[Builder]

Originally Posted by EddieWalker

Builder,

I believe there is a big difference between what is going on at GM and Ford. Nobody is questioning that Ford has it's issues, but to compare them to GM and how they have been taken over by the government isn't fair. I'm sure that everyone remembers when the CEO's of the big three flew to DC to get some free bailout money, and were treated like children for not having a plan for the money. After that, Ford did what I admire, they said no to it and went back to trying to make their company profitable. Borrowing money from whoever they can get it is all part of business. The same is true with accepting grants and building the cars that the government requires of them. It's all a mess that's been created by those in Washington, but made worse by greed, poor decisions and lousy products. Of the big 3, Ford is the only one that I will consider buying in the future. I'm currently looking for a work van and maybe a duelly one ton flat bed.

Well said, Eddie, but I didn't say that the Ford situation was comparable to GM, I just wanted to set the record straight that they were taking billions in government funds. Of course GM is in worse financial shape and Chrysler is even worse, but Ford is by no means "profitable" right now. Buying only Ford because of that reason may reveal a disappointment to the buyer in the near future if they collapse, too.

What I am saying is that anyone who wants to laud Ford's "health" needs a reality check. That reality check is that Ford is losing billions/quarter and could need a bailout of their own if it keeps up much longer. The other point is that Ford IS subsidized by the federal government and would not be able to develop the cars the government demands them to develop without these funds. All the automakers are goverment subsidized, some more than others.

What amazed me in the original post and the numbers of trucks sold is how few Toyota and Nissan sold. I see allot of those trucks around here, and just assumed that they were selling well everywhere. My wife and I did take a look at the Nissan, but didn't care for it. I haven't been in the Toyota, but have admired their cars and smaller SUV's.

Eddie

I agree with you. You'd think they were taking over domestic full size truck sales, but they're not.
As a commercial user, they do nothing for me. They look like they'd be great for the weekend warrior or soccer-mom type family user though and that's the most powerful market segment with the likes of the terrible recession not much commercial sales going on. So good on them for appealing to that customer profile. Commercial/HD trucks are dead right now.