28th Oct 2009, 16:34
According to Consumer Reports, you are wrong. Consumer Reports is now stating that 90% of Fords tested have above average reliability, and that they have held that standard for several years. That makes them a serious competitor to the Japanese models, and supports what has been said before, that Ford makes vehicles as good as anyone in the world. They go on to state that Ford is currently outclassing GM and Chrysler in that respect of reliability.
28th Oct 2009, 16:41
It's funny how people attack CNN because it carried a story that runs counter to their beliefs. It must be confusing to those who have a mantra when CNN, aka the Clinton News Network and bastion of the liberal left runs a story about the benefits to the American economy of buying from American companies. Are these the same conservatives who buy Toyotas because they are made in non-union plants in Kentucky?
For those who want to reject that story because it's on CNN, CNN-Money also carried an article called "Why I Fired GM's CEO" in which Obama's Car Czar detailed the entrenched culture of mismanagement at GM, noting that GM executives were insular, burned through tremendous amounts of cash, and blamed everything and everyone but themselves for poor sales and poor quality.
Now let's see the dogs begin to bark!
28th Oct 2009, 18:24
"Ford scored big with this one car, but across the board, imports still are ahead in overall quality. GM and Chrysler weren't even close"
Gosh, someone better tell J.D. powers they goofed. They ranked Buick number 1 (tied with Ford) for long-term reliability, ahead of even the over-rated Lexus.
28th Oct 2009, 18:26
Okay, so now import fans think we should do away with all our manufacturing and industry? I hope your kids enjoy their future careers flipping burgers at a fast food joint.
29th Oct 2009, 10:02
Who's an import fan... I drive a domestic and who ever said ANYTHING about doing away with anything? We have hardly any manufacturing in this country anymore. I wish we'd start getting back to manufacturing so we can be more competitive with the rest of the world. We just need to do it in an honest and upfront way so we can stay viable no matter what the economy is like. This recession SHOULD be a lesson to us all. It remains to be seen if it will be, however!
29th Oct 2009, 10:08
STILL the top 5 companies ACROSS THE BOARD are Asian brands. Buick is a high point of GM but GM actually didn't fair to well overall. So yes, you can buy a Buick or a Fusion and be on par with most imports, but overall the imports are still ahead.
When an entire domestic line is at the top of the list for 20+ years in a row like Honda and Toyota have been, then you can have your bragging rights... but one model or one small car line doesn't mean much in the scheme of things. Yes it is a small step in the right direction, but they haven't crossed the finish line just yet.
I am not an "import lover" either.. I drive a Ford. Facts are facts, though and I am not going to ride on one small accolade as a measure of an entire corporations success.
29th Oct 2009, 10:15
"It's funny how people attack CNN because it carried a story that runs counter to their beliefs."
It's funny how people take the word of a media source as the word of God when their main goal in life, is to sensationalize the news, making more people tune in or log onto their site.
I feel this way about every news source, not just CNN. Please, they say the recession is over and there are still almost 10% of us without jobs and running out of unemployment benefits. Give me a break. They come up with that kind of stuff to spur the poor economy and spending by consumers. You know... get people out there spending again so we can forget all about the past two years.
I just don't take their word as the final truth is all... or any other news outlet. Sorry.
29th Oct 2009, 15:06
My children chose medical fields. It is highly unlikely you will fly to Japan for cardiac issues. Maybe flipping burgers in a small import is a possibility, if that's where you are setting your sights for.
29th Oct 2009, 17:18
Regardless of the fact that Ford and Buick have the top spots on Consumer reports, they only have a select few vehicles up there. The Fusion may have beaten out the Accord and Camry, but no other Ford has done so. GM is even worse than Ford in that perspective. Chrysler hardly even competes in that.
Plus, the Fusion has been on top for a year or two now, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry held the top spots for over 20 years.
29th Oct 2009, 17:23
"29th Oct 2009, 10:15.
I just don't take their word as the final truth is all... or any other news outlet. Sorry."
Yes, but they were merely reporting the results of someone else's study at a university, in the "buy from American companies" case.
I guess you don't believe universities either though, if they don't fit what you "know".
29th Oct 2009, 18:51
I do know this - I will never buy a Ford after these unwarranted attacks on hard working Americans who happen to own an import.
29th Oct 2009, 18:58
I am happy GM sales are up 3 months in a row 10-09... and above Toyota. I would like to keep my job and do as much as possible instead of justifying my import buying while more and more businesses disappear.
29th Oct 2009, 19:16
"That makes them a serious competitor to the Japanese models"
Yeah, a competitor, but they have not beaten them. Which is my point. I base a company on the quality and reliability of ALL their vehicles. Not just one car...
29th Oct 2009, 21:37
The key words here are "HAVE BEEN" (PAST tense). Honda and Toyota of late have NOT been reliable or of good build quality. Toyota, especially, has a HORRENDOUS record for the past 5 years of recalls, mechanical issues and lawsuits. In 2007 Consumer Reports even pulled their "recommended" status. Both Ford and GM currently outrank all Japanese manufacturers in build quality. No Japanese manufacturer has the confidence in their products to warranty them for 100,000 miles, as GM does.
Support a has-been if you want to hurt our country, but because Honda and Toyota built a handful of decent cars a decade ago is hardly reason to buy one now. There's little logic in that. 5 successive U.S. presidents drove a Pierce-Arrow. Try finding one of those today.
28th Oct 2009, 14:48
I guess the American manufacturers of years ago shouldn't have sold out their own manufacturing plants to China and Japan then eh? There are countless companies that used to be based here, and now are using overseas factories to produce their goods as it is cheaper.
To blame consumers for making sensible choices on higher quality goods because they aren't buying 100% domestic products is pretty unfair. We used to be a strong manufacturing country. You can hardly name a handful of major corporations, today, that manufacture all of their components in the U.S. for their own products.
We became focused on the service industry to make huge profits and we let manufacturing slide in this country. Now we are stuck with imported goods because we have no capacity to make anything good here anymore. You won't convince me that everything you own is 100% domestic because that is virtually impossible. I'm sure if you listed the brand, model number etc, of everything you own I could find quite a few imported parts within your possessions. However, I am not inviting you to do this!