Ford moves into 3rd place worldwide

**osprey4** · January 26th, 2004, 09:04 AM

Toyota moved past Ford as the world's #2 auto maker.

What a surprise! Other than their pickup trucks, Ford can't build a competitive vehicle in today's market.

**MTAtech** · January 26th, 2004, 09:39 AM

Not surprising. Of all the cars I've owned, the two Fords I've had were the most disappointed with Fords. One of my current cars is a Windstar that ranks last in minivans. I only bought it because I got $2,500 from a credit card towards a Ford purchase. The Sienna is so much a better minivan.

**AnakiMana** · January 26th, 2004, 09:47 AM

I never liked the feel of Ford cars. My parents have a 79 Ford truck and 80 Ford van, which are both awesome, IMO. But the cars... yuck. Just didn't feel right to me. Then again, I haven't driven anything of theirs made in the last 10 years.

I've got 3 cars between myself and my wife. A '63 Mercury Comet, a '91 Prizm, and an '88 Civic.

**zen** · January 26th, 2004, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by osprey4
Toyota moved past Ford as the world's #2 auto maker.

What a surprise! Other than their pickup trucks, Ford can't build a competitive vehicle in today's market.

Yeah right. Ok Osprey, so the 15million Taurus's out there couldn't compete eh........or the 20million Explorer's either? Not that I care for either, just that they sure sold alot of em. Still do. Not to mention Mustangs, trucks..etc.

Big deal. Toyota #2. Theres a sucker born everyday!

**MTAtech** · January 26th, 2004, 12:42 PM

I actually liked my Taurus, except that it had too many maintenance problems.

My big bone is about resale value. My 98 Windstar is only worth about $8,000 now when a similarly, when new, 98 Honda Odyessey is worth $13,000.

Personally, I don't like moving-couches, which the American big cars are.

**Epidemic** · January 26th, 2004, 12:49 PM

Ford aerostar extended van. Great car but I had fuel system problems with it at 180,000 miles. Cost me 500 bucks!

I do believe that ford had a bad run with engines from that third world country (Canada

) head gaskets blew, and xmissions problems for a while. I am not sure if they are worked out yet.

Company car is an F-150 That thing has a wonderful turning radius. It turns on 50 cent piece

I mean dime

All in all not a bad car but has been annoying on occasion.

I love the feel of taurus but maintenance is a problem going back to the early 90's the vintage I buy cars at.

**Warthog** · January 26th, 2004, 01:30 PM

Big deal. Toyota #2. Theres a sucker born everyday!

What's bad about Toyota? Think of anything besides it being a "foreign" car? Didn't think so.

**Epidemic** · January 26th, 2004, 01:40 PM

Hey if japan keeps this up I think we should invade them.

I mean taking jobs is an act of war.

**The Real Bingo** · January 26th, 2004, 01:42 PM

Actually Toyota isnt foreign. The have plants right here in the USA, and as far as Im concerned they are domestic. Ill take a Ford anyday though. You gotta like the direction they are going in with the new and beautiful F-150, the GT, TBird, and the new retro Mustang. Every other domestic brand is so bland and boring it makes me wanna puke. Its nice to see Ford doing something to spice things up.

**thekingofpain** · January 26th, 2004, 01:59 PM

Fords are sorta boring atm barring the Mustang/T-Bird/and F-150---dont forget tho Ford also has its tentacles in Mercury, Lincoln and Mazda and the high end Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Land Rover lines...

**Gutter Ball** · January 26th, 2004, 02:15 PM

Our first car was a blue 75 Mustang!! It was a great little car. Rusted to death in approximately 1983. I've always wanted another one (first it was 5.0 and then SVT *drool*)...but now that I'm a little older, wiser and have experienced the most horrendous service from Ford dealerships (top it all off with poor resale value) I buy things that give me good value for my money, from places that treat me like a customer and not a big dollar sign

**MTAtech** · January 26th, 2004, 02:24 PM

Although I rarely buy cars, I'm thinking the next time around I should get a Lexus because they really hold their value and last. A friend of mine bought a new LS400 in 1990 for $38K. It's probably still worth $15K and he didn't have any mechanical problems. I must have spend more during that time buying crappy cars.

**Epidemic** · January 26th, 2004, 02:43 PM

I buy what ever is cheapest in the 10 year old range

they rarely lose 60% of their value.

Under 200,000 miles is a new car for me

**Mike** · January 26th, 2004, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by Warthog

What's bad about Toyota? Think of anything besides it being a "foreign" car? Didn't think so.

For once, I can't argue with Warthog.

Many people despise Japanese cars because of movies like The Fast and the Furious. Right, most of these "Honda haters" probably haven't driven a newer Honda, lately.

I am a fan of Japanese and German cars.

I remember hearing someone at the local store bad mouth his friend for buying a Subaru WRX (WTF, how could you badmouth someone over that?

) and he said he didn't like foreign cars, oddly enough, he went and got into his dad's brand nex Lexus. Oh, yeah, that's not foreign.

**skuz** · January 27th, 2004, 07:17 PM

Looks like people are tired of constantly having their cars repaired.

Or maybe more people now prefer reliability over style. Modern Toyota cars aren't the best looking, nor the most powerful, but I would get one without question if offered a choice because of my experience with Toyota.

Also, Ford offers a choice of what, 3 cars maybe ?

**Ed_S** · January 27th, 2004, 08:39 PM

I'm not getting in too deep this time - broke my hand & can't type much.

BUT - skuz, Ford has:
Focus - 2dr, 4dr, sw
Taurus / Sable - 4dr, sw
Crown Vic / Marquis
ZX2 - 2dr
Mustang - 2dr, convertible
T-Bird - Removable hardtop

Plus all the SUV & truck models.

complete list here

That's enough for me, dang hand's screaming already...

**The Real Bingo** · January 27th, 2004, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by skuz
Also, Ford offers a choice of what, 3 cars maybe ?

That will be the day.

**skuz** · January 28th, 2004, 10:20 PM

I was thinking only of the Focus, Mustang and Taurus.

I'm quite sure the ZX2 isn't sold anymore here and the T-Bird is so overpriced I haven't seen one on the road. I did forget the Crown Victoria.

SUVs and trucks I don't count as cars.

**Toadman** · January 28th, 2004, 10:38 PM

T-Bird is discontinued and an overpriced/underpowered boon-doggle for the company. Don't expect the same with the 2K5 Mustang. The ZX2 was replaced with the Focus. Ford also killed it's SVT(Special Vehicles Team) subsidiary recently, makers of the SVT Stang Cobra, SVT Contour, SVT Lightning truck, and SVT Focus. Ford is still far larger than Toyota when taking into account Lincoln Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin, Kia, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, and other joint endeavors. They seem to still be in the "Global" mindset brain-stormed by Jack Nasser, former CEO.

As a single marquee with a single product line saleswise, Toyota is now larger but still short of GM.