Wednesday, April 18, 2007
FordMoCo has top quality!
There really is some good news about our domestic automakers. Hopefully this will help the bottom line.
Ford: Quality equal to Toyota
In survey of 31,000 new vehicle owners, Ford beats industry average for problems.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford / Mercury
The 2007 Mercury Milan was one of the most problem-free vehicles from any manufacturer, with just 910 issues reported per 1,000 vehicles.
In terms of initial vehicle quality, Ford Motor Co. is in a statistical dead-heat for second place with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., according to a new study the Dearborn automaker plans to release today. Honda Motor Co. is the quality leader.
The report is based on an annual survey of 31,000 new vehicle owners that was conducted for Ford by the RDA Group, a market research firm based in Bloomfield Hills. The study evaluated 2007 model cars and trucks from all full-line manufacturers and asked drivers to list any problems they had encountered during their first 90 days of ownership.
The Detroit News reviewed the findings with sources familiar with the report. These sources said four Ford vehicles -- the Mercury Milan, Ford Shelby GT-500, Ford Expedition EL and Lincoln Navigator -- led their segments in initial quality.
Improving quality is a major goal for Ford, which is struggling to hold on to what remains of its U.S. market share after years of losses to foreign competitors.
The RDA study found Ford cars and trucks had 1,458 problems per 1,000 vehicles -- 32 fewer problems than the industry average of 1,490 and 128 fewer than Ford customers reported last year.
The results were even better for Ford's North American brands -- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury -- which combined had 1,456 problems per 1,000 vehicles. Sources said the overall number was slightly hurt by the automaker's European brands.
The Milan was one of the most problem-free vehicles from any manufacturer, with just 910 issues reported per 1,000 vehicles.
Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari confirmed the existence of the report, but would not discuss the findings. She said the company will release the details today, but wanted to tell employees first. She said improving quality is a central aim of the company's Way Forward turnaround plan.
"We are pleased with the direction of our quality, but we're not satisfied," Gattari said. "This is something we have to continue to be diligent with. Quality, along with safety, innovation and design, are our top priorities in delivering more vehicles that customers want."
I just hope Ford can make some money for once. I have always been a Ford fan and hope their quality stays high.
Ford: Quality equal to Toyota
In survey of 31,000 new vehicle owners, Ford beats industry average for problems.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford / Mercury
The 2007 Mercury Milan was one of the most problem-free vehicles from any manufacturer, with just 910 issues reported per 1,000 vehicles.
In terms of initial vehicle quality, Ford Motor Co. is in a statistical dead-heat for second place with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., according to a new study the Dearborn automaker plans to release today. Honda Motor Co. is the quality leader.
The report is based on an annual survey of 31,000 new vehicle owners that was conducted for Ford by the RDA Group, a market research firm based in Bloomfield Hills. The study evaluated 2007 model cars and trucks from all full-line manufacturers and asked drivers to list any problems they had encountered during their first 90 days of ownership.
The Detroit News reviewed the findings with sources familiar with the report. These sources said four Ford vehicles -- the Mercury Milan, Ford Shelby GT-500, Ford Expedition EL and Lincoln Navigator -- led their segments in initial quality.
Improving quality is a major goal for Ford, which is struggling to hold on to what remains of its U.S. market share after years of losses to foreign competitors.
The RDA study found Ford cars and trucks had 1,458 problems per 1,000 vehicles -- 32 fewer problems than the industry average of 1,490 and 128 fewer than Ford customers reported last year.
The results were even better for Ford's North American brands -- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury -- which combined had 1,456 problems per 1,000 vehicles. Sources said the overall number was slightly hurt by the automaker's European brands.
The Milan was one of the most problem-free vehicles from any manufacturer, with just 910 issues reported per 1,000 vehicles.
Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari confirmed the existence of the report, but would not discuss the findings. She said the company will release the details today, but wanted to tell employees first. She said improving quality is a central aim of the company's Way Forward turnaround plan.
"We are pleased with the direction of our quality, but we're not satisfied," Gattari said. "This is something we have to continue to be diligent with. Quality, along with safety, innovation and design, are our top priorities in delivering more vehicles that customers want."
I just hope Ford can make some money for once. I have always been a Ford fan and hope their quality stays high.
Labels: cars
Monday, April 16, 2007
Dangerous Hybrids
This blog on motortrend.com was very interesting. Presidents present: President Bush, CEO of Ford-Mulally, CEO's for GM and Chrysler-Wagoner and LaSorda.
Anecdote by CEO Mulally, CEO of Ford.
"It was really fun to show the president, and the secretaries, the cabinet secretaries, the (Ford Edge) hydrogen hybrid," he began. "It's a really neat vehicle. It has a hydrogen fuel tank, a hydrogen fuel cell, and a lithium ion battery. And so when the battery has gone down to about 40 percent of its capacity, the hydrogen fuel cell takes over, the hydrogen goes in ... out comes water of the exhaust pipe ... you can tell I'm a designer. I'm a car guy now. And so, the important thing was, you can also fuel it by plugging it into the wall, either your electricity or your neighbor's. [Laughter.] Or you can ... run it on hydrogen. And so, we wanted to make sure it was real, and not a photo op. And so we had it plugged into an electrical outlet at the White House. And we had a long yellow cord. And so I asked [an aide] to plug in the cord next to the front wheel, next to the electrical socket, instead of the hydrogen socket. And so when I walked out, I noticed the cord was lying there, closer to the rear wheel, the hydrogen ... and I thought, 'oh, my goodness...' so I started walking faster, the president walked faster. He got to the cord before I did, and I violated all the protocol, and I touched the president. I grabbed his arm and moved him up to the front, and ... I got a break."
So former jet aircraft designer Alan Mulally saved President Bush from blowing himself up, along with Mulally and maybe Wagoner and LaSorda and a few secret service agents.
Oh, the humanity!
Anecdote by CEO Mulally, CEO of Ford.
"It was really fun to show the president, and the secretaries, the cabinet secretaries, the (Ford Edge) hydrogen hybrid," he began. "It's a really neat vehicle. It has a hydrogen fuel tank, a hydrogen fuel cell, and a lithium ion battery. And so when the battery has gone down to about 40 percent of its capacity, the hydrogen fuel cell takes over, the hydrogen goes in ... out comes water of the exhaust pipe ... you can tell I'm a designer. I'm a car guy now. And so, the important thing was, you can also fuel it by plugging it into the wall, either your electricity or your neighbor's. [Laughter.] Or you can ... run it on hydrogen. And so, we wanted to make sure it was real, and not a photo op. And so we had it plugged into an electrical outlet at the White House. And we had a long yellow cord. And so I asked [an aide] to plug in the cord next to the front wheel, next to the electrical socket, instead of the hydrogen socket. And so when I walked out, I noticed the cord was lying there, closer to the rear wheel, the hydrogen ... and I thought, 'oh, my goodness...' so I started walking faster, the president walked faster. He got to the cord before I did, and I violated all the protocol, and I touched the president. I grabbed his arm and moved him up to the front, and ... I got a break."
So former jet aircraft designer Alan Mulally saved President Bush from blowing himself up, along with Mulally and maybe Wagoner and LaSorda and a few secret service agents.
Oh, the humanity!
Labels: cars
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Cars-Is Small Worth it?
Hi,
Cars are a huge research hobby of mine. I love reading about them; I currently subscribe to Motor Trend and also Road & Track. Unfortunately, most of these cars I will never be able to afford, but it is fun to see what they are capable of. Recently, however, many of the new cars are small, gas mizers, and affordable. There is the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and Smart ForTwo. But, are these small cars worth buying? My first thought was yes, but now I am not so sure. What I have noticed is that the biggest reason for buying small cars-economy-is not such a virtue anymore. Actually, one can buy the next size up car and still get the same gas MPG, and have more space for people and stuff, and possibly have a trunk. Me personally, I do not like cars that look like station wagons, so most of these small cars and hatch-backs are out. If they achieved some amazingly cool gas MPG, then maybe I would choose different? Of note, the Smart ForTwo can be parallel parked facing straight-out facing the street because it is so extremely short. I think that is the only redeeming factor besides resembling a cute factor of a roller skate.
Labels: cars
