the_yellow_dart

Thanks. I needed that laugh.

OK - I'll give everyone's comments their due here. It is pretty ugly. However - The idea of the headlights coming out of the bottom of the windshield on a car with a short hood like a Prius or a Yaris, I think makes sense. I mean, think about the current Yaris and Prius headlights and how bloody long they are. It's the logical extension.

Collar

Quoted for truth. You have to be a good multitasker, and you have to be able to prioritize those tasks in your mind. I've had a few people on the other end of those phone calls say, "Hello? You still there?". I'm too focused on some important driving maneuver at the moment to think about the phone call so I just ignore it for the time.

I quote myself because this has now happened a second time. This time was the worst possible time too, right before a first date. I didn't want to call and cancel so I tried just driving it around a bit. After about 10 feet the parking brake let go and everything was OK. edit: Note, this time I didn't wash it first, and the temperatures were slightly above freezing.

Myer - I dunno why, but I'm suddenly thinking... If I had my little way, I'd eat peaches everyday - sun soakin' bulges in the shade.

I wonder if Sixty8 has ever popped a boner for a cheap Russian before? :AH-HA_wink:

Oh sweet Jesus those exterior mods are ugly. That poor C6 got butchered! Time to call the lawyer on this plastic surgeon...

Have you heard the Cake version?

Don't insult them man!!! Gummi bears have more intelligence than that! :AH-HA_wink:

Yep. 'ka' is kind of like a question mark in Japanese. So without the 'ka', it means, "you are stupid". :AH-HA_wink: Just kidding WMJ!

anata wa baka desu. I'd like to see if anyone sorts that out. :AH-HA_wink:

I don't hate America. I don't hate Americans in general. I hate the stereotypical close-minded American that some people think are normal Americans. I was mistaken in identifying Mr. SVT as one of those people. I really haven't met anyone who truly fits into that category on this site besides maybe 'domesticated'.

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss I think that covers it.

I think Ford finally found their strength: Their bought intelligence from other brands. Mazda has helped them a lot lately (Fusion/Milan/MKZ, Edge/MKX)

He lives in Flint. Maybe he's used to being afraid? :AH-HA_wink:

I think they're about as ugly as this concept... Bentley is the first thing I think of when I see it. Neither this concept nor Bentleys strike me as ugly, but neither appeal to me either...

Isn't that what Bentley is?

Do you think it is possible at this point for the Big 3 all to survive? I can only see a few scenarios where all three might survive at least, say, 10 years into the future. 1. The US government introduces tariffs. I really don't see this happening. The talk that Lutz and company had in Washington seemed to produce no word on this. 2. The UAW makes concessions without a bankruptcy happening. The UAW already knows that the agreements they have with the Big 3 make them less competitive with the Japanese. Do you think they would suddenly have a change of heart without something drastic happening? 3. One of the Big 3 goes bankrupt, forcing a panic mode which saves the other two. This is, unfortunately, the most likely solution. Since it seems to me that Ford as of late has contributed the least to the auto industry, and are one of the most top-heavy in terms of corporate bonuses (at least lately), and also have one of the weakest lineups, that it why they were targeted by this piece. If we can see option 1 or 2 happen, or somehow the Big 3 can pull themselves out of this union cost funk without drastic measures, I will be happy. The crisis mode will still likely be entered anyways, and changes will happen all over the Big 3. I feel this is needed for these corporations. I think the time has come however where it's appropriate to discuss the alternatives. If Ford continues to take the attitude they currently show when they give a retiring manager such a bonus, they I hope they do die, as an example of corporate greed, and as a martyr for the other two. However, we can always hope for change.

I got very angry after reading your first response. You questioned my core beliefs, ones I hold very true to myself. You treated my beliefs as if they were facades I made up for the sake of posting here. I am not a troll, and I am truly left wing. It felt like a personal attack, and I responded with a flame. In a way I'm glad that you read it though, since your response to it showed that you truly do know how to argue without attacking - which isn't what it seemed like from your first post. I apologize for that flame. Hope we can keep it civil in here.

OK, the tone of this one is much more intelligent and less angry. If we're talking like this, maybe we can have an 'adult' conversation, as you say. I still don't see the contradiction here. Right wingers want the corporations to take care of everyone. It would be contradictory of me, if I were right wing, to wish for the death of Ford. I'm hoping for the end of a corporation which would allow, under imminent bankruptcy, large bonuses for retiring management. This seems to me to be very in-line with left wing values... The big guy is running away with the money while they're killing chances of a future for the little guy. Raising against this injustice is a stand for the everyman. How is that contradictory?

I remember hearing recently that Canada has sold more of itself than any other developed nation. If this is true, we're in a worse boat than you.

edit: This thread has become too political. Forget it.

I don't mean to s**t in the Cheerios here, but I must remind the posting public that I've never liked Ford, nor am I pro-American. There's just something intanglible I like about GM. Always have. Would it be the same if GM were Japanese from the start? Absolutely. I see and understand the arguments about buying North American, and I understand them. However, as a proud Canadian it's a little harder to get behind those ideas. Sure, my money is staying closer to home, and it's partially funding plants around here, but it's still leaving my country. Not only that, but it's going to a country whose taxes support an army whose actions I really don't agree with. This Ford question is not coming from a pro-American. So please remember that when you say it's a horrible question. It may be to you, but personally I would see it as culling the fat from the international industry. I realize as well that not all Ford fans would go to GM. That's fine. Some would, and more to the point, GM would have more bargaining power with the UAW and would likely have to give less incentives, as they would no longer have Ford to compete with in that department. The Silverado/Sierra make so much money... just imagine if there was no more F150.

Love that song, and the little Camaro nod.