Ford Sells Uk car manufacturers

1011 Views 27 Replies 9 Participants Last post by jonas1022, May 4, 2008

camusdarrach

Discussion Starter · Mar 26, 2008

This was announced today on our news programmes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7313380.stm
When Ford purchased Land Rover, they immediately stopped selling the Maverick :stop: , because the Freelander was outselling them about 40 to 1.
Now they have parted with L/R, Ford isn't represented in the 4X4 car market here, so, hopefully they will re-introduce the Maverick / Escape to us. -\/-

^
Probably just wishfull thinking -\/- though, because the vast majority of 4X4's here have diesel engines, as that is what sells, and was the main reason for the poor sales figures for the Maverick :doh:

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jpark

· #2 · Mar 26, 2008

I read somewhere that Ford sold under 1,000 Mavericks in the 2004 model year.

It's kinda sad to see two grand old marques like Jaguar and Land Rover being taken over by anyone (even when Ford bought them), but that's what's happening in today's global economy.

I just hope that Tata (which is an unfortunate name, given the situation) can make a good go of it.

As for the Maverick, Ford would probably need to import one of the Asian versions of the Escape, since the 2008 North American update was designed primarily for LHD. Ford also has several CRD engines in Europe that could probably fit in the Escape. My guess is that the Kuga will probably be a better bet for the UK if Ford decides it needs one, since the Asian Escape's basic design will soon be ten years old.

Phoenix24

· #3 · Mar 26, 2008

"Tata" is a french slang word for someone who is a moron/idiot/stupid. :hyst: Too bad Jaguar and Land Rover had to be bought out by them...as mentioned, it was bad enough when Ford bought them, but now? :bang:

jpark

· #4 · Mar 26, 2008

:clap:

I just hope Tata doesn't go ta-ta and take Jaguar and Land Rover with them.

Ford actually did a lot of good for both Jaguar and Land Rover. The reliability of both manufacturers was drastically increased by Ford, especially in the area of electrical systems.

As for Ford, I think the sale of both brands is good for Ford going forward, so, hopefully, this is win-win all around.

camusdarrach

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 26, 2008

jpark said:
:clap:

I just hope Tata doesn't go ta-ta and take Jaguar and Land Rover with them.

Ford actually did a lot of good for both Jaguar and Land Rover. The reliability of both manufacturers was drastically increased by Ford, especially in the area of electrical systems.

As for Ford, I think the sale of both brands is good for Ford going forward, so, hopefully, this is win-win all around.

Yes, Ford did wonders with Land - Rover, more than what BMW ever did. :stop: :rant:
But it comes as no suprise here that, yet again, our car making heritage has been sold at auction to the highest (or only) bidder, the Rover cars fiasco still lingers, a manufacturer that was state - owned, sold to British Areospace, then sold to BMW, who acted like vultures to cherry pick the best bits, then sold to management, then closed down, then the ashes sold at a knock down price to a Chinese firm.
Indeed the most successful car manufacturers over here are the Japanese, with Nissan at Sunderland, and Toyota in the West Midlands. -\/- -\/-

Fords4ever

· #6 · Mar 27, 2008

Ford was in partnership with Land Rover in developing a 4.4 V8 diesel for the F150 and was supposed to be ready for the 2010 model year. I wonder if this will affect that. I hope not. :rant:

jpark

· #7 · Mar 27, 2008

I hear ya.

And both Jaguar and Land Rover deserve better.

Can I have the last XK convertible before Tata takes over?

(I need to find a weak-in-the-knees smily)

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Blood Junkie

· #8 · Mar 27, 2008

No no no! Tin-top all the way baby!

P

camusdarrach

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 27, 2008

Big Chris said:
No no no! Tin-top all the way baby! P

Ordered your's then, Big Chris????
With owning a V6 3.0 Maverick ( :cuss: :censor: jealous!), affording to run one of those should be easy for you!!!!!

^

:lol: :lol:

Blood Junkie

· #10 · Mar 27, 2008

camusdarrach said:
Big Chris said:

No no no! Tin-top all the way baby! P

Click to expand...

Ordered your's then, Big Chris????
With owning a V6 3.0 Maverick ( :cuss: :censor: jealous!), affording to run one of those should be easy for you!!!!! ^ :lol: :lol:

To be honest with you (I'll say this quietly, so nobody else notices) I'm looking to sell the Maverick in the not too distant future :shock2: (I've said this before and it's always if the funds will allow, but we'll see)

Don't get me wrong i enjoy it, but i have a couple of issues with it. The 3.0 engine is smooth and relatively powerful, but you've gotta rev it to make swift progress. I've always been a fan of effortless torque, and this deficiency has been brought even more to the fore by The Wife getting her 07 plate Fiat Stilo Mjet. It's a 1.9 diesel, but being a sporting model it has 150 bhp. This thing absolutely flies! Yes, it's a mid sized hatch, not a 4x4 but the feeling of planting your foot in any gear and being pushed back into the seat (225lbft torque) is great! So I'm thinking of a turbo-diesel for my next vehicle. The vastly improved MPGs is an added bonus, but not a deal breaker as i do so few miles.

The biggest issue i have is basically the condition of the car because i use it 99% of the time like a van. The backs of the rear seats look tatty, all the plastic trim in the boot area is marked. I've dented the rear arch (The metal that is visible when you open the rear door, nothing visible from outside or with the door shut), I've broken the two headrest holders under the rear seats. I'm thinking i should actually get a van before the Mav becomes so bad inside that i won't be able to rectify it with a clean and tidy. (at present, with a bit of spit and polish i can get it looking good).

My dream car (well, for the money i'm talking about) would probably be a Dodge Ram crew cab extended bed, or an F150/F250 equivalent. TDi of course. Got the power, the size, the comfort, the looks, the load bay, it's everything that i need in one package. An Excursion or F350 step-side twin wheel would be my absolute fave, but i don't think the streets and car parks of Britain could take them.

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jpark

· #11 · Mar 27, 2008

Why not just move up to a Man or Gillig TD bus with rear-wheel steering?

:bill:

camusdarrach

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 31, 2008

jpark said:
Why not just move up to a Man or Gillig TD bus with rear-wheel steering?

:bill:

or even, this..................

:lol: :WW :WW :lol: :lol:

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Blood Junkie

· #13 · Apr 1, 2008

Mmmm..........May just be a tad too large. Parking may be an issue too.

Tribby

· #14 · Apr 1, 2008

Tata!!! :shock2:

Of all the companys I thought it would have been sold to, tata would be last on my list.

Hope this doesn't tarnish the reputation of jaguar. It won't stop me from getting my dream car though...

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camusdarrach

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 1, 2008

Tribby said:
Tata!!! :shock2:

Of all the companys I thought it would have been sold to, tata would be last on my list.

Hope this doesn't tarnish the reputation of jaguar. It won't stop me from getting my dream car though...

Reutation, what reputation??? :lol:
Over here, Jaguars over 5 years old are worth next to nothing, you can buy them for peanuts, as the are so expensive to run and maintain, indeed, for what I paid for my Escape, would have bought me a 2 year old X or S type Jag.
Our Government uses Jaguars for the Prime Minister, and other officials, but being British, they are about 7 years old!!!!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 98394.html
HM the Queen has more taste, She has a Rolls Royces and a Land Rover Defender!!!!!!

Tribby

· #16 · Apr 2, 2008

:lol: i didnt know that Jag had such a dodgey reputation over there.

I still think that the X-Type is the best looking car on the road.
It's also got a great engine, the mighty Duratec 30... with a 5 speed manual

Stryford

· #17 · Apr 2, 2008

I wouldn't mind a Jaguar X-Type, but my dream Jag is the XJR, and my wife's dream Jag is the XK8 (I'll take the R version :yahoo: )
Of course, we'd both would rather take a sweet Aston Martin DB9/DBS first.

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Tribby

· #18 · Apr 2, 2008

Make the X-Type my favorite car on the road :lol:

jonas1022

· #19 · Apr 7, 2008

I would like to say now that Ford has sold JLR.

There are some " Bodacious TaTa's" being sold.

Blood Junkie

· #20 · Apr 8, 2008

camusdarrach said:
Tribby said:

Tata!!! :shock2:

Of all the companys I thought it would have been sold to, tata would be last on my list.

Hope this doesn't tarnish the reputation of jaguar. It won't stop me from getting my dream car though...

Click to expand...

Reutation, what reputation??? :lol:
Over here, Jaguars over 5 years old are worth next to nothing, you can buy them for peanuts, as the are so expensive to run and maintain, indeed, for what I paid for my Escape, would have bought me a 2 year old X or S type Jag.
Our Government uses Jaguars for the Prime Minister, and other officials, but being British, they are about 7 years old!!!!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 98394.html
HM the Queen has more taste, She has a Rolls Royces and a Land Rover Defender!!!!!!

My Dad recently bought an S type 3.0 SE. 'X' reg (2001) for 10k. Not bad, i've driven it a few times. Steering is waaay light!

I wind him up by telling him his S type has got the exact same engine as my Maverick!

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