VW and Ford Alliance? Say It Ain't So

[Moviequill]

All this GM-Renault-Nissan merging has others wondering what other companies are ripe for the picking. I know Porsche wants VW and makes sense, but this crazy Texan writer thinks Ford is sniffing around?
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...m.11a14a1.html

[angelworks]

Okay MQ, now you are scaring me ...

Johnny!!!! Group hug stat!!!

[AmyJane]

Well I would think that as long as porsche does buy up the last bit of remaining VW stock then Ford can do a dang thing. I thought there was only something like 3.5% left? Or was that just the amount that Porsche needs to buy in order to have some control over VW? Hmmm...
NO FORD!!!!!!!!!

[lady bug]

my mother is always talking about how her car is so nice blah blah blah i'm like its a volvo sure...but its made by FORD.

i don't want this to happen to me...

i want to go vomit now...

[Moviequill]

[QUOTE=CyberGreenBaby:I thought there was only something like 3.5% left? Or was that just the amount that Porsche needs to buy in order to have some control[/QUOTE]

Porsche just bumped it to 25% but they got EU or whatever monopoly controlling organization they have over there to agree to let them take it over eventually

[73standard]

LOL! This wouldn't be the first time Ford looked at VW. Just after WWII VW was wanting Ford to buy it. Well, Ford didn't do it because they didn't think the company would go anywhere. After they started doing well Ford became interested, but this time VW wouldn't sell.



I think I got my history correct.

[Moviequill]

Originally Posted by lady bug

my mother is always talking about how her car is so nice blah blah blah i'm like its a volvo sure...but its made by FORD.

i don't want this to happen to me...

i want to go vomit now...

Oh my sweet Lady Bug, have no fear, I think our Dr Porsche and his nurses will see fit to blocking any Ford colonoscopy

[Atomic Glee]

A few things...

1) Volvos are not "made by Ford." They are still produced in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Ghent, Belgium, at Volvo's plants, using Volvo platforms and Volvo engines. Volvo engineering has been slowly trickling to Ford, not the other way around. The new European Focus and Mazda 3 use a variant of Volvo's S40 platform. Volvos are, honestly, really great cars. In many ways, they're better cars than Volkswagens are, though I think VWs are pretty great themselves. Volvos are ridiculously safe (and no, it's not just marketing), well made, extremely comfortable (they have the *best* seats in the auto industry - VW's finest seats are like toys next to the Volvo seats), and nowadays are even getting sporty (I would take a T5 AWD S40 over a GLI or GTI, or even a 2.0T A4, any day of the week, no question about it).

2) Ford buying VW would not be as awful as most of you make it out to be. Ford's US product line isn't anything to be insanely proud of (with a couple of half-exceptions), but Ford in Europe might as well be a different company, and makes some really good cars - the Euro Focus, the Fiesta, the Mondeo, that sort of thing. Fords are considered very highly in Europe - the new Focus can easily hold its own against the Golf.

3) Ford buying VW wouldn't be a death knell. Look at Ford's European purchases - Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo. Now, Jag and Land Rover were doing poorly before Ford bought them, and they still are. Land Rover, because they're hideously unreliable (but brilliant off-road), and Jaguar because they're still fighting their old image (but the new ones are very much better, and the new XK is stunning in person). Aston Martin is Aston Martin - they are what they are, and nobody in the world makes more beautiful cars. Nobody. The DB9 and the V8 Vantage have to be the most achingly gorgeous things on the road - and it doesn't matter that they're not that reliable, they're Aston Martin, and you'd give up a kidney and your spleen to have one. If you own one, you simply don't care about anything else.

Volvo was doing very well when Ford bought them, and are doing even better now. Ford very wisely bought them for their safety and engineering expertise (and they do have some of the best engineers on the planet), and is keeping a much more "hands-off" approach with Volvo than with Jag and LR. Volvo didn't need any help - the other two did.

[Moviequill]

its just my opinion but Ford's interiors suck, no life, plain and generic. They need to learn the European style of interiors. We almost bought a Mustang if it wasn't for the boring interior. VWs and Mini's have the best most comfy interiors I think

[Atomic Glee]

Originally Posted by Moviequill

its just my opinion but Ford's interiors suck, no life, plain and generic. They need to learn the European style of interiors. We almost bought a Mustang if it wasn't for the boring interior. VWs and Mini's have the best most comfy interiors I think

Ford's *American" interiors are nothing to write home about, yes. Ford's European model interiors are pretty darn good, such as on the Focus ST (and this is the European Focus, which has nothing at all to do with the Focus we have in the States):





If Ford sold their European Focus over here, I'd have a very hard time choosing between a new GTI and the Focus ST. The ST has great handling, and Volvo's fantastic turbocharged five-cylinder engine.

[yellowherbie]

I drive my Mom's Volvo new S-80 all the time.. but Im really driving a ford? Eww! I hope not...


The mustangs are way cool looking, until you get inside, and look at the boring interior... Your right Moviequill...

[Breez]

I am just not a fan of Ford... I think they are my least favorite company out of all car options out there. I have friends who drive Explorers, mustangs and escorts... if you like to complain about VW... wow... Ford can give you even more to complain about.

When my mother bought her 2001 volvo last year... I kept telling her "now its a Ford" lol (I was just teasing her). Great Car... but the electrical needs some serious help. (knock on wood, both my VW have had no electrical issues at all) (if I am correct with my memory, Ford bought Volvo in 1999)

On a side note: my moms volvo was made IN sweden, and I drove it yesterday, boy does that 5 inline turbo has a peppy feel.

[Atomic Glee]

Not to mention the Fiesta, which is a nifty Polo-sized car we also don't get in the US:





Then, of course, there's the Mondeo, one of the most popular sedans in Europe:

[Atomic Glee]

Originally Posted by yellowherbie

I drive my Mom's Volvo new S-80 all the time.. but Im really driving a ford? Eww! I hope not...

You aren't. Volvo is owned by Ford, not made by them. The S80 comes from Volvo's Gothenburg, Sweden factory.

[73standard]

Jags are Fords now as well.

[JuggBug]

Me Ford long time! Before Juggbug, I always drove Fords....ALWAYS! My other car is an Escape Limited.....and I love it. Ford just needs to get with the program on their ads....they suck big time.

And doesn't Ford own the Karmann name? Can you say 2010 'Ford Karmann Ghia'?

[Atomic Glee]

Originally Posted by JuggBug

And doesn't Ford own the Karmann name? Can you say 2010 'Ford Karmann Ghia'?

Ford owns the Ghia name, and in fact uses it on several European-only models as a trim level (Fiesta Ghia, Focus Ghia, that sort of thing). Karmann is still its own company.

[Atomic Glee]

Let me also state that Ford buying VW is, well, extremely unlikely. Porsche isn't going to let that happen to their bestest buddy. But, hypothetically, if Ford bought VW it really wouldn't be the end of the world.

Here's a bit of fun fact for the Ford paranoid - the new rear suspension on the Mark V Jetta/Golf/Rabbit and B6 Passat was designed by an engineer that VW got from Ford, who did the Focus rear suspension. Oh no!

[digitalputty]

Why does everyone own everyone else? I mean ... argh! OWN YOURSELF... like BMW? I think BMW owns themself. 0_o ... at least that is what their commercials say? We might as well make one HUGE car company called: Volksondaordyotaercedes hahahaha

I really hope Found on road dead cant purchase OUR sexah VW company ... even if it is a small amount.

[JuggBug]

Originally Posted by Atomic Glee

Ford owns the Ghia name, and in fact uses it on several European-only models as a trim level (Fiesta Ghia, Focus Ghia, that sort of thing). Karmann is still its own company.

I like you! You are a plethora of knowledge!