Calling all critics

No need as they were crap to start with, no plastic needed to make them
crap!


Matt

 

Hey now, my first car was a '68 Ranchero (Torino from the doors
forward)... uhhh... On second thought.... you're right

Still, Ford remains my second choice when Chrysler gets 100% Daimlered
to death.

 

Really? For me, GM is clearly the second choice behind Chrysler. I'm
still willing to give Bill Ford a few more years, but I'm completely
unimpressed with Ford's current offerings ... other than the new GT40,
but who can afford a 150K+ car..


Matt

 

I don't find most of Ford's line very exciting either- no way would I
own a Taurus, Contour, or Focus. But Fords in general are, IMO, far
better built than GM cars. If there were no Chrysler offerings at all
and I couldn't buy a truck/SUV, I'd go get a Mercury Marauder in a
heartbeat. Even a plain Crown Vic would sit better with me than a GM
product. Same in trucks- if I couldn't buy a Ram, I'd buy an F-series.
The GM C/K series and Suburban have been the top vehicles in Texas Lemon
Law claims for YEARS now.

 

Wow. I just do not understand how anyone could possibly think this. My
*EVERY* experience is exactly opposite.

 

No offense, but I believe your information on quality is dated. For the
last few years most of the GM brands have scored above Ford and Mercury
on most quality charts, with Buick scoring above many imports and near
the top overall, believe it or not.


Matt

 

Perhaps. GM cars I've owned have been maintenance hogs (and maintenance
is difficult) compared to Fords I've had. GM cars I rent routinely still
feel cheesy compared to Fords I rent. Granted, a Buick with a 3800 v6 is
better than a Taurus, but the car that really should compete with the
Taurus is more like an Impala or Grand Prix, and they're very much like
a Taurus. You couldn't GIVE me a GM with a 3400 v6. Well, you could...
but I'd immediately sell it and buy parts for my old Mopars with the
money... ;-)

 

Likewise. Last year my family and my inlaws vacationed for a week in
FL. We got a Taurus rental car and they had a Kia car that was
"upgraded" for free to a Sorento. The Taurus seats were terrible. We
drove from Daytona area to Miami and then inland and back on day.
Probably 7 hours in the saddle and my back was killing me. Haven't
ridden in seats that uncomfortable in 20 years. The Kia was a much more
comfortable vehicle. A gas hog, but at least comfortable to sit in.

In the last several years GM quality has far outpaced Ford and, sigh,
Chrysler as well and is approaching that of the Japanese in some of
their brands (Buick) and models (Malibu).


Matt

 

Call me equally baffled that anyone would have your experience. I've
never been able to drive a GM and have it feel as good as a similar
Ford. And of the ones I've owned, the Fords were the hands-down winners.
Among the ones I've had experience with: the Mustang has twice the
fit-and-finish quality that the CamaroBirds had (and remains in
production where they don't), the Crown Vic/Maruauder/Town Car has
better f&f than the Crappiece had (and remains in production where the
Chevy doesn't), and GM trucks still dominate the top 2 slots in the
Texas lemon law claims, year after year after year.

Now admittedly, I'm not a big fan of the Ford modular engine but most of
the bugs are finally worked out and its now soldiering on pretty well.
And I barely consider the Taurus in any measurement of Ford quality,
because I've only driven the one Taurus wagon my company owns. But even
it is holding up significantly its stable-mates- Chevrolet Celebrity wagons.

 

GM makes more than Chevrolets.


Matt

 

I guess you don't get the Ford Zetec engines in the US? Highly rated!

DAS

 

I can't say for sure if Zetecs are on today's Fords in the U.S. (I
assume they are), but they for sure were avaiable on the Contours and
Mystiques ('95 thru, I believe, 2000 or 2001).