okay DU, what is wrong with Ford?

[mdmc]

I promised myself that I would get rid of my 1989 Camry if we won the White House.
Now, I need a new car because the old girl just ain't getting around like she used to. I would like to wait until after 2008, but I'm sure as shit aware that Kerry and Hillary are going no where near the White House any time soon. I can't even think of a decent Dem to run in 2008.
So I'm thinking of buying a new car now.
I like that new 500 or the new mustang.

So, what is wrong with Ford? I have seen Ford on "do not buy" DU lists. Help me out, DUhttp://us.f1.yahoofs.com/groups/g_10088753/Cornwall+meetups/Dean+N%27burgh+02.jpg?bcfgPnBB2kllWAIp

[PretzelWarrior]

1. he's clumsy..and getting quite old.

OHHHH. you mean THAT Ford. Well, I think new car buying is a huge CONSUMER contribution anyway.

Look at the American economy. Take away all new car purchases and then look at the economy again.

I mentioned something about analysis of advertising. What you should do is study how many car commercials vs. other commercials come up during evening news broadcasts, prime time shows, and late night shows like David Letterman or Daily Show.

We are continually urged to believe cars are an absolute necessity on par with food, clothing, shelter.

ANother exercise....look at how much of our economy is due to housing.

Take away new home building and cars....and we have a much less powerful economy.

Take away cars....and look at oil usage go down.

I live in Portland, OR which has great public transit. Unfortunately, other places like L.A., Florida, and other areas just aren't doing enough for mass rapid transit. It is a real shame. and a waste. and feeding our need for Mideast oil.

[Zorra]

2. Ford is the 22nd largest contributor to republicans, and 72% of Ford

campaign donations are given to republicans.

22. FORD MOTOR CO $2,057,274 71.98%

There is a list and search function in this forum in the thread that lists companies to boycott.

[mdmc]

7. hello!

:kick:

[JaneDoughnut]

3. I Love my Saturn

Can I plug Saturn here? I've been driving a 96 Saturn SL-1 since 1998 and it is one of the most reliable, economic cars I have ever seen. I also average about 24 mpg in it.

Ford has some good, responsible cars, but they also build some of the worst. If you buy Ford, just be careful about the model.

[mdmc]

4. thanks for the plug

I need a car.

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/groups/g_10088753/Cornwall+meetups/Dean+N%27burgh+02.jpg?bcfgPnBB2kllWAIp

[LeftyMom]

8. Another Saturn plug

I loooooove my wagon. I bought it used for almost nothing and have had no problems with it. We get 28-30 mpg for highway driving and more like 24-26 in stop and go.

I don't think buying a American car in it's first year is a good idea. Ford in particular seems to need a while to work the kinks out, when they debuted the Focus it had a small problem with wheels coming off on thier own but after a couple of years they managed to make it much more reliable.

[sherilocks]

5. Check out Ford and auto dealers here

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=T2100

Ford give 71% of its political contributions to rethugs.

My best luck with frugality and cars, is a used Toyota. They run forever if kept in shape. I don't see Toyota anywhere as a high-end political contributor. But use the above link and check the auto dealers. They, too, give political contributions.

[mdmc]

6. check out what I found! Anyone know more about this?

CHICOPPEE, MA (2004-11-19) Protesters visited Ford dealerships in cities around the country yesterday. One of the dealerships was in Chicoppee, Massachusetts. WAMC's Eesha Williams files this report.

[sherilocks]

9. You can listen to the broadcast here (about the protest)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=709317

The protest was over the low mileage per gallon on Ford products.

[mdmc]

11. wow. nice link

I listen wamc. good stuff.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. And I'll pipe up about my Civic.

I think we average around 29 mpg. And it's an LEV (low emissions vehicle).

Hondas will just run and run and run forever, it seems.

I have no qualms about buying Japanese. To me, it seems like there's no difference between American cars with Japanese design and/or parts, and Japanese cars (like Nissan) with plants in the U.S. keeping Americans working.

I want a car with decent mileage that will run efficiently for a long time. For me, Honda's are it.

FSC

[Dora]

12. Didn't Ford profit from WWII's concentration camps?

I may be wrong.

[buycottJoe]

13. I did some research

http://www.detnews.com/2000/autos/0003/29/b04-25685.htm says that there was at least some involvement of Ford with Nazi Germany. Found thru Google.

http://www.spendingliberally.org shows that recently Ford has had over 100 commercials on the ultra right-wing Fox News, second only to General Motors.

http://www.corpwatch.org says "When it comes to the emission of greenhouse gases, Fords cars are the dirtiest in the industry."

http://www.followyourmoney.com shows that Ford gave 72% to repugs. This was mentioned a couple of times earlier in thread.

[Kellanved]

14. "some involvement"?

Henry Ford got the highest Nazi Medal for his anti-Semitic works and investments into the German War Industry. Same thing with GM though; in both cases it has hardly any bearing on today.

[mdmc]

15. welcome to DU, great handle, great info, links, post...

Glad to have ya here!

[Lorien]

16. How about a Toyota Prius?

They have the same interior space as a Camry. Then there's that 65/45 MPG thing...

[mdmc]

17. I like it

:kick: