FTA: "Ford Motor Co. will offer Canadians who test drive its vehicles but end up buying from its competitors $100 each starting July 1 in a two-month bid to scoop up sales in a stagnating market."

Ah...So there's a little more to it than just the test drive. Plus you have to be Canadian.

I understand they're desperate, but c'mon. A hundred bucks? Getting a bennie back on a $20,000 car is like grabbing two pennies out of the dish to top off your two-week, family-of-four grocery bill.

Misleading headline. Fail, subby.

So they're basically paying people to buy from their competitors...

I don't think they've thought their cunning plan through.

Why?

and 400 more dollars if you wreck it!!

Toyota:1
Ford,GM:0

After helping a family member look for a new car, I can say this isn't a bad plan. People like Submittard probably haven't actually driven any of the latest offerings from Ford, and it shows.

The car that was being replaced was a 1993 Land Cruiser and we were looking at SUVs, Crossovers and station wagons. The first stop was Toyota to see the 4Runner; what a disappointment. The interior was terrible, the steering was numb and the brakes grabbed hard then faded. It felt like driving by remote-control.

Next I was able to convince her to go look at the Ford Edge since there was a dealer nearby. It was like night and day. The Edge's steering was nicely weighted without being heavy, the brakes were fantastic and the acceleration was smooth. The car was communicative without being harsh and the interior was very nice. All the plastics had a solid high-quality feel and I couldn't see where they had cut any corners on materials. The fit-and-finish of the entire car was outstanding and I was genuinely impressed.

This $100 is a great way to lure in people who expect to hate Ford cars simply because they always have. They will show up to do a test drive expecting an easy $100, but they will probably be surprised with the quality and feel of the current Ford lineup.

Linux_Yes: and 400 more dollars if you wreck it!!

Toyota:1
Ford,GM:0

Are you sure about that? After all, Toyota has been emulating GM for the past decade, and it shows. Acres of cheap, shiny plastic and steering that doesn't feel connected to anything.

Sorry, but I think you're wrong on this one. Ford has played this game very well so far and the only reason for all the anti-Ford bullshiat on FARK is because someone is ignorant or has an axe to grind.

From many reviews that I've read, Ford is making decent cars right now. Although don't let a few petty facts get in the way of your snarky headline.

My next Ford.

Dancin_In_Anson: My next Ford.

same.

Kar98: Why?

Because the Flex is a heck of a nice wagon. I have one parked in my garage. The only thing my garage is missing is a new Fusion or the new Taurus to keep it company.

Ford still has a couple vehicles it needs to fix (I'm looking at you Focus and Ranger) to be every bit the manufacturer it needs to be.

Last I checked Toyota is on the ropes and Honda is afraid of every new car coming out right now because they can't get by on the dependability ratings of the cars they sold during the 80's anymore.

$100 CDN? What's that in real money?

Blind_Io: Linux_Yes: and 400 more dollars if you wreck it!!

Toyota:1
Ford,GM:0

Are you sure about that? After all, Toyota has been emulating GM for the past decade, and it shows. Acres of cheap, shiny plastic and steering that doesn't feel connected to anything.

Sorry, but I think you're wrong on thhttp://www.fark.com/cgi/forgotpassword.plis one. Ford has played this game very well so far and the only reason for all the anti-Ford bullshiat on FARK is because someone is ignorant or has an axe to grind.

Toyota has changed over the last 10 years. Their interiors have gotten so cheap and chintzy. Toyotas had interiors like Honda 10 years ago. Now the difference is significant. They've also gone with terrible driving dynamics.

I believe the current Toyota plan is to make their cars into appliances - passionless and dull, but reliable. They've become the quintessential point A to point B vehicles. I think this is intentional because they are doing it well. Most people just want to get to work and back with a minimum of hassle.

Ford sucks because they're American made. Hurrr.

I just want my interior to be simple and austere. That's why I like the interior of the Saab 9-5 and BMW 128. Plain, black and white, simple. Plastic but not flimsy or tacky. My Tercel's interior is terrific and it's just black and white plastic. I drove a Mazda3 a month ago and the interior made me want to barf.

GavinTheAlmighty: I just want my interior to be simple and austere. That's why I like the interior of the Saab 9-5 and BMW 128. Plain, black and white, simple. Plastic but not flimsy or tacky. My Tercel's interior is terrific and it's just black and white plastic. I drove a Mazda3 a month ago and the interior made me want to barf.

I should say, it's because the "new" interiors that I see from new cars all tend to be overplasticised crap or have that terrible "tunnel" style dash. I hate those. I don't hate modern interiors at all. It's just that so few cars do them nicely.
The Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and Hyundais Genesis and Elantra Touring all have nice interiors, but that's a rare find.

Rapmaster2000: Blind_Io: Linux_Yes: and 400 more dollars if you wreck it!!

Toyota:1
Ford,GM:0

Are you sure about that? After all, Toyota has been emulating GM for the past decade, and it shows. Acres of cheap, shiny plastic and steering that doesn't feel connected to anything.

Sorry, but I think you're wrong on thhttp://www.fark.com/cgi/forgotpassword.plis one. Ford has played this game very well so far and the only reason for all the anti-Ford bullshiat on FARK is because someone is ignorant or has an axe to grind.

Toyota has changed over the last 10 years. Their interiors have gotten so cheap and chintzy. Toyotas had interiors like Honda 10 years ago. Now the difference is significant. They've also gone with terrible driving dynamics.

I believe the current Toyota plan is to make their cars into appliances - passionless and dull, but reliable. They've become the quintessential point A to point B vehicles. I think this is intentional because they are doing it well. Most people just want to get to work and back with a minimum of hassle.

I have to agree. I owned five Toyota trucks from 1991-2006, all five great vehicles that were well built and ran trouble free. In 2007 I bought a new 2007 4Runner-- what a disappointment.
It was a great A to B truck, though. It would be perfect for a soccer mom. But it's devoid of anything resembling personality.

there4igraham: a new Fusion

We have an 06 Fusion and love it. Went from an Explorer (which we also liked) to it.

If I were to buy a new car right now it would be a Ford. If for no other reason than their choice to decline a government bailout. I will never buy a GM product again.

Ford's trucks are still the best anyway, as far as I'm concerned.

Increasingly desperate? They just took back #2 in the US from Toyota.

I drive a Honda with a fake carbon fiber dash, so Toyota isn't the only Japanese company in town with flaky looking dashboards.

The last 3 fords I've had have lasted 80,000 (An Escort on it's last leg that rolled over in a single car accident), 65,000 (Mercury Topaz with 8 replaced motor mounts and major engine work under extended warranty), and 32,000 (T-bird with slipping transmission) miles, so $100 isn't going to sway me much.

Of course, the last time I took a Honda in for service at the dealership they did $600 of damage to it and wouldn't stand behind it.

Elbarfo: If I were to buy a new car right now it would be a Ford. If for no other reason than their choice to decline a government bailout. I will never buy a GM product again.

Ford's trucks are still the best anyway, as far as I'm concerned.

here here

Kar98: Why?

I like the Flex. I would have bought one recently except that it costs $45K for even a moderately equipped one.

TheGreatGazoo:
The last 3 fords I've had have lasted 80,000 (An Escort on it's last leg that rolled over in a single car accident), 65,000 (Mercury Topaz with 8 replaced motor mounts and major engine work under extended warranty), and 32,000 (T-bird with slipping transmission) miles, so $100 isn't going to sway me much.


This is a great reason to not buy an Escort, Topaz, or T-Bird. You should call up Ford and yell at them for not moving away from those products in favor of well build reliable cars... oh wait.

I said this in another thread that got redlit, but this past weekend I drove a 2010 Fusion Hybrid and a 2009 Escape Hybrid. I was really impressed with both. Afterwards we went and looked a Toyota's and liked the Fords more.

Will most likely buy a 2010 Escape Hybrid when it comes out.

KarmicDisaster: Kar98: Why?

I like the Flex. I would have bought one recently except that it costs $45K for even a moderately equipped one.

I got mine brand spanking new for $23k thanks to discounts and rebates. It's the base model but that still gets you a heck of a lot of car.

GavinTheAlmighty: I just want my interior to be simple and austere.

How to design a beautiful and functional interior:

Win:


Fail:

What color is the sky in your world, Submitter?

there4igraham: This is a great reason to not buy an Escort, Topaz, or T-Bird. You should call up Ford and yell at them for not moving away from those products in favor of well build reliable cars... oh wait.

I know the Ford cars now are better built than they were just a few years ago.

We had a 2001 Focus, that was a complete and utter piece of shiate. I would be willing to try Ford again, except each of the dealers that we had to take the Focus in to treated us like crap. Things like "Your brakes are failing at 5,000 miles? Your wife is probably feathering the brake pedal while she drives. A piece of plastic trim fell off on the highway? What do you expect when you're driving in 100+ degree desert heat, the adhesives start to melt then. The trunk randomly opens? You're probably not closing it hard enough."

Every single repair was a fight to get taken care of. As far as I'm concerned, Ford can go fark themselves with a rusty pole, their dealers were the last straw for me.

there4igraham: I got mine brand spanking new for $23k thanks to discounts and rebates. It's the base model but that still gets you a heck of a lot of car.

I think the Flex looks cool and functional. Certainly more stylish than most imports. How is it as a people mover/family truckster? I'll likely be in the market next year and want to buy domestic.

there4igraham: KarmicDisaster: Kar98: Why?

I like the Flex. I would have bought one recently except that it costs $45K for even a moderately equipped one.

I got mine brand spanking new for $23k thanks to discounts and rebates. It's the base model but that still gets you a heck of a lot of car.

That's a good deal. My dealers just order the high end stuff, very annoying. I ended up getting something else.

Trey Le Parc: Rapmaster2000: Blind_Io: Linux_Yes: and 400 more dollars if you wreck it!!

Toyota:1
Ford,GM:0

Are you sure about that? After all, Toyota has been emulating GM for the past decade, and it shows. Acres of cheap, shiny plastic and steering that doesn't feel connected to anything.

Sorry, but I think you're wrong on thhttp://www.fark.com/cgi/forgotpassword.plis one. Ford has played this game very well so far and the only reason for all the anti-Ford bullshiat on FARK is because someone is ignorant or has an axe to grind.

Toyota has changed over the last 10 years. Their interiors have gotten so cheap and chintzy. Toyotas had interiors like Honda 10 years ago. Now the difference is significant. They've also gone with terrible driving dynamics.

I believe the current Toyota plan is to make their cars into appliances - passionless and dull, but reliable. They've become the quintessential point A to point B vehicles. I think this is intentional because they are doing it well. Most people just want to get to work and back with a minimum of hassle.

I have to agree. I owned five Toyota trucks from 1991-2006, all five great vehicles that were well built and ran trouble free. In 2007 I bought a new 2007 4Runner-- what a disappointment.
It was a great A to B truck, though. It would be perfect for a soccer mom. But it's devoid of anything resembling personality.

Five Toyota Trucks from 1991-2006? One would last at least that long.

love my fords

there4igraham: Because the Flex is a heck of a nice wagon. I have one parked in my garage. The only thing my garage is missing is a new Fusion or the new Taurus to keep it company.

Share your thoughts on it, I've seen a few of those around and they're good looking vehicles.

Yeah, desperate. They've outsold Toyota for the last three months. They must be doing something right. At least they've been giving it a shot.

there4igraham We own a Focus and a Ranger. The Focus is a great bang for the buck but can't straight up compare to its more refined competition, like the Civic. But it delivers on its fuel economy! Now that Ranger, it does what it asked to do and gets great fuel economy (2.3L XLT). It really needs to be taken out to pasture and shot. The basic platform is as old as me... It is a living automotive dinosaur.

Lotta fanboys rush in to defend Ford...

Whats the matter I thought they were tough?

Link to Ford Reliability, better then Toyota.

Consumer Reports survey: Ford reliability improves (new window)

/Have a 4wd Ranger with over 150000 hard offroad and city miles still runs great.

spaten: Link to Ford Reliability, better then Toyota.

Consumer Reports survey: Ford reliability improves (new window)

/Have a 4wd Ranger with over 150000 hard offroad and city miles still runs great.

Glad to hear you're having luck. But the thing you linked to is two years old; doesn't directly compare Ford to Toyota; and describes several rebuilt Toyota models dropped as reliable, which probably isn't unusual for any manufacturer.

I think if you wander over to your local library and review the Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide issue, you'd be interested. You can look per manufacturer at each part.

We're still trying to sell a Ford Escape that's painfully unreliable at 100,00 miles, after getting something like $5,000 worth of repairs. It's replaced by a Toyota from Indiana.

Spaten: Here's a somewhat newer, and more clear, summary of Consumer Reports' view of reliability.

There's a linky in that article that compares reliability across the brands. From scores of -119 (Land Rover) to Scion (+62), Ford scores a +3, which ... sure sounds kinda average-y to me. Ford's Lincoln brand did a bit better, as did Mazda, which is partially Ford owned.

I got a used ford focus, and it runs pretty well, (06), much more reliable than the chevy I own as well, plus awesome gas mileage for the price (much cheaper than a hybrid)

The reason I don't buy Ford, GM, or Chrysler is because I cannot get the miles out of them.

My last few cars:
84 Subaru GL 247K (I let the coolant get low and blew up the engine)
90 Geo Metro (suzuki) 237K (I didn't want to replace the clutch for the 3rd time)
8? VW Scirocco(sp?) 117K (it was dead dead dead)
97 Altima 144K (I pulled out in front of a dump truck and the insurance company totaled it)
00 Subaru Legacy 138K (needs transmission work - will be back soon - and is a bit disappointing)
05 Saabaru 55K (and still going)

None of those cars needed major work except for the 00 Subaru. I'm not the greatest at maintenance, but I do replace the timing belts/chains occasionally, check and change the oil, etc.

By comparison, my parents had only two (out of maybe 12) US cars break 100K before they were towed away. One was a Merc Capri (German) at 101K and a Nova which died at 112K, I think. They drive a Hyundai now for what that's worth.

Initial quality doesn't mean anything. When I buy a car, and I usually buy used, I hope/expect to be buying something I'll drive to at least 150K w/o it needing repairs that cost more than the car's worth.

Until the US can build a fleet of high-quality cars that proves its reliability over time, I'll not be buying those brands.

/YMMV
//anecdote is not the plural of data

I've finally figured it out - lying about Ford in your submission headline guarantees it gets greenlighted.

Xaneidolon:

My last few cars:
84 Subaru GL 247K (I let the coolant get low and blew up the engine)
90 Geo Metro (suzuki) 237K (I didn't want to replace the clutch for the 3rd time)
8? VW Scirocco(sp?) 117K (it was dead dead dead)
97 Altima 144K (I pulled out in front of a dump truck and the insurance company totaled it)
00 Subaru Legacy 138K (needs transmission work - will be back soon - and is a bit disappointing)
05 Saabaru 55K (and still going)

I wouldn't post these numbers and then complain that it's the other cars that aren't reliable.

stucka: Spaten: Here's a somewhat newer, and more clear, summary of Consumer Reports' view of reliability.

There's a linky in that article that compares reliability across the brands. From scores of -119 (Land Rover) to Scion (+62), Ford scores a +3, which ... sure sounds kinda average-y to me. Ford's Lincoln brand did a bit better, as did Mazda, which is partially Ford owned.

Trucks, I need something with high clearance.

Anyway, what happened to style in cars? I'd rather buy a 62 Caddy or Lincoln then a modern car. I could still work on the car and it has style. Gas might be a problem. An old Mercedes diesel engine converted to Bioiesel and alcohol might do the trick.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: $100 CDN? What's that in real money?

$100 CDN. That was easy.

For a country on the verge of complete and utter meltdown [and in some cases actually in that process] I wouldn't be all "superior" about your dollar.

That and the subby is a retard. You can make the "Your $BRANDOFCAR car is a piece of shiat, hurr" joke about any brand. My coworkers drive toyotas, bmws, audis, honda, ford, etc... and they've all some line of work [myself included with my ford] at some point.

My "whimpy pos" Ford Focus starts when it's -30C out, without a block heater. That qualifies it for a-ok in my books.

impaler: So they're basically paying people to buy from their competitors...

Looks like somebody has an MBA. Or read "business for dummies", which is pretty much good enough to outsmart Ford marketing apparently.

Tourney3p0: I wouldn't post these numbers and then complain that it's the other cars that aren't reliable.

Why not? I've had one each GM, Ford and Chrysler and they were all real farked up by 100k miles. Ok, the ford wasn't new when I bought it, and I'm still driving the Chrysler at 72k, but it is going downhill fast. I am hoping to get another year/15k out of it.

Saturn is prolly OK, and Corvettes seem to do well because their owners baby them. Ford trucks are pretty good. Other than that, fark em.

M-G: Increasingly desperate? They just took back #2 in the US from Toyota.

Dude this is Fark, just roll with it and let the sheep graze.

My 2001 Windstar has over 250,000 miles and still looks great and runs great. Reliable workhorse.

I love the new products Ford is coming out with. When it is time to buy I will give them a good look.