In Forbes: "Why Did Ford Wait So Long To Fix C-Max's MPG Rating?"

[EVger]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelinemaynard/2013/08/15/why-did-ford-wait-so-long-to-fix-c-maxs-mpg-rating/

[Jus-A-CMax]

*Yawn...if I see another article on "Ford" "MPG" "CMax"...."Consumer Report".....I think I might.....

 

I have YET to see one article POSITIVE article on the range of the Cmax, the utilty and the pretty DAMN GOOD MPG that REAL DRIVERS AND OWNERS actually have posted here.

 

Jus NOT another rag tag writeup by some old bag sitting in a some Ivory Tower in Michigan touting her "Professorialism" [insert voice FX] and automotive experience.

 

 

Funny how these articles never mention the about the ability of Ford to even PATCH the CMax drive system to get UP TO 85 MPH in EV!!!!!!

 

Oh, what can the MIGHTY PRII-o-crap do....oh...what.....what was the wee lil number...?......oh 45.....what did u say...u got a small....wah?...... and Toyota can't patch it....you're stuck and Viagra is no help....eh?!?!?!?

 

 

TMI....

 

Sorry for the rant folks, but it has to be said. Thank you for the therapeutic moment, I'm.... :flyaway:

Edited August 29, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[slampro]

After seeing so many of these articles, it becomes clear most of the authors are copy/paste specialists. Most of which probably drive a pri.

[Jus-A-CMax]

After seeing so many of these articles, it becomes clear most of the authors are copy/paste specialists. Most of which probably drive a pri.

 

I think news journalism is dead but I am starting to think the rot has even got to automotive journalism...but thats ok..its only wee-Jus here anyway....I am happily going along in life paying 8c per mile driving my  :flirt:  CMax that does not get 47MPG.

[Laurel]

I agree that it was a re-hash of the same old story, but I think these stories coming out in magazines like Forbes is important for the consumer.  Keeps big business on their toes.  I think it is on Ford's shoulders now to publish info or encourage writers to look at the new improvements they have made for fuel economy.  They totally have the capability to interview happy upgrade owners and do a media blitz with those stories.  It's not going to happen though as there is some intrinsic problem at the top at Ford is my guess or Ford wouldn't be in its current pickle.

[C-MaxSea]

After seeing so many of these articles, it becomes clear most of the authors are copy/paste specialists. Most of which probably drive a pri.

Not one word of 'new' information / content - pure hate (Ford) mongering / cheap piling on (and the author gets paid for it). Very sad. Presumably the author has never been near a C-Max.  "Reinvention" journalism - how about writing something about that - what a joke!  (rather 'Let's all be robots' journalism)

 

Makes me want to write a comment to the author & respondents:  yadda, yadda, yadda, get a life folks, form some of your own opinions, touch it, enter it, drive it ........... it "floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee" - you choose!  You can drive it like a butterfly (EV) or drive it like a bee (0-60 in 7.5 seconds).  Ford does not make that choice, the EPA does not make that choice, CR does not make that choice for you, YOU DO!  Butterfly mode; 45 - 55 MPG, Bee mode: 30-35 MPG (& 36,000+ points in between).  I thought we liked choices in our culture!

 

Nick

 

PS What a great car!

Edited August 30, 2013 by C-MaxSea

[Laurel]

Nick I agree there is Ford bashing happening, but why isn't Ford on top of this?  They could do a fairly cost effective media blitz with interviews from C-Max owners who are thrilled with their cars. Even get bloggers onto this.

[Jus-A-CMax]

Nick I agree there is Ford bashing happening, but why isn't Ford on top of this?  They could do a fairly cost effective media blitz with interviews from C-Max owners who are thrilled with their cars. Even get bloggers onto this.

 

Ford is a corporation and its like a Titanic, thing will turn but very slowly. Unlike the Captain of the Titanic, AM are making positive changes and they are filtering down. I believe improvements are coming but not at a rate we like in an "instantaneous satisfaction rate" we are all accustomed to in this Internet driven world.

 

For example, FE improvements like the 85 EV limit do not come overnight...I think Ford Engineers - like our IT engineers - had to come up with what looks like an Agile solution to me -  they did it. Again, I ask the Prii fanboys, why isn't Toyota doing this for their Priis? Why are they stuck on 45 for 10+ years of evolution, whilst the CMax broke the limit in about 8 mths...hmmmh.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[C-MaxSea]

"Ford is a corporation and its like a Titanic, thing will turn but very slowly. Unlike the Captain of the Titanic, AM are making positive changes and they are filtering down. I believe improvements are coming but not at a rate we like in an "instantaneous satisfaction rate" we are all accustomed to in this Internet driven world."

 

Well said Jus & Laurel, and that includes the marketing.  We could write / produce a half dozen commercials from this web site, but that is not how it works - yet. I am seeing evidence of corporate progress at my every turn, from Boing tech sessions to the dealership; a slow but steady turn in the very right direction. The 'filter down' will take years, as dealerships, sometimes grudgingly, try to achieve higher standards (a very, very difficult challenge). 

 

Nick

 

PS;  C-Max, my first Ford - a very challenging car to produce, market, and perhaps service.

Edited August 29, 2013 by C-MaxSeattle

[nsteblay]

Ford has gone through a tremendous transformation this past decade.  Lest we forget Ford was the only major American car manufacturer that didn't receive a bailout from the government.  Here they are innovating and having success creating some very cool and practical cars.  I have felt very good about buying American and supporting a company that's achieved on it own.

[Bob999]

I think the criticism contained in the article is fair.  The fact that Ford chose to use Fusion testing data for the CMAX, while allowed under EPA rules, was clearly misleading and, in my opinion, Ford should have known that the 47 mpg figure was not a reasonable number for the CMAX.

 

That said I like my CMAX and I don't consider my comments, or the Forbes article, to be bashing Ford.

[robodog61]

I find it funny that people are so quick to trash these articles and defend Ford.  I remember many years ago that Consumer Reports trashed my favorite car, the Plymouth Horizon.  I couldn't believe what they wrote and thought the article was biased.  After owning a 1992 Civic, I finally realized what they were talking about and they were correct on their opinion of the Horizon.  Most of these articles are objective, the Consumer Reports test in particular.  I respect their tests and testing methods and it is more like real drivers would get.  You can't have it both ways.  A new rating of the Chevy Impala was super high.  Is that biased too?  Try to be objective.  Not everyone is educated super car fan.  They just expect that a car that says it gets 47 MPG should at least approach that 1/2 of the time.  I drive like a Prius driver (I own one) and I can squeeze out terrific mileage.  But I can also see where people would get the low 40's, particularly on the highway.  I love my C Max, but Ford has a lot of work to do to gain people's trust.