Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Ford knows trucks...Toyota, not so much!


I just got done watching a For Eyes Only video from Ford. In the video, an undercover Rick Titus, host of "Driver's Talk", visits the Toyota Booth at the recent International Auto Show in Detroit and picks apart the new Toyo Tundra from frame to interior, and does it sooo easily. I wish I could give you a link to the video, but there must be some legal reason for Ford not making it available. I think it's because Ford actually used Toyo's display at the Auto Show for Rick's presentation. That's a major Bold Move in my book!

Anyway, in a nutshell Rick's commentary cut to the bone, mentioning Toyo's much heralded new brakes for the Tundra (which I guess is an admission to the fact that for years their brakes have been woefully undersized), the ill-conceived grill (which is ugly as a wicked step-sister and will require constant cleaning due to bug build-up), the gas guzzling 5.7 liter optional engine (can I mention that the standard engines are very underpowered for the Toyota truck), and Rick also pointed out the lovely Camry interior in the new Tundra (you know...it doesn't matter if you dress your sister up like your Dad, she's still your sister)!

Ford has been the truck leader for 30 years with the F-series, and Toyota is hardly a threat to mount a real challenge, especially when you consider that many of the changes made to the Tundra this year were merely corrections of Toyota's past mistakes.

Here's to another 30 years of Ford truck dominance!

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Taurus To Return!...(At Least in Name)


For over twenty years, the Ford Taurus was an automotive icon. Actually, it was more than that...the Taurus was an American icon, and it will likely be again! Word on the street, confirmed by The Associated Press, is that Ford is planning on renaming the Ford Five-Hundred as the Ford Taurus and making the announcement as early as this week at the Chicago Auto Show.

With its introduction back in 1985, the Taurus put the automotive industry off its axis and never looked back, becoming the best selling car in America in 1992, a title Taurus held for five years, and changing the shape and style of cars forever.

With a style revamping set for the 2008 model year, now is the best time to rename the Ford Five-Hundred, and the new legacy filled "tag" (if it happens) should boost sluggish sales and increase awareness of a really great car that's getting even better, no matter what Ford calls it!