[FairMaiden]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')They won't sell me the one I want. I've tried hard.

[MOCKBA]

Some people did calculations and last year Ford losses comes to $24,163 a MINUTE and about $2000 on every car they made...

I read 2007 outlook and Ford's own prediction - it would be worse.

BTW, Ford is not going out of business. This just illustrates how hard it is to "get off the needle".

[TreebeardsUncle]

Hi.
Was just reading the responses to a similar article on msnbc online
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16804725/):

Ford posts deepest loss in its 103-year history
Slumping sales, big restructuring costs lead to $12.7 billion loss for 2006

DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. lost $5.8 billion in the fourth quarter amid slumping sales and huge restructuring costs, pushing the fabled automaker’s deficit for the year to $12.7 billion, the largest in its 103-year history.

There were not only a lot of folks who complained about the poor reliability of Fix Or Repair Dayiy Cars but also a number who were turned off by Ford's association with gays etc.

There has been a big move lately to stick people with oversized suvs, and huge new houses while making it impossible to declare bankruptcy.

Incidentally I got a volvo I wanted over at Honda Acura in Fairfield, a 2001 S40 with 30,900 miles on it.

Geoff

[Cabrone]

I drive a Ford Escort estate and I get 41mpg out of it so I know that they can make cars that are economical. I don't know if performance like this is restricted to european markets but if it is then it's high time they rolled it out to the US too.

[Armageddon]

I drive a ford escape. A mini suv that gets near 25 mpg. I love the little thing. It's a 4 cyl. My daughter plays select soccer, so we drive alot. We always take the escape instead of the wifes mini van. A little less confortable, but better gas mileage. Its worth the trade off.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MOCKBA', 'S')ome people did calculations and last year Ford losses comes to $24,163 a MINUTE and about $2000 on every car they made...

I read 2007 outlook and Ford's own prediction - it would be worse.

BTW, Ford is not going out of business. This just illustrates how hard it is to "get off the needle".

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TreebeardsUncle', 'T')here has been a big move lately to stick people with oversized suvs, and huge new houses

[firestarter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TreebeardsUncle', 'T')here has been a big move lately to stick people with oversized suvs, and huge new houses

[MOCKBA]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', '
')Much to the dismay of environmentalists there is actually still a decent amount of demand for SUV's.

[Pablo2079]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')ord can survive simply by cutting back on production capacity so it equals the market demand. This would return Ford to profitability.

[Longsword]

What amazes me is that their share price was not whacked to kingdom come. Evidently the belief of the City Boyz is that Ford will soon pull through -probably by selling a 100-ton new SUV that gets 1mp110g.

Stock market never ceases to amaze me. 12.7 billion seems like such a terrifying sum, especially since it seems Ford has big debt already...

[Pablo2079]

I read that they had about 29 billion in the bank last year..... still, a scary loss though (amount and percentage).

I believe this was already expected by the stock market and reflected in the price. They provided a huge number of buyouts to employees last year and closed a few plants. There have to be huge costs associated with both endevours.

[Longsword]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pablo2079', 'I') read that they had about 29 billion in the bank last year..... still, a scary loss though (amount and percentage).

[Revi]

Ford can make cars that people want, but they just don't sell them. The escape hybrid is a wonderful car. You get everything, 4wd, decent mileage, space for 5, a fold down back seat, trailer up to 2000 lbs. The only problem is that they make so few of the good cars that their lots are clogged with gas guzzlers. The dealers only make about $150 on the Ranger pickup I want, whereas they make thousands off of the latest version of the Excursion. That tells me that the one I want is a much better deal for me, and not as good for the car dealer. I'm not buying anything now, I'm so disgusted. They lost me for good. I might have bought a treehugger truck, and then come back and bought an Escape hybrid. They treated me so badly, that now I'm not buying any car from them.

[MOCKBA]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'I')'m so disgusted. They lost me for good. I might have bought a treehugger truck, and then come back and bought an Escape hybrid. They treated me so badly, that now I'm not buying any car from them.

[Revi]

There is a dealer about 100 miles away that had the truck I want, but I missed it. I have time, and I'll look around for it. I am glad that they talked me out of buying new. I really don't have the money for it anyway. We decided that every time we replace anything it has to be more energy efficient than what we had. The only little pickup that gets more than what I have is the 2wd Ranger with a standard shift, made from 2001 on. So I'll keep looking. Maybe a Mazda...

[midnight-gamer]

Revi,

I don't know how far up in Maine you live. Portsmouth Ford, in NH has always treated me very well. I would try that, or maybe it's possible to place a order directly from the manufacuter. If the get the run around, a well written letter to Ford may help. What you are dealing with is sales people, who are getting crunched in a shrinking industry. Profit is many times placed before integrity.

[dukey]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')A company can survive indefinitely without making a profit so long as it has cash flow."

[MOCKBA]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('midnight-gamer', 'W')hat you are dealing with is sales people, who are getting crunched in a shrinking industry. Profit is many times placed before integrity.

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('midnight-gamer', 'R')evi,
or maybe it's possible to place a order directly from the manufacuter.