Not cool, Ford. Not cool.

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Michael Martinez
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Here’s when Ford will end production of its cars:

-May 2018: Focus
-March 2019: Taurus
-May 2019: Fiesta

Fusion will stick around for at least a couple more years. Focus Active will be imported from China starting in mid-2019.

2:46 PM - 26 Apr 2018

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Eliminating these models will put Ford's cheapest vehicle somewhere around $20k.

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Not sure she wants a Forester but we'll probably look at the deals on imprezza and or a certified used one.

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If commuting is the main goal of the car, a Mazda 3 might be a good option. I'm 1.5 years into my Mazda 3 commuting experience, and I love it. Averaging 34mpg with 50/50 highway/city driving and it's a fun car to drive.

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Originally Posted by SorryBro

Averaging 34mpg with 50/50 highway/city driving and it's a fun car to drive.

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Especially with some good rubber on it! I remember once I used up the factory tires on my Mazda 3, I switched over to some proper higher performance tires and it was a game changer. Could take a cloverleaf at Mach 10. Really demonstrated just how fantastic the suspension actually was on that little car. Car wasn't fast, but really fun with the MT. Bought that car brand new and gave me nearly 200,000 trouble free miles and engine still ran like new when I sold it. So practical with the hatch, great looking, and fun to zip around town with. Not the best highway cruiser (which is why I bought an old Deville later on), but would happily get another. Solid little city car for sure. I'm hearing good things about the little Mazda 2 as well. Anybody here driven one before? I think it might share the platform with the Fiesta, but I'm not 100% sure.

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Originally Posted by AustinFromSA

Yup. Especially when companies, in an effort to impress shareholders, are zooming in on quarterly profits. It's not that they weren't selling the vehicles they're axing. It's that those vehicles weren't making as much profit as their SUVs and trucks. Does this decision make sense for the balance sheet short term? Absolutely. Is it wise long term? That remains to be seen, but I'd put my money on "No." Ford is no Mercedes-Benz or BMW marquee that can get away with only expensive vehicles. This now means that even the lowest priced vehicle on a freaking Ford lot would be out of reach even for me. In my opinion, this will do nothing but hurt the brand in the long run once people are all tapped out buying expensive trucks (which are absurdly expensive these days) and SUVs. Our economy hits a bump in the road or gas goes up, Ford is SCREWED.

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I think this is wrong. Ford has been the savviest US automaker, by far, in recent years. The resurgence of the brand was due to their observing the market (during the last gas crisis one could argue) and building people and purpose based cars -- which is what was in demand at the time (look at how the Japanese makers got a foothold in the US. Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic).

Ford is again watching the market. Crossovers are the present and the future. Easier to get into, higher up / better visibility, typically safer, same mileage (i mean heck. same engines as sedans). So if the Crossover replaces the sedan market, they can double down on trucks. This will lead to better driving and better mileage trucks. How is this not obvious?

Ford is doing the same thing they did 15 years ago that TGR praises: theyre watching the market, investing in technology and purpose-built cars, and selling what consumers want.

if you're pissed personally because they killed your favorite car, i get that 100%. be upset. but don't be surprised and don't act like Ford is going into the shitter because of it

The beauty of disagreeing with Ford is you don't have to buy one.

There's plenty of cars on the road. Ford makes ugly shit cars and bomber trucks, I could have made that call.

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Originally Posted by gravitylover

While new cars are more reliable than they've ever been there are some things that can be disastrously expensive when they go wrong. .

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No shit. This is to replace a car that since new has had (very nearly) three warranty replacement clutch packs and countless software "fixes". Ford told me just yesterday that they are going buy the vehicle back from me.

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Originally Posted by SorryBro

If commuting is the main goal of the car, a Mazda 3 might be a good option. I'm 1.5 years into my Mazda 3 commuting experience, and I love it. Averaging 34mpg with 50/50 highway/city driving and it's a fun car to drive.

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Yeah I'd thought of one of those I know they get rave reviews. The Focus has really struggled at times during the winter in our foothills neighborhood and very steep driveway. The Imprezza would be useful for that.

^^^ And one thing that bugs me about most new cars is the overly-integrated nav/entertainment/HVAC. That stuff is a lot harder to replace or upgrade as the car gets older, or if the screen dies. When stuff like Android Auto or Apple Carplay comes out, the older nav systems are pretty bad in comparison.

Hopefully my next car will be available with a simple double-DIN size radio, with separate non-integrated HVAC controls, so I can install whatever aftermarket nav/stereo that I want -- and upgrade or replace it easily years later.

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

^^^ And one thing that bugs me about most new cars is the overly-integrated nav/entertainment/HVAC. That stuff is a lot harder to replace or upgrade as the car gets older, or if the screen dies. When stuff like Android Auto or Apple Carplay comes out, the older nav systems are pretty bad in comparison.

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I hate this shit. Turning the heater down requires multiple buttons across multiple screens instead of turning a knob.

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

^^^ And one thing that bugs me about most new cars is the overly-integrated nav/entertainment/HVAC. That stuff is a lot harder to replace or upgrade as the car gets older, or if the screen dies. When stuff like Android Auto or Apple Carplay comes out, the older nav systems are pretty bad in comparison.

Hopefully my next car will be available with a simple double-DIN size radio, with separate non-integrated HVAC controls, so I can install whatever aftermarket nav/stereo that I want -- and upgrade or replace it easily years later.

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What is your current double DIN Apple Carplay Android Auto head unit of choice? I'm considering the swap.

http://hanabi.autoweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/gen-1200-675/public/black-and-orange-gt-on-road-2.jpg?itok=bhjI1J3t[/IMG]

https://automanager.blob.core.window...5b739_1024.jpg

Doesn't that GT350 have big problems with it shutting down to limp mode on the track?

The new Mustangs are nice looking cars though.

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

What is your current double DIN Apple Carplay Android Auto head unit of choice? I'm considering the swap.

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I'd just look around and see what features are available and what kind of deals are out there. I don't have any strong preferences. Pioneer head units have always been pretty satisfactory.

Interesting take on Ford's reason for cutting out the cars. Did not realize crossovers count as light trucks in fuel economy calcs

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...id=mailsignout

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Originally Posted by plugboots

Ice, get the cool sports sedan you like but don't option in the sport suspension bits, and 19" tires. No M-sport for me for example.

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I'm not a marketing maven, but I have to wonder if this is one of those classic corporate maneuvers that makes sense short-term and is foolish long-term. It's well known that cheap-ish entry-level cars are built and sold at very tight margins, if not at or below cost. However, selling lots of inexpensive cars brings young consumers (who will later buy nicer cars) to the brand, makes the brand ubiquitous, and justifies a robust dealer network. Or that's how certain very profitable Japanese companies have played it, anyway.

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Originally Posted by Dantheman

I hate this shit. Turning the heater down requires multiple buttons across multiple screens instead of turning a knob.

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I just bought a 2009 (Ford-era) Volvo in part to avoid all the crappy dash technology that is on everything now. Simple tactile controls, no integration other than Bluetooth, and no touchscreen. Perfect.

And as a former Ford employee, I don’t see their decision as short-sighted. Dumping low-margin, high failure, less safe cars that are made outside the US to keep costs in check seems wise.

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Originally Posted by iceman

The roads are so shitty everywhere i go there's very little pleasure in driving a good sporty car on them, I'm kinda sorta thinking like a grand cherokee or something else with some suspension travel even though I'd rather not. Getting your brains beat out and wincing at every fucking bump gets old.

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This

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Originally Posted by evdog

Interesting take on Ford's reason for cutting out the cars. Did not realize crossovers count as light trucks in fuel economy calcs

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...id=mailsignout

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Good read, and I feel that those CAFE standards ARE at the root of this decision for sure. It's why they gave us the Explorer to begin with all those years ago. It's why GM loved things like the H1/H2...until gas shot up (hahahaha). It's why automakers pushed all the giant SUVs they have over the years. OF COURSE demand is up when they're marketing the ever living hell out of these things, which coincidentally are pretty profitable to begin with, made even more profitable by lower penalties due to CAFE.

Pretty much whatever happens in US commerce is driven by Baby Boomers. I think there are a lot of them who aren't having to commute to work anymore, so fuck fuel economy, and want a big squishy 4x4 with 4 doors like a big old stupid sedan and a teeny tiny short bed with a hard cover just like the trunk of a big old stupid sedan. Except with 4wd so they can go up and down their icy mcmansion driveway.

This thing, which has become by far the most popular vehicle where I live....
https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/imag...33-c.jpg?ver=1

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/17...g?v=1515867271

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sit...around|660:440

.....is not a pickup truck. It's a big stupid car.

https://cdn1.mecum.com/auctions/da09...?1378255537000

http://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/...-1970_ad-3.jpg

http://images.dsscars.com/dealerpics...22.jpg?preset=

I bet whoever designed those Eagle 4x4 cars back in the day is shitting a pile of bricks watching this happen....same with whoever masterminded those older Grand Cherokees that were supposed to be all luxurious for the banker with a muddy road to mcmansiontown I guess. Ahead of their time.

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Originally Posted by ncskier

This crowd is not a normal car buying crowd. No one wants 6 speed manual awd diesel wagons. Despite the hand wringing here.
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I know I am odd, but that is exactly what and I want with a 3.0 liter engine and 400 foot pounds of torge to pull my caravan. The thought of having to buy a fucking truck to do that one simple job annoys me to no end.

We don't call travel trailers "Caravans" in America, Russkie.

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Originally Posted by highangle

We don't call travel trailers "Caravans" in America, Russkie.

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He's part Pikey

"Pikeys? This is not going to end well."