Ford and General motors alliance/merger discussion.

[Dargo]

You can really put the power to a 7.3 and it will hold up. I will say this though, when a 6.0 diesel is running right there is nothing stock out there that will run with it. The reliability problems with the engine is its downfall. Hopefully the 6.4 will improve the reliability issues.

Heck, stock, I don't think any pickup would run with the 7.3 for that matter. I honestly don't understand why they moved away from it. A friend of mine had one of the exceptionally bad 6.0 Fords and got Ford to buy it back. He bought the GM, but hates the Duramax. He is watching his Ford dealer every day for the new 6.4. Unlike me, he just couldn't stomach the Dodge pickup to get the Cummins. Oh well, I shouldn't complain...the Dodge pickup isn't as bad as I was worried it may be. Still, it does not ride or drive like the Ford pickups I like.

 

[RobertN]

Unlike me, he just couldn't stomach the Dodge pickup to get the Cummins. Oh well, I shouldn't complain...the Dodge pickup isn't as bad as I was worried it may be. Still, it does not ride or drive like the Ford pickups I like.

I used to think so too. I came from a couple of F250 4x4 gassers. I liked the Ford trucks. My last, '89 F250 hauled my old 11' cabover camper all over the western states. It had 229k miles when I sold it, and still ran like a top.

My Dodge though, has broken all those thoughts of "the Ford was better, but the Dodge has a Cummins". My 2500 has been a great truck. I have hauled all kinds of stuff, in the bed and by trailer. And, my quad/extra cab has hauled lot's; as a Cub Scout den leader and now boy Scout Asst Scoutmaster, I haul a load of kids and troop trailer frequently. Now, mine is 5 years old now, but its is a great truck. I don't think it is leaps and bounds ahead of Ford, nor that the '06's are far ahead. But, Ford does not hold a big lead overall anymore(more sales, but head to head the trucks from both are great).

I will give the local Ford guys a lot of credit though... Two of the local Ford dealers have flatbeds and utility beds on the lot all the time. F350/350 and 450. You can walk right in and get a truck ready to work. The Dodge and Chevy dealers can get you a similar truck in the configuration of you choice, but it has to be ordered. At the Ford dealer, you drive away same day.

 

[gsganzer]

IMHO warranties and 30-40 MPG vehicles are also resulting in more foreign vehicle sales than big three sales. Upstate NY seems to be swamped with Hyundai and others foreign vehicle sales with 10yr. 100,000 mile warranties compared to 3 yr. 36,000 mi.. The big three seem to have realized this since they have recently upped their warranties but still not to 10/100,000. Although some of the big three cars are now in the 30 MPG range. This has also been a big year for hybrids but with more of them being sold the tax breaks will be going away in a few more years.

One of the giant benefits that Honda, Toyota and many of the other foreign manufacturers have, is that they already produce fuel efficient vehicles for the european and asian markets. Whenever the price of fuel takes a spike in the US, they look to one of the models they already produce overseas. They simply "americanize" it (make it suitable for the US tastes) and release it to market. It's a vehicle that already has a track record and requires no additional R&D. Just take a look at all the new "fuel sipping" models being released by Nissan, Toyota and Honda for 2007.

In the meantime, the US automakers scramble to play catch-up. Spend tons of money on rushed R&D for fuel efficient vehicles and end up turning out a piece of crap so they have something to market. The stigma of that piece of crap then continues to haunt them for the next 3 decades.

The quality of the american vehicles may have improved of late, but the folks that first bought them in the 70's and 80's haven't forgotten.

 

[gordon21]

Don't Ford and GM already have joint ventures in auto glass and transmission companies? They save both comanies money while not giving either one an advantage. You might see some additional activities like this, but the corporate cultures are so different, they will never merge.

Bud and Miller merge?
Coke and Pepsi merge?
Burger King and McDonalds?
Pizza Hut and Papa Johns?

Ford and GM would be the same impossible task.

 

[HGM]

One of the giant benefits that Honda, Toyota and many of the other foreign manufacturers have, is that they already produce fuel efficient vehicles for the european and asian markets. Whenever the price of fuel takes a spike in the US, they look to one of the models they already produce overseas. They simply "americanize" it (make it suitable for the US tastes) and release it to market. It's a vehicle that already has a track record and requires no additional R&D. Just take a look at all the new "fuel sipping" models being released by Nissan, Toyota and Honda for 2007.

In the meantime, the US automakers scramble to play catch-up. Spend tons of money on rushed R&D for fuel efficient vehicles and end up turning out a piece of crap so they have something to market. The stigma of that piece of crap then continues to haunt them for the next 3 decades.

The quality of the american vehicles may have improved of late, but the folks that first bought them in the 70's and 80's haven't forgotten.

Sorry man, thats kind of silly..... Dont forget that Ford(for example, the others have them too) builds and has built cars/trucks overseas for many years... Europe, for example have a whole line of vehicles that arent alowed in this country... South America has them too, as a matter of fact, if you look at the site and click on the Ranger.. You'll see mention of a 3.0L Powerstroke(will make much more sence if you speak spanish though)...

My point is that you cant count out the American companies for having economical options available.. It is the EPA of this country that makes things more difficult for anyone to progress.. Toyota and Honda traditionaly have better fuel economy because of the average size of their vehicles, and due to previous reputations mentioned earlier you hear of their strides more than the Americans...

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

Don't Ford and GM already have joint ventures in auto glass and transmission companies? They save both comanies money while not giving either one an advantage. You might see some additional activities like this, but the corporate cultures are so different, they will never merge.

Bud and Miller merge?
Coke and Pepsi merge?
Burger King and McDonalds?
Pizza Hut and Papa Johns?

Ford and GM would be the same impossible task.

Exxon and Mobil ??