I guess Ford really screwed up.

[Army]

Unions killed Ford.....and most other major manufacturers that have out-sourced.

Prove me wrong.

[SCpoloRicker]

Unions killed Ford.....and most other major manufacturers that have out-sourced.

Prove me wrong.

*insert* "Did you work this weekend?!? Do you have health care?!? Do you want safe conditions?!?*/insert*



I agree with Army completely.

[Recon by Fire]

*insert* "Did you work this weekend?!? Do you have health care?!? Do you want safe conditions?!?*/insert*

Yes, I work every day and every weekend. Yes, I have health care that I pay for myself, it is not provided. Safe like I have to carry a weapon? Unions don't do anything for me.


Unions definitely had their place but they are no longer used to secure safe and reasonable working conditions for employees. Now they are a money drain on the employees and used to support their own little mafias and act as political machines.

At least Ford announced they will drop their mini-van products! They must have been the fugliest vehicles ever known to mankind! Despite any production mis-management, i'm sure you can also factor in rollover/Firestone liabilities and the design flaws of their safety latches in doors and sub-standard cabin braces for some of their loss.

US cars are just as dependable as foreign brands no, these are not the 70's anymore when that was the case. Besides, can we really determine a car to be foreign or domestic anymor considering the manufacturing practices?

I bought my first Ford vehicle (Sport Trac SUV) in 2003. I like it and it performs well and no performance issues at all. My only complaint is cheap interior cabin pieces that should have been better considering the $30K price tag.

[Lohman446]

Compared to the Duramax or the Cummins diesel, the Powerstroke dosn't have much on them but when it comes to gas burning, Ford is the better of the 2.

Wanna hear the funny thing. I'd argue the exact opposite :). If I were to buy a diesel today, and quality / power / efficiency (not price or other options) of the engine were the only concerns it would probably not be a GM. That being said, if I were buying a gasser it would most likely be a GM.

[BeaverEater]

many people dont realize this but you can make a car that will pretty much last forever with little maintenance, the problem with that is the cost. having your vehicles break down insure that you will have to buy another car and that supports their business. frankly most vehicles have a lot of problems with them, just jap cars have a little less. My moms accord got recalled twice already for various things that needed to be repaired on them. and until the foreign car companies come up with a great full size truck, i will never own an import.

[Steelrat]

Unions killed Ford.....and most other major manufacturers that have out-sourced.

Prove me wrong.

I can help prove you right. Apparently, Ford can only "idle" the plants it wants to close until the contract is up in mid 2007. While the workers are "idled" they will collect 90% of their wages and full benefits. So, essentially, the union workers will get paid to sit around for a year and a half. Yeah, thats fair.

Meanwhile, the salary workers are just given the boot.

[skife]

The cougar being an upscale Mustang? In what generation?

1967

[Lohman446]

many people dont realize this but you can make a car that will pretty much last forever with little maintenance, the problem with that is the cost. having your vehicles break down insure that you will have to buy another car and that supports their business.

Tell me that you make your statement from some educated view point and not just some conspiracy theory. Mechanical things break... part of life... why I collect a paycheck every week. Though I do not that there is a designed life of vehicles, making one that would last "forever" with little maintenance is not likely either.

[REDRT]

I don't think problem at the big 3 is intirally the companies falt. The union is a big part of the problem, but not the only one. For now the UAW is very powerful and is killing the companies. The fundamental problem with any Union is that it protects the leakers. Meaning lazy self-serving people that don't care if they do a good job just so they get a check. Cars and trucks could be better if most the people that made them really cared. In the union, individuals can not excel. Normally outside unions if one excels at what they do there is promotions and raise in salery to promote that excellance. I always felt when I was in the union that it was like communism, everyone is the same and gets the same. I hated it. I could out do everyone in every aspect of my job and never so much as got a thanks. I fact it was frowned upon! Yet, I felt doing my very best and trying to better myself should be my main goal. So I did, I left to join up with my dad at are own business. Unions in the begining were a good thing. Workers needed to stand up to the mistreatment and poor working condtions. A hundred years or so later they are mindless robots sucking the life out of everything they come in contact with. With Ford shutting down plants and offing personnal it will save tons of money. Ford bought up alot of over seas companies and can do it way cheaper. Most likey making a better product. FORD will prevail. I think there can be something worked out. Some kind of compromise can be made. I send ideas to Ford from time to time cause being a Ford fan can't be all take and maybe one of my absract ideas will help alot of people.

[Muzikman]

Compared to the Duramax or the Cummins diesel, the Powerstroke dosn't have much on them but when it comes to gas burning, Ford is the better of the 2.

This past summer I went to a local truck pull. They have a stock diesel class. All three were represented, Dodge (Cummins), GM (Duramax), Ford (Powerstroke). Of the three, the Dodges wiped house and GMs were a distant 2nd with Ford way behind.

Ask Alley, she is a huge Chevy fan and she was amazed at the power of the Dodges.

[dj89]

Dodge Cummins is the best motor now all they need is a truck to put it in.

BTW I own a chevy

[RapidTransit]

1967

I think they also used the Fox chassis in the 80's someone correct me on this.

[ghostdog2019]

cummins

The cummins engine was designed by a ford engineer. So if you want to be technical then ford has the best diesel. Dodge could not get the reliability out of there designs for a diesel engine so they looked elsewhere for help. What diesel trucks are bought for most companies nationwide. That would be ford superduties and thats cuz they last. I work for JPC Group, Inc as a project manager in NJ and we have around 100 Ford trucks and some of these being 1993 model diesels with over 500,000 miles and still running perfectly with minimal loss of power.

[REDRT]

I think they also used the Fox chassis in the 80's someone correct me on this.

79-93 fox chassis mustang and 83-88 fox/t-bird/cougar shared the chassis although the t-bird /cougars where bigger. The Fox chassis started in the late seventies and ran through the early 90's. Cars like the fairmont/granada T-bird/cougar/lincoln mark VII, and the mustang/capri were all fox chassis cars. 1967 was the first year of the cougar and it followed the mustang closely till 73. After that in 1974 Mustang IIs were based of the pinto chassis. Energy crisses and fuel shortages helped boost sales on these small cars. Cougar / T-bird remained bigger at that point till 83. Ladder 90s' Ford introduced a small cougar sporty car. Alot of mazda influence. Not a big seller and nothing like the Mustang at the time I believe it has been discontinued.

[Lohman446]

The cummins engine was designed by a ford engineer. So if you want to be technical then ford has the best diesel. Dodge could not get the reliability out of there designs for a diesel engine so they looked elsewhere for help. What diesel trucks are bought for most companies nationwide. That would be ford superduties and thats cuz they last. I work for JPC Group, Inc as a project manager in NJ and we have around 100 Ford trucks and some of these being 1993 model diesels with over 500,000 miles and still running perfectly with minimal loss of power.

Cummins L6 engines are considered to need major overhaul in the 250-300K mark by most knowledgeable people. That being said I have seen one in particular that had near 500K on it. The truck was very new and ran daily out of state...

Many Internationals run a powerstroke engine as well and some of those have some tremendous miles on them.