Wait a second, Bill Ford is a genius – he graduated from Princeton, just like George Bush graduated from Yale. Show a little respect here for the Ivy League!

When the Post-Gazette becomes the automotive world’s bible, the end of the world is nigh. US papers always seem to believe North America is Ford’s only market; and even there, I don’t think the situation is nearly as dire as portrayed. People who buy Ford vehicles are generally very satisfied; do they just have low expectations?

Ford products have been showing promise of late. They just need to make sure the intro of the much needed 3.5 Duratec goes off without a hitch. And the Mustang needs to grab a few more ponies for when the Challenger comes to the market. There are other things but Ford seems to be trying to right the ship IMO.

Ford will sell more F-150s than gm will sell corvettes, skys and soticeseseses combined.

I think Ford has taken some missteps…. Not replacing the Focus with a new model at the same time of the European one was fault number one. Americans are smarter now, we have the internet, and the facelift job was not enough…..Ford has also relied to heavily on its trucks and SUVs (GM as well) and this I think was very poor foresight. They should have continually been R&D’ing cars along with the SUVs and trucks, but as we can now see the dated since new 500 and the Mercury’s are awful and a sales dud…. The Fusion is a nice attempt, though it is stil a lil rough around the edges. The Mustang is a sales success for now….But whats gonna happen when GM’s Camero and maybe even Firebird comes out? Ford wasted their chances on the Thunderbird…instead of trying to fix what was wrong with it ( a fresh interior would be nice) they decide to just kill it yet again…. And no small subcompact cars which to me is truely amazing since FOrd has SOOO many in Europe, Austrailia and S. America….. FI can’t see why they have not explored this sooner. FOrd has no fun small car, meaning like a PT Cruiser, HHR, something just a lil different and funky…. They have continuously teased us with all sorts of show cars, with nothing coming to fruition. AND QUALITY!!! They need to improve it and dealer relations with their customers. I feel that is why Toyota is doing so well….excellent product quailty, A product for every taste (SUV’s all sizes, Trucks, Cars from smallest to small to medium to large and sub compacts in the form of Scion) they just offer more choice than Ford ever has….

Wait a minute- the Pittsburgh Post who?? Stick to recipes and gardening tips. And as for Kelly Blue Book, the only thing they are good for is maintaining bloated trade in values for Toyota.

BILL FORD IS A GOD DAMNED GENIUS YOU IDIOTS. IF YOU CAN’T SEE THAT WELL THEN THERE IS NO HOPE FOR YOU. GM, TOYOTA, AND SUBARU WILL SOON FEEL THE WRATH OF THE SCION (BILL, NOT THE TOYOTA ‘NOT A BRAND’) ANYWAYS.. WHERE WAS I.. BILL FORD IS THE AUTOMOTIVE DECIDER. YEAH, SO SOMETIMES HE CHANGES HIS MIND BUT THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE YOU CAN’T CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM BUT YOU CAN CHANGE SADDLES!!!

As much as I’d hate to agree with an “analysist”, I do. Ford recent roll-outs have been about as exciting as a 6th grade dance.

Except for the Mustang and F150, BLAND, as the article states. I feel NO interest whatsoever.

#5 your comment makes absolutely no sense what so ever…..

The analysts were looking at future product lines… and suffice to say, Lutz is chatting daily about all the new vehicles coming from GM over the next year or three – practically a whole new or refreshed line-up for most of the brands. Bill Ford has been touting his Way Forward plan with a greater emphasis on cost-cutting and realigning resources to shrink the company to meet the market. True, both are global companies and have distinct products in different markets but if you take a look at where Ford is today vs. their announced product plans for the future (at least here in the US) – the analysts have a right to be concerned.

I hope the new Edge, Duratec 3.5, XK-R, Freelander replacement, C70, Mustang variations, updated F-150, etc. are enough to keep the company alive. Time will tell.

True, GM has gotten the solstice, sky, and corvette right. And ford has the mustang, but what about the bread and butter. Which Toyota competes in Mustang/Camero territory? I would call it the Samurai except Toyota is too smart to build it. Ford and GM should put all their resources into building basic cars that can BEAT the Camry/Accord. (Actually the escape, focus, and aveo are all very successful in their respective categories.)

I take it back. Why doesn’t Toyota build a Samurai????

At least Ford still have Europe

Don’t think so. Its doing just as bad over here

As the saying goes, there is no carmaker problem that good products can solve. When the chip are down, you just have to double the effort of getting you out of that hole. Seems GM is starting to realize that. No amount of cost cutting will save Ford with its dull stable(except the Mustang). Ford needs new products that are aggressive and bold. Maybe Ford needs another Car Guy to sort the designs out like Lutz did to GM?