In case you didn't know, most of US Fords in the next few years will be build on European platforms and some of most anticipating Fords, such as 2011 Fiesta and 2012 Focus, are completely developed in Europe.

And Ford's European division is the only reason Ford didn't file for bankruptcy like GM and Chrysler.

 

False.

The reason Ford didn't file for BK is because they mortgaged nearly 100% of their assets in 2006.

No, "most" US Fords will not be built on Euro platforms. Sorry.

 

And if Ford Europe was losing money at the same speed as Ford USA, Ford would file for bankruptcy, it's as simple as that. Ford Motor Company was barely able to not file for bankruptcy even with Ford Europe posting best numbers in history.

Let's take a look:

Transit Connect, Focus and Fiesta (and future C-Max and S-Max) are developed in Europe.
Fusion, Edge and Escape are based on Mazda's platforms.
Next generation Fusion will be based on European Ford Mondeo.
Next generation Edge will be based on European Ford Kuga.
Taurus, Flex and 2012 Explorer are (or will be) based on Volvo's platforms developed in Europe.

Which leaves us with with F-Series, Expedition, Mustang and Ranger as the only Ford's American product.
Ranger and probably Expedition too will be killed in the next few years, which at end will leave F-Series and Mustang as the only actual Ford USA.

 

Barely able and did are two different sides of the line. At the end of the day, Ford's doing well enough. They survived without taking the American tax-payers money, and they're moving forward with a positive objective and direction.

GM can't say the same, and until they come up with a valid plan and show they actually want to get off their ***** and do something, they can darn well stay in the bloody corner and shut the fk up.

 

Ford is doing better than GM or Chrysler, but they're still losing money.
They are still in red.

 

That explains the $850,000,000 profit last quarter.

 

No, that explains 50+% drop in sales over the past 10 years and the fact that both Volkswagen and Hyundai passed Ford in units sold.

We'll wait for annual report because Ford had loses in first 3 quarters of 2009 before they made profit in Q4 (thanks to Ford Europe).

It's not going to be as bad loss as 2008 (which was $9.2 billion), but it will still be a loss.

 

Right. These guys that just throw out the phrase "Ford didn't go banko because they mortgaged the company", without explaining why, are misrepresenting what Ford & Mulally did - YEARS before our current financial implosion that swept GM & Chrysler away. Ford had the foresight to hire outsider Mulally, to revamp, renegotiate, and refocus the company on core products, and started the "Way Forward" program. (Notice how Toy has recently coined the "Moving Forward" phrase.)

Ford's financial restructuring has nothing to do with the global economic implosion... because NO ONE saw that coming in 2006 - not Wall Street or the Fed. Whereas GM under Wagner and Chrysler under Cerberus were both too fat, dumb and happy milking the status quo, to have the same foresight Ford did.

Not only is Ford starting to reap the rewards of that restructuring, but it is also helping survive this unforseen Great Recession. They have a long way to go, but if they hadn't made the hard decisions back in 2006, they'd probably be in the bailout club too.

I think people should say it right or don't say it.

 

I'm not sure exactly where you're getting your information from; you may be right, but I can tell you for a fact that it's very rare nowadays for an engine, platform, car, etc, to be developed solely in one country. Car companies, even America's "Big 3," are truly global companies.

You sure are giving Ford EU an awful lot of credit. Again, I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I'd love to see where you got the information that the only reason Ford USA didn't have to borrow taxpayer funds is because of the success of Ford EU. I guess GM and their European brands, as well as Chrysler, weren't doing as well across the Atlantic?

 

Volkswagen sure did. Even with horrible 2008 and 2009, they still managed to have enough money to buy Porsche and part of Suzuki, to make profit and to even pass Toyota at one point as world's largest automaker.

 

Sorry, no link. I just remember reading somewhere when Ford posted a profit in Q4 that it was thanks to big success of European division.

I don't have numbers in front of me, but I'm pretty sure Ford Europe sold more vehicles in 2009 than Ford USA (or the numbers are really close). And interesting thing is, brand new Fords in Europe are still selling for MSRPs. Only models available with discounts are older models.

 

Here's the public filings. Probably has it in there somewhere.

http://www.ford.com/about-ford/inves...ompany-reports

 

Its always amazing how far off a post can get after its been hanging around a few days.

 

FMC posted a net profit of $997 million in the 3rd Quarter and all not resulting from FoE.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0241158520091102

Ford of North America also posted a quarterly operating profit.

FoE has been great but they are not the sole reason FMC is doing well, and they didn't "simply" save FMC. The lines of credit FMC received were not just because FoE was doing well.

Sorry for , and . . . . or at least as close as possible!

 

Back on topic...

I personally feel that we are going to see a lot of these cars crashed by inexperienced/younger drivers who are just not ready for this power level.

 

im young, not necessarily unexperienced. luckily for me i guess the 2011 gt will be a drop in hp/tq lol

 

Then why did you buy a 300+ HP Mustang GT??? Was 80-100 HP not enough for you....

 

Because there is a difference between a need and a want.

I don't need more than 100 hp for daily driving, but I want it anyway.

 

Here in America our needs typically flow with wants. Its quite simple... if FmC can produce a mustang that's capable of 412hp, than people NEED 412hp. 80-100 Hp? Where is the fun in that?

 

As long as gas is cheap.

When gas prices hit $4.50-5.00 two years ago all of the sudden everyone was happy with Prius.

Where is fun in that? Spending $20/week for gas instead of $60.