Watch it go to the junkyard? I don't think I have seen one of those on the road in at least 10 years. Buick better hope everyone has forgotten the name.
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
Watch it go to the junkyard? I don't think I have seen one of those on the road in at least 10 years. Buick better hope everyone has forgotten the name.
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
Watch it go to the junkyard? I don't think I have seen one of those on the road in at least 10 years. Buick better hope everyone has forgotten the name.
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
Roadster was $7800. You buy used so no need to explain the bang-for-the-buck angle.
3 row SUV/crossovers were trendy and that put prices in the low 30s.
So ironically I did not spend any more on both vs. what I would have spent on 1 SUV.
I test drove everything and nothing really satisified me, so rather than compromise on one overpriced trendy car, I got a roadster as my daily and a minivan for trips and to cart the basketball team around.
I coach 2 teams and often give rides to 3-4 kids, so the 3rd row was needed.
Nah, like you said in a different thread, this new generation simply doesn't care about cars.
They can watch movies in the back, they're happy. Video games too. I'm a tech geek (I'm not James Bond, I'm Q) so I pimped it out with aftermarket stuff. 7" Navi screen with backup cam, too.
Still working on the missile launchers. They clash with the minivan's styling. LOL
There is hope for my 9 year old, he's particularly good at noticing special cars. :shades:
It's Auto Show season so I'll ask what he thinks of the Chevy 140 concept.
There is hope for my 9 year old, he's particularly good at noticing special cars. :shades:
Mine too, even though she's female. She's always asking questions about different gauges and what does this or that do. She also notices the differences between various cars.
We had some nasty weather yesterday and she commented to me that I should put the Expedition in 4auto mode since the roads were snow covered. I asked her how was I suppose to do donuts if we engage 4wd. She laughed and said it's probably a good idea to stay on the road. LOL
I do have some work to do though. Last night she said "dad, there is a race car". I looked over and it was a lame Sentra with a rear wing. She's still a work in progress!
When we're in our boat or on the waverunner she wants WOT. Can never be going fast enough. When I let her drive me around in the golf cart, I'm always having to tell her to slow down. OTOH my 13 year old daughter doesn't care or pay attention to cars. When she's driving the golf cart, I usually have to tell her to speed up.
I think I know which one will be tearing up the family vehicles.
I remember getting Encores and Alliances as rental cars around beautiful Newark, NJ. Truly the worst rentals I got at that time
Back in HS a good friend of mine had a Pontiac T1000 and an Alliance back to back. I don't know which one was worse. They were both hideously slow and horribly unreliable. The T1000 did better donuts in the snow though;)
As for the K cars, my grandpa had one for an extended rental. in like '85. His '83 Olds 88 got hit and was in the shop almost a month. The killer was his house sold in Florida and he and grandma drove in the K car to Tampa and back. He was slightly happy to get his car back.
I remember the K cars having a decent ride for a small car. But yeah the K cars were not a bright spot that's for sure.
On carnival rides, since he was a toddler, he would always check out HOW the ride worked, the hinges, motors, mechanics. The other kids would ring the bells and honk the horns, oblivious to how it worked.
He asked me to teach him to shift the 6 speed manual when I'm driving. Remember, most 9 year olds have probably never SEEN a stick shift.
I know I'm in the minority, but that Fusion does nothing for me. The current one doesn't either, but this new one looks like a stretched Focus. Remember when Chrysler tried to make their bigger cars look like their smaller ones ('62)?
On the other hand, other than the taillights, the '13 Malibu isn't doing a whole lot for me either. I've said this before, but I love our '11 Malibu in profile. I think it looks like a more-expensive car than it was. Ours is Black Granite, a 1LT with the darker polished wheels, and black cloth inside.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Not a GM vehicle on the list. Probably more bias and sampling errors;)
Awards are based on actual consumer transactions, with over 4.5 million household records per year being analyzed to determine the winners and information obtained from state registration and lease transaction information.
All Winners of the Loyalty Awards
2011 Model Year Loyalty Award Winners
Award Category: Award Winners
Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company* Overall Loyalty to Make: Ford* Most Improved Loyalty to Make: Jeep Hispanic Market Loyalty to Make: Honda Asian Market Loyalty to Make: Toyota* African American Market Loyalty to Make: Ford* Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra Mid/Full-Size Car: Subaru Outback Luxury Car: Lincoln MKZ Sports Car: Dodge Challenger Luxury Sports Car: Porsche 911 Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country* Mid/Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-Series* Compact SUV: Ford Escape Mid/Full Size SUV: Lexus RX* Luxury SUV: Land Rover Range Rover*
I like the Fusion. Part Aston Martin, part Audi A7, yet with Ford's own spin on it.
Not to mention 5 powertrains, one for the rental/fleets, a pair of EcoBoosts, one for efficiency and one for performance, AWD available, and on top of that, a pair of hybrids as well?
Ford's been working overtime on that one.
Just to nit-pick I'm not crazy about the gauges in front of the driver, but that's a very minor complaint, and my only one.
I like that new Fusion concept too, but for a different reason. The front-end makes me think a bit of the '57-59 Chrysler 300 Letter Series, the cars that started that trend with the trapezoidal grille.
I was thinking about pulling the plug and getting a new car in the spring. Just something mainstream like a 4-cyl Altima, Fusion, etc. But, maybe I should hold off a bit...looks like some interesting stuff is going to be coming out soon.
I wonder what the next Altima will look like? That one's kinda overdue for a redesign, as well.
Bet they'd be on there if you combined Silverado/Sierra.
I don't know, hard to beat the loyalty of F series customers. They stick with Ford through thick and thin. Regardless of how many spark plugs get spit out or stuck in the heads, or how bad the diesel engine is.
Plus I know more than a few farmers around here that replaced GM trucks with Fords after the GM bailout. Most are pretty staunch republicans and they buy lots of trucks.
The new Fusion does look pretty good. I'm sad to see the v6 go, and I wish they'd offer a manual trans, but I realize there is probably little point in doing so.
I have been impressed with how hard Ford has been working on improving product the past 5 years or so. Nothing is being left to die on the vine. Sure, not everything is great, but they seem to be continuously improving.
The Malibu Eco made Toyota/Hyundai marketing folks get busy.
This Fusion will get the product engineers there busy, and make them lose sleep.
I say make the big 4 banger fleet only, and make the 1.6l EcoBoost the volume engine. With start/stop you wonder if going to a hybrid is even necessary.
I'll take a 2l EcoBoost with AWD, please. :shades:
Wonder if that was posted over there on the Nissan forum!
I've never posted on the Nissan forum. It's been to long since I've owned one and nothing there interests me anymore.
I believe it's obvious that Ford is riding a feel-good thing about not taking money
That and the product has improved a bunch. I test drove an F150 Supercrew 4x4 Lariat ecoboost. I was blown away by it. It's not the best looking truck available, but the interior is top notch. The ride is unbelievably smooth, the Screw cab is impressively roomy.
It drove nicer, rode better, and was far more comfortable than my Expedition and the EB v6 is the strongest engine I've sampled in a 1/2 ton truck (including GMs 6.0 and 6.2L). Wow does that motor put out the power between 2-4k rpm and it does it in a smooth and quiet manner. Now, I'm certainly on the fence regarding reliability. I may buy one within the next year.
Plus Ford has made some improvements to 2012 F150, they listened to their customers and increased the fuel tank size of the ecoboost trucks and added an automode 4wd system (about time). But the point is they keep improving their product. Having a 28 gallon tank in the EB vs a 35 gallon in the v8 trucks was a dumb idea, but at least the fixed the issue.
Also the current Fusion was improved enough to get my brother out of a Altima. He had owned 4 Nissan's in a row and didn't have a single issue with any of them. He was really impressed with the Fusion Sport and decided to buy his first domestic vehicle ever.
I think competitors are praying for poor reliability on those new Fords. Seriously.
No kidding. I remember reading various posts claiming how the EB would fail and truck buyers won't buy a turbo v6 truck. How wrong they are. Unbelievable that Ford sold 100k EB powered F150s last year.
I've got a friend that has one. He loves it so far. I won't see him again until the lake opens back up, so I'll be curious how he likes it after having it a while.
Uh-oh, not a Nissan on there either. Wonder if that was posted over there on the Nissan forum!
I don't post over in the Nissan (last owned one 25 years ago), or Toyota (never owned one) boards. I've never owned their stock either.
I have bought 4 new GM's though. And I'm a current unwilling stock-owner. So is dieselone, and the rest of us. Maybe someday when GM pays back the loans, the government sells it stock, and GM starts paying federal income taxes (maybe that'll be in 5 - 10 years?) then we won't have so much incentive to post here. Plus it's like shooting fish-in-a-barrel.
I hope I'm not repeating a prior post, but this seems rather typical of the waste, confusion of messages, and bureaucracy of Old and New GM:
"The goal is to deliver better advertising and use marketing dollars more efficiently, perhaps by reducing the about 100 agencies GM uses worldwide to create ads and buy airtime"
Speaking of eating batteries, my Neon did that too!!!
Probably why I'm almost an "expert" when it comes to pro-rated warranties (and usually, the shop won't cover the labor, so you have to pay that over and over unless you change it out yourself.)
It's funny, you start to forget all the "little" problems a car had over time. The big ones overshadowed them by so much.
I remember my teenage/early 20's attitude then was, we'll, I've fixed and replaced just about everything in this car now, what else could possibly go wrong!!! LOL, I was thinking it would be reliable afterall, since everything had been addressed, but every 3 or 4 months the question would be answered with something new.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
You're a follower of CR--new Focus, worse than average per them.
True. Ford has had shift issue with the dual clutch transmissions, My Ford Touch issues and probably others as well. I see power equipment is below average for '11 too. CU indicates overall based on survey results the Focus is 21% below average for reliability. Whatever that means.
It's still a competitive car, and it has done well in most comparisons.
On my 5th New England winter with it and there is still no signs of dying.
To be fair, I've read that while cold weather can make it harder for a battery to start a car, it is the HEAT and hotness that shortens a batteries lifespan.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I visited the annual Motor Trend sponsored auto show in Greenville, SC today.
Manufacturer's represented there were:
GM Subaru Honda Acura Toyota Chrysler Jeep Ford Fiat
I test drove a Fiat 500. While some compare it to a Mini, it drives with a totally different feel. Much softer ride, and much less sensitive steering.
Some of my impressions...
Best drivers seat comfort was the Fiat 500, which totally surprised me! Worst drivers seat comfort was in the Volt. It was quite literally like sitting on a wooden slat chair. I sat in every car there with a sticker price < $40K. Honda seats overall were stiff and rigid, but Toyota seats felt as if they had better padding. GM, Ford and Chrysler seats were what I would call average.
Most captivating interior, strangely, was the Volt. It has a modernistic theme that fits the car's image. I really liked the look, personally.
The last few years have emphasized a large truck presence, but this year it was far more car oriented.
Both Sonic body styles were there, and as a former Aveo owner, I can testify the the new Sonic is light years ahead of the Aveo. Very impressive.
Overall, the build quality of all the cars was very good, which is what one would expect from cars in a show atmosphere.
and the reason some manufacturers have moved the battery out of the engine compartment to the trunk/under the back seat.
Which is a great idea since moving about 35lbs. from the front towards the rear will help to balance more cars into a closer to the ideal 50/50 front/rear weight balance.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Nah, like you said in a different thread, this new generation simply doesn't care about cars.
I think young people today don't care much about quality in general, whether it is cars or electronics, or anything else.
I had a younger friend come in to see my Blu-Ray player and said it was "huge," and that his was much slimmer, smaller, and cost less than $100. I told him mine might have cost 9 times more but it plays everything at a very high quality. He responded with "his plays everything too." LOL. Not only is that statement untrue (no SACD or DVD-A support I'm sure), but some people out there really don't realize that sometimes you really do get what you PAY for. When his player is broken in 2 years and mine is still working, I'll remind him.
I think this lack of care about quality, will actually help the BIG 3 in the new generation Y and Z. They are good at making low quality stuff, they just need to make it trendy!
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
A one year track record proves nothing. It is the reason I still don't trust the Fusion; too short of a good record.
One thing with the Fusion is the powertrains are proven. The 6speed goes back to 07, the 3.0 DOHC v6 goes back to the '90's and the 3.5 goes back to 07. I don't know much about the 2.5 4cyl is largely a Mazda design I believe (which is a good thing).
I told him mine might have cost 9 times more but it plays everything at a very high quality.
Only if the TV or projector is worth a damn;) I don't think it makes much since to hook up a $300 Haier LCD TV to a $900 high end blu-ray player.
Sometimes the best just isn't worth it. I mean, the new Elite tv's licensed and built by Sharp are impressive, but I'm not going to spend $9k on a 60" LCD when a Panasonic GT30 60" Plasma for a 1/3 of the price offers 9/10 of the picture to my untrained eye.
I'm as guilty as anyone regarding home audio and music formats. I haven't used my Denon receiver in years. My music collection is now on my computer, amazon cloud, and my smart phone. The only time I listen to it is when I have my cheap head phones on while mowing the lawn and exercising. Like a high quality audio format would be noticeable in my Expedition and I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on a stereo upgrade in 5 year old SUV with nearly 100k miles on it.
I just use a cheap LG 3d blue-ray player with my cheap LG 47" LED-LCD 3d TV. It's good enough for upstairs. I haven't bought the 65" plasma I want for downstairs yet, as I haven't decided what to do with the 200lb Sony 35" tube that's currently down there. It's 13 years old and works fine. Picture stucks by today's standards, but I don't know what to do with it.
Cheap doesn't always equal low reliability. I got my first CD player in 1985 (I was in Jr. high). It was an Akai (before they went cheap) and was over $400. It broke within 6 months. I was devastated, the next year or so, my dad won a cheap Goldstar CD player in a raffle. I used it for years and gave it to a buddy who used it for several more, it lasted over 10 years.
I think that engine was in the Mazda 6 rental I had a few years back, and it certainly competes for WORST V6 engine ever made along with my In-Laws' Equinox.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I don't think it makes much since to hook up a $300 Haier LCD TV to a $900 high end blu-ray player.
Well, true, a system is only as strong as its weakest link. In fact, I questioned why he even got a Blu-Ray player since he doesn't even have any sort of a sounds system (uses the TV speakers). I suppose it's all for the video improvements.
Part of what made my Oppo so great is that it plays Super Audio CD's, Dvd-Audio discs, as well as Blu-Ray and basically anything that was ever made, invented, or used to fit on a round disc (vinyl records excluded :P )
Also, it has high-quality analog audio multichannel outputs that allowed me to extend the useful life of my receiver several more years. If you go digital (clean but not as high audio quality in my opinion) HDMI, then obviously analog outputs wouldn't matter to you.
To relate back to this forum. GM is known for folloowing and not leading.
If GM wants to lead on something, they should make Blu-Ray disc players/readers standard on all their new radio systems for all vehicles starting tomorrow!
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I think that engine was in the Mazda 6 rental I had a few years back, and it certainly competes for WORST V6 engine ever made along with my In-Laws' Equinox.
The current Fusion 3.0 is upgraded from what was in the Mazda 6. I don't know if it's more refined or not as I've not sampled one. But they are reliable.
It was an Akai (before they went cheap) and was over $400. It broke within 6 months.
No one year warranty? I have a general rule with electronics that 1 year is my MINIMAL accepted warranty.
Is Akai even still in business?
ONe problem you had though, was you bought a CD player in 1985! That was really like buying an HDTV say, in the year 2000. Costs were thousands and thousands for BASIC "cheap" models. They were expensive because the technology was new, not because they weren't "cheap" quality for the most part.
I haven't used my Denon receiver in years.
Why don't you sell it to someone who will appreciate its quality then? I sold a really old Onkyo receiver a few years back for $50. I think I originally paid $350 for it in the mid-90's.
200lb Sony 35" tube that's currently down there. It's 13 years old and works fine. Picture stucks by today's standards, but I don't know what to do with it.
You'll have to use nothing short of C4 explosives to make that TV stop working, it's a Sony.
Someone on this forum says they've purchased several LG products, and that every single one of them has had issues, problems, and short life spans.
it lasted over 10 years.
Thats pretty good lifespan for a CD player. Obviously depends on frequency of use. I think I gave a CD player that's about 10 or 12 years old now to my Mother many years ago. It was still working last I checked, but they recently moved, and I didn't see it in their new place during the Holidays.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
The current Fusion 3.0 is upgraded from what was in the Mazda 6. I don't know if it's more refined or not as I've not sampled one. But they are reliable.
Actually, I was being overly harsh on the 3.0 Ford/Mazda V6 engine.
The worst V6 I've driven in was the gutless wonder of the Ford Mustang which was either an '08 or '09 Rental Queen. Was that the 4.0 V6?
Felt more like a 1.0 3 cylinder engine.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
No one year warranty? I have a general rule with electronics that 1 year is my MINIMAL accepted warranty.
Is Akai even still in business?
I don't know if Akai is around in any capacity. I remember that I got the CD player from an audio store that went out of business shortly afterwards and my problems of getting it fixed began.
As for LG I don't know. We have LG Trom front load washer and dryer since 07 that have been flawless. MY BIL and SIL have the same year and model and haven't had problems either. It has lasted longer than the Kenmore Elite washer dryer we had prior that nearly burned the house down when it filled the laundry room up with smoke. Kenmore was made by Whirlpool then. A few months ago when we bought a new fridge, sears told me some kenmore appliances are now made by LG. I did buy another Whirlpool refrigerator that replaced a whirlpool that died at under 5 years old:(
As for the TV, I wanted something that had wireless streaming/DLNA capability and something that was good in a bright room. CNET and a few other sources recommended this particular TV plus it has passive 3d which I didn't really care about, but admit it works well and the kids love it. I was able to get it cheap so I'm not overly concerned about it.
What's sad is I paid less than 1/3 for this 47" TV than I did for a 32" Sony LCD Bravia XBR in 2005. Like you said Sony's are impressive. The 32" is going strong too. Kids just use it for the Xbox now. I couldn't justify nearly spending twice as much on another Sony.
As for my old Denon receiver, the kids still use it time to time when they are playing a wii or Xbox dancing game.
I'll upgrade it once I get around to buying a new TV down there. Even though it's 15 years old, it still sounds decent.
Yeah it was a SOHC 4.0l that was used in the Ranger/Explorer. That was a pretty lame engine, it was 10 years out of date by the time it was fitted into a Mustang.
I'd guess the current Mustang with the 300hp 3.7v6 would make an interesting rental.
Comments
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
Strange to use it here in the USA, if so.
K cars seem like mechanical cockroaches, I still see one now and then. Same for Chevettes.
Roadster was $7800. You buy used so no need to explain the bang-for-the-buck angle.
3 row SUV/crossovers were trendy and that put prices in the low 30s.
So ironically I did not spend any more on both vs. what I would have spent on 1 SUV.
I test drove everything and nothing really satisified me, so rather than compromise on one overpriced trendy car, I got a roadster as my daily and a minivan for trips and to cart the basketball team around.
I coach 2 teams and often give rides to 3-4 kids, so the 3rd row was needed.
I use my 3rd row so often the carpets are worn.
Good choosing, by the way, one less big SUV to dodge. Although the kids would have loved an Escalade ESV
They can watch movies in the back, they're happy. Video games too. I'm a tech geek (I'm not James Bond, I'm Q) so I pimped it out with aftermarket stuff. 7" Navi screen with backup cam, too.
Still working on the missile launchers. They clash with the minivan's styling. LOL
There is hope for my 9 year old, he's particularly good at noticing special cars. :shades:
It's Auto Show season so I'll ask what he thinks of the Chevy 140 concept.
Fusion looks darn good, definitely deserves the top spot, IMHO.
ATS took 2nd.
Hadn't even noticed!
I just hope they reserve these for models with a true performance upgrade.
Mine too, even though she's female. She's always asking questions about different gauges and what does this or that do. She also notices the differences between various cars.
We had some nasty weather yesterday and she commented to me that I should put the Expedition in 4auto mode since the roads were snow covered. I asked her how was I suppose to do donuts if we engage 4wd. She laughed and said it's probably a good idea to stay on the road. LOL
I do have some work to do though. Last night she said "dad, there is a race car". I looked over and it was a lame Sentra with a rear wing. She's still a work in progress!
When we're in our boat or on the waverunner she wants WOT. Can never be going fast enough. When I let her drive me around in the golf cart, I'm always having to tell her to slow down. OTOH my 13 year old daughter doesn't care or pay attention to cars. When she's driving the golf cart, I usually have to tell her to speed up.
I think I know which one will be tearing up the family vehicles.
Back in HS a good friend of mine had a Pontiac T1000 and an Alliance back to back. I don't know which one was worse. They were both hideously slow and horribly unreliable. The T1000 did better donuts in the snow though;)
As for the K cars, my grandpa had one for an extended rental. in like '85. His '83 Olds 88 got hit and was in the shop almost a month. The killer was his house sold in Florida and he and grandma drove in the K car to Tampa and back. He was slightly happy to get his car back.
I remember the K cars having a decent ride for a small car. But yeah the K cars were not a bright spot that's for sure.
On carnival rides, since he was a toddler, he would always check out HOW the ride worked, the hinges, motors, mechanics. The other kids would ring the bells and honk the horns, oblivious to how it worked.
He asked me to teach him to shift the 6 speed manual when I'm driving. Remember, most 9 year olds have probably never SEEN a stick shift.
I'm so proud. *sniff*
Glutton for punishment?
Dad wanted to buy a Renault Fuego as a beater for me when I was in High School, but I stopped him. Though the Mustang we got was not much better.
On the other hand, other than the taillights, the '13 Malibu isn't doing a whole lot for me either. I've said this before, but I love our '11 Malibu in profile. I think it looks like a more-expensive car than it was. Ours is Black Granite, a 1LT with the darker polished wheels, and black cloth inside.
That's for sure. Unfortunately I haven't owned a manual in 10 years.
He asked me to teach him to shift the 6 speed manual when I'm driving. Remember, most 9 year olds have probably never SEEN a stick shift.
I'd be proud too.
Awards are based on actual consumer transactions, with over 4.5 million household records per year being analyzed to determine the winners and information obtained from state registration and lease transaction information.
All Winners of the Loyalty Awards
2011 Model Year Loyalty Award Winners
Award Category: Award Winners
Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company*
Overall Loyalty to Make: Ford*
Most Improved Loyalty to Make: Jeep
Hispanic Market Loyalty to Make: Honda
Asian Market Loyalty to Make: Toyota*
African American Market Loyalty to Make: Ford*
Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra
Mid/Full-Size Car: Subaru Outback
Luxury Car: Lincoln MKZ
Sports Car: Dodge Challenger
Luxury Sports Car: Porsche 911
Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country*
Mid/Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-Series*
Compact SUV: Ford Escape
Mid/Full Size SUV: Lexus RX*
Luxury SUV: Land Rover Range Rover*
Not to mention 5 powertrains, one for the rental/fleets, a pair of EcoBoosts, one for efficiency and one for performance, AWD available, and on top of that, a pair of hybrids as well?
Ford's been working overtime on that one.
Just to nit-pick I'm not crazy about the gauges in front of the driver, but that's a very minor complaint, and my only one.
I was thinking about pulling the plug and getting a new car in the spring. Just something mainstream like a 4-cyl Altima, Fusion, etc. But, maybe I should hold off a bit...looks like some interesting stuff is going to be coming out soon.
I wonder what the next Altima will look like? That one's kinda overdue for a redesign, as well.
I don't know, hard to beat the loyalty of F series customers. They stick with Ford through thick and thin. Regardless of how many spark plugs get spit out or stuck in the heads, or how bad the diesel engine is.
Plus I know more than a few farmers around here that replaced GM trucks with Fords after the GM bailout. Most are pretty staunch republicans and they buy lots of trucks.
I have been impressed with how hard Ford has been working on improving product the past 5 years or so. Nothing is being left to die on the vine. Sure, not everything is great, but they seem to be continuously improving.
The Malibu Eco made Toyota/Hyundai marketing folks get busy.
This Fusion will get the product engineers there busy, and make them lose sleep.
I say make the big 4 banger fleet only, and make the 1.6l EcoBoost the volume engine. With start/stop you wonder if going to a hybrid is even necessary.
I'll take a 2l EcoBoost with AWD, please. :shades:
I believe it's obvious that Ford is riding a feel-good thing about not taking money....even the most cynical here would have to agree with that.
I've never posted on the Nissan forum. It's been to long since I've owned one and nothing there interests me anymore.
I believe it's obvious that Ford is riding a feel-good thing about not taking money
That and the product has improved a bunch. I test drove an F150 Supercrew 4x4 Lariat ecoboost. I was blown away by it. It's not the best looking truck available, but the interior is top notch. The ride is unbelievably smooth, the Screw cab is impressively roomy.
It drove nicer, rode better, and was far more comfortable than my Expedition and the EB v6 is the strongest engine I've sampled in a 1/2 ton truck (including GMs 6.0 and 6.2L). Wow does that motor put out the power between 2-4k rpm and it does it in a smooth and quiet manner. Now, I'm certainly on the fence regarding reliability. I may buy one within the next year.
Plus Ford has made some improvements to 2012 F150, they listened to their customers and increased the fuel tank size of the ecoboost trucks and added an automode 4wd system (about time). But the point is they keep improving their product. Having a 28 gallon tank in the EB vs a 35 gallon in the v8 trucks was a dumb idea, but at least the fixed the issue.
Also the current Fusion was improved enough to get my brother out of a Altima. He had owned 4 Nissan's in a row and didn't have a single issue with any of them. He was really impressed with the Fusion Sport and decided to buy his first domestic vehicle ever.
Ford is not riding on anything, they are innovating, putting product first.
The feel good aura of the no-bailout money is the icing on the cake.
I think competitors are praying for poor reliability on those new Fords. Seriously.
No kidding. I remember reading various posts claiming how the EB would fail and truck buyers won't buy a turbo v6 truck. How wrong they are. Unbelievable that Ford sold 100k EB powered F150s last year.
I've got a friend that has one. He loves it so far. I won't see him again until the lake opens back up, so I'll be curious how he likes it after having it a while.
I don't post over in the Nissan (last owned one 25 years ago), or Toyota (never owned one) boards. I've never owned their stock either.
I have bought 4 new GM's though. And I'm a current unwilling stock-owner. So is dieselone, and the rest of us. Maybe someday when GM pays back the loans, the government sells it stock, and GM starts paying federal income taxes (maybe that'll be in 5 - 10 years?) then we won't have so much incentive to post here.
I hope I'm not repeating a prior post, but this seems rather typical of the waste, confusion of messages, and bureaucracy of Old and New GM:
"The goal is to deliver better advertising and use marketing dollars more efficiently, perhaps by reducing the about 100 agencies GM uses worldwide to create ads and buy airtime"
http://www.freep.com/article/20120113/BUSINESS01/201130336/1014/business01
Probably why I'm almost an "expert" when it comes to pro-rated warranties (and usually, the shop won't cover the labor, so you have to pay that over and over unless you change it out yourself.)
It's funny, you start to forget all the "little" problems a car had over time. The big ones overshadowed them by so much.
I remember my teenage/early 20's attitude then was, we'll, I've fixed and replaced just about everything in this car now, what else could possibly go wrong!!! LOL, I was thinking it would be reliable afterall, since everything had been addressed, but every 3 or 4 months the question would be answered with something new.
True. Ford has had shift issue with the dual clutch transmissions, My Ford Touch issues and probably others as well. I see power equipment is below average for '11 too. CU indicates overall based on survey results the Focus is 21% below average for reliability. Whatever that means.
It's still a competitive car, and it has done well in most comparisons.
To be fair, I've read that while cold weather can make it harder for a battery to start a car, it is the HEAT and hotness that shortens a batteries lifespan.
Manufacturer's represented there were:
GM
Subaru
Honda
Acura
Toyota
Chrysler
Jeep
Ford
Fiat
I test drove a Fiat 500. While some compare it to a Mini, it drives with a totally different feel. Much softer ride, and much less sensitive steering.
Some of my impressions...
Best drivers seat comfort was the Fiat 500, which totally surprised me!
Worst drivers seat comfort was in the Volt. It was quite literally like sitting on a wooden slat chair.
I sat in every car there with a sticker price < $40K. Honda seats overall were stiff and rigid, but Toyota seats felt as if they had better padding. GM, Ford and Chrysler seats were what I would call average.
Most captivating interior, strangely, was the Volt. It has a modernistic theme that fits the car's image. I really liked the look, personally.
The last few years have emphasized a large truck presence, but this year it was far more car oriented.
Both Sonic body styles were there, and as a former Aveo owner, I can testify the the new Sonic is light years ahead of the Aveo. Very impressive.
Overall, the build quality of all the cars was very good, which is what one would expect from cars in a show atmosphere.
CR readers already know better. They wait until a car has a proven track record of 7 or more years before truly believing a car is honestly reliable.
A one year track record proves nothing. It is the reason I still don't trust the Fusion; too short of a good record.
Which is a great idea since moving about 35lbs. from the front towards the rear will help to balance more cars into a closer to the ideal 50/50 front/rear weight balance.
I think young people today don't care much about quality in general, whether it is cars or electronics, or anything else.
I had a younger friend come in to see my Blu-Ray player and said it was "huge," and that his was much slimmer, smaller, and cost less than $100. I told him mine might have cost 9 times more but it plays everything at a very high quality. He responded with "his plays everything too." LOL. Not only is that statement untrue (no SACD or DVD-A support I'm sure), but some people out there really don't realize that sometimes you really do get what you PAY for. When his player is broken in 2 years and mine is still working, I'll remind him.
I think this lack of care about quality, will actually help the BIG 3 in the new generation Y and Z. They are good at making low quality stuff, they just need to make it trendy!
One thing with the Fusion is the powertrains are proven. The 6speed goes back to 07, the 3.0 DOHC v6 goes back to the '90's and the 3.5 goes back to 07. I don't know much about the 2.5 4cyl is largely a Mazda design I believe (which is a good thing).
The transmission was a joint venture with GM.
Only if the TV or projector is worth a damn;) I don't think it makes much since to hook up a $300 Haier LCD TV to a $900 high end blu-ray player.
Sometimes the best just isn't worth it. I mean, the new Elite tv's licensed and built by Sharp are impressive, but I'm not going to spend $9k on a 60" LCD when a Panasonic GT30 60" Plasma for a 1/3 of the price offers 9/10 of the picture to my untrained eye.
I'm as guilty as anyone regarding home audio and music formats. I haven't used my Denon receiver in years. My music collection is now on my computer, amazon cloud, and my smart phone. The only time I listen to it is when I have my cheap head phones on while mowing the lawn and exercising. Like a high quality audio format would be noticeable in my Expedition and I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on a stereo upgrade in 5 year old SUV with nearly 100k miles on it.
I just use a cheap LG 3d blue-ray player with my cheap LG 47" LED-LCD 3d TV. It's good enough for upstairs. I haven't bought the 65" plasma I want for downstairs yet, as I haven't decided what to do with the 200lb Sony 35" tube that's currently down there. It's 13 years old and works fine. Picture stucks by today's standards, but I don't know what to do with it.
Cheap doesn't always equal low reliability. I got my first CD player in 1985 (I was in Jr. high). It was an Akai (before they went cheap) and was over $400. It broke within 6 months. I was devastated, the next year or so, my dad won a cheap Goldstar CD player in a raffle. I used it for years and gave it to a buddy who used it for several more, it lasted over 10 years.
I think that engine was in the Mazda 6 rental I had a few years back, and it certainly competes for WORST V6 engine ever made along with my In-Laws' Equinox.
Well, true, a system is only as strong as its weakest link. In fact, I questioned why he even got a Blu-Ray player since he doesn't even have any sort of a sounds system (uses the TV speakers). I suppose it's all for the video improvements.
Part of what made my Oppo so great is that it plays Super Audio CD's, Dvd-Audio discs, as well as Blu-Ray and basically anything that was ever made, invented, or used to fit on a round disc (vinyl records excluded :P )
Also, it has high-quality analog audio multichannel outputs that allowed me to extend the useful life of my receiver several more years. If you go digital (clean but not as high audio quality in my opinion) HDMI, then obviously analog outputs wouldn't matter to you.
To relate back to this forum. GM is known for folloowing and not leading.
If GM wants to lead on something, they should make Blu-Ray disc players/readers standard on all their new radio systems for all vehicles starting tomorrow!
The current Fusion 3.0 is upgraded from what was in the Mazda 6. I don't know if it's more refined or not as I've not sampled one. But they are reliable.
No one year warranty? I have a general rule with electronics that 1 year is my MINIMAL accepted warranty.
Is Akai even still in business?
ONe problem you had though, was you bought a CD player in 1985! That was really like buying an HDTV say, in the year 2000. Costs were thousands and thousands for BASIC "cheap" models. They were expensive because the technology was new, not because they weren't "cheap" quality for the most part.
I haven't used my Denon receiver in years.
Why don't you sell it to someone who will appreciate its quality then? I sold a really old Onkyo receiver a few years back for $50. I think I originally paid $350 for it in the mid-90's.
200lb Sony 35" tube that's currently down there. It's 13 years old and works fine. Picture stucks by today's standards, but I don't know what to do with it.
You'll have to use nothing short of C4 explosives to make that TV stop working, it's a Sony.
Someone on this forum says they've purchased several LG products, and that every single one of them has had issues, problems, and short life spans.
it lasted over 10 years.
Thats pretty good lifespan for a CD player. Obviously depends on frequency of use. I think I gave a CD player that's about 10 or 12 years old now to my Mother many years ago. It was still working last I checked, but they recently moved, and I didn't see it in their new place during the Holidays.
Actually, I was being overly harsh on the 3.0 Ford/Mazda V6 engine.
The worst V6 I've driven in was the gutless wonder of the Ford Mustang which was either an '08 or '09 Rental Queen. Was that the 4.0 V6?
Felt more like a 1.0 3 cylinder engine.
Is Akai even still in business?
I don't know if Akai is around in any capacity. I remember that I got the CD player from an audio store that went out of business shortly afterwards and my problems of getting it fixed began.
As for LG I don't know. We have LG Trom front load washer and dryer since 07 that have been flawless. MY BIL and SIL have the same year and model and haven't had problems either. It has lasted longer than the Kenmore Elite washer dryer we had prior that nearly burned the house down when it filled the laundry room up with smoke. Kenmore was made by Whirlpool then. A few months ago when we bought a new fridge, sears told me some kenmore appliances are now made by LG. I did buy another Whirlpool refrigerator that replaced a whirlpool that died at under 5 years old:(
As for the TV, I wanted something that had wireless streaming/DLNA capability and something that was good in a bright room. CNET and a few other sources recommended this particular TV plus it has passive 3d which I didn't really care about, but admit it works well and the kids love it. I was able to get it cheap so I'm not overly concerned about it.
What's sad is I paid less than 1/3 for this 47" TV than I did for a 32" Sony LCD Bravia XBR in 2005. Like you said Sony's are impressive. The 32" is going strong too. Kids just use it for the Xbox now. I couldn't justify nearly spending twice as much on another Sony.
As for my old Denon receiver, the kids still use it time to time when they are playing a wii or Xbox dancing game.
I'll upgrade it once I get around to buying a new TV down there. Even though it's 15 years old, it still sounds decent.
Yeah it was a SOHC 4.0l that was used in the Ranger/Explorer. That was a pretty lame engine, it was 10 years out of date by the time it was fitted into a Mustang.
I'd guess the current Mustang with the 300hp 3.7v6 would make an interesting rental.