Maybe it's already been mentioned, but what are they doing with the Lincoln cars? The MKZ is based on the Fusion platform, and the Continental is based on the Taurus platform. And it's re-release is only a year old. Are those getting the axe too?
No idea. But if they had any sense, they'd design a purpose built rear-wheel drive platform to underpin all of their cars. But in all likelihood, instead, they'll get the axe too.Maybe it's already been mentioned, but what are they doing with the Lincoln cars? The MKZ is based on the Fusion platform, and the Continental is based on the Taurus platform. And it's re-release is only a year old. Are those getting the axe too?
Maybe it's already been mentioned, but what are they doing with the Lincoln cars? The MKZ is based on the Fusion platform, and the Continental is based on the Taurus platform. And it's re-release is only a year old. Are those getting the axe too?
Maybe people are starting to care less about performance?
Sure, the same engine in a significantly heavier vehicle delivers only marginally worse fuel economy. But the X5 doesn't have the same performance as an m235i. If you upsized the engine to keep that ratio about the same, you'd see a drop in economy.
Maybe people are starting to care less about performance?
Yeah, physics dictate extra weight is going to affect it's acceleration and handling. But both the above mentioned turbo-6 X5 and their newer hybrid model are under 7 seconds 0-60 (6.1s and 6.5s respectively). That puts them between a base Accord and the Sport model on the acceleration front (and ahead of the Civic Si) and it's again within a couple MPG of the Accord Sport despite a lot more size and weight to get moving.
Think you might actually be looking at the diesel X5's economy:
Burning 40% more fuel isn't exactly close. When you're looking at smaller numbers, "just a couple MPG" can be pretty big.
And those arent even the most efficient Accords. The 1.5 L with the CVT gets 30 city, 38 highway, 33 combined.Think you might actually be looking at the diesel X5's economy:
Burning 40% more fuel isn't exactly close. When you're looking at smaller numbers, "just a couple MPG" can be pretty big.
You may be right, I may have been looking as the diesel, I forgot they sold one and it was way past my bed time. That said, "Just a couple of MPG" isn't a big deal for a lot of people and it really isn't in the grand scheme of things either. It's all about the commute.
Half my team lives less than 5 miles from the office and works from home most the time. When you consider a 2008 Dodge Ram with the V8 was 15mpg combined, that makes the numbers we're talking about pretty good. 21mpg to 24mpg is under $200/yr with my usage and current fuel costs. $200/yr is negligible. If I had a NEED for a truck/SUV, $200/yr doesn't warrant having a second car as a daily or having a daily and renting a truck if I'm using the truck more than twice a year. Even if I up the gas price to $4/gal, it's still only a $250/yr difference. Where as the difference between a 2008 truck and a 2018 truck (using the above examples) is $530/yr with current gas prices, $720/yr at $4/gal.
If you've got a really long commute or are counting pennies, then neither of those options are good options anyways. But if you've got a short commute and aren't counting pennies, it's not a huge deal either way. Your Insight is what, 75mpg? With my driving, that would save me $650/yr on gas vs my 135i. I've never been in an Insight, but I spent a month with a Prius and I'd rather shoot myself in the face than have a Prius as my primary mode of transportation. My uncle used to drive 75 miles each way to work. At that point, sure, you're talk $4,500/yr in gas going from 22mpg to 76mpg. You know what else saves money at that point? Moving closer to work.
And those arent even the most efficient Accords. The 1.5 L with the CVT gets 30 city, 38 highway, 33 combined.
That's what I have. So much fun, awesome bang for buck. Of course Ford selling them for a loss helped keep them cheap.
RS is cool, but doubling the price for a few more hp and AWD is too much.
I plan to run it into the ground, so hopefully the hatch market will get unfucked by then.
Suvs and CUVs suck. Even finding a manual by then may be a miracle.
Here's to hoping the 2028 Mazdaspeed 3 is killer.
We need a Ford death watch tread now.
Yeah if you drive 4K miles a year and it's almost all in traffic, there's zero reason to get an ST - it's not enough of an interior upgrade to be worth it, you'd be better off getting a cush-mobile with a great interior/stereo than an ST where you feel every pothole and road imperfection. Hell, I work from home and I've put 65K miles on my '13 ST. I *did* miss a manual and that's one of the reasons I bought it, and I haven't regretted that aspect at all. Automatics have improved a ridiculous amount in the last 20 years or so but are so much less satisfying than a manual IMHO. And yeah, an RS is a waste unless you just crave performance. You can pick up a Focus ST1 for under $20K brand new...that's just an amazing amount of performance and technology in a very inexpensive package.Aye, or at least the GT trim is comparable to a Focus ST. Agree with the cost of RS: it isn't something that I would consider next to an ST, because I really would never get any value out of that extra HP (I am not a track day person--and I am willing to admit that ). Mazdaspeed tends to be priced in the RS range, doesn't it?
I have *briefly* considered trying to unload my super basic Mazda 3 (08) and try to pick up a Focus, but it's really a terrible idea for me. I've had this thing for 9 years, put ~37k miles on it (65k total), and plan to drive it until rust do us part.
I've more or less stopped caring about manuals as I age. Driving life for me is perpetual traffic, 98% of the time on the road. I can honestly say I don't miss having a manual. Also, this conversion was then made possible when I was living in Berkeley. Often finding yourself starting on a ~40 degree grade with some jackass hugging your rear does not make a pleasant experience with a manual.
They are pivoting away from lower volume, higher costs, competitive segments. Ford is shifting focus to high margin, high volume segments in which they either dominate or are highly capable.
Whats the opposite of death watch? Back up the a king ranch and get you some FMC stock?
Ford filthy rich watch
I'm not looking at any data, but I'm surprised how well VW does for being "small" so what do I know.
I just look around and see a lot more cars than trucks on the road. I get they want to sell what's more profitable, but find it hard to believe they can sustain such a large company and dealerships with just 2 cars. Trucks are pretty pricey and so is the thing that fuels them. I didn't know there was so much disposal income to go around.
You can pick up a Focus ST1 for under $20K brand new...that's just an amazing amount of performance and technology in a very inexpensive package.
Wait no more cars and hatches? don't they get the memo Nissan, Toyota and GM sold out every single small EV/hybrid they can make? EV/hybrid is the next gold mine and Ford is giving up? Ford truly is running out of F to give.
Hyundai/Kia is on the up right now. With Toyota losing some of it's rep for being hassle free I think they've got room to grow. If they keep their car lineup solid an introduce a good Genesis-brand SUV I think they'll be taking a lot of the Ford car sales, especially in the Focus size area.Likely sticking to Honda/Mazda/Nissan/maybe VW.....
Hyundai/Kia is on the up right now. With Toyota losing some of it's rep for being hassle free I think they've got room to grow. If they keep their car lineup solid an introduce a good Genesis-brand SUV I think they'll be taking a lot of the Ford car sales, especially in the Focus size area.
Is the i30n even coming to the USA? Last I read, it was not but the Veloster N would have the same drivetrain. The Veloster is a weird package (3 doors to start) and I wasn't impressed when I took it for a test drive. Of course it didn't help that the dealer wouldn't even let me drive it - I rode in the passenger seat while the salesman drove out of the parking lot, up a parking garage ramp, and back to the dealership, which is an amazing display of how NOT to sell a supposedly sporty car (the Ford dealer let me take the ST home over Memorial Day weekend).Yes, yes it is. With GTI actual sale prices a few thousand more the focus ST looks like a hot hatch bargain. It remains to be seen if the Hyundai i30 will be a viable competitor. The early reviews are positive.