Comments on: Why Ford is Doomed

By: sternhead

sternhead — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:12:53 +0000

>What comes to mind when you think of Ford?

Sears Toughskins jeans, wholesome family 70’s TV scmaltz, squares, Sears and Roebuck, K-Mart, Ron Howard, freshman republicans with dorky haircuts, clip-on-ties, pants-too-high, dysfunctional families whose kids go on shooting sprees, gross candy Easter eggs with a million year shelf life, people who actually eat those eggs, bad dressers, dinosaurs.

Ford is fogey…..

By: Craig Roberts

Craig Roberts — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:45:21 +0000

Hmmm…Our single largest retail industry is in jeopardy of imploding. Haven driven many Fords well past the 200k mark, I can’t imagine that their products are overall of inferior quality or are bad enough to boycott. Most people today in this country could care less whether an American industry is preserved or not; so what does that say about their dedication to their country? On the same note, it will be interesting to see how many Chinese cars sell in Japan, as the Japanese tend to be protectionists for their industries.
If we’re going to accuse an auto maker of making ugly cars, look no farther than Toyota or Subaru. AMC Pacers are gorgeous in comparison to the vast majority of their product line. The influence that “international” styling has had on the automobile industry has not been positive. One thing I loathe, for instance, is only having the choice between grey and brown interiors. How absolutely depressing and boring.
Ford could improve its overall performance and styling image, such as with the Mustang and its European products and fare very well so long as the cost of the cars is kept in check.

By: Joshua Steimle

Joshua Steimle — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 17:25:52 +0000

I’m aware of the AFA boycott but I’m not sure how many other people are, and therefore I’m not sure how much of an effect it is having. Leaving the question of morals aside, here’s a little speculation on why catering to the gay community is a bad business move for Ford. This is somewhat tongue in cheek and includes a healthy deal of stereotyping, but bear with me, maybe I’m on to something.

Issue #1
1. Gay people seem to be more style/fashion conscious.
2. Ford is not a style conscious company.
3. Therefore gay people probably don’t and won’t buy Fords (they probably prefer VWs and other European cars), no matter how much marketing Ford does to cater to the gay community.

Issue #2
1. People who drive Fords, especially trucks, are good ol’ straight, American cowboys.
2. Good ol’ boys don’t particularly like gay people.
3. Ford’s catering to gay people is going to be a turn off to good ol’ boys.

The result? Ford’s sales to gay people don’t increase at all, but sales to good ol’ boys decrease. Net result? Bad.

Again, that’s pure speculation. Maybe gay people do like Fords. Maybe cowboys do like gays (I’ll refrain from any Brokeback Mountain references here). Maybe cowboys don’t realize that Ford is marketing to the gay community. Maybe Ford’s bad sales are due to making cars that nobody likes. But then again, maybe I’m right, who knows.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:04:06 +0000

I think the boycott of Ford by the AFA is probably having a huge impact on its sales as well. I have a copy of an e-mail from a Ford dealership to Ford imploring the company to stop supporting gay rights as they have received numerous complaints and their business is dying because of it. The company has ignored dealer complaints because it wants to “position” itself for the future. This sends a clear message to consumers that Ford’s direction is contrary to their own family values and the consumers are sending a clear message back to Ford that they refuse to support the firm.

You won’t see this story in the Associated Press or on television for obvious political reasons (you’ll have to search the web or go to afa.net), but it sure is nice to see the “real” people in this country–the majority–winning one for now.

By: Joshua Steimle

Joshua Steimle — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:57:57 +0000

Perhaps “doomed” is a strong word, but we’ll see. Where I think Wal-Mart is going to find challenges is in continuing to grow at a quick enough pace to please analysts. They’re going to build 300 stores this year, and they’re building smaller grocery stores in urban areas so they may end up competing against smaller, regional grocery stores as a means for growth, but they’ve already saturated the rural areas, and they’ll soon have nowhere to expand in more populated areas, at least within the US. Then the question will be whether they can grow within the US by going after the same market as Target, or if they’ll push a large international expansion policy. Personally I think they’ll have more challenges competing against Target whereas building 3,000 stores in Mexico seems like a no-brainer to me. Then China. Of course who’s going to buy a DVD for $10 at a Wal-Mart in China when they can get 100 DVDs outside the door for the same price?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:28:01 +0000

What Rick says is true. My Toyota Sienna was designed is Japan but was 100% manufactured in the USA. Its a great car and my wife loves it. I bought it when Ford and GM were screwing themselves with employee pricing. I could have bought a Yukon for about $8k less than my Sienna but I knew that buying a Toyota would mean quality and reliability. I will always own a Toyota or a Honda. The whole “buy American first” thing is a joke. If you buy a Ford or a GM over the Internet from the factory, its 100% manufactured in Mexico.

I’m not sure I agree with your position on Wal-mart. Look at the financials. Their growth is amazing. As the lower and middle classes expand, Wal-mart will too. Just my two cents.

By: rick Moore

rick Moore — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:36:28 +0000

The funny thing is that the concept of “American Made” is largely untrue these days. Many Toyotas and Hondas are built from scratch right here in the good ol’ US of A. Yet many Chryslers and Dodge vehicles are designed by the Germans from the Daimler side of the company…strange. That Ford engine is probably shared along the line with a Mazda. A good example is the Focus; it shares a platform and many parts with the Mazda 3. It seems every small car company that exists falls under the umbrella of either GM, Ford, Volkswagen, or Chrysler.

By: Rick Moore

Rick Moore — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:02:22 +0000

If Ford brought over every car they sell to their European customers, they would probably not be in such hot water. Their EU lineup is much more exciting, reliable, good-looking, better made, and all around better cars than the crap they peddle over here on our shores. Ford Taurus? Please! Get on the internet and search for Ford Mondeo or Ford Focus ST and you’ll see what I mean.

Toyota has made a huge impact in the full-size truck market with the awesome Tundra, but are still nowhere near the sales numbers of Chevy and Ford trucks. Not that I care, because I am not a truck guy myself. My little Scion xB hauls enough stuff for me while getting 36 mpg.

By: Scott Schlegel

Scott Schlegel — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:30:25 +0000

“I find it hard to take Ford seriously as a maker of cars. First of all, American car companies seem to have an attitude of wanting me to buy their cars simply because they’re made in the USA.”

I hate this kind of thinking. It means no matter how bad our product it, the buyer will be loyal. It is totally backwards and completely arrogant. I grew up talking about buying American cars because they were american, but my ‘91 ford probe dead on the road changed my mind. 5 years later my ‘92 toyota is still running strong. Can you guess what kind of car I am going to buy next?

Companies that can’t compete, shouldn’t.