Any word on how the rumored layoffs and (10?) plant closings might affect the future of the FEH? It would seem ruinous of Ford to do anything to jeopardize the future of this tremendous vehicle.

 

I haven't heard any official word from Ford. Given their publically announced commitment to hybrids, I have to assume that FEH, MMH, Fusion Hybrid, etc. will be developed rather than cut.

 

The big US automakers should have seen the handwriting on the wall years ago and stopped fooling around with all their experimental high mileage ICE's and alternate fuel vehicles and got some of them out to the general public sooner. (and got out of bed with big oil). Gosh knows they made billions in profits selling all those big useless land yachts that people drive solo to work in every day.

The way they blast radio and TV with all their ads they could haved rammed hybrids and/or high tech/high mpg ICE vehicles down our throats just as easily as they did with all the urban assault vehicles and trucks that just waste fuel and pollute. (reduce our demand for foreign oil maybe in the process, dooh).

Just another sad example of how we, the general public, are manipulated by their media advertising campaigns.

A lot of my friends who work in the mfg sensor biz that sell mostly to big auto, will soon be looking for jobs as the auto layoffs and closures ripple down through the economy.

 

Let's not forget the general public that not only "supersized" their BigMac, but their vehicles. Yes, Detroit seduced them with their ads (the Cadallic Escalade seems to be the worst...). Legally, an accomplice to murder is just as culpitable as the hitman. Much of the fault is the general public for buying all these gas-guzzlers.

Most of the members here have people that insist they "need" a Suburban, drive fast, etc.... a few members even here do the same. They have had a big part in the Detroit layoffs, as big as the other players mentioned.

 

I find it hard to believe that millions of people are that sheepish that an advertising campaign would determine what kind of car they drove. Cheap gas in unlimited quantities drove the demand for SUV's. Just like expensive gas is driving the sale of hybrids.

All you have to do is look at the types of cars that were sold following the '74 gas crisis, the '79 embargo and now in 2005, history is repeating itself. One of these days we will learn.

As always, JMO.

On topic though, I hope Ford is smart enough to see they have a good thing going - before it is too late.

 

A good point. But I also believe that some advertising is sufficient to convince many people to want something they do not really need. In some ways, we are a nation of sheep.

In support of your point, though, I recall that a service station (I think in Texas) in the 1980's offered to sell gasoline for 25 cents a gallon - provided that it was paid for in the silver coins minted before 1965 or so. The point was - at that time - that gasoline prices were in line with general inflation.

I doubt that is true today.

 

You're right, gas is cheaper today.

In 1984 I worked in a gas station - regular gas sold for about $1.15 to $1.20 a gallon. Inflate that at a modest 4% ( a number I pulled out of my head but not unreasonable)

$1.15 * (1.04^21) = $2.62

Even in '86 when the Kuwaiti's were flooding the market and gas dropped to about $0.90 we are still in the ballpark (4.4%)

Go back to '74 when gas skyrocketed to $0.49 and today's prices reflect only a 4.7% inflation rate.

Prices of most items has greatly outpaced that.

Granted, most of the increase has come in the last couple years but in my lifetime, overall prices have been way below inflation. Real estate around Boston has gone up much more than gas.......

I'm sure I will get flamed (again) but the numbers are what they are....

 

You are quite correct, gasoline prices have been held artificially low (well below inflation) for the purpose of economic growth since pretty much everything in the economy depends on availability of cheap gas. Unfortunately this had the effect of pushing high consumption vehicles into the market when we should have been making more fuel efficient vehicles. Sometimes "good" things can come around and bite us in the ***.

 

Americans have taken a big hit with everything lately. Ford and its employee are going to be feeling the pain like GM employee's. The strong survive, the weak need the strong for support.

If you need support, dial GW Bush eat **** for assistance. Be lucky your not paying $5 a gallon, its what you should be paying! Just charge it at 29% and call FEMA Michael Brown for the rescue.

The great and powerfull GaryG

 

(my apologies for this off topic rant)...
Yes, I believe that this is partially true having lived and suffered through both the gas crisis and OPEC oil embargo, odd/even rationing, closed gas stations, $0.60/gallon. And, gas was not cheap. Adjusted for inflation, in today's dollars, gas then was equivalent of about $4-$5 per gallon. However, most still bought pick-ups and gas guzzlers and an SUV was unheard of unless you owned a boat or camper or if you were a sportsman, skier, etc. It was not the norm to buy a smaller more FE car during those times. Just was un-American.

When is the last time in the past 5 years that we have seen any type of media blitz advertising for anything that resembles a hybrid (except for camry/accord/civic)? We are still bombarded with this macho high performance hype from all the US car mfg's because it sells big cars/trucks/urban assault vehicles. They are practically giving them away now by the way. I believe that the future shift in big heavy vehicles will be that only those who need them for everyday business will buy them and not the avg Joe/Jane who commutes to and from work in them. Just like back in the day..

Interesting to note that we have already come full circle here in the boston area with commuter trains/subway. Back in the day, 1950's to early 60's, there were more commuter trains and less freeways/roads. That ended and the trains stopped and they dug up the tracks when they built the "modern 2 lane high speed expressway". More people moved to the burbs and drove to work, (heavy road congestion began). Now all the rage is moving to the far, far away burbs that have the commuter rail service. A service that has just recently been restarted, rebuilt and rejuvinated using the same rail routes of old.... Any town that is now on the rail line has seen phenom growth and property value increases. They are actually rebuilding one rail line, (new Greenbush line through Weymouth MA), which was abandoned years ago and completely dug up and paved over. Go figure...