Ford sales getting slammed...Nissan boasts another record month of sales....

rmiller_ny · 06-01-2005, 11:48 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158301,00.html

Some items of note:

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (search) , Japan's second-largest carmaker, said its May sales rose 15.5 percent, a new record for the month.

Ford Motor Co. (F) reported its 12th straight month of lower U.S. vehicle sales Wednesday, as high gasoline prices and flagging demand for its fuel-thirsty sport utility vehicles cost it more market share that went to Asian rivals.

The sales slump, Ford's longest in recent memory, casts another shadow over Detroit's struggling automakers as they grapple with brutal competition and the impact of last month's credit rating downgrades to "junk" status.

Lounatk · 06-01-2005, 02:19 PM

How come Ford cites "high gas prices" as a reason for slumping sales,when Nissan sold more Titans and Armadas than ever before? And Toyota keeps on selling them "high mileage" Sequoias and such? I really dont understand why Ford is losing money like mad. They make some real nice looking cars, but I guess their quality is still perceived,either fairly or unfairly,as crap.

I guess the unions will be the death of these companies while they demand more money from empty pockets.

Lou

hipnotik · 06-01-2005, 02:25 PM

Ford... I know its all about your individual experience with a truck but I wouldnt touch an F150 with a ten foot pole.

I have a baseball friend who bought an 04 F150. It was awesome! Great interior. Then one weekend of fun in Havasu turned to hell. We were driving in the middle of the desert (not towing anything mind you) and his 4 month old transmission went out! we were stuck in the desert for 3 hours until AAA got us. It was hell. I will never look at a Ford the same way again. Ever since then he's had problems galore, and they are in arbitration to buy back his F150. STAY AWAY FROM FORD! You have been warned!

hipnotik · 06-01-2005, 02:26 PM

PS: NISSAN > FORD! TITANS RULE!

pluckyew · 06-01-2005, 02:54 PM

i've had two F-150s...and few other Fords & Mercurys.

I like my Titan better than either of my F-150s...and, so far, Titan's been more reliable for about the same time of ownership.

F-150s are "good" but is not good enough for me.

Titan's the best...followed by Dodge Hemi 1500 or Powerwagon, then Tundra and then GMC Sierra...another words... F-150s are the last 4wd pickup i'd consider (but they're all good, as long as they're 2004 or newer).

Quad T · 06-01-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lounatk

I really dont understand why Ford is losing money like mad. They make some real nice looking cars, but I guess their quality is still perceived,either fairly or unfairly,as crap.

Have you walked through a Ford dealership lately? One of the Nissan dealers in my area is also a Ford dealership, so I have had the experience several times this year. I really encourage you to do so, please take note of the fit and finish.

The 500 is supposed to be their all new wonderful improved family sedan, well if that is improved I'm glad I never looked good at a Taurus. Every single one in the lot had a different size gap between the trunk lid and the fenders. I looked at about 8 cars in a row and there was not a single one that had a properly aligned trunk lid.

I then went onto another row and took a look at the little car, the Focus. HOLY CRAP! The fit around the back hatch was just plain horrific. Some sides were close and tight while others had gaps so big I could get my little finger well past the outer body.

If this is what they typically have to offer, no wonder they look like a sinking ship.

vw1972bugs · 06-01-2005, 03:17 PM

Even though many of us may agree that the Titan is a far superior vehicle in many repects to the F-150...but its no funny matter that Ford is haveing such difficulty right now. This is not a good thing.

Cominatcha · 06-01-2005, 03:17 PM

Also i read that GM is offering the employee discount to anyone now. sounds like the only domestic brand doing halfway decent is dodge.

Quad T · 06-01-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vw1972bugs

This is not a good thing.

No it is not, however like GM their arrogance has brought it upon themselves and we are powerless to effect a change, so we live with it and we deal with the problems it causes. Crying shame they could not have listed to their customers in the past...

There is a Ford dealer near me that was just bought by the same lady that owns one of the largest Subaru dealerships in the country, also located here. Her current ad campaign goes along the lines of "just because Ford does not offer a reasonable warranty I still want you to consider a vehicle from the Ford family of fine vehicles. From now on I will offer a bumper to bumper warranty on any new Ford, 5 years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first."

Here is a situation where an individual dealership has seen a problem, has not been able to get Ford to pay attention and has taken things into her own hands. Crying shame Ford could not come up with such a brilliant idea on their own...

CraigG · 06-01-2005, 04:48 PM

I will tell you what quad t you hit the nail on the head with the ford taurus. I had an old 86 nissan 300z with well over 200k the motor was still crazy strong no other probs besides being a 2 seater. Well my gf talks me into trading it for a 2000 ford taurus w about 70k and what a pos. engine ran like crap everthing started falling apart tranny started slipping, all i kept thinking was I traded my awesome z for a FORD pos lol

goosemst · 06-01-2005, 05:00 PM

One reason for the poor quality of their cars is Ford has sunk so much money into trucks and suvs. When I was in high school Ford had the best lineup of sporty cars in my opinion. In 1993 they offered the T-bird SC, Probe GT, Mustang GT, Taurus SHO, F150 Lightning and Escort GT. I think they need to go back to building good cars that are sporty.

buzzkillwill · 06-01-2005, 05:05 PM

See Craig, you said the key phrase...My gf talks me into...

Do you see where things went wrong! The things we do for love. J/K

It would be hard though, going from a Z to a Ford family car. The fit and finish def. won't be there.

CraigG · 06-01-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzkillwill

See Craig, you said the key phrase...My gf talks me into...

Do you see where things went wrong! The things we do for love. J/K

It would be hard though, going from a Z to a Ford family car. The fit and finish def. won't be there.

Yes sir you got that right I still miss that Z.

dawgs77 · 06-01-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lounatk

I guess the unions will be the death of these companies while they demand more money from empty pockets.

Lou

LoL...you kill me!!! Yup...it's just the unions... Boy there trucks would be soooo much better if it weren't for the unions... I would be surprised if Nissan is not a union company...

CraigG · 06-01-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawgs77

LoL...you kill me!!! Yup...it's just the unions... Boy there trucks would be soooo much better if it weren't for the unions... I would be surprised if Nissan is not a union company...

Are you a union man? I am a truck driver and went union but alot of the union co. are going out of buisness. I hate to say this being a working guy but whatever a union co can do a non union one can do cheaper and unfortunitly that is all anyone seams to care about. I wish it were diff like the 60s when the unions had the power but not now.