New Ford Australia President & CEO

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I will never understand Ford's attitude towards the Power-Shart.
It was a questionable concept to begin with, certainly something that she have been treated with a lot of scepticism and caution. When it was proven to not work, they should have dumped the concept then and there. Reprogrammed them all as "Clutchless Manuals", and simply stopped selling automatics whilst they rushed obsolete slushboxes back into production.
I can, to a point, comprehend the corporate mentality of defending the crap they had already sold, but what astonishes me is that they kept on flogging them.
I know the institutional mentality is bringing a replacement into production takes years, but surely there were alternatives? Revert to a previous design, or just buy your trannies from Mazda or Volvo.

And then, when they finally bring the new models to market, instead of trying to recoup lost ground, or even re-establish the reputation by filling the market, they took an attitude of "our cars are too good for you peasants" and tried to market them as a premium product.

Right at the very start, putting a 2.0 engine in front of that dry clutch manual was problematic
and that was revealed during development when engineers couldn't get the slip angle to work.

Yes, Ford's biggest fail with PowerShift was not admitting defeat and moving to the 6F auto earlier,
the Americans also passed on the 2015 update to 1.5 EB/ 6F auto, they kept selling PowerShift
in the focus for another four years when the ROW already had the solution.

But the really disgusting thing for many was how badly Ford treated their affected customers,
that Ford had to be forced by court action to do the right thing was a real low point in basic trust.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Man I can't stand heated seats, feels like you just crapped your dacks with a decent load of the runs after a night of drinking mixed drinks with HFCS riddled soft drinks

I'll take your word for that, luckily I've not been in that situation...I'd superglue the switch to On just to see your daily reaction......me I cannot live without them, like a real quick massage that gets the blood moving.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Interesting times at Ford. Jim Farley replacing Jim Hacket as CEO. https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...t-and-ceo.html

Positive move. Hackett was bought in to make the company more efficient, which he has basically completed. Now he is retiring, bring in someone who is more a car guy. Farley spent a lot of years at Toyota and Lexus and was the logical choice for ceo.

Better than someone with no auto experience like Hackett.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

But the really disgusting thing for many was how badly Ford treated their affected customers,
that Ford had to be forced by court action to do the right thing was a real low point in basic trust.

Yep, I just don't understand what they expected to happen.
This wasn't a minor foible that loving owners would learn to overlook & forgive, nor a disappointment that fades over time. The cars became undriveable and only got worse. What did they think was going to happen?
At best owners swallowed huge losses and bailed, completely trashing the brand's rep in the process.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Right at the very start, putting a 2.0 engine in front of that dry clutch manual was problematic
and that was revealed during development when engineers couldn't get the slip angle to work.

Yes, Ford's biggest fail with PowerShift was not admitting defeat and moving to the 6F auto earlier,
the Americans also passed on the 2015 update to 1.5 EB/ 6F auto, they kept selling PowerShift
in the focus for another four years when the ROW already had the solution.

But the really disgusting thing for many was how badly Ford treated their affected customers,
that Ford had to be forced by court action to do the right thing was a real low point in basic trust.

Classic Ford though

Ford Pinto - cheaper to pay out victims rather than recall vehicles.

Ford Explorer/Firestone Tyres - damaged a 100 year old business replacement.

Ford Focus Powercrapola - damaged relationship with customers.

[Oldbugger]

They may as well continue the cleanout and get rid of the CFO as well. He is as useless as she was.

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

And then, when they finally bring the new models to market, instead of trying to recoup lost ground, or even re-establish the reputation by filling the market, they took an attitude of "our cars are too good for you peasants" and tried to market them as a premium product.

This. .. is a perfect way of describing the current issues with focus lack of sales and ford's general perception now as far as most consumers see them, unless you want a ranger or mustang..

The only new fords i see in my work carpark now are a couple of new rangers and 1 new mustang..

New president will have to do alot of work in the space of rebuilding customer trust in their products.