world auto company that it can introduce brand new styling concepts to the US market. "New Edge" styling is great on the Focus, for example.
I love how all Ford cars are alike in interior controls. Unlike how all GM cars are alike in interior controls, the Ford setup has nicer buttons and a better feel.
I also have respect for Ford. They also own really GOOD foreign auto companies like Jaguar, Aston, and Volvo as opposed to crummy ones like Vauxhall and Opel.
Their truck and minivan division could use a bit of freshening, but those lines of vehicles aren't too popular anymore.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 2, posted (11 years 8 months 21 hours ago) and read 522 times:
FlyBoeing:
I should find room for you on my respected users list.
Ford makes the best cars in the world. They always have! GM is the TWA of the automobiles. They have a great past, but they are falling apart. Totally mis-managed and routinely make bad business moves after another.
I love Ford’s Crown Victoria’s, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town cars. The Mustang is a good affordable alternative to the Trans Am which GM is scrapping and the Excursion whips the Suburban. The Suburban had that market since it's inception, but times do change. Even there alliance with Jaguar and Austin Martin shows that Ford is focused on making quality instead of quantity the GM model .
My first car was a 74 Pinto (Ford’s only mistake), then 76 Cougar, then 77 Town Car & Mark V. Even back then, there quality was better the GMs of that time. I can only think of 3 or 4 GM models that are marginally better then Ford over the past 40 years.
I will give GM some credit. They do have the best sounding stock stereos.
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 3, posted (11 years 8 months 21 hours ago) and read 521 times:
I agree with FlyBoeing.
Currently I own a '91 Ford Ranger XLT super cab with a 4.0L V6 engine. Sweet little truck. Hopefully in the next couple years I can afford to get a Ranger Edge 4x4.
I'm a bellman at a hotel, and I also cover valet when needed, and I must say I like the Fords best. Even though I don't like mini-vans, I must say the Windstar kicks the crap out of any other one.
I hear all of these people making cracks about Ford all of the time, like Found On Road Dead etc. One time I had to pick my mom up because her car's (chevy lumina) alternator went for the 3rd time in about a year and a half. The whole time the Tow truck driver was making cracks at Ford, kinda funny how his tow truck was a Ford towing a chevy, and who was there to drive my mom home? Me in my FORD.
SilverAngel, do you think your laugh was as good as the laugh the board members at Ford were having when the sales reports came out and they were #1 in sales in North America yet again?
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 4, posted (11 years 8 months 21 hours ago) and read 525 times:
Another Ford advantage is that there dual exhaust system has two separate catalytic converters all the way to the end vs. GMs cheap way by having the exhaust go into one catalytic converter and out separate again to give the 'illusion' of dual exhaust.
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 5, posted (11 years 8 months 21 hours ago) and read 521 times:
I know what you mean by GM having good factory systems. My mom's lumina (the one mentioned in my previous post) has a factory system and it's pretty bumpin'........when the alternator works. My sister just bought a Focus, and I've driven several new cavaliers. Focus wins hands down. Ford's interiors (to me) just feel more solid and well crafted. Cops have used a mix of chevy and ford for awhile now, however (at least in my city) they seem to be moslty new crown vic's and some chevy impala's. Caprice's are long gone.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 6, posted (11 years 8 months 21 hours ago) and read 513 times:
Here in San Francisco you still see a lot of Caprice Classic cops & taxis and even a few Dodge Diplomats and Plymouth Furys (1987-89 models). I guess cars last longer out here. I'll say that SFPD is about 50% Ford (Crown Vics & old LTDs) now. I guess cars last longer out here. Cops & cab drivers that I know all tell me they prefer the Fords over the new front-drive GMs. They just can’t take a beating like rear-drive cars. Having the new Impala as a cop car is really pushing it. It's like sending a 757 across the Atlantic...Oooops this isn't the Civil Aviation threads
The only reason why the Caprice lasted until 1996 was because it was cheaper ($4,000 per unit) than the Ford Crown Victoria with its overhead cam 4.6-liter V8.
Believe it or not, cops like the last of the Fury/Diplomats the best!
That was technically a mid-size car that was still a rear-drive V8. Those must have flown like rockets!
FlyBoeing From United States of America, joined May 2000, 866 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (11 years 8 months 20 hours ago) and read 507 times:
Jesus, Superfly, do the SF cops ever get new rides? God, those cars must be on their last legs. I don't recall seeing a Diplomat in New York past 1992.
Here's a funny Ford anecdote:
I drive a Mercury Mountaineer. My mom and I went to Phoenix and rented a Ford Taurus. Now with the Mountaineer I just leave the keys in the car since it has keyless entry. Since the Taurus was so much like the Mountaineer I left the keys in that car and locked the doors by mistake!
Adam84 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 1400 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (11 years 8 months 18 hours ago) and read 504 times:
Personally if I had to choose between the two I would pick GM. True they build some god awful looking stuff but it lasts a hell of a lot longer then Fords.
I dont know if my family has been inflicted with defective Fords but every single one of them has had problem after problem.
The first car I would choose over anything would be a Japanese BUILT vehicle.
I Like To Fly From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1188 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (11 years 8 months 15 hours ago) and read 492 times:
Around here the cops have 2001 "Police Interceptor" Crown Vics that have a V-8 with boosted horse power, better alternator to power all the crap, harder suspension, and a different gearing setup designed for pursuits. I have driven them and it feels like a sports car and don't know why they don't have it as an option to the "public". I don't think the police around here ever lose a pursuit with them.
174thfwff From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (11 years 8 months 15 hours ago) and read 488 times:
They Both Suck majorly. I know beacuse my family has always bought American Made Cars (ford and GM) until this year. American Cars are made to go about um 10 miles before something goes totaly wrong with it.
My dad bought a me a 2001 Toyota Camry XLE V6 3 weeks ago and it is totaly amazing. Great ride, enjoyable to drive, so fast. GASP! A great car? Wow, that is a great feeling.
I will never support american car companies as long as I live.
FlyBoeing From United States of America, joined May 2000, 866 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (11 years 8 months 14 hours ago) and read 482 times:
174thfwff:
Actually I've been pretty lucky with my Mountaineer. Nothing has gone wrong in 50,000 miles that I haven't done to the car.
I don't know where the bad quality notion comes from. It's a good car.
We're in a positive mood here anyway. We're not closing our minds to anything here. I'm not closing my mind to Japanese cars, or GM. I simply like Ford cars.
N400QX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (11 years 8 months 14 hours ago) and read 473 times:
I don't care much for American cars. But, if I was to choose a TRUCK (because we all know foreign makers can't make a good truck) I would definately go with the Chevrolet Silverado-- it just looks nicer... the Ford equivalent is damn ugly.
DC10Tony From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1012 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (11 years 8 months 8 hours ago) and read 467 times:
Yeah right!!!
Ask any cop what cruiser he likes the best and I bet you money he'd say the Caprice. Here in FL, there's still departments that are using the Caprice (9C1) because it's a great cop car and they don't want to get rid of them, they have over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
If I were a cop right now, I'd take the Crown Vic over the Impala, but the Caprice just flat out, hands down beat the Ford. It's wider, heavier, faster, roomier inside, and a much more powerful car. Too bad GM discontinued all their big rear-drivers.
A380 From Canada, joined Dec 2000, 658 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (11 years 8 months 6 hours ago) and read 461 times:
I really wonder why GM discontinued the Caprice, there is a steady stream of customers for it. I think GM is making mistakes after mistakes in the past few years.
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 21, posted (11 years 8 months 4 hours ago) and read 459 times:
Where did I say cops prefer the crown vic? I don't have a clue what they prefer. All I said was in MY city the caprice's are gone, the only chevy's they use now are some impala's. The rest are new crown vic's. Also they have some off-road vehicles which consist of Durango's and Jeep Cherokee's. They just started using pick-ups as well which they use a mix of F-150's and GMC 1500's (I think). I should talk to my sister's ex-boyfriend who's a cop and ask what he and other cops prefer.
Wn700driver From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (11 years 8 months 2 hours ago) and read 455 times:
Are you all for real?
Ford makes some of the worst products ever inflicted on the driving public.
I'll just address this one for now, and I can have more later I suppose.
Those who agree that the Mustang GT is worth purchasing, please be aware of this. I recently drove a USD15,000 Olds Alero (2000yr) at the track (Capitol Raceway), & Scored a 14.5 for my quarter mile run. Nope, that's not a typo. The heavily modified GT Cobra who raced before me got 15.9, again, no typos there, and the Crown Vic (with the pusuit package --I think PO3 Dan's lefttenant would shit a brick if he knew he had a marked car at the track) was safely into the mid 16's. Now, normally I would, "Man, I'm a quick driver, and man do those guys suck dingoshit", but the truth is that these folks have years on me in terms of racing experience. So, that means it is all car here.
Also, not, only can GM's N-bodies smoke any Ford (it seems) , but they have far more interior room, features, and attractiveness (again, the interior) than does the Mustang.
However, I will agree that GMs management is pretty assinine, and the 6cyl camero & firebird, well the might as well say "Ford" on them too.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 24, posted (11 years 8 months 1 hour ago) and read 451 times:
My interest is mainly 'traditional' full-size luxury cars.
GM totally gave up that market to Ford in 1996, Chrysler in 1989.
Nothing beats the Lincoln Town car in terms of class, reliability and strength. Lincoln's are timeless and will always be a respected luxury carmaker I just ignore the blackwood in navigator .
I can drive my 1977 Town Car into any 5 star hotel valet parking lot and still get respect and blend in among all the new Jaguars, Merecedes amd other high-end cars. If a 1977 Cadillac pulls up, you’d expect Snoop Dog or wanna-be gangster to step out. Not to stereotype or anything but Caddies just get out-dated so fast.
Why do you think there are more stretched Limousine Lincoln's than Cadillac?
The only Caddies that were better than Lincoln was the 1994-96 Fleetwood Brougham.
What's with this front-wheel crap that GM is calling luxury?
They are trying to pitch the DeVille as a 'traditional' luxury car. Last time I drove one it felt like a Camery on steroids! What's with the center console gear shifter and analog gauges? That's fine for a sports cars but not a 'traditional' luxury car.
GM has a lot of potential but when ever they have a great idea, they kill it. I like the Northstar engine and the 350 better than the Ford 4.6. The problem is that GM puts they great engines in a front-wheel drive configuration.
Just look at Jaguar, Rolls Royes, Porsche, Alfa Romeo and other high-end brands. They wouldn't dare make a front-drive car, why? Because that is so cheap and generic! Why GM does this to their Cadillac’s is beyond me.
I Like To Fly From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1188 posts, RR: 2 Reply 25, posted (11 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 443 times:
DC10Tony, I just surveyed ten police officers and they all preferred the Crown Vic for various reasons. A big complaint I heard is the Caprice seems to overheat more while idling like cruisers do so much and you have to pop the hood if you are going to leave it sit more than 15 minutes w/ strobe lights & A/C on when it is hot out and you must leave the engine on to power everything. (interesting note I found, those strobe and spot lights drain a battery in about 10 minutes) The Caprice is not as good for a highway pursuit because it's top speed is lower than the Crown Vic. The Crown Vic also has more room to install the computer and radio equipment, they both are roomy, but apparently the Crown Vic's setup allows for more room once it is all installed. There were a few pluses for the Caprice, but they all seemed to prefer the Crown Vic. I realize it is more of a personal opinion and I don't hold much credit to it, but you did challenge us to ask some cops so I did.
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