[DMCForum] Re: Top Gear... (F-150)

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Not to be particular, but who in their right mind buys an F Series
pickup for performance? They're supposed to be working vehicles, pure
& simple. Or at least they used to be -- I'm a little concerned that
Ford screwed up by discontinuing the I Beam suspension. And the new
automobile inspired interiors don't appear to be nearly as hardy as
their predecessors. Perhaps Ford has a suicidal desire to emulate Chevy.

One of my F-150's has nearly 206,000 miles on it. It's very much a
daily driver, especially with all the crap I'm doing at church etc.
The other is a baby at 78,000 miles and only 17 years of age (that's
the one equipped with EFI -- still under probation IMHO. I did manage
to de-emission it successfully with no ill effects other than a
constantly illuminated "check engine" light. Next time I'm in the dash
I'll unplug the bulb).

Regarding European markets for American trucks: how in the world do
Europeans haul anything? I'm one of the few people in my church with
full size trucks, and they're constantly worrying the piss out of me
to transport stuff. This Wednesday I'm scheduled to haul a bunch of
dorm crap for one of my Youth Group alumni. I'm building cubbies for
the preschool and need the whole 4x8 bed to haul all that plywood.
Used a truck to haul all last week's tree limbs away. I really can't
figure out how Europeans accomplish anything in little passenger cars.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "timnagin" <timnagin@xxxx> wrote:
> >I may be a bit out of touch here, but this sounds like the R35 Nissan 
> >Skyline? It's the Skyline over here. Although the Skyline was never
sold 
> >in the US (it's a motoring icon the rest of the world over) so perhaps 
> >someone else is getting away with using the name in the US?
> 
> 
> You are correct indeed.  The Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G-35 are
basically the
> same car with minor differences between the two, and is what people
re-badge
> here as the Skyline.  As far as I know, the Skyline was never legal
for sale
> in the US so people just change the appearance to look like one. 
This is
> what I was saying about people in other countries with Skylines changing
> their emblems to the Infiniti G-35.
> 
> 
> >The general gripe is that to get that extra power, the american way is 
> >to fit a (much) bigger engine rather than trying to keep the weight
down 
> >and actually develop existing engines to be capable of more. That and 
> >the fact that they won't corner worth a damn when pitted against 
> >Ferraris or Lambos - or an R34 Skyline GT-R for the sake of discussion 
> >:-) (and if we're talking bang-for-buck, get a Lotus Exige or wait for 
> >the new Esprit)
> 
> 
> I think it has more to do with being cost-effective since the tooling
> already exists.  In my example I was only referring to the Corvette
being up
> against the Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
> 
> One of the problems with some vehicles, like the Lotus since you
mentioned
> that one, is support.  The nearest Lotus dealer with support, which
I know
> of, is a three-hour one-way drive.  By comparison, I am just a few
minutes
> away from several Corvette dealers.  I do, however, have the Espirit and
> Exige on my list of cars to own.  The latter I would like to have,
even if I
> can't find a way to shoe-horn my ass into the seat. ;) [Insert fat
American
> joke here :) ]
> 
> 
> >I've just been watchng Top Gear and Clarkson reviewing the Ford
F150 (?) 
> >truck, and establishing exactly they there's no market for it over
here, 
> >or anywhere else for that matter. The result? Poor build quality, 
> >terrible handling and built using techniques that "would be recognised 
> >by 19th century tunnelling engineers" I believe was the exact
phrase. OK 
> >it's faster thana Boxster in a strait line, but errm.... so what, when 
> >you can't stop?
> 
> 
> I agree completely; that's why I didn't buy an American truck this time
> around.  They were probably testing the Ford F-150 Lightning if they
were
> mentioning numbers like that.
> 
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-F-150-Lightning-2004-Ford-Lightning-LOW-
> MILES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6219QQitemZ4566060095QQrdZ1
> 
> Speaking of the show Top Gear, it seems to have starting running here
> recently.  They have made a few changes for the American market but
it is a
> very interesting show.  I had never heard of that Swedish super car
before.
> I have wanted to ask you how this show is regarded over there?  One
show I
> saw recently was the $3k Porsche challenge.  That was very cool!
> 
> Greg

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