People don’t want to spend $50k on pickups anymore? Hmmm.

Ford also says the decision to use the name “500″ for what was really the new Taurus was the result of a slow housing market.
No, I get it that Super Dutys are built for mostly site guys, but stop blaming the housing market for your outdated crap and stupid decisions.

The housing market? Then why are Benz and BMW posting sales increases? Stop focusing on Harley Davidson trims and start designing some real cars.

Hmm, people don’t want overrated vans anymore. Maybe they want cars… much head-scratching at Ford.

this is’nt a van stupid.

They need to lower the cost of these things. Farmers need rigs like these too.

the sales are slumping because meathead retards are dying off.

farmers buy these? why are 99.99% of the ones i see completely cherry with chrome everything? do cows like suede?

It’s a very specific market for trucks like these. They’re intended for people who intend to do serious truck stuff with them. But I agree with leozug… most of the ones I’ve seen are always nice, clean, chromed everything examples.

I like how, at the constrruction site of the Tundra plant, all the construction crews were using Fords.

Here in the Midwest, I’ve only seen two of these off the dealer’s lots. I wouldn’t say that they are wildly popular. Both of them that I saw were very definitely not being used for “serious truck stuff” nor would they probably ever see “serious truck stuff.” Big trucks are as much of a status symbol as they are utilitarian. It’s like the Hummer. The original H1 Alphas could bulldoze their way through about anything. Now we have mid sized SUT Hummers that can’t climb over a curb. Trucks are the same way. Who needs suede leather seats to pull 6 tons with anyways?

MikeFX…Ford said they are using the Taurus name over the 500 because of how long the Taurus name goes back with Ford and what it has done to the company over the decades. i never heard anything about them changing it because of the housing market

Comment by Deanster “The housing market? Then why are Benz and BMW posting sales increases? BECAUSE THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVE IN THEIR CARS.

This is great news! I would imagine they would stop building those things because there is no decent diesel in inventory. GM is doing fine with it’s monster trucks armed with diesels. I think Chrysler as well.

These trucks are used for heavy hauling. Lot of hard working guys buy this truck and use it for work AND play so spending 50k on a vehicle you use for work and other not to mention the tax write-off you get its a steal. But I guess some of you can’t think past your narrow mindedness.

3/4 of the trucks I see being used for work are Fords so HAHA =)

We could see more slow downs in truck production, I hope.

They would free up workers to build more new cars. But more to the point, if you have ever seen a newspaper where your local auto dealers are selling three year old brand new (never been owned) trucks, then you can see were stopping production is a good thing and in the future could been used to argue the reduction of truck production.

It is no secret that Detroit seriously over produces trucks. Even when trucks were king, Detroit still built way too many. Unions and contract obligations made this a sad and unavoidable fact and yet another lead weight around Detroit’s legs.

I say, GOOD. Take a week off building those things every month until proper balance is attained and you sell as much as you build. or just cut back and reposition displaced workers to build cars instead.

You’de be surprised at how many contractors use heavy duty trucks. Companies buy them in fleets to give to their workers cause they can withstand the beating of the everyday jobsite. If you can’t see the correlation of the two, your an idiot.

“Then why are Benz and BMW posting sales increases? BECAUSE THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVE IN THEIR CARS.”-fullthrottle336

Yeah, I see so many MB and BMWs on my jobsites. Guy’s say they are good for hauling lumber and materials. ???? You are the idiot I was talking about.

I concur with everyone regarding use of trucks by contractors and self employed folks (70% of population?). However, Ford has horrible publicity with diesel motor and consumers in need durability and torque to haul stuff do prefer diesel. Working people don’t mind a bit of diesel smell. If you read yesterdays numbers GM increased number of truck sales especially heavy duty ones, very same Ford has no need to assemble. Ditto Chrysler. They are helping themselves to Ford’s family jewels (figuratively and literally). Toyota’s truck did not help Ford either. For the past few years F series were main income for Ford. The rest of the industry went for it and caught Ford flat footed. The gas went up and Ford has no small car to sell (or decent medium for that matter).

well, excuse me but i have one and paid $65 grand for it. plus i drive them at work here in heidelburg germany because the army got rid of the crappy gm products.

Good luck and enjoy. Since it is me the taxpayer who pays for Army decision I hope it was a prudent one. Ford had a number of articles dedicated to it’s diesel engine failures and number of them where purchased back by Ford from consumers.

2008PowerStrokeF450Lariat, I really hope that yours is fine and will last forever.

Well, those trucks can definitely take a beating. But I agree, the latest generation 6.0L PowerStroke Diesel has been a failure – although that’s not totally Ford’s fault – since it’s International who supplies these engines and they screwed up pretty badly (design-wise, construction-wsie, you name it).

It’s not the ones all you car folk mention as being fancy and chromed up that is really being effected here.
It is the plain white, blend in with the scenery, ones you don’t notice – HD trucks that the Service and Construction Industries depend on and buy according to need and ability.
They are every where and when the Housing and Building business is down – then the Carpenters, Plumbers, Concrete contractors, Roof contractors, Electrical contractors, Fence contractors, Landscaping co’s, Hot Shot-Delivery co’s, Supply Houses, etc, etc, etc – DON”T buy that NEW plain white HD truck or fleet of trucks – THAT’S WHAT THE REAL STORY IS – OK?

lucklaster: I thinkm you’re getting to the core of the issue

lucklaster,
Great point. Certain areas must be more directly affected than others. The commercial market here in Colorado has steadily increased over the past few years, probably because it’s a high growth area.

2008PowerStrokeF450Lariat, Ford is ranked number two in the market, and I’m not referring to sales. The Sierra and Silverado tie for first. For some reason, my customers who abuse their trucks tend to think that they have a POS, whereas my customers who take care of them think that they’re the best in the world. And that can be said of both my Ford and Chevy truck owners. Maybe you just don’t have a qualified mechanic on base.

well, weve got the best mechanics in thw world . we fix humvees that have been badly damaged from iraq and afganistan. but actually, we have a fleet of about 10 trucks. 3 fords, 4 chevys, and 3 dodges. and the ford has the old 6.0 but we really never had any problems. even during the cold winters here. but the gms, ive got some choice words for those duramax engines. nothing but bad news.

Bryce: The differnce between the two is so small you don’t cheat yourself with either.

Power: How do you feel about the ROE in Iraq/A’stan? I think they’re a joke

The most ugly front end out there: that’s why sales are down.

Who would put ugly lights in weird positions….Ford.