Ford US future

[charles_wif_xf]

Here's an article from MSNBC about Ford and GM's futures:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13489697/

Make of it what you will

[G6ET8U]

Very sad for both companies... just goes to show that if you rest on your laurel's, then be prepared to pay the piper...

Jack

[vztrt]

By the sounds of it Ford dont need a finance analyst but a paid assassin.

[Polyal]

Both are in trouble, and both deserve what they get.

The rest of the empire can atleast adpat, except of course the one with the biggest cash flow

[charles_wif_xf]

What do they expect, they make turdheaps like the Taurus and 4 cylinder Mustangs (in Ford's case) and they expect to sell them by the boatload? They finally are making a product that the Seppo's love, those cursed SUV's being example one but how sustainable coud that be?

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

What do they expect, they make turdheaps like the Taurus and 4 cylinder Mustangs (in Ford's case) and they expect to sell them by the boatload? They finally are making a product that the Seppo's love, those cursed SUV's being example one but how sustainable coud that be?

That's only part of the reason .. the MAJORITY of it for both Ford and GM is the Unions holding them to randsom.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

What do they expect, they make turdheaps like the Taurus and 4 cylinder Mustangs (in Ford's case) and they expect to sell them by the boatload? They finally are making a product that the Seppo's love, those cursed SUV's being example one but how sustainable coud that be?

Wasn't the Taurus the most popular selling large sedan for a time there?

****

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by XR6T8_U

Very sad for both companies... just goes to show that if you rest on your laurel's, then be prepared to pay the piper...

Jack

Very apt comment Jack. Well put.

However, "the market" has got it wrong before. You're talking about the expected probability - determined between buyers and sellers - of the company needing default/bankruptcy insurance.

It's a very 'rounabout' way of determining a company's health. Having said this, be sure the buyers and sellers have all crunched their numbers...

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

That's only part of the reason .. the MAJORITY of it for both Ford and GM is the Unions holding them to randsom.

In all fairness, the companies probably could have sustained the beating they cop from their workers if they had been able to protect their market share. Ford losing 8% (of a market which has variances larger than our overall activity) over a decade is a MASSIVE shift.

I think it's fair to say that the unions and management have contributed to the quagmire they find themselves in.

[Hally]

I think it would be sad for the the USA & the industrial world in general if Ford and/or GM went belly up.

We all know the reasons why they are struggling, such as health care and pension liabilities to current and retired employees, wrong and sometimes dodgy product etc.

What peeves me is the lack of 'nationalism' to these companies. Both Ford & GM provided hundreds of thousands of jobs to Americans as well as great health and retirement benefits that literally millions of people benefited from. The Japanese manufactures have only relatively recently started building cars and trucks in the US. They have been given huge concessions by unions and state governments because they offer the carrot of building factories in rural areas were unemployment is huge, and if they don't get those concession they basically say'stuff it, we will import because all you suckers will buy our product anyway'.

A greater example of this in the USA is Walmart. They have basically wiped out consurmer goods manufaturing over there because they import everything and local manufacturers cannot compete.

Just my rant........

[Abacus]

Interesting article in US mag Car & Driver - "Fords that could save Ford now, if they were for sale in North America":

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...-ghia-awd.html

[Abacus]

And from July 2004 "We get the Taurus. Mr. and Mrs. Australia get a kick-butt cop cruiser":

http://www.caranddriver.com/specialt...xr6-turbo.html

[OzJavelin]

Chrysler have been "against the wall" quite a few times during 70s, 80s, 90s .. and now they are *relatively* sitting pretty. I think Ford and GM will come thru this and maybe for the better

[ I'm an expect on orphaned brands .. I've owned Studebakers, Ramblers, AMCs, Plymouths, etc .. ]

Rod.

[Gubas]

Originally Posted by Abacus

And from July 2004 "We get the Taurus. Mr. and Mrs. Australia get a kick-butt cop cruiser":

http://www.caranddriver.com/specialt...xr6-turbo.html

LOL. thats a good read that one.
Here are some pretty funny quote from that article

Originally Posted by caranddriver.com

Ford calls the engine the “Boss 260,” but to Australians it’s a hallowed “vee-bloody-eight.”

Originally Posted by caranddriver.com

For American mid-size buyers, Ford excretes the tired, charm-free front-drive Taurus with a Tupperware interior and floppy handling. Meanwhile, Australians get their kicks in a rear-drive bomb with wind-smoothed sheetmetal and a Euro-tune suspension. Where’s the justice?

[Stoney!]

This would be awful if one of both of these giants were to fall, whichever one it was. I hope that if this were to happen to either or both, that either Holden or ford australia could continue to operate, Ford australia are doing very well for themselves compared to approx 6 -8 years ago when constantly in the red and borrowing dollars of the Australian government.

These days it seems the only subsiduries of the USA giants that are making any money are their down under car makers. I would love to know what would happen to their australian subsideries if they were to file for bakruptcy. Mind you the only thing that has probably brought for into the spot light is that GM ar picking up a bit now, i read somwhere in a news report, when I have time i will try and post it on here.

One thing that was said in a wheels magazine is that inside GM the spotlight is on Holden being the only part of GM now making any money for the company.

Both GM and Ford need to start sorting out which is their best models, such as the Focus and falcon, spend a **** load of money on them and mass produce them around the globe, similar to what toyota does (who are doing very well for themselves) only thing being is this may change the way our cars are a little, but more so for the better I think..... Any thing would be good to save the parent companies of our much loved brands.

Stoney!