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  1. #51

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    My problem is I'm VERY particular about what I want. That's why new stuff worked out so well. When we go to turn in the TC, I'll see if they can do anything for me finding a '17-18 Focus ST3, but I'm not optimistic. Usually when I'm shopping for a car, I want something really specific. When I was looking for an Escort GT with a manual, that's all I wanted. An Escort GT with a manual! Wasn't willing to consider anything else! When I shopped for a '99-02 Cougar V6 manual, that was all I wanted! No! You won't show me that one with the 4 cylinder if you know what's good for you! I don't expect that to work out to well trying to go through a dealer.

    My family on both sides has been very Ford loyal. My dad's siblings take a LOT of advantage of my Grampa's Z-plan! He worked at the Twin Cities plant (that's now gone) until retirement. My generation hasn't been as dedicated as things seem to go. That's why those compact car sales and conquest buyers are so important to Ford now! Families who've been loyal to a brand for generations... there is just way less of that now. Hackett doesn't care! Short term profits are all that matter!!
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  2. #52
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    To me, Mustang is not the same car it was because the plant is in Flat Rock MI.
    I was happy to find out my Ranger came from Twin Cities plant. St Paul, Minneapolis.
    Does a Mustang badge mean its going to replicate any or all of the good stuff we like?
    Or simply a logo like on a pillow, watch, or picnic cooler
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 08:35 PM.

  3. #53
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Could start the hunt for the Focus ST3 now. Could take a while, but they are out there.
    Dealer salespeople are skilled at finding Ford vehicles, new and old.
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 09:08 PM.

  4. #54

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    Yeah, I look around online here and there. Most you find are ST1 (less content) and some obnoxious bright yellow or orange. I'd love an RS, AWD would help in the snow, but they are still pretty pricey. Seem to be holding their value better than the STs.

    I actually fell a$$-backwards into my Zeph. Probably the one and only time that's happened to me. I'd been considering buying a sleeper car, and a Fairmont/Zephyr was near the top of my list, but I never expected to find one in such nice shape with a black bucket seat interior in a subdued color. It was a match made in heaven! Every other used car has been an exhaustive search that I didn't have the patience for. Ended up settling for salvage title cars (DON'T DO THAT) and stuff.

    Yeah, the new Mustang is VERY different from what it was. It's more of a prestige car now like a Thunderbird or Lincoln Mark. An M4 fighter. What's stupid to me is, the fact that up until 2014 it was more of a relic from ages past with a solid axle. It's only been a legitimate prestige car for a very short time, but Ford is jumping on that and building a whole prestige car line (that ISN'T Lincoln) around it. Do its current buyers even necessarily think of it that way? Who knows.

    The Bronco teaser I watched had '80s and '90s ones in it, even a Bronco II. So, that's something.

    Yeah, I believe the Twin Cities plant was one of the first. I think it went back around 1910. They used to make glass out of sand there. It's just a shame the US auto makers had to blow it so badly in the years since the '70s.
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  5. #55
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Does Ford wants to create a entire series based on the Mustang name? A stretch.
    Thank our lucky stars for our Fox chassis gems. What would we have in their place otherwise?
    Interesting our era of Mustang, styled very differently, has early Mustang personality in it. Capri did fine too.

    Last bang for the buck cars? Now its big bang, big buck.
    1980 Cadillac Deville MSRP was 12,900.00, Lincoln Cont. 13.5. 40k-42k in 2019 adjusted for inflation.
    Mustangs (or others) at Cadillac or Lincoln like 'prices'?
    My Cobra's window sticker was 6578.00 (1979). In 2019 dollars is 23,317.00

    Being in any late model mpv or even pickup is like riding in a 4wd 70-90's Cadillac, Lincoln, with a TV in the dash.
    Mansions on wheels. No need to dress up to drive them anymore.
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 09:19 PM.

  6. #56
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    There's a upcoming new law that manufactures have to get 50 mpg and this is probably there attempt to get there by dropping a large percentage of there fleet

    I too think the name is silly to carry over actually somewhat dumb however I can see this selling on name only to "those" consumers

    We are building a electric vehicle assembly line at work for NEW manufacture it's great technology but what happens if one of these cars get t boned in intersection and leak out battery juice or whatever in them ? There's sewer drains that are nearby that this can leech into and fire department typically cut your negative battery cable in accident to prevent fires from sparks but your sitting on large amount of batteries and hmmmm

    Charging shops will be like oil change shops you can change your own but pay more for quicker already charged batteries
    You would lease the batteries instead of buying and I see this as a future possibility

    I'm not for it at all it would be like watching NASCAR with volume turn down or top fuel with no volume

    But the mustang lithium is pretty bad Azz so is copo electric camaro

    As far as f1 it's light years ahead of manufactures where they are at with electric powered technology
    Frighteneing technology that soon will be affordable in small package

  7. #57
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    Interesting tid bits
    Tesla can't sell cars with no delaership or at least not in motor city .. maybe because they are ahead of the electric car stuff and this is a way to stall until the big 3 releases their product

    Ford buys detroit train station hmmm

    The North America auto show is now switched to summer months (electric car environment ) interesting

    Look up mustang lithium if you don't know of this car it's all electric manual 900hp/1000 tq
    Also notice the normal looking exterior

  8. #58
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    Once again we have a Federal Government that is attempting to force upon the consumer what they "think" or "believe" we need. Are electric cars selling more and becoming more common . . .Absolutely! But once again the technology has its limits and isn't quite ready yet to replace the ole internal combustion engine. The power and output of electric motors and electric cars is quite impressive that isn't the issue. The issue is once again the depletion rate of charge and the charge rate of recharging batteries. In normal driving I will give all of the credit that they are just fine. Most today have a 250-350 mile range. The issue is once you get out of highly populated areas and areas with much rougher terrain. This is the case for people like me that live in Western Colorado. Sure there are Telsa charge stations here and there and they have covered a decent area of the state as long as you don't go off the most popular highways and interstates. Well that isn't really what Colorado is about. Then you add to that our unpredictable weather, winter storms, and the high altitude terrain and that can spell major trouble if you don't plan ahead and know where every charging station is. Once you start climbing 6-8% grade mountains its amazing what happens to the overall battery life of an electric vehicle. Combine that with some winter weather/storms that can shut down the interstate for hours or even days and then what!?

    Then in addition to all of this now you have the whole electric truck issue. Yes, I know that the majority of truck owners drive their trucks daily and unloaded the majority of the time, but many if not most bought the truck to allow them to carry heavy loads in the bed or at least tow a camper, trailer, boat, etc. Once you start towing with an electric vehicle the mileage range drops like a rock! If you don't believe me, feel free to check this video out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjklex38lkQ

    Until the battery technology and the charging rate catch up, I don't see the ICE going anywhere soon. Yes, its days may be numbered, but unless there is a huge jump in technology its still going to be around awhile longer. Besides not to get off on another tangent, I am not sold on the whole electric vehicles being Zero emissions either. You have to factor in the electrical generation, the mining of the Lithium Ion, the disposal/recycling of batteries, etc. to really compare apples to apples in regards to emissions, etc. Anyway enough of my soap box!
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  9. #59
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    All good Info and I agree with it all
    If we drop a battery it will or could ignite and burn for days and you would have to burry it in steel bin with soil made for putting it out
    Honestly I think it's like the nuclear reactor that's still on fire today back in the 70s I think it's in Japan

    I'm not on board with the new stuff and the tesla charging stations some are powered by gas generator
    Look it up it's insane

    I believe the battery minerals are not mined locally and the rate of depletion of charge and the snow covered roads and terrain I can only imagine what Colorado is like compared to pot hole Michigan

    Not a fan of missing the sensation of sounds and smells and the tinkering of cars mechanical things at all

  10. #60
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    A form of cause marketing?
    Message-focused campaigns?
    Green, electric, and Mustang.
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 08:31 PM.

  11. #61
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    the company I use to work for installed the (5) pieces of glass robotically in a automation cell for a electric car with also a very powerful gas engine
    I though this was really cool iidea

    the roof of it is all glass and has solar grid to charge battery built into glass

    It's fisker karma but I believe the name changed to karma now
    Very cool car it's very very pricey though

    Imagine how the oil tycoons feel and the war for oil rights overseas and what if gas went to .99 cents a galon

  12. #62
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    Gallon

  13. #63
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Default fill- no- juice 'er up

    Vinsetta Garage Restaurant below is open on the Woodward Ave strip Berkley MI.
    Chevy Volt is near the 'pumps'. Volt is a hybrid, Bolt EV is all electric.

    Attachment 130479

    Seen at Ikea, Canton MI a Ford C-Max MPV on charger, side lot 10/24/19.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C-Max
    https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/img/ad...g_stations.pdf
    Attachment 130480
    Last edited by gr79; 12-10-2019 at 03:22 PM.

  14. #64
    FEP Senior Member OX1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wraithracing View Post
    electric vehicle the mileage range drops like a rock! If you don't believe me, feel free to check this video out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjklex38lkQ
    This... I tow CGVW of almost 18000 from central jersey to one of 3 offroad spots in Pa.
    I can usually make it there and back on one tank, no other stops. Offroad parks don't have
    (and may never have) the facilities/money to put in chargers. The chargers would sit idle most
    of the time, as these parks are usually out in the middle of nowhere (on purpose).

    Sometimes I dump in 5 gallons of diesel if I think I need it, takes 2 minutes in the parking lot, still no extra stops.
    This trip starts at 5 AM and I don't get home until 8 or 9 PM. When would I have time for charging, possibly
    4 separate times in one day? Electric car cultists thinks no one ever does what I do, so you "don't need it", but every time
    I go, there is crap load of rigs on trailers from guys who also came just for the day.
    86 Capri, 5.0, 5Spd, A9L QH/BE, 47 lb Inj PMAS 3" MAF, Single T44 Turbo, Front Mount IC, TW170,
    Stock Cam, Explr Intake/TB, 1.7 Rockers, CF dual friction clutch, 3" DP, 2.5" full Exh, 3.27, 11.932 @ 115.78
    84 LTD, 331-10:1, TW170/Exprl Intake, 47 lbs inj/80 mm LMAF, Full Duals, Quarterhorse, Vortech 7PSI, Lentech AOD, 5 lug Mk VII brakes/rear, Eibach Sway bars, Cobra HB (dads ride, but I fix it )

  15. #65
    FEP Power Member gmatt's Avatar
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    Tesla in a long line in California waiting to charge..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqEwLle8xKU

  16. #66

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry peachuer View Post
    There's a upcoming new law that manufactures have to get 50 mpg and this is probably there attempt to get there by dropping a large percentage of there fleet
    By dropping their most efficient products in favor of trucks?! I would have to think selling a Focus instead of an F-150 could have only helped them as far as this is concerned.

    Detroit Free Press investigation of the DSG in the Focus and Fiesta. "Everybody knew".

    https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money...ms/4243091002/

    People were told to stop asking questions for "political reasons". I didn't read the whole article, but I still say someone higher up wanted this thing to fail so they could sabotage small car sales and "make it okay" to cancel them entirely. I remember hearing Ford management wanted to move towards doing that as far back as the late '90s, hence half-a$$ing most of the car line for the next 10-15 years!

    I'm not on board with the new stuff and the tesla charging stations some are powered by gas generator
    Look it up it's insane
    that's hilarious!!
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  17. #67
    FEP Super Member NAVYCAT's Avatar
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    trucks + suv's = BIG PROFITS!
    to get past the EPA fines for manufacturers, they must make electric/hybrids to lower say fords overall mileage of their products.
    2017 Ford Explorer Sport (DD) 1986 Capri 5.0 Silver/Red
    1969 Falcon XW GTHO coupe (SOLD) went to Australia
    Past 4 eyes-
    4th. 1981 Capri "White" Black Magic I6
    3rd. 1984 Capri RS V8 Black/grey
    2nd. 1984 Capri RS V8 White/red
    1st. 1984 SVO Grey/grey (traded it for a worn out 1970 BOSS 302)
    Both '84 Capri's vin# were 10 away from each other
    U.S. NAVY 1980-2009

  18. #68
    FEP Power Member Jerry peachuer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gmatt View Post
    Tesla in a long line in California waiting to charge..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqEwLle8xKU


    Absolutely unacceptable
    Now that's convenient.. it would be like leaving a football game everynight in metropolitan area

  19. #69

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    Quote Originally Posted by NAVYCAT View Post
    trucks + suv's = BIG PROFITS!
    to get past the EPA fines for manufacturers, they must make electric/hybrids to lower say fords overall mileage of their products.
    That's the "plan" for the future, we know, but there has to be a few years, maybe as many as 5, while electric car sales ramp up where they simply can't make their number because they don't make/sell enough small vehicles to make it happen! They just decided they don't care about that? The all important crossover profits will cover the fines?!
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  20. #70
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Battery vehicles:
    Electric car's battery runs out on side of road.
    Tow to a charge station or send out a portable generator on a truck?
    Bring semi trailer sized generators into shopping mall parking lots or during major events to charge multiple electric cars?
    When our work forklifts were dead dead, we pushed them back to the battery station and simply swapped batteries.
    If only a blinking red LED, they were drive able, but the forks were disabled.
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 09:24 PM.

  21. #71

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    Crazy! What I don't get is, how was that more cost effective (along with all the problems and LAWSUITS going forward) and somehow better than using a different transmission? They managed to work it out in time for the Escape and TC. And then why didn't they stop using it after the first model year or so?! It doesn't make sense, unless they actually DID intend to sabotage sales and leave a bad taste in their customers' mouths over small cars. Guess they didn't care if the conquest customers ended up being soured on FORD IN GENERAL. Asinine.
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  22. #72
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    I think the whole transmission debacle described above is just another example of a huge corporation that at many times the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing. I can guarantee some bean counter figured that they would save 3 cents per vehicle by making the repairs rather than replacing the transmission. Of course they didn't factor in long term reliability and any future issues these repairs might cause.

    Its been true for many years if not decades, all companies have to make decisions based on costs and profits, but unfortunately I feel that in many cases Ford has made some bad decisions based upon flawed logic, profit margins, etc. over the last 20-30 years if not more. I do understand the issues of a balance sheet and the need for the company and the vehicle to be profitable, but I do feel they have put short term profits at times ahead of long term durability and company image that in many cases has hurt them in certain markets, especially when competing against brands such as Toyota, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, etc.

    I believe it was on Netflix or Amazon at one point there was the "Making of the 2015 Mustang" or something to that effect. It was 30 minutes or maybe even close to an hour long show that detailed all the behind the scenes making of the new Mustang. One of the big moments for me what a round table discussion of pre production issues on the assembly line of the new Mustang. It came up that one of the lower body molding clips was causing issues on the line and they wanted to change it to a longer/different style. The question was asked "How much is this going to cost?" The answer was something like $1.30 per vehicle. It was approved, but the Boss informed them that was IT in regards to cost over runs/etc. I personally thought that was interesting and funny at the same time. You know they just added that cost into the vehicle and any buyer paid the difference, but in the grand scheme of things that could add well over $150K in costs to the production of the Mustang in the first year alone for Ford. Obviously not going to bankrupt the company, but if that happens on multiple items per vehicle across the entire line each model year that money starts to add up over the long term. If you have the chance to watch the show I highly recommend it. It was interesting, to see some of the issues they dealt with and all that goes into producing a new vehicle. I can't seem to find it online, but my google fu may be off today.
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  23. #73
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    A Magic 8 fortune telling ball on the center of the table? Funny.
    And the wall dart board in the opening video. Decision making aids? Why not.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ry8hHZniBI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO_aOUPpDNE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OiBJ6w114
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXcvYwgPtQg
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 08:27 PM.

  24. #74

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    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  25. #75
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Down the road, newer Mustangs and others will be much harder to restore based on low volume production and so many variants.
    No way will so many NOS parts be available to exactly restore special versions. May become rare sooner than prior generations?
    Multiple clean sheet designs not having long runs does not help.
    Its like throwing everything out from the past except memories, then getting a new house, contents, car, job, every few years.
    Last edited by gr79; 12-09-2019 at 08:24 PM.

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