FORD New Official NHRA Vehicle!? (1 Viewer)

[Raconteur]

FORD New Official NHRA Vehicle!? Force too???

New official vehicle of the NHRA!?!?!?!?!?

 

[Paul]

and Ford is cutting JFR backing?

 

[JB3]

and Ford is cutting JFR backing?

Well, obviously Ashley won't need a new sponsor. And I doubt his Son In Law will lose his opportunity. So ... it will be interesting to see with the Marketing machine that is John Force Racing, if there will be 2 new sponsors brought into the game or will team Force shrink its fleet. This will likely just continue the saga of the "Haves" versus the "Have Nots" with new sponsors going to a top team and leaving the up and coming teams still starving for $$.

 

[You!]

There is still alot of "shrinking" yet to come, and not necessarily at just JFR. Many contracts ran through the '09-'10 seasons may not be renewed, unless the economy picks up very, very quickly, which is unlikely. So be prepared for more unfortunate announcements starting at Indy to the end of the year.

We are not out of the woods just yet, but it will get better. Just have to work hard and be patient.

 

[Randy]

In case anyone from Ford is lurking I have a little bit of info that may be helpful.

Several of my friends who were die hard GM buyers and several individuals on a handful of non racing/car enthusiasts web sites I visit have said that because Ford did not take the bailout money and shaft the primary stockholders in a bogus bankruptcy where the unions ended up with the company...and because Ford will still be able to produce cars and trucks people want rather than the cars and trucks mandated by Washington, they will be making the switch to the blue oval for their next purchase.

Decisions have ramifications.

.

 

[Prestaged]

. . . because Ford did not take the bailout money and shaft the primary stockholders in a bogus bankruptcy where the unions ended up with the company...and because Ford will still be able to produce cars and trucks people want rather than the cars and trucks mandated by Washington, they will be making the switch to the blue oval for their next purchase.

I am in that group for those very reasons.

 

[Muddy]

In case anyone from Ford is lurking I have a little bit of info that may be helpful.

Several of my friends who were die hard GM buyers and several individuals on a handful of non racing/car enthusiasts web sites I visit have said that because Ford did not take the bailout money and shaft the primary stockholders in a bogus bankruptcy where the unions ended up with the company...and because Ford will still be able to produce cars and trucks people want rather than the cars and trucks mandated by Washington, they will be making the switch to the blue oval for their next purchase.

Decisions have ramifications.

.

I bought my last Ford in 1961. Since then I've had 45 GM products between my wife and 3 kids. After a very sour dealing with GM concerning a warranty issue on a duramax and their lack of concern about my opinion it's no wonder they can't sell vehicles. When they treat loyal long time customers with no respect it sends a clear message they don't want my business. Because the reasons Randy Goodwin detailed and my recent experience my next and future vehicles will all have a blue oval on them, starting with a F-350 this fall and a SUV in the 2nd quarter of next year.

 

[You!]

Ford sold me back in '06 after having owned 4 Chevrolet crew cab duallys since 1982, and Chevrolet giving me nothing but crap with the paint started to peel off my last Chevy truck.

This is the best pulling truck I've ever owned.

 

[Tim5636sc]

Nice truck Sweeney. I have never been a big Ford person, born and raised MOPAR kid. At the risk of turning this into a political post, their decision to 'bite the bullet' and progress to the future really made a positive impact in my opinion of their company.

Ford sold me back in '06 after having owned 4 Chevrolet crew cab duallys since 1982, and Chevrolet giving me nothing but crap with the paint started to peel off my last Chevy truck.

This is the best pulling truck I've ever owned.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

I just wanted to give my take on the truck conversation. I think all the companies put to much money and gadgets into making trucks in the late 90's and currently. They began making trucks you were afraid to get dirty, muchless drive through a creek or pasture. $35,000 for something I really couldn't afford to ding up. I know I've always got the option to get something with just 4WD and an FM radio. And that's what I have. But I'm just saying.

 

[rocketman]

this does not surprise me at all.

 

[Rumblebones]

I bought my last Ford in 1961. Since then I've had 45 GM products between my wife and 3 kids. After a very sour dealing with GM concerning a warranty issue on a duramax and their lack of concern about my opinion it's no wonder they can't sell vehicles. When they treat loyal long time customers with no respect it sends a clear message they don't want my business. Because the reasons Randy Goodwin detailed and my recent experience my next and future vehicles will all have a blue oval on them, starting with a F-350 this fall and a SUV in the 2nd quarter of next year.

GM told Force to drop dead when he was winning championships with their Firebird and Monte Carlo brands in the '90's when he asked for more involvement and input from GM.

 

[clwill]

I owned my last Ford in the late 80s when our Taurus Wagon literally fell apart into a crumbling pile of pooh right after the warranty expired. Multiple transmissions, shocks, electrical issues, and on and on. Ford will have to do a lot more than simply remain solvent to win me back...

 

[*******]

I owned my last Ford in the late 80s when our Taurus Wagon literally fell apart into a crumbling pile of pooh right after the warranty expired. Multiple transmissions, shocks, electrical issues, and on and on. Ford will have to do a lot more than simply remain solvent to win me back...

Every company out there makes lemons and a couple of crappy cars.The late 80's Taurus's weren't very good admittedly but I'm in the warranty/repair business for all makes and models so I see first hand what the failures and costs are for all. Hands down if you want to purchase an " American " car you should buy a Ford. If you prefer the import versions then buy a Toyota.

 

[clwill]

Every company out there makes lemons and a couple of crappy cars.

The point is, Ford left a bad taste in my mouth, and I'll not willingly go back there any time soon. My GMC trucks (several in the last 25 years) have been wonderful, my local dealers have been great, I'm sticking with them. Loyalty is a two-way street, and they've earned mine.

 

[FC138fan]

Whoever can build a car that:

1 looks good
2 has lost of power yet gets decent gas mileage
3 is safe
4 is affordable

will sell cars, whatever the make of the car is. If GM makes crap, they won't sell anything. The only really really nice cars (the remake retro cars - GTO, Challenger, etc) are unaffordable to someone like me. Back in the 60's and 70's, you could get these awesome cars at a price a high school kid with a job could afford.

 

[Randy]

Back in the 60's and 70's, you could get these awesome cars at a price a high school kid with a job could afford.

I remember the price for a 1970 Challenger hemi engine option was almost 1/2the cost of the car. So, in todays dollars to add an LS7 engine to a $20,000 Camaro would add $10,000 to the cost of the car.

I don't know how old you are, but these cars in the late 60's and early 70's were $3,500 to almost $5,000 new. I had a pretty decent job working at a gas station and an auto parts store while I was going to school. I made between $1.50 to $3.00 per hour which wasn't bad money for someone in high school then. Unless gramdma left me some money or I flipped some real estate I wasn't going to be able to afford one, and only one other person who had help from daddy that I knew of was able to buy a 1970 383 Challenger. My first car was $750.

RG

 

[FC138fan]

I remember the price for a 1970 Challenger hemi engine option was almost 1/2the cost of the car. So, in todays dollars to add an LS7 engine to a $20,000 Camaro would add $10,000 to the cost of the car.

I don't know how old you are, but these cars in the late 60's and early 70's were $3,500 to almost $5,000 new.
RG

I guess I didn't realize your points. I am too young to know these things. Are you sure with the inflation rate that the cars of then were in the same price range as today's performance cars? I wonder...

 

[BrettV]

Whoever can build a car that:

1 looks good
2 has lost of power yet gets decent gas mileage
3 is safe
4 is affordable

will sell cars, whatever the make of the car is.

This reminds me of a few years ago when the NASA mantra was "Faster, Better, Cheaper" In reality you need to add the qualifier "Choose any two..."

 

[FC138fan]

This reminds me of a few years ago when the NASA mantra was "Faster, Better, Cheaper" In reality you need to add the qualifier "Choose any two..."

Hope GM's answer isnt similar to the space shuttle... Slower, More complex, Extremely expensive..

More on 60's and 70's cars.. with respect to racing - I can imagine a high schooler buying a relative junker, putting minimal money into it, and having the ability to build a hot rod and race with it at a reasonable price. I picture the engines in some of those cars like a briggs and stratton on steroids - at least you could tear it down and rebuild it better with minimal tools and a garage.

Isnt it just impossible now? You have to be an electrical engineer and have a garage full of equipment to make a respectable hot rod I think. Most of the cheap cars are front wheel drive, you gotta redo everything to get a big motor in it.