Its always cool to hear inside info .........

[John M]

and I truely believe this stuff. I have no doubt Ford is going to take a bath this year, 75% of their vehicles are SUVs or Trucks and 90% of the companies profits come from these SUVs. SUVs are becoming a thing of the past just like the minivan did in the 90s, Ford better produce some nice cars to compete with Toyota,Nissan and I hate to say it, DCM. I hate to say it but GM really has got their crap together after the crisis they faced in the mid/late 90s

http://nloc.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=549457#post549457

Go all the way to page 3 and read Thor01 and WOTs posts

[Fredensborg]

Wow, thats really messed up. I hope things don't go the way he's talking!:(

Jason

[SSHFTY1]

me too........:cry:

[John M]

Originally posted by sshfty1
me too........:cry:

Dan I expected to hear more than a me too, what do you see on your side of things ? Have they cut production on Rangers ? I know year before last they extended y'alls Christmas Break 1 week, do you see signs of the poor economy ?

[SSHFTY1]

everyday, we will be seeing more time off in may. fortunately the week after i close on my house, so i can work on getting it toghter for you guys to come over on the 8th. we are also bracing for a 4 to 5 week layoff in july to get the mazda pickup up and running in the plant :D: I have worked at the plant for 5 years now and this has got to be as bad as i have ever seen it. Let me be the first to tell you guys that we need a new product BAD... Oh and i can also say rumor has it when the ranger runs it's course in 2007, if you guys liked the prototype bronco, it just might happen, we may build it at tcap, for those that don't know that's TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT.. but don't worry about me we get taken care of well. God I love the UAW. be cool

[John M]

Intresting stuff Dan, Now what can you tell me but would have to kill me :grin:

[SSHFTY1]

not much really but what there is i just don't let onto..

[SSHFTY1]

actually there is a little something different i saw last night, the 1st I believe foreign nameplate to roll off that assembly line in over 75 years. in the form of a mazda b series pickup. for those that don't know that is our sister truck that we build in contract with mazda. actually edison assembly built it for years until the plant closed in feb. and they brought it here to run in aug. that is normal procedure at ford to work with mazda so closely seeing as how we own 35% of that company.. so if any of you are looking for an exciting new mazda let me know i can get deals on those too.:typer: yah baby power.. hehehehehe

[lightningboy00]

i agree that our recent emphasis has been heavily truck and suv related, but to say suvs are going away is wrong. ford has proclaimed 2005 to be "the year of the car" with the redesigned 2005 focus on lots now. both the 500 (little bigger than a taurus and available awd) and freestyle (sports wagon available with awd) will be on lots in late summer and october will bring us the 05 stang on the lots. the super duty is redesigned this fall also. btw, if gm has their crap together, how can you explain that new malibu? have you driven a cavalier? a focus is twice the car those are. aztec, anyone?

[SSHFTY1]

hay dave don't you have a sick day under your belt yet? we would really like to here some more of your insight in person. :grin: so what do ya say bud.

[SSHFTY1]

and another thing i know inside info is cool but, one thing to remember working in the plant you here over 2.2 million rumors in 1 hour in which 99.9% turn out to be no more the dodo. and that .1% well lets just say it's if to. Know for those of you that want some truth about your favorite car company, I got some. 1st ford has reported 2b in profits for the 1st quarter of 04 and continues to show strong gains in all sectors of the auto industry, next there are many new products coming as dave said, which will provide even more exceleration to fords goals. lastly and on a more personal note we just ran the 2006 ranger 2 nights ago, and for those who have or want to have one, the 06 is different and alot more than you might think. We will be making the mazda pickup in aug, and mazda just invested 128 million bucks into our plant for flexable machining, to go into the body shop:grin: now that is great news for tcap. last but not least dave forgot to mention for you fuel people out there, that ford is ready to release the escape hybrid and believe me this will not sit on any lot anywhere anytime no ****.. I even want one, so remember insider stuff? well to be continued. see ya and be cool...

[lightningboy00]

i didn't mention the hybrid, just because its further down the road. i've been selected to be the person from our dealership whos the hybrid "expert". i have more schooling for that starting in july. the sad news for us is that the hybrid will be out in the fall, but it will start out in the so-called "green" states (california, colorado, etc.). this means we won't see them in mn until after the first of the year.