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Old 08-28-2008, 12:45 PM   #1
oilybirdy
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Default A fantastic Ford cross-over; that of course is Euro only. Kuga Mini-Test

While it may not be a fantastic driving machine, looks are what sell crossovers here in the States. Even the interior is really more visually appealing than the latest from Honda or Toyota. Think it's marketed towards aggressive, 30-40 y.o. single women?

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http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...d_test?cid=220
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Old 08-28-2008, 01:13 PM   #2
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What is wrong with Ford?
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Old 08-28-2008, 01:21 PM   #3
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They are chicken - scared if they make a half assed effort to bring the Euro models to the US market they'll loose their shirts. Bring the 6spd diesel - sporty looking Kuga here and it will sell - it makes their current small SUV look like a product of the short bus design group.

The Kuga would be high on my list to look at if they had the same exact one here on US shores. It would offer good milege - nice driving experience and sleek good looks etc. But for now the only Ford that has grabed my eye is the new Festiva - if they dumb it up for the US market it will probably be the last time I ever have Ford on my must check it out list. My 2010 car shopping started a few months back - researching future models current models etc. My last car I test drove it a year before buying it after looking at all the possible options. I keep my cars a long time and have gotten stuck with a crappy car and it sucks!! Way to much money to plunk down for something with no research or checking out all the possible options. Ford wasn't on my list the past 15 years but the festiva is on the list and I'll be stoping by the dealers to check it out when it arrives.
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Old 08-28-2008, 03:49 PM   #4
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Ford has painted itself into a corner. Sure, their European cars are good, but they're more expensive over there. They've had to under cut pricing so much to compete here in the US for so long, nobody associates Ford cars with anything but under cut pricing. Will people buy a near $20K Focus?

I think they have a chance. People want cool cars and are willing to pay for them. I told everybody I'd buy a Focus RS if they ever brought one over here, but I guess the Speed3 is as close as I'll get so I'm happy for now
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Old 08-28-2008, 04:54 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by fogdor View Post
Ford has painted itself into a corner. Sure, their European cars are good, but they're more expensive over there. They've had to under cut pricing so much to compete here in the US for so long, nobody associates Ford cars with anything but under cut pricing. Will people buy a near $20K Focus?

I think they have a chance. People want cool cars and are willing to pay for them. I told everybody I'd buy a Focus RS if they ever brought one over here, but I guess the Speed3 is as close as I'll get so I'm happy for now
Yes the whole cheap small car thing is going to be a tough one to swallow here in the US. But when you compare the really well appointed Euro small cars with the well apointed mid size cars here the pricing is about the same. Though if the wife and I have a choice between a mini cooper pushing 30K and a sleek well thought out Festiva at 20K for our around town city car I suspect the Euro Festiva will have a very strong chance of making the cut. Toss in the good diesel and 60ish mpg and the Festiva vs the diesel Cooper will be virtually impossible to pass up assuming the Festiva has the nice leather euro interior and quality stuff going on. If Ford hits it with the ugly stick then slaps in some left over cheap crap for the interior thats the last time we ever have Ford on the shopping list.

I hope they are listening because I seriously think this is the last shot they have before they become a nich truck only builder with limited production.
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Old 08-28-2008, 06:08 PM   #6
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What is wrong with Ford?
This is one of the six european models that will be coming to the US over the next three years. Ford hasn't confirmed it yet, but it's nearly a lock for US production.
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Old 08-28-2008, 06:21 PM   #7
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What is wrong with Ford?
Clueless/Lazy American management.


Everything else is just an excuse.



Things do seem to finally be changing, but damn it's taken WAY too long.

There are people out there that will simply not buy a Ford no matter how good it is. No way. No how. My GF's family is kind of like that. It's sad, but I really can't blame them... it's their money, and they got burnt by Fords in the past and now have been driving foreign cars for so long with next to zero issues that they have almost no incentive to give Ford another shot. Why turn their backs on a company that has been building good, reliable, fuel efficient, and decently priced cars for decades now, when the "American" alternative is an "unknown" in those catagories and chances are will be made in Mexico or Canada as opposed to the "Japanese" Camry that is built in the US? Ford (and the other US car makers) have to realize that to win back these people they can't just make good cars... they have to make great cars that are better than the competition, not just match it.
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Old 08-28-2008, 08:53 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Hazdaz View Post
Clueless/Lazy American management.


Everything else is just an excuse.



Things do seem to finally be changing, but damn it's taken WAY too long.

There are people out there that will simply not buy a Ford no matter how good it is. No way. No how. My GF's family is kind of like that. It's sad, but I really can't blame them... it's their money, and they got burnt by Fords in the past and now have been driving foreign cars for so long with next to zero issues that they have almost no incentive to give Ford another shot. Why turn their backs on a company that has been building good, reliable, fuel efficient, and decently priced cars for decades now, when the "American" alternative is an "unknown" in those catagories and chances are will be made in Mexico or Canada as opposed to the "Japanese" Camry that is built in the US? Ford (and the other US car makers) have to realize that to win back these people they can't just make good cars... they have to make great cars that are better than the competition, not just match it.

Exactly!! Bring the euro cars here and put cheap US gasser engines in them and you just lost me. Bring your euro cars here and maby update the name a little and the new Fords might have a fighting chance for my money. but A #1 purchase will be another subaru unless the new Ford's completely blow us away. Basically 1-2yrs from now the first player with diesel wagon AWD type car will be tops on the list add manual transmission and it will be +1 add good audio system and nice interior leather - they hit my key surface wants. Back that up with solid reliablity and its a deal. Ford needs a grand slam - subaru needs a base hit for my biz.
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Old 08-29-2008, 10:08 AM   #9
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wasn't this car already in the group of like 5 or 6 Euro models they are eventually bringing over?
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Old 08-29-2008, 01:19 PM   #10
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I really don't see why Ford doesn't use Mercury to bring these over. Ford can still be the everyman brand and mercury can have the higher appointed Euro stuff.
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Old 08-29-2008, 05:16 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by design1stcode2nd View Post
I really don't see why Ford doesn't use Mercury to bring these over. Ford can still be the everyman brand and mercury can have the higher appointed Euro stuff.
HEY! There will be none of that logic nonsense, capiche?
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Old 08-29-2008, 06:26 PM   #12
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Or



Such a hard choice!
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Old 08-30-2008, 03:28 AM   #13
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LOL now fords going to go out of their way to make that look like the Escape>Explorer>Expedition, when it comes over here. They'll probably take away the manual transmission too and add about 50 lbs of randomly placed tacky chrome.
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