Ford Dealerships Go Belly Up

[AMP]

Sand Springs Ford closes doors after 20 years of operation.  Other Ford Dealers across the US may be consolidating while others are closing their doors for good.

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=118864

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/16441337.htm

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2006/08/ford_cuts_deale.html

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=ford+dealer+closing&sa=N&tab=nw

http://www.pennlive.com/business/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/business/1168483225301870.xml&coll=1

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061017/AUTO01/610170373/1148/rss25

[Hawkins]

When do the Toyoya/Scion dealers move in?

[sgrizzle]

Ford posted their worst year in the company's history. a Near $13B loss and they expect 2007 to be worse. They are releasing almost no new models and are lowering production of rental cars (assuming they are low profit).

While GM has been relatively brain-dead when it comes to market shifts, Ford has been completely so. Only one of the Big 3 (Daimler-Chrysler) has been profitable and that is due to the fact they continuously introduce new vehicles, their largest SUV is categorized as "mid sized," Their V-8 engines include cylinder deactivation for better mileage, and they don't insist on making 14 versions of the same vehicle like Ford and Chevy.

Ford recently woke up, introduced a decent new car (the Mustang) and it sold great. Their plan to capitalize on this success? None. They are still producing two completely seperate lines of full-size trucks and 3 full-size SUV's (not to mention the lincoln version of the aforementioned vehicles, making 4 and 6, respectively.

Clue phone rings, no-one answers.

[cannon_fodder]

Most telling, they LOSE $4,300 per vehicle they sell.  I can do some quick math on that and tell you something is wrong with the business model.

Though it may be painful, I hope the shakeup that has started over there gets them back on track. I buy Fords and have always had good luck with them (Taurus = best midsized family car you can get fort he $).

[Johnboy976]

For several reasons, there is a large (at least 100,000 persons) group of US citizens who are specifically boycotting Ford. Over 20 leaders of large organizations have joined in on the petition, such as those from:

American Family Association
Family Research Council
Focus On The Family (who would of thought)
The Southern Baptist Convention
CatholicVote.org
Coalition of African-American Churches
etc......

Now don't get me wrong, I am a morally conservative Christian... but to boycott a secular company for using "Happy Holidays" is absurd. As for what Ford is facing with this boycott... I remain quiet. It is really hard to say what is going on at this point. There is a lot of muck-throwing.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Johnboy976

For several reasons, there is a large (at least 100,000 persons) group of US citizens who are specifically boycotting Ford. Over 20 leaders of large organizations have joined in on the petition, such as those from:

American Family Association
Family Research Council
Focus On The Family (who would of thought)
The Southern Baptist Convention
CatholicVote.org
Coalition of African-American Churches
etc......

Now don't get me wrong, I am a morally conservative Christian... but to boycott a secular company for using "Happy Holidays" is absurd. As for what Ford is facing with this boycott... I remain quiet. It is really hard to say what is going on at this point. There is a lot of muck-throwing.

Really?

[Johnboy976]

Yep. Here:

http://www.boycottford.com/

[Ibanez]

The Ford Dealership in Sand Springs SUCKED. High pressure sales and their service department was horrible. I wouldn't have trusted them to clean my windshield.

They put themselves out of business.

[jdb]

"...to boycott a secular company for using "Happy Holidays" is absurd." - johnboy

Makes me want to go out and buy three Fords, but history shows us what befalls the church when they raise their snotty, little heads too high.

Hmmm, could be a rising demand for Lion keepers and breeders right around the corner, eh? jdb

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Johnboy976

Yep. Here:

http://www.boycottford.com/

That says they are boycotting them for supporting homosexuals.

I didn't know that was what the "Probe" was for..

[sgrizzle]

..oh, and they sponsor Desperate Housewives...

[cannon_fodder]

... and they kill puppies.

The site didnt say so, but I'm sure they do and its another reason for the boycott.

I hope these people dont realize that most Japanese car companies got their start making war parts for the Imperial Army, or that the German companies made parts for the nazi's, or any car company probably sponsors SOMETHING that they hate (in the name of Jesus, I hate thee).  I wonder if the bicycle companies have shady secrets too?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

... and they kill puppies.

The site didnt say so, but I'm sure they do and its another reason for the boycott.

I hope these people dont realize that most Japanese car companies got their start making war parts for the Imperial Army, or that the German companies made parts for the nazi's, or any car company probably sponsors SOMETHING that they hate (in the name of Jesus, I hate thee).  I wonder if the bicycle companies have shady secrets too?

Chevy is named after Chevy Chase who starred in "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation" which promoted gambling. If you buy a Chevy, it means you want families to lose all their money and be homeless.

Schwinn is the sound Wayne & Garth make when talking about adulterous lust towards women. Riding a bike is the same as committing adultery.

How'd I do?

[RecycleMichael]

Dodge is derived from the name Dodgers (from the baseball team). They once employed a pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela who was not an American citizen.  Dodge wants us to employ a foreign workforce instead of giving the job to an American.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Dodge is derived from the name Dodgers (from the baseball team). They once employed a pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela who was not an American citizen.  Dodge wants us to employ a foreign workforce instead of giving the job to an American.

Lexus is actually Norwegian for Lufthansa, a German aircraft company which benefits from government investment that puts American plane manufacturers like Boeing at a disadvantage which....cost Tulsa the Boeing plant. Boycott em.