[Shotimes] (OT) Forbe's article about Ford

[Ron Nottingham]

That's what I've said all along...  The current Taurus is too long.  If it
were the size of the Gen1/2 Taurus, it would still be a strong seller.

I like that author's thinking...  A nice 4-cylinder for a standard engine
would be nice.  I could see something in a 165hp or so 2.5L Zetec.  Then an
uplevel Duratec, with 220hp (Jag already has this engine).  Finally, a sport
model (doesn't have to be SHO) with either a V6 or V8 with 280hp.  Now, I
know Ford doesn't have any decent transaxles (can't even hold the 200hp in
the current Taurus), so outsource to ZF to produce a nice 5-speed auto (for
all models), a decent 5-speed manual (for the 4-banger model), and sweet
6-speed manual (for the sport model).  Get the weight down to 3100 lbs. for
the base 4-cylinder 5-speed manual model, and no more than 3300 lbs. for the
top model.  The sport model doesn't have to be the top model, what would be
nice if this drivetrain offering is available with all trim levels.

We can always dream, though, can't we?  Not like this would ever become
reality.

Ron N. - Dalton, GA
90 SHO

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don McKinnon (AST)" <dmckinnon@asttechlabs.com>
To: <mrkelley64@earthlink.net>; <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 5:28 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] (OT) Forbe's article about Ford


> I really like this article!
> http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2002/10/29/cz_jf_1029flint.html
>
> "The way to fix the problem is to build a better Taurus. Keep it longer,
but
> get more powerful motors. Your engines are no match for the competition,
and
> you need a punchier four-cylinder for Taurus, too. "
>
> and...
> "Meanwhile, rear-wheel drive is coming back into vogue, and Ford, which
has
> the only rear-wheel-drive big U.S. sedans in production (the Ford Crown
> Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis), could take advantage of this fact.
But
> instead of turning these into competitive products, the automaker is happy
> to let them age and sell the Fords to taxi drivers and cops, and the Mercs
> to geezers like myself. "
>
> Don McKinnon
> 95 MTX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Mark Kelley
> Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 2:04 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: [Shotimes] (OT) Forbe's article about Ford
>
>
> We've all heard the bad news about Ford.  This Forbe's article points out
> some of the strengths of Ford:
>
> http://www.forbes.com/home/2002/11/04/cz_jf_1104flint.html
>
> I find it interesting that some of the observations made in the article
are
> the same as some observations posted on this list.
>
> Mark
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