Comments on S.U.V. Deathwatch

a sudden shift in consumers’ tastes

Sudden as in started like 5 years ago.

Wow, go figure, supply=demand. who needs lazy politicians? our economy will just sort it out...

The "like a rock" reference is cute, but it would be cuter if that hadn't actually been Chevy's truck slogan.

@ 3) That would have been cuter. But in the name of accuracy it will have to do, as Ford it the one dropping like a rock. Take THAT, Chevy!

Dom @4, you let a little thing like getting the subject of the story right compromise your snark?  Where are your priorities, man?!

Amusingly, I bought 100 shares of Ford, because I think they are most likely to adapt the most quickly, whereas GM is still out to lunch.

Guess I'll pick up another 100 shares at a discount ...

The funny thing is, it's Ford that has been crowing about its forward-thinking and new approach to the marketplace and hybrids and yadda yadda for the past five years -- but they were really coasting on Explorers and Rangers. Now they're finally being forced to walk the walk.

Of course, in Detroit, you start bragging about your miraculous fuel efficiency at 30 MPG, not 45. But it's a start, I guess.

Aack. When we lived in MI we knew plenty of folks who worked for Ford--mostly in the research and development wing. Because we know Ford employees and b/c Ford just seemed to be the one US car company that got the whole "we gotta be greener" thing (though it's debatable whether they truly did get it) I've always had a soft spot for Ford.

The local paper (Ann Arbor News) still had letters to the editor from folks railing about having to see foreign cars on the streets. It's like they're still living in the 80s. Sigh.

During our 8 years there, Michigan quickly became a hateful state full of bitter people. Not all of them, mind you, just an apparent majority. But talk to some life-long residents and they'll just shake their heads and say they don't know what happened to the state they grew up in. This Ford news won't help, that's for sure.

I agree Will. Of the big American car companies, I too expect Ford to come out alright in a few years. They're betting the farm on this switch to the Focus as their big platform, and I think they'll be able to make it work far better than GM's bets on the Volt.

Of course, I'm fully rooting for Tesla Motors to eat everyone's lunch when they roll out the sedan they're talking about, in 2010.

Tesla Motors is very cool, no doubt, but I think they will remain a niche company catering to a high-income demographic, sedan or no.

Balt-O-Matt @8, that's one of the saddest descriptions of auto industry fallout that I've seen.

Oh, @10, I *could* talk about the small Indiana town I grew up in where "The Chrylser" was the biggest employer and guys (mostly guys) could graduate high school and support the wife and kids by working at the factory. Chrysler and my hometown started dying in the late 1970s. There are lots of these towns (often the county seats) scattered throughout central and northern IN, and it's not pretty. What once were proud little towns with well-kept homes, family-run businesses, and main stream churches, now struggle with rampant crime and drug abuse, high unemployment, and failing infrastructure. Oh, and there's been an increase in the number of "I'm a better type of Christian than you are" churches. Good times, yo.

I agree, NaFun. And I too wish I could get a full electric Tesla, but I only buy a new car every decade and I hate paying a lot.

But it sure looks like a sweet ride ...

@6 take a short position...

hahaha. fucking shitty cars designed by fucking shitty hacks.

Corporate version of instant gratification. It leaves so much to be desired (pun intended) as in eight billion dollar loses. You could almost see them smirk when the Prius was introduced. Now, once again, they're left in the learch with vehicles nobody wants. They really do deserve what they get for being so short sighted and focused solely on immediate gratification. And, like the airlines, they fought government efforts to rein in recklessness. Result: disaster.

You know, if Ford ever bothered to build any good cars, people would buy more of them. Even the Focus, which is probably their best vehicle right now, is merely adequate. Seriously, guys, a manual transmission with no tachometer? That is amateur hour shit.

@13 - I don't do shorts, but sometimes I'm on the put side of a short.

The problem with shorts is you have to realize the dealer gets rich on both sides of the trade but the downside is nearly unlimited.

Hedging is for amateurs and insurance companies.

Ford is also re-tooling to bring 6 European small-car models to the States.

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=28660