Ford shrinks its focus

Ford Motor Co. plans to revamp some U.S. plants, bring six small vehicles to the U.S. market from overseas and pump up production of its Focus small car to meet customers' growing demand for more fuel-efficient ...

[Tired]

Ford has had Eurpoean models for years that have shown to economic and reliable. Too bad it has taken them this long to make them available.

[Mark]

Tired wrote:

Ford has had Eurpoean models for years that have shown to economic and reliable. Too bad it has taken them this long to make them available.

Yes, and you have to wonder why. In Britain, Ford has long marketed a car called the "Ka." It's a small two-door coupe that gets high marks for reliability and economy. Some of the British think it's a modern equivalent of the old Mini-Minor: a small, bare-bones economy car that proved robust. Why didn't they market it here? Who knows? Their strategy may simply have been to keep the US market fat and sell us heavy trucks. Yet, why didn't they at least offer consumers a choice all along? I sold my V-8 two years ago because I could see higher prices coming. No one can tell me with a straight face that FoMoCo couldn't see the crunch coming. I don't understand them. They're smart, but still get blind-sided.

[mark]

There is a middle ground here. America is not Europe. People must drive more and greater distances at higher speeds than in Europe except for major metro areas. Mid-size vehicles make the most sense. When gas cost less than a gallon of water the car companies and people gravitated to Hummer sized vehicles. Kind of sad and ridiculous. Now the fashion of the moment is to have a super sub compact more suitable for Tokyo or London than middle America. Kind of sad and ridiculous.

[Just Sayin]

Dream on UAW. Sorry, but you guys cost too dang much.

[Mark]

There is absolutely no reason why one cannot drive a "Ka" long distances at high speeds. Of course a midsize sedan offers greater all around utility. Nevertheless, count how many cars on the roads are occupied singly; it's still the preponderance. Ford could have made a profit, if modest, by selling the Ka here in America all along, these last eight years. Ford simply lacks vision, and faith.

[Bush]

Im sick of all this bullshit blame game! Its toyota or honda for me from now on! Solong suckers!!!!!!!

[Bruce]

I think the best vehicle Ford makes is the big SUV the "Explorer" "Expedition" or maybe the "F350/450's". There big and tuff, just like America should be.