Ford's new CEO must trade his car in

[toyoguy]

:AH-HA_wink:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...ESS01/609060459

[Drew Dowdell]

Ford is doomed.

[BigPontiac]

Ford is doomed.

190518[/snapback]

One of their next moves better be to find a "car guy" to be their Product Czar like Bob Lutz, otherwise I tend to agree...they're screwed.

[Drew Dowdell]

Ford's "most premium" sedan is the XJ. The XJ should never, EVER, aim to be like the LS. The interior of the XJ needs to improve in quality, but otherwise, it is one of the finest large road cars out there. It certainly has the looks.

[Northstar]

Heh, the LS is certainly not the finest automobile in the world, nor are any other Lexus models. Regardless, it's nice to see he has some sort of passion to make the finest cars in the world.

Only problem: Ford doesn't need to make the finest cars in the world, they need some high-volume hits. I could care less if Jaguar makes the XJ into an S-Class beater if they can't make bread-and-butter cars, because S-Class beaters won't keep Ford afloat.

[NOS2006]

He's got the money, he's in charge of Ford, and he drives a Lexus? Why not an Aston Martin?!

[Drew Dowdell]

Heh, the LS is certainly not the finest automobile in the world, nor are any other Lexus models. Regardless, it's nice to see he has some sort of passion to make the finest cars in the world.

Only problem: Ford doesn't need to make the finest cars in the world, they need some high-volume hits. I could care less if Jaguar makes the XJ into an S-Class beater if they can't make bread-and-butter cars, because S-Class beaters won't keep Ford afloat.

190554[/snapback]

quite true.

Even still, making the finest car in a class doesn't always mean much. Many times image or tradition or customer base means more.

In a way, that's what is wrong with the Five Hundred. Ford tried to build a Camry beater. In the process they lost what Taurus buyers they still had, and by being as bland as the Camry without the <questionably deserved> quality reputation, no one had a reason to buy one unless they *really* wanted a FWD Crown Vic. Apparently, that market is quite small. Still the Five Hundred is still a fine car... not the finest..but it would probably still satisfy 90% of Camry owners.

From what we've read so far, it sounds like Ford has the engine and transmission improvements ready to go. The interiors are already better than GM and Chrysler, now they just need the passion.

The smartest thing this guy can do is make the cars *look* like their concepts. The 427 concept, Continental concept, Super Chief, Bronco, Mark X, could all have been built on the current platforms.... even if you have to adjust a line or two, as least make it look close.

The Continental concept would have put some serious hurt on the 300C, CTS, STS, and most of Lexus's line.

Edited September 7, 2006 by Oldsmoboi

[Drew Dowdell]

He's got the money, he's in charge of Ford, and he drives a Lexus? Why not an Aston Martin?!

190557[/snapback]

he's been in charge of Ford for all of two days now.

[NOS2006]

he's been in charge of Ford for all of two days now.

190562[/snapback]

Yes, I know. But he's probably got the money to have an Aston Martin in 2 hours. Edited September 7, 2006 by NOS2006

[Drew Dowdell]

Mulally will be long retired or replaced before any major product decision he makes hit the road.

Ford's product hopes are in the hands of Mark Fields who is reponsible for FNA.  And Mulally again might be retired or replaced by the time those products hit the road.

Ford threw out Nasser (aka Carlos Ghosen) and arguably one of the best product minds in the auto business Wolfgang Reitzle only to bring in an aerospace executive with at most a four year mandate six years later.

By the time Mulally pops his cherry at Ford it will be time to collect his gold Rolex and head off to his waterfront estate in FL.

If Bill Ford could not get straight answers from Ford's leadership what makes anyone think Mulaly can.  Worst of all, Mulaly will not even know when he is given wrong information, what process are dysfunctional, what systems are illogical or simply who or what to trust.

I will not take anything away from Mulally's resume but I will certainly go on record that Ford has months not years for this guy to make his mark on the company.

190578[/snapback]

I agree 100% <though some of that is my assumptions that you know more about Ford's internal workings than I>. I do doubt that Ford will completely fold, but I don't doubt that bankruptcy is in the cards.

My concern is how many people he'll cut and the possibility of cutting the good along with the bad.

If Ford only has months left, then I have a feeling they're already done. Very few companies of that size can react that fast.