Ford

[boon94]

i wish saab was bought by ford instead. Maybe make the new SUV on the same platform as the Mazda CX-7

Yes the CX-7, It's an SUV with a 244 HP 2.3L turbo charged engine....


.. i mean, ford is doing pretty well with land rover aye?

[Husky]

Eh. I'm glad GM bought Saab. Maybe, eventually, they can teach GM a few thigns about how to build a car. Or maybe both brands will cease to exist.

[900t]

Ford? Are you nuts?

Keep in mind, Mazda is only 33,6% Ford!

[mike saunders]

Originally Posted by boon94

.. i mean, ford is doing pretty well with land rover aye?

Uh, no....

Land Rover is doing pretty well despite itself, but that still isn't helping Ford. Jaguar, aka the Volvos with a Bond Street makeover, is still gasping for air....

[ragtopcav]

Originally Posted by mike saunders

Uh, no....

Land Rover is doing pretty well despite itself, but that still isn't helping Ford. Jaguar, aka the Volvos with a Bond Street makeover, is still gasping for air....

Depends on the platform as to which 'brand' actually had the lead in design.

It may be worth noting that Volvo are utilised by by ford as a centre of global excellence for safety and the Euro leader in electrical; OK, so when you buy any euro Ford or PAG vehicle what is the biggest headache? yup, electrics.

For the record Land Rover is still not doing well enough, sadly Jaguar has fine product at last but with a much reduced market, hence struggling and Volvo is on the slides. Ford Europe is doing OK so-far, it's the US bit that's in the mire.

As for Ford making a good Saab owner? Possibly yes, Ford have a better understanding of the importance of something's roots, heritage and perhaps a sense of direction based on a forward plan anchored to a point in the past; perhaps this is due to Ford being an old school family business still to a small extent - GM has been, since the days of Sloan, a conglomerate. Now GM know how to work multi brands well, Ford does not, so Saab would loose more of its Saabness with Ford and yet ironically would have more autonomy in other respects.

[Chris 9-5]

Originally Posted by ragtopcav

GM has been, since the days of Sloan, a conglomerate.

Ah, Sloan........those days huh

[ANTMAR]

I prefer Gm but Ford just announced a deal with Microsoft for integration into their cars - blue tooth - Ipod - video and other features - GM needs to be doing that or similar and ditching On Star - seems that if you have a platform that provides a variety of choices and services that can be chosen by the purchaser and then get license fees from the service providers would be more appealing and profitable than limiting a consumers choice to one provider like On Star.

[Jango]

All I can say is, if it were chrysler that bought them, we'd all be dead, even those with the older saabs.

[LordThor]

Originally Posted by ANTMAR

I prefer Gm but Ford just announced a deal with Microsoft for integration into their cars - blue tooth - Ipod - video and other features

Im confused on how Micro$oft can offer Ipod support to Ford when Ipod is owned by apple??

[Jango]

Originally Posted by LordThor

Im confused on how Micro$oft can offer Ipod support to Ford when Ipod is owned by apple??

A swift catch by the God of Thunder.

[dabrig]

With apologies to the sensibilities of Apple fans, Bill Gates owns Apple, too. Apple has its virtues, as does Saab, but they were headed for oblivion as a relatively small player in the corporate world, again just like Saab. GM might not be perfect for Saab, but there was not much of a plan B. Ditto Microsoft and Apple.

[RastaSaab]

Originally Posted by LordThor

Im confused on how Micro$oft can offer Ipod support to Ford when Ipod is owned by apple??

I doubt they would offer that but i am sure they will offer Zune support. They can license an iPod connection but i highly doubt they would do that, again look for Zune support not Ipod.

Apple is not owned by Microsoft, they are direct competitors. Although Microsoft did buy some apple stock during the restructure (just before the ipods) they do not own 51% or anything even close.

I can't wait to hear the first story of the Ford car that wont start due to a blue screen of death.

[900t]

GM cars already have ipod integration...

[LordThor]

Originally Posted by RastaSaab

I doubt they would offer that but i am sure they will offer Zune support. They can license an iPod connection but i highly doubt they would do that, again look for Zune support not Ipod.

Apple is not owned by Microsoft, they are direct competitors. Although Microsoft did buy some apple stock during the restructure (just before the ipods) they do not own 51% or anything even close.

Yeah I know that, ANTMAR said that ford liscensed micro$oft to put ipod hookups in their car and I was pointing out that ipod was owned by apple and that i didnt see how that was going to fly.

[Jango]

Dabrig - Just for corrections sake (no offence intended), Steve Jobs owns Apple.

[dabrig]

Originally Posted by Jango

Dabrig - Just for corrections sake (no offence intended), Steve Jobs owns Apple.

None taken, since you are correct. I was making an overly simplistic (and somewhat smart-alecky) comparison to a somewhat similar situation. Apple products began using Intel processors, in part because it was not cost-effective to compete with Intel on parts that the consumer doesn't "see." Similarly, Saab was able to stay alive in the old days with a small but dedicated following, but would be unable to continue to survive given the amount of research and development funding required for all of today's government-required (and now consumer-expected) safety and emissions gear. Saab, in trying to be independent, is now owned by the largest carmaker in the world. They still have some degree of autonomy, but a lot of the "innards" are shared with other GM vehicles. Apple is in the a similar boat with Intel. That's all.

[boon94]

Originally Posted by RastaSaab

I can't wait to hear the first story of the Ford car that wont start due to a blue screen of death.

Theres going to be a Ctrl Alt Delete button installed on the dash

[SaabKen]

Gee, I saw the title of this thread and thought it was about something way more exciting, like the commemoration of President Ford's career.

[900t]

Originally Posted by boon94

Theres going to be a Ctrl Alt Delete button installed on the dash

No you'll have Ctrl, Alt, Del separate. Alt is on the steering wheel, Ctrl is in the glovebox, and Del is in the trunk!

[boon94]

Originally Posted by 900t

No you'll have Ctrl, Alt, Del separate. Alt is on the steering wheel, Ctrl is in the glovebox, and Del is in the trunk!

haha, yea i guess that sounds a bit more like microsoft, wait till your car starts getting virus'.. Its temperature will go up, it'll start vommiting oil and antifreeze everywhere, and lets not think about its diarrhea