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24 Aug 2006, 12:42 (Ref:1690320) | #1 | ||
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Ford and Motorsport... can they afford it?
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Go woke, Go broke… Here’s hoping a random universe works out in your favour… The meaning of life… ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME! #CANCERSUCKS |
24 Aug 2006, 13:15 (Ref:1690345) | #2 | |||
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24 Aug 2006, 13:18 (Ref:1690347) | #3 | ||
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I know I'll get flamed for daring to even think it, but with GM and Ford both looking dodgy, could a GM-Ford merger help their respective financial situations?
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HSV - Sideways cars from an upside down country. |
24 Aug 2006, 13:31 (Ref:1690353) | #4 | ||
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GMH in Australia are in a better situation than Ford Australia.
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Life is all about Ass. You're either covering it, kissing it, kicking it, laughing it off, busting it or trying to get a piece of it. |
24 Aug 2006, 13:44 (Ref:1690358) | #5 | |||
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sweeeeping statement
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more torque than a climate change conference |
24 Aug 2006, 13:47 (Ref:1690359) | #6 | ||
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I would be surprised if the Australian situation raised much of a blip on the radar for either head office in the US.... it might be good to hear some good news from far-away lands occasionally, but I don't think we here will buy enough Commodores and Falcons to counteract GM's pension problems or whatever it is that is dragging Ford down....
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HSV - Sideways cars from an upside down country. |
24 Aug 2006, 14:00 (Ref:1690364) | #7 | |||
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If VE fails to meet sales targets (with the fuel price situation), maybe the next Falcon model development might not continue as an all Australian project?!?!? Last edited by Grimace; 24 Aug 2006 at 14:05. |
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888 LOWNDES/WHINCUP 2006-2007-2008 BATHURST 1000 WINNERS !!!! Whincup 2008 champion !-the mighty team 888-now FG for 2009 champion ! 'those who choose to ignore history are are doomed to repeat it' |
24 Aug 2006, 14:00 (Ref:1690366) | #8 | |||
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Go woke, Go broke… Here’s hoping a random universe works out in your favour… The meaning of life… ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME! #CANCERSUCKS |
24 Aug 2006, 14:09 (Ref:1690711) | #9 | |||
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Bringing US designed models into Australia would be the end of Holden and Ford here. If you listen to what is being said by critics over in the good ol' USA, then they want the aussie designed cars over there. |
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Life is all about Ass. You're either covering it, kissing it, kicking it, laughing it off, busting it or trying to get a piece of it. |
24 Aug 2006, 14:15 (Ref:1690713) | #10 | |||
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And Grimace, trust me, I wouldn't wear blue either.... I do agree with Pete55 though.... even if just because Holden have MUCH better product! Last edited by Rombles1; 24 Aug 2006 at 14:23. |
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HSV - Sideways cars from an upside down country. |
24 Aug 2006, 14:21 (Ref:1690717) | #11 | |||
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Go woke, Go broke… Here’s hoping a random universe works out in your favour… The meaning of life… ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME! #CANCERSUCKS |
24 Aug 2006, 15:27 (Ref:1690765) | #12 | ||
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Rombles, I think your theories sound reasonable but have you ever considered that Johnny H could buy the GMH arm. Sure wouldn't be cheap but once the blue collar low-interest rate wanting home owning conservative workers start to scream and shout and look for someone to blame, Howard might help for the 'good of the economy' or some junk like that. |
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24 Aug 2006, 20:34 (Ref:1691023) | #13 | ||
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I don't think JWH would care a hoot!
He "would take advice" from his cronies in ACCI and just wing it - "capitalism at it's best!!" Then quietly confirm his parliamentary pension and gold card privileges! There is a current report about falling Australian competitiveness on the airwaves today (25 August) Mike |
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Mike McInerney |
24 Aug 2006, 21:20 (Ref:1691061) | #14 | ||
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I don't think going private would necessarily be the end of Ford - it worked for the Packer family.
If they shave off the dead wood in Jag etc and are able to make, and act, on decisions with what would seem like the speed of light compared to trying to do it with board members/shareholders it would revolutionise the company ( this is based on the MASSIVE assumption the remaining members of the Ford family actually know what they're doing !! ) |
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24 Aug 2006, 21:56 (Ref:1691084) | #15 | ||
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Ok well lets get back to Racing then
what does this do for Fords involvement in Motorsport ? |
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24 Aug 2006, 23:16 (Ref:1691123) | #16 | ||
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24 Aug 2006, 23:23 (Ref:1691124) | #17 | |||
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The impact to motorsport shall be interesting, Ford competes in many avenues of the sport... factory rallying teams, NASCAR, V8Supercar, the naming rights sponsor to the Cosworth powerplant in ChampCar... Some of these programs will have to go... the dollars arent there to keep spending at the same level... its simple maths... and part of the reason the F1program fell off the radar.... Locally, the BF MkII Falcon has been getting rave reviews against the Holden VE Commodore, especially in the area of fuel consumption.. Where is Jac Nasser when you need him? Arguably the cause of some (most?) of this excitement at Ford? Problems like the ones at Huon and Ajax in recent times, and Ion before that, are not conducive to car makers staying here.. when they have lazy plants around the world not running 24/7.... |
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Go woke, Go broke… Here’s hoping a random universe works out in your favour… The meaning of life… ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME! #CANCERSUCKS |
24 Aug 2006, 23:23 (Ref:1691125) | #18 | |||
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Go woke, Go broke… Here’s hoping a random universe works out in your favour… The meaning of life… ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME! #CANCERSUCKS |
24 Aug 2006, 23:32 (Ref:1691131) | #19 | ||
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I'd like to see those facts as well |
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24 Aug 2006, 23:39 (Ref:1691134) | #20 | ||
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Perhaps all the doom-day talk and written-down figures are a simple ploy by the Ford's to drive the share price down, they cut away some fat to help pay for it then buy it back for a bargain, and hey presto - 'nah just jokes we're all good!!'
They get a $13bn company back without really outlaying any cash and now have less areas of debt-attracting businesses (ie Jag etc) to spread the $13bn across, AND get to continue along in full control. Doesn't sound all bad to me!! Interesting they have mentioned the downturn in large vehicles - any mention of the mega-increase in their small car ranges at all? Of course not - that might instill hope in the shareholders Wouldn't be the first time..... |
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25 Aug 2006, 01:56 (Ref:1691160) | #21 | |||
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just another conspiracy theory
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Buying or selling stock in Ford? |
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more torque than a climate change conference |
25 Aug 2006, 05:15 (Ref:1691180) | #22 | |
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My perspective from the american side of things is that:
1. Ford and GM made crappy products for years and eroded their market value. Now the quality is getting much better, but now that they have ruined their name, people aren't looking at their products(except for trucks of which plenty are still sold). They have to produce cars people want like the mustang and they have to get their name back. 2. Ford and GM have the same problem many governments have with social security and pensions: It's a ponzi scheme built on false financials. Past CEOs should be in jail, because essentially they sold both companies out to their own greed and the unions. They put in place pension and health care schemes that they knew would bankrupt the company at some point, but they were in it for short term gain. People now have the expectation that if they work for a company for 20 years that they are now entitled to 40 years of pension payments. Anyone with half a brain can figure that aint gonna work. I watched the unions destroy the steel and coal industry in Pennsylvania with the same tactics of striking and whingeing. The wages, pensions and benefits became so unrealistically inflated that there was no way to stay in business. Same with these auto manufacturers. 3. One benefit Ford has is that at last look they have $23 billion in cash on the books. They are making good products like the mustang. I worked for Ford recently on a ride and drive and I mostly liked everything I drove. The quality and drivability was much improved over several years ago. The Volvos are really nice and seem to be doing well, as well as land rover. 4. GM I believe has suffered from too much corporate mentality and a lack of passion in it's designs. However they do seem to be bringing some better vehicles to market. I talked at length recently to someone in finance in GM in Detroit. He thinks things are turning around. GM has turned a profit this year and more people than expected took the lump sum payout which gave workers a cash sum in return for no more attachment to GM. MOTORSPORTS: I think motorsports are vital to both brands and their return to the top. But stuff like F1 and Nascar are a waste. The cost/benefit ratio just isn't there. They need to be involved in production based racing whether rally, touring cars, off road racing, drag racing, etc. and they need to be racing what they sell. Suburu for instance, would be a non entity now if it wasn't for the long lasting WRC program. |
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Wolverines! |
25 Aug 2006, 07:40 (Ref:1691226) | #23 | |||
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25 Aug 2006, 07:45 (Ref:1691228) | #24 | |||
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25 Aug 2006, 11:43 (Ref:1691377) | #25 | ||
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Maybe TC will shortly have to start courting some other manufacturers. Not sure how receptive they would be though.
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Life is all about Ass. You're either covering it, kissing it, kicking it, laughing it off, busting it or trying to get a piece of it. |
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