  Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 562 Registered: 10-2006 |
Ford tops J.D. Power quality study June 6, 2007 BY JOE GUY COLLIER FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Ford Motor Co., including Mazda Motor Corp., won five model segments, more than any other automaker, as it gained ground on the foreign automakers in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study released Tuesday. The Mercury Milan ranked first in the competitive mid-size car segment, beating out the Honda Accord. The Ford Mustang was the highest-ranked mid-size sports car for the second straight year and Lincoln MKZ topped the entry premium car segment..... J.D. Power and Associates recognized the now-defunct factory, where the Lincoln Town Car was built until a week ago, as the highest-quality assembly plant in the world. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 563 Registered: 10-2003 |
That's disturbing. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1089 Registered: 10-2006 |
Is a bit ironic. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 982 Registered: 11-2003 |
Not to mention, true. | ||
Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 565 Registered: 10-2006 |
Very disturbing, but much needed good news overall for Ford. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 1010 Registered: 11-2003 |
Both Buick City in Flint and the former Oldsmobile plant in Lansing also won major quality awards shortly before closing. The problem, though, was that too often the quality wasn't assured until after the car went through the paint repair/conditioning area after assembly was completed. At the newer GM plants in Lansing and vicinity, the assembly process ensures that the quality stays intact throughout, instead of waiting until the end to fix something. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 11594 Registered: 10-2003 |
Toyota's quality is in a downward spiral, wow, what a shocker. Pretty much everybody knew this was coming, as they have been growing at way too rapid of a pace. So perhaps they'll over take GM for top sales this year, they'll have the bragging rights, but their quality will continue to suffer, and their reign at the top will be short lived. If GM can come to market with this Volt concept car in the near future, it'll be a TKO for Toyota. http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20070606/BUSINES S01/70606035 | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2293 Registered: 06-2004 |
Doubt they'll top GM for the year - not when GM can outsell them by 100,000 in a month | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 405 Registered: 08-2006 |
Slower lines=higher quality; that was what helped Wixom these past few years | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1026 Registered: 02-2006 |
Not to mention I would hope they'd be able to build the fucking things alright. They'd been building the same damn car for what, 30 years? I'm kidding, but only half. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1400 Registered: 12-2005 |
J.D. Power is an award that can be "bought" the ultimate award is sales--you are rewarded on your past quality in current sales. The customers who had good service in their last car come back to you for their next car. Some of our domestic brands have made product that looks good when new, then starts needing $600 repairs every six months after the warranty expires--mechanical reliability is viewed as "quality" as much as initial fit and finish. | ||
Jeffery47 Member Username: Jeffery47 Post Number: 7 Registered: 09-2006 |
There was an article online a few days ago that said higher line speed equaled higher quality, which is the reverse of what you would think to be the case. The problem with being #1 is there is only one way to go. Toyota sees Hyundai in the rear view mirror, and behind that is the Chinese. I remember a Rodney Dangerfield joke about Chinese motorcycles being junk. How times have changed. My guess is that Toyota won't have nearly as long a reign at #1 as GM did. GM and the other 2 just need to concentrate on making money on every vehicle, and getting their other costs in line. With all the Kool-Aid the CAW has been serving lately, the next couple of years should be very entertaining. | ||
Cushkid Member Username: Cushkid Post Number: 78 Registered: 08-2005 |
If quality increases with line speed, Wixom should've been dead last for at least 6 months, it had the slowest line speed of any Ford plant. | ||
Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 629 Registered: 10-2006 |
"Ford Motor Co. is wasting no time touting its strong showing in the J.D. Power quality rankings. A full-page Lincoln-Mercury ad appeared Monday in USA Today with the headline "There's nothing like that new trophy smell" and photos of the Milan, MKZ and Mark LT. Television and radio spots will incorporate the same theme later this month." | ||
Hairybackjoe Member Username: Hairybackjoe Post Number: 20 Registered: 06-2005 |
There was a short (very short) blurb on the radio today (the car chronicles) talking about this (actually about one or two sentences). The reason they gave was the decline of the Lincoln brand name (that's all they said, no particulars). | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 1876 Registered: 12-2003 |
quote: From the Automotive News quote: |
