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I replaced my Ford Ranger with a Toyota Tacoma. Better truck, better fuel economy, better ride, nicer interior, bed lining was standard, etc. Hey, Ford -- want me back? Build a better small pickup than Toyota. But it's kinda late now because I expect to drive my Toyota for at least another 6 years. After that, I may convert it to an EV, and keep it another 6-7 years.

Once again this biased blogger ignores all the pertinent facts related to his topic. The Toyotas and Hondas of the world did not get where they are by building exciting cars instead they drove home the fact that their blandmobiles were better built than their domestic counterparts. According to last year's JD Power survey both Honda and Toyota still had a lead over Ford in quality. Ford's quality improved 11% from the prior year,while Toyota's slipped and Honda had a marginal gain. Ford has been erasing the only true advantage that these has held over them for the past three years. This years JD Powers results may show Ford ahead of Toyota and even closer to Honda. Too early to tell but it is very possible.

Blogger says that Ford doesn't have exciting vehicles that the public doesn't want. Maybe 5 to 10 years ago but not today. Compare a Corolla to the new Focus and one might find the this not to be true. Corolla never sold because it was exciting, only because the public perceived it to be more reliable. The new Focus has desirable attributes that the public wants such as Sync, cool ambient lighting, and superior handling. It is a deadheat in power and fuel efficiency. Surveys have confirmed that once someone test drives the current Fords they have an extremely high take rate. So the task is to get people to try them and that is the goal of this new ad campaign. The desirable product is already sitting there waiting to be noticed. Which scenario is better? Having desirable product waiting for an ad campaign to get it noticed or having undesirable product being looked at by bunches of people and being turned down? I think any car company would prefer to have the product first and then find the campaign to get it noticed. This blogger has the incredible ability to twist everything into the favor of the companies that pay him to blog. From looking at his history, he appears to be on the payroll of Toyota and Intel and no telling how many others. Or he at least holds stock positions in both and he uses this as a platform to "talk up" his overpriced holdings.

You long post does not give any real reason about why Ford's market share in the US has dropped to 15%

Doug McIntyre

Ford has to start somewhere. You have to sell what you have... there is always the Escape hybrid for the green crowd. But I agree that they have to prove that the designs they have are dependable, which won't be easy.

All that said, their business is to sell iron, and at least they are getting after it. Do we really expect that Toyota will make it easy for them?

Ford sells two trucks for every car they sell. In a market where people are moving away from trucks for fuel economy reasons, Ford is going to suffer. Chrysler will suffer worse.
Let's at least hope Ford is now rethinking its plan to drop it's compact pickup.
On the quality/reliability issue, Detroit is closing the gap. But it may take as long as a generation for that reality to sink in to buyers. Can Ford float that long?

I must say I agree with Doug and I hope that the Ford guys have read his article. Ford and GM are both"hard headed" just like my 2 ex wives and have a blatant disregard for us shareholders and the American people. WHAT HAPPENED?
RoudMan

I recently purchased a small pickup. It wasn,t a Ford because when I went to the two dealers near my home. I could not find a 4cyl auto in the Ranger series anywhere. I was told by the dealers that it was rare that a four cylinder Ranger with an auto matic even existed. I went to Toyota and the lot was full of them. I don't think Ford is interested in selling small trucks just big ones. The two trucks I had before this one were V8's I could no longer support.

I agreen with Ford. Just drive one!!!! After driving the new Merc Sable I was impressed & bought one & love it.

I am a "American"! I need to purchase american made cars, for all americans! This can become possible, if and when, american auto makers get down off their high horses and talk to average people like you and I, about what we need in a dependable ", American made auto"! I and you, buy what we think we need, not what someone other than us, think we need!

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CW&Date=20080319&Category=PHOTOS01&ArtNo=822100343&Ref=PH&Profile=1062&Params=Itemnr=4

Toyota just melted.

They may have milked the myth of of reliabilty but oh my god, they are the experts and designing the ugliest cars and trucks in history. Sheild your eyes. This Scion will scar them for life.

BTW, they also been screwed that the game they've played with the Yen is about over. How can they drop interest rates any lower and now the Fed has screwed the liars back. Japan's banking system is going to melt. Their trade manipulation that has messed up the US economy is coming back to bite them. Too fricking bad, remind me to cry.