Ford Scores Another Obama Hybrid Sale

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A high gas tax would be the best medicine to hold down gas consumption, and reward fuel-efficient cars.
(U.S. cars consume twice as much fuel as European and Japanese cars)
make it difficult for OPEC to gouge us again when the economy recovers.
(Oil price shocks and manipulation by OPEC have cost us dearly each major shock was followed by a recession.)
Medicine doesn´t always taste good, but sometimes we need it.
(short term pain for long term gain.)

JEFF of NY 7:02PM May 04, 2009

Since you're bringing up ancient history... Arrogant! Hell Yes. After all it was the US auto industry and the American public that bailed your asses out of WW2.
Don't give me your holier than thou crap. I've driven those tiny little sh!t boxes you people call cars. You can keep them.
BTW If you haven't kept up w/ the news, Toyota sales are in the dumpster here, as well. This is a market issue driven by many factors including Americans shipping their hard earned cash overseas to foriegn countries/companies.

Pissed in Minneapolis of MN 6:35AM April 22, 2009

If the workers at the American assembly plants werent such a greedy bunch of so and so's, then more cars and trucks would also be assembled in the good ole US of A.
If you also managed to produce some decent looking, reliable and efficient vehicles the best sellers over there would also be American.
The point i'm making is this, the American motor industry, and most Americans in general, have been so damn arrogant at how great they and the country are, they have missed the rest of the world overtake them and succeed. Most of this happened in the late 60's and 70's, i mean, look at the trash that came out of Detroit.
Your self reliance and gas guzzlers and couldnt give a f**k attitude to using ALL the fossil fuels has got your motoring industry in to the mess its in today.
If lived in America i would buy a foreign brand like Toyota, Honda, Subaru or Volvo. I might consider a Ford but it would be the European designed Fiesta, Ka or Focus. I would maybe consider the Hybrid Escape. I wouldnt touch your huge, gas guzzling, family saloons (seddans) or SUV's.
I would also like to point out that i wouldnt buy a Prius as i think its a pile of poo. In Europe we have cars way more efficient that are not hybrids.
Have a nice day.

Tomato 3:21AM April 22, 2009

Fusions are assembled in Mexico, not made in Mexico. They're "made" by engineers, designers, and technicians in the US. Only a small portion of a vehicle's price goes into the assembly (<$1000). More than twice that amount of the price goes to support retirees here in the US. Ford has been forced to assemble in a low cost country by poor govt policy on imports and foreign companies doing business in the US. If you don't like the current state (I don't either), petition your congress men and woman to change the policy, and DON'T tell me your Toyota or Honda or Subaru is an American car. It's the equivalent of pissing down my leg and telling me it raining.

Pissed in Minneapolis of MN 12:25PM April 21, 2009

Re: r duncalf of IL
Even if the car is assembled in Mexico, the profits flow back to the US. The engineering workers are in Michigan.
If you would rather buy a car assembled by Ford in the US, great.
If you choose to buy a foreign car, even if it is assembled in Tennessee or Georgia or Alabama, the profits flow back to the foreign country.
And if you choose to buy a gas guzzler, the profits flow overseas when the oil flows to us.
So, I suggest buying a car from an American company, support American workers, and reduce our reliance on foreign oil by buying an Escape or Fusion HEV.

Michigan believer of MI 9:59AM April 21, 2009

Nice to see this sort of thing happening; these technologies need greater exposure to facilitate mainstream adoption. This will help us to start dealing with pressing issues like the environment or energy concerns, and also begin to remember old promises we made long ago. For example, global poverty, which we pledged in 2000 to help eradicate by supporting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The Borgen Project (www.borgenproject.org) has some interesting insight into addressing the issues of global poverty, something we can remedy easily and sustainably.
Some interesting figures to ponder:
$30 billion USD: The annual shortfall to end global poverty.
$550 billion USD: The annual US defense budget.

Jon Lilly of WA 7:34PM April 20, 2009

Trust me, you are helping American workers by buying the Ford Fusion. Myself and tens of thousands of other hard working American employees work at Ford in Dearborn, MI and other US locations in Product design, engineering, manufacturing, R&D, finance, accounting, calibration, systems engineering, treasury, business planning, human resources, marketing, purchasing and so many other departments required to design, build and sell high quality, fuel efficient cars and trucks with exciting designs at great value. So to answer your question......Yes, by buying the Ford Fusion you are helping tens of thousands of American workers.
Toyota, Honda and Nissan still import nearly half of their cars sold in the US including Prius and the support jobs mentioned above exist in Japan. Since each assembly plant employs only 2500-3000 employees by buying Ford, Chrysler or GM, you are truly helping tens of thousands of more American employees that work corporate jobs and assembly jobs than any of the import brands.
Myself and many of my friends at Ford, GM and Chrysler would appreciate your consideration in purchasing your next vehicle from an American Automobile Company employing American workers.
Thanks for your consideration!

Paul Krotke of MI 6:08PM April 20, 2009

... I'm holding out for the 2012 Ford Escape PHEV.
If it can't be plugged in, then I'm keeping my old car until a new one can be plugged in.

Ken Grubb of WA 5:40PM April 20, 2009

the ford fusion in made in mexico should we not be buying american made cars to help american workers.

r duncalf of IL 4:51PM April 20, 2009

One thing mostly overlooked by the hybrid advertisers is the remarkeble improvement that can be realized in overall driving habits when paying minimal attention to your gas mileage in a hybrid. I don't mean driving at "Grandme speeds" but learning to keep the RPM dow below 2000 RPM whenever reasonable and possible, slowing for red lights rather than excessively braking, coasting a bit going down hills, and if the hill is a long one starting from a slower speed at the top.
I found that driving my Ford Escape, my actual mileage improved from about 26 mpg to 34 mpg, just by paying attention to my driving techniques.
I believe that I am now a safer driver as well.

John McNally of VA 2:05PM April 20, 2009