A tale of 3 cars...

[TurfToe]

1. The 2010 Ford Fusion beats Camry and Accord in mileage ratings.
link



2. at the other end of the spectrum, the 2010 Jaguar XFR supercharged 5.0-Liter V8 capable of 510 HP and 460 lb-ft of torque. Is that much power 'really needed'?
link2



3. because when you have too much power, well how does the saying go? power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? Case in point... link3

[SandManFan]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

I'm rather surprised about the Ford being the most fuel efficient. That doesn't mean I'm burning with desire to go buy and Ford products quite yet, but an indicator of a step in the right direction for Ford, and maybe other NAm auto makers - that being to provide what (most) customers are looking for.

As far as link 3... too bad the police saved his life by stopping him, but they probably saved the lives of others as well.

[Opus]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

1. The 2010 Ford Fusion beats Camry and Accord in mileage ratings.

Good to hear.......feather in the cap for the blue oval....

[TurfToe]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

I'm rather surprised about the Ford being the most fuel efficient. That doesn't mean I'm burning with desire to go buy and Ford products quite yet, but an indicator of a step in the right direction for Ford, and maybe other NAm auto makers - that being to provide what (most) customers are looking for.

As far as link 3... too bad the police saved his life by stopping him, but they probably saved the lives of others as well.

hear what you are saying re: Ford, but the thing is, the Fusion was on the boards a couple of years ago. Would have to have been if they're getting test results from production vehicles not just prototypes.

I think that while all 3 NAm car makers were already on a path to creating better products, the recent economy will force them to be more efficient in making these better products happen more quickly.

[SandManFan]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

I think I have fallen into the stereotype that NAm cars are generally poor for fuel and of lesser quality than foreign ... I drive a Jetta and love it.

[turftoe27]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

Being an ex farmer I have that buy NA habit. Always bought IH , Case, or Deere for the farm and that buy NA carried over into vechicles. The Mrs was looking for a van in the fall and looked at a Ford Flex. She told the salesman that it was so long that it looked like it was made for Herman Munster. She ended up getting a Dodge Journey. Loves it for hauling grand kids around.

The new F 150 really interests me. Hear it has a new six speed AT and I might wait a year to see how the tranny stands up. Always loved the look of the crew cab Ford trucks . Only end up driving 5-8000 km a year now and just a couple of years short of getting the old age pension so I think it will likely be my last vechicle . Don't care if we end up getting a condo or if I'm 90 and in a retirement community there will always be 4x4 pickup keys on the kitchen table.

[Uncle Bobby]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

Being an ex farmer I have that buy NA habit.

What makes a car American?

Fewer than half of the parts on some Big Three vehicles are made in the U.S.

Looking at a Ford Fusion? It is assembled in Mexico. The Chrysler 300C is assembled in Canada, but its transmission is from Indiana; the brand's V-8 engine is made in Mexico. Engines in the Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle are from China.

On the other hand, Toyota's Camry is comprised 80 percent of parts made in the United States, and 56 percent of Toyota's vehicles sold in the U.S. also are made here, according to Toyota spokeswoman Sona Iliffe-Moon.

The Toyota Sienna and Tundra also have 80 percent of their parts manufactured in the U.S.

"When you have manufacturers from around the world building cars in the U.S. with 85 percent domestic content -- engine, transmission, assembly -- is that an American car?" Mandel asked. Or, he asks, is it considered foreign because the profits go back to a foreign country?

[turftoe27]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

What makes a car American?

Fewer than half of the parts on some Big Three vehicles are made in the U.S.

Looking at a Ford Fusion? It is assembled in Mexico. The Chrysler 300C is assembled in Canada, but its transmission is from Indiana; the brand's V-8 engine is made in Mexico. Engines in the Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle are from China.

On the other hand, Toyota's Camry is comprised 80 percent of parts made in the United States, and 56 percent of Toyota's vehicles sold in the U.S. also are made here, according to Toyota spokeswoman Sona Iliffe-Moon.

The Toyota Sienna and Tundra also have 80 percent of their parts manufactured in the U.S.

"When you have manufacturers from around the world building cars in the U.S. with 85 percent domestic content -- engine, transmission, assembly -- is that an American car?" Mandel asked. Or, he asks, is it considered foreign because the profits go back to a foreign country?

If I'm not mistaken Nissan and Chrysler are looking at a joint venture full size pickup. Things kind of become cloudy when you define the auto industry in terms of borders. I kind of look at it this way : for 42 years years a lot of my wheat , flax and oats likely went overseas so I figure I can give them a little payback.

[MotorSportsGord]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

Re the Jag-perhpas that much power isan't needed. That being said my dad has a 2007 Cadillac STS-V with about 470hp. And he drives it in the winter. Altough right now he is waiting for his new all season tires to come in. The current ones you have to be careful with.

[TurfToe]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

I think I have fallen into the stereotype that NAm cars are generally poor for fuel and of lesser quality than foreign ... I drive a Jetta and love it.

It's all a matter of experience isn't it? I wouldn't touch a vw with a 10 foot pole. too many friends with vw's who had no end of problems with both the vehicles and the service. But for those who have a good experience - like another friend of mine - they're gold. The same could be said for Jeeps. I've known many folks who have had problems with them (granted the Grand Cherokee line had more than its share of lemons) but my Liberty has been an absolute rock.

NAm cars have been making a lot of headway over the past several years. The fact that Saturns were ranked above the likes of Lexus for satisfaction and experience says a lot. The mentality that went into making those cars started to slip into other areas - albeit slowly. And other makers started allowing international 'technology' to influence the way they've been building cars.

[Rids]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

On the other hand, Toyota's Camry is comprised 80 percent of parts made in the United States, and 56 percent of Toyota's vehicles sold in the U.S. also are made here, according to Toyota spokeswoman Sona Iliffe-Moon.

The new Camry has to be made in the United States because Toyota wanted to get into NASCAR racing. It was also engineered and tested in the US to fit that requirement as well.

[eskiedude]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

If I'm not mistaken Nissan and Chrysler are looking at a joint venture full size pickup. Things kind of become cloudy when you define the auto industry in terms of borders. I kind of look at it this way : for 42 years years a lot of my wheat , flax and oats likely went overseas so I figure I can give them a little payback.

Chrysler will build the next gen Nissan Titan. In return, Nissan will give Dodge a compact. So no, not exactly a joint effort, but an agreement. BTW, the new Ram is miles ahead of the new F-150. Shame it didnt win TOTY.

[turftoe27]

Re: A tale of 3 cars...

Chrysler will build the next gen Nissan Titan. In return, Nissan will give Dodge a compact. So no, not exactly a joint effort, but an agreement. BTW, the new Ram is miles ahead of the new F-150. Shame it didnt win TOTY.

My youngest son has an 08 Ram Laramie , loaded except for the sliding roof . He's still into the dirtbike - snowmobile scene and you never see the truck with the box empty. He wishes he would have waited for the 09 . His truck has 20 inch rims and I can imagine the cost of replacing the tires . He was so pleased with his truck and the way he was treated by the dealership that this is the reason the Mrs. got the Journey from the same salesman.