Comments on: Ford “Bold Moves” Episode 10: “Fist Full of Doubters”

By: JC2

JC2 — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:39:06 +0000

“Their product line lacks the 40+mpg cars they should be mass producing.”
What manufacturers besides Toyota and Honda make a 40+ mpg car that doesn’t use diesel and is available in the USA?
Of course that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t
I feel this is an advertising campain, to sell more cars. Go to Ford Motor Companies home page and you will see many things that are called “bold moves” yet they do not do anything that any other car manufacturer already does.
What makes the Ford F series truck bold? The fact that it’s the number 1 undisputed selling truck in America doesn’t mean it’s bold.
What makes the E series van and Ranger bold? The fact that it’s remained relatively unchanged for MANY years is pretty stupid and bold.
What makes the Expedition, Sport Trac and Explorer Bold? NOTHING
What makes the Escape bold? Just because it is a hybrid is nothing special, I believe there are atleast 10 hybrid cars and trucks available currently.
What makes the Freestyle, Focus, Five Hundred and Fusion bold? NOTHING, they aren’t pioneering at all or bold.
What makes the Mustang bold? Besides for the nice interior and it pioneered the retro “pony car” market, and it makes up for HALF of the sport cars in the US, not much else is pioneering or bold about it.
But let us judge Ford in two to five years, when their rehabilitation plan is in action. Then we will see the small B segment cars out, and the Fairlane and a few others. Then after its been in action for a year or two, we can look back and judge them. For now they are just shaving their costs down as much as possible.

By: David Traver

David Traver — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:10:01 +0000

Ford is paying dearly for their short-sightedness in not delivering the cars that the public wants. Their product line lacks the 40+ mpg cars they should be mass producing. That Mexican made Fusion is an over-priced–just barely bigger than the Focus.

By: Fordnumber1-4ever

Fordnumber1-4ever — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:09:11 +0000

Yeah, go Ford, this shows everyone how great Ford is! Ford does deserve the #1 title, not that POS GM! Moreso than Toyota or Chrysler!

By: Kickin

Kickin — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:17:22 +0000

Rooting for Ford all the way. Even at GM’s expense, Ford deserves the #1 title, moreso than Toyota, Chrysler and especially our current overrated champion of mediocrity… GM

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 23:15:59 +0000

Hey guys, I would just like to clear something up.

THIS IS AN AD CAMPAIGN.

What do you expect them to say? “Don’t buy our products”? No, they’re going to find the good in what they have and place it alongside some of the bad news so it isn’t all gloom and doom. Do you think that this video blog is just something they’re doing to serve the public while they don’t advertise on anything else? No. Bold Moves is their ad campaign and this is how they are getting their message across.

Do we understand now? Good.

By: GMhater1

GMhater1 — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 22:35:11 +0000

Lean into it, the Japanese and Koreans ARE NOT COMPETING IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THE MUSTANG WHICH IS A PONY CAR, a buyer looking for a “pony car” like the Mustang is not going to buy an S2000 probably. And the Mustang is not going to save Ford in the American market, they will have to do better than that.
Also Anonymous, GMnumber1-4ever and Stuart, GM is doing bad in ALL of their markets, but Ford is doing bad just in the American market. They can afford to loose some cash in the American market, GM CANNOT. In the American market, GM is doing slightly better but if you look at an international overview then Ford would probably be doing better.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 21:59:00 +0000

Now thats more like the truth

By: GM number1-4ever

GM number1-4ever — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:18:50 +0000

I have my doubts that GM won’t put Ford and the rest of the world out of business by 2010. They are just way too powerful to compete with

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:40:24 +0000

I have my doubts that anyone left in the world care swhat happens to Ford. Everyone would much rather have GM succeed than anyone else.

By: Dispensing Pain

Dispensing Pain — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:33:01 +0000

Moving at the speed of a glacier here…hehe

By: Lean Into It

Lean Into It — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:09:13 +0000

“Lumbering giant”,Jay?What does Japan have that competes with a brass knuckles Mustang?Something efficient?

By: Bigger Hammer

Bigger Hammer — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:02:09 +0000

Jay,do you mean quick or constipated?

By: Nemo

Nemo — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:23:30 +0000

It was Jac Nassar who is responsible for ruining Ford, and by golly, wasn’t Jac an Import ????? It’ll take years to fix the damage the little Import did….I’m sure he’ll pop up some day in a “where is he now ?” story liv’in large off what Ford had to pay to get his @$$ otta there before the walls came tumbling down in Dearborn.

By: elviososa

elviososa — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 23:28:12 +0000

Why even bother viewing this video….how many people in the U.S. who are in the market to buy a car will see this?? What an idoit. Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) if you know what’s that meant. In the comsumer product industry, it is the products that sell, not the “fancy” thought, which may be rejected in the middle of car design process anyway. Bring the good product to the market, or else you will become a history.

By: Handballer

Handballer — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:16:06 +0000

If Mark Fields is involved shouldn’t it be fistful of Crisco?

By: Cadillac SuXLR

Cadillac SuXLR — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:15:15 +0000

Well Said Pontiac GSux

By: stuart

stuart — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:53:55 +0000

They are looking for the sytmpathy vote. They think people would feel sorry enough for them to buy their products.

By: Pontiac GSux

Pontiac GSux — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:21:47 +0000

45 more of these, I can’t take it any more. Mark Fields’s mullet will have used up the worlds supply of Mane by the time this campaign is over

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:08:13 +0000

OK, let’s stop at 10 of these dumb-ass commercials.

By: Steve-O

Steve-O — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:28:56 +0000

Thanks Jay!

Seriously though, the doubters need to understand that right now Mark Fields is selling “someone else’s” cars, all designed (and neglected) under someone else’s watch. If he is to be judged, then judge him in 2008-2009 when his products come to market.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:04:27 +0000

Well said, Stevo-O and The Stig… LOL
I still feel this is somewhat of an ad campain there may be bold moves behind the scenes but not out in the open… but of course they’re going to start getting momentum around 2008 or so when all the new cars come out.

By: Steve-O

Steve-O — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:32:06 +0000

Well said, Igor.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:16:36 +0000

Well said Jay.

By: igor

igor — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:55:17 +0000

Again and again .. how do you exect new “motivating product” on the lot 7-8 months after they started ..

morons …

there is nothing Toyota, Honda, VW, Nissan or anyone else can do productwise in 8 months … you launch the cars that are to be launched and focus on making the new ones better … it takes 18 months from approval to get the cars on the lot …. MKS is go.. Fairlane is go .. B-cars and all new Focus will be go early next year …

The only way to change something short term in auto bussiness is costs, and revenues equation of playing with downsizing, increasing profit per vehicle sold and other things, that you all discard as useless… but thye are the only thing they can do right now. They new PD system is in place and will bear fruit … just not now … call it excuses if you will – I call it reality … if there are no good products clearly in the view when summer 2008 rolls about, I will call this management a failure .. until then, they have very little choice when it comes to product.

Igor

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:41:27 +0000

”fist full of doubters” aka leftlanenews.

By: Crash B

Crash B — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:04:36 +0000

So, Ford sees fit to add their undeniable financial crisis into the “Bold Moves” video campaign. I guess it was a bit of “tell me something I don’t already know” video, but maybe they need to include it. Personally, I see the demise of Ford and even the American automotive industry as just plain frustrating. Overall, I think they know the problems exist and that something drastic must be done. However, they continue to maintain their bloated payrolls and deliver less-than-stellar products to their customers. Make cuts, trim the fat. Then re-engineer the product line. Stick with what works and cut the rest. Use American innovation to overcome the fuel cost crisis. And put pride back in “American” automobiles. Otherwise, the trend to buy non-American vehilces will sink these companies. Just my thoughts…

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:45:24 +0000

-”and I think the way you keep the people motivated is keep them informed”. No, actually the way you keep people motivated is making motivating products that can beat your competitors. The reason why people are motivated by BMW (one of the most notable right now) is their GREAT cars, thats why you see lots of people saying BMWs are great cars, and you create fans that way.
-”the clock is ticking… time is up”. When did you realize that? You should have realized that 20 some years ago, when the automotive industry in America was loosing ground to the smaller, more efficient Japanese cars which are now taking over the market, and destroying your once great company.
And what I said doesn’t only apply to Ford, Gm and Chrysler have been making similar mistakes (for 30 years up till now) only their not in such a deep hole as Ford is. Oh yeah, and they act twice as quick, Ford is I hate to say the lumbering Giant right now.