Ford, rivals betting small is beautiful

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Ford, rivals betting small is beautiful
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 22, 2010 9:27 AM
I'll keep my gas guzzling truck.
Jan 22, 2010 9:27am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Jan 22, 2010 9:30 AM
As the population shifts to bigger cities and less rural, yes, smaller cars will become more popular.
Jan 22, 2010 9:30am
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 22, 2010 9:39 AM
Them counting on fuel costs @ $4/gal. tells the tale really. They don't want to get caught with their pants around their ankles as they did in the mid 70's during the Carter years. The big 3 had zero in the showroom that could compete with the foreign jobs that got better fuel economy. I doubt there will be a complete faze out of the big SUV's and trucks which have proven high profit margins, but they need to have alternatives in place. Smart move I think.
Jan 22, 2010 9:39am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jan 22, 2010 9:47 AM
I don't believe small is beautiful to the U.S. car buying market but it may very well become the desired based on economics.
Jan 22, 2010 9:47am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Jan 22, 2010 10:11 AM
40% of americans can't fit into those cars. this strategy will fail.
Jan 22, 2010 10:11am
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

Senior Member

10,664 posts
Jan 22, 2010 10:27 AM
It's about time. They're a few years late haha
Jan 22, 2010 10:27am
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

Self Pwner in Training.

7,282 posts
Jan 22, 2010 11:57 AM
No thank you. I'll keep my poor mileage Wrangler.
Jan 22, 2010 11:57am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jan 22, 2010 12:00 PM
ZWICK 4 PREZ wrote: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34979467/ns/business-autos/


Are we really heading to a European way of thinking?
No, because the european way of thinking is cluttered cities where everyone lives and the smart cars were built to fit into a parallel spot pulled straight in so you could park 2 in 1 spot. The other small cars were built to maximize fuel efficiency as well as parking efficiency.
Jan 22, 2010 12:00pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Jan 22, 2010 12:11 PM
Smart move.
Jan 22, 2010 12:11pm
Devils Advocate's avatar

Devils Advocate

Brudda o da bomber

4,539 posts
Jan 22, 2010 12:17 PM
I think I'm havig dejavu





I Think we've been through this before :(
Jan 22, 2010 12:17pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Jan 22, 2010 12:34 PM
I don't know if I'd even fit in that Ford Focus, let alone it being a "family" sedan. If I had money for a vehicle, it's a truck for me.
Jan 22, 2010 12:34pm
Devils Advocate's avatar

Devils Advocate

Brudda o da bomber

4,539 posts
Jan 22, 2010 1:25 PM
I've heard many times that a car is quazi penis. I guess it's OK to have a little penis if it looks sporty :)

Even better if it goes fast
Jan 22, 2010 1:25pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:20 PM
justincredible wrote: I'll keep my gas guzzling truck.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Jan 22, 2010 2:20pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:26 PM
The fuel prices is a factor in Europe. I think a bigger factor is the narrow streets and lack of parking, and parking is only an issue in a handful of major cities (more if you talk just downtown areas).

Americans like their SUV and pick-ups. We like to load up the car and haul stuff. There will always be a market for that, but with many families owning 2 or more cars I think they will have at least 1 fuel efficient vehicle (gone are the days a family would have 3 or 4 trucks).
Jan 22, 2010 2:26pm
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:32 PM
I'll keep my Ford.
Jan 22, 2010 2:32pm
Sage's avatar

Sage

Senior Member

2,070 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:38 PM
thankfully my cherokee GUZZLES NAZI BLOOD AND NAZI BLOOD AINT GON UP SINCE 19 FUCKING 47
Jan 22, 2010 2:38pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:38 PM
My truck reads 9.7 MPG currently
Jan 22, 2010 2:38pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Jan 22, 2010 2:48 PM
My Subaru Forrester currently getting 31MPG Highway, which i'm pretty happy with.
Jan 22, 2010 2:48pm