First Ford Motor declines the offer. Thanks but no thanks.
Now they are actually re-opening a 58-year-old, retooled manufacturing plant.
…without government aid.
Ford is reopening its Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 to produce the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 for the Lincoln MKS and MKT, Ford Flex and 2010 Taurus SHO. The plant has been idle since 2007, but Ford has invested $55 million in the 58-year-old facility to create a flexible manufacturing system for powertrains. No new jobs will be created by reopening the plant, as Ford will staff it with 250 workers from other facilities on the site, but the job security that comes with being the first in the world to build the automaker’s most advanced engine is surely welcome.
So it can be done.
I wish I were in the market for a new car.
It would be a Ford Motor Company product.
That’s impossible. Great Leader has declared “This job is just to big to do with the Government”.
Ford will have to be punished.
Front page of this mornings paper has a NYT article, saying said how Obama is “reversing 30 Reaganomics”. That we need to remove the inequality between the poor and rich.
As usual, dying media doesn’t say that everyone prospered during the last 30 years. And that Barry’s plan is to bring down the successful, not bring up the poor.
Success is about work. It’s hard. Destruction is much easier.
That makes me recall my best friend’s 72 Gran Torino in High School. It had a 351 Cleveland that would spin the tires through 1st and 2nd gears (C6 Auto). It was like the car was slipping on ice at a really slow rate, but the tires were just smokin’. The power steering on that car was ridiculous, way too much boost. At a dead stop, you could grab the steering wheel and spin it in one direction and let go (like wheel. of. fortune.) and it would go all the way to the lock (maybe 4 turns lock to lock).
Kudos to Ford for keeping it private. I just had a Flex as a rental for a week, and while it was hideous on the outside, it rode great, and had plenty of power. Painful mileage however.
Getting lots more sales of all Detroit cars would be really, really easy. All Obama and Eric Holder have to do is propose banning them, and sales will go through the roof — it’s working for the “assault weapons,” after all, and lots more people want cars than want Evil Black Rifles, after all.
Everytime you see some one jump out of a GM or Chrystler vehicle, (or especially a Suburu, or a Volvo) be sure to ask “Why do you hate America”?
That is all.
I like my American cars. It pains me knowing that some of my money ends up going to the UAW, but we have to live with those tradeoffs.
I love my Ford 500(now renamed the Taurus).
Remember the old commercial?
FORD DOES HAVE A BETTER IDEA!
I may be in the market for a new small car, and I’m considering the Fusion, only because of Ford’s refusal of bailout money. But, I’m having a hard time getting past the nightmare memories of my old Ford Windstar piece of shit.
Sorry, but Ford will have to do a lot better do get my business. Not that I will be buying GM or Chrysler products instead. My experience with a Contique soured me towards a Ford marquee for what seems like forever.
Oh, and Chuck’s comment – “…Barry’s plan is to bring down the successful, not bring up the poor…” is pretty close darn close to a punchline for an old Russian joke, telling which during the best part of the 20th century would land you in jail. Deja vu all over gain.
Chuck said:
I like my American cars. It pains me knowing that some of my money ends up going to the UAW, but we have to live with those tradeoffs.
I love my 2007 Suburban LTZ but not too worried about the UAW because:
Hecho en Mexico
Ay, caramba!
I was (am) considering a Ford Fusion, but they are made in Mexico.
Maybe I can reconcile that…buying a Mexican car, but can support an American company and also I will not be funding the AFL-CIO/UAW PAC.
Unfortunately, the U.S. auto industry doesn’t cater to the needs of the clown community. When Angryclown buys a unicycle or tiny clown car, he’s forced to buy Bulgarian.
Shiftee prattled: “Everytime you see some one jump out of a GM or Chrystler vehicle, (or especially a Suburu, or a Volvo) be sure to ask “Why do you hate America”?
Everytime you see someone jump out of a taxpayer-subsidized U.S.-made Losermobile, be sure to ask “Why do you hate capitalism?”
“Why do you hate capitalism?”
Good Clown, honest Clown. I bow to your wholly appropriate sentiments.
Word to your mother.
BTW, Clown.
I hear that the supply of Bulgarian tiny clown cars available for export is about to become non-existant. Seems the Bulgarian Homeland Security Forces have put the finger on all of next years output.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1749/microguardkm7.jpg
I suggest you go with the Fusion and add a little sweat equity with a cutting torch.
There’s a dealership in Omaha with some Yugo in stock. You could get one loaded in the back of an F150 and delivered.
I own two fords: A ’98 interceptor (obviously) and an ’83 Mustang. (Kind of my signature car) Both are going strong. Sometimes I think Ford might have made them a little too well, but that’s good for me. I don’t need to replace either. That makes my uncle Dave proud (He is a retired Ford VP) When I had a family, I had a Ford Ranger king cab that fit the wife and children well. However, I have had Chevys, and Datsuns, and even a Pontica T-37 at one point. Nothing lasted or worked as well or reliably as my Fords, so I may be biased, so I’m not surprsied by this move.
Now if that rumour I heard about them currently road testing a 100% elecric Ranger is true, I may be in the market… 😉