Ford Is Selling Volvo !!!

Porsche - smaller
amount of high quality cars made the right way.

Yeah but Porsche parts cost like hell. $$$$$$$

If Ford has any sense they will leave the building of good cars to the
Volvo Engineers.

The day I find a dashboard control equivalent on a Volvo to a Ford, I will
quit them for good.

FYI

Well not exactly. I just returned from visiting several auto manufacturing
facilities in Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden, and Shanghai. All of
the facilities use modern assembly methods and look like they can turn out
cars at about the same rate. Production, however was not flowing in a few
locations. The demand for certain cars is down. There is discussion in some
facilities of seeking alternate automotive products to manufacture.

Which brings me to the Subject topic.

Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that Ford wants
to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is considering
buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish government and
also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but it I heard
it from several disconnected sources.

Is this new news - or is it well known?

Nospam wrote:

> Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
> and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that Ford wants
> to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is considering
> buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish government and
> also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but it I heard
> it from several disconnected sources.

God I truly hope so. Volvo should turn into another Porsche - smaller
amount of high quality cars made the right way.

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 01:49:42 GMT,
Nospam ((E-Mail Removed)) wrote:

> Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
> and is not sure what to do about it.

I have no idea whether Ford wants to sell Volvo or not, but your facts about
sales are wrong. You stated in your opening paragraph that Volvo sales
are down. For the first half of 2003 (the last figures that I have access
to), Volvo sales in the US was 23.8% higher than the same period of 2002.
The figures for Canada was 12.5%

However, in the long run I anticipate that Volvo sales will dip perhaps by
the end of 2006, as consumers recognize the Focus-based S40 for the TPOS
that it will turn out to be. Unfortunately this will have a negative effect
on the other models.

--
Bev A. Kupf
"The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne" -- Chaucer
Tintin turns 75 <http://www.tintin.com>

"Nospam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<Wmx%b.28$(E-Mail Removed)>...
<snip>
> Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
> and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that Ford wants
> to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is considering
> buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish government and
> also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but it I heard
> it from several disconnected sources.
>
> Is this new news - or is it well known?

This rumour pops up from time to time.

Volvo Cars sales, esp the XC90, and profit margins are very good.
Volvo is actually the only company in the group that turns a profit
right now.

Fords other brands in their PAG (Premium Automotive Group which
consist of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo) are using
Volvos expertice and safety research facilities.

The companies in the PAG are also developing a common platform
together, that the next generation SUV and premium cars will be built
on.

Volvos integration in the Ford group has been very successful, and
Volvo have expertise in areas that other Ford group companies benefit
from. There is no signs that Ford is planning to sell Volvo.

However, if you look at manufacturing some Volvo factories may very
well be sold. Ford wants to cut production costs, and one way is of
course to assemble their different car-brands in the same factories.
/Patrik

GO BACK TO REAR WHEEL DRIVE as the only people who say FWD is any good are
the guys selling the darn things as wheel as the spare parts guys .The
latest Volvo looks so much like any other auto .


"Nospam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Wmx%b.28$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Well not exactly. I just returned from visiting several auto manufacturing
> facilities in Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden, and Shanghai. All
of
> the facilities use modern assembly methods and look like they can turn out
> cars at about the same rate. Production, however was not flowing in a few
> locations. The demand for certain cars is down. There is discussion in
some
> facilities of seeking alternate automotive products to manufacture.
>
> Which brings me to the Subject topic.
>
> Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
> and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that Ford
wants
> to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is considering
> buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish government and
> also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but it I heard
> it from several disconnected sources.
>
> Is this new news - or is it well known?
>
>

Joseph Oberlander <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<yyx%b.9832$(E-Mail Removed) ink.net>...
> Nospam wrote:
>
> > Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with Volvo sales
> > and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that Ford wants
> > to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is considering
> > buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish government and
> > also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but it I heard
> > it from several disconnected sources.
>
"God I truly hope so. Volvo should turn into another Porsche -
smaller
amount of high quality cars made the right way."

Ditto!!!! Our S60 is such an awful example of a car, let alone a
Volvo. After years of driving Volvo, we are being pushed away by a
philosophy of putting fluff over value, quality, and safety - typical
of so many manufacturers these days. Very sad state within Volvo.
They are enjoying high sales now, but that has a lot to do with the
SUV and the R's, not the mainstay they used to produce.

"John Robertson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> GO BACK TO REAR WHEEL DRIVE as the only people who say FWD is any good are
> the guys selling the darn things as wheel as the spare parts guys .The
> latest Volvo looks so much like any other auto .

You are quite right in that the Volvo doesn't look like a box any more.
The 850 was the first Volvo since the P1800/1800E/1800ES that was
considered to be styled better than a shoe box. They were mighty sturdy
and reliable shoe boxes, but boxes they were. At least now they have a
chance of getting some aerodynamic efficiency, much more than the
previous shoe box Volvos. And the aerodynamic efficiency of the non-XC
models has proven to be quite high. They have more power and use less
fuel. That is a good combination.

Regarding RWD, I wouldn't go back. The old Volvo RWD models were the
only vehicles in their class that didn't go to independant suspension.
I guess that is why they had so much body roll and their cornering was
never very good. I am very pleased with the FWD and AWD models. They
are a giant step forward.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to (E-Mail Removed)
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '02 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '02 through European Delivery.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html

Steve S wrote:

> "God I truly hope so. Volvo should turn into another Porsche -
> smaller
> amount of high quality cars made the right way."
>
> Ditto!!!! Our S60 is such an awful example of a car, let alone a
> Volvo. After years of driving Volvo, we are being pushed away by a
> philosophy of putting fluff over value, quality, and safety - typical
> of so many manufacturers these days. Very sad state within Volvo.
> They are enjoying high sales now, but that has a lot to do with the
> SUV and the R's, not the mainstay they used to produce.

Exactly. Consider that a S60 is about the same price as a base
Boxter. It need not be a handmade luxury car, but it shouldn't be
a rebadged Japanese car either.

The things is, a shoe box will save your life while the supper dupper
aerodynamic fuel efficient car will kill you. Bigger (physically
speaking) vehicles are more safe than smaller vehicles. There's
plenty of data around you can search for to demonstrate that fact.

I prefer a shoe box, if this is what it takes to have personality. I
don't need to drive a car that looks like a mazda, a nissan, a KIA, a
honda, etc. .

True luxury cars are RWD. And I won't drive a FWD. I'm doing darn
well with RWD no matter the road conditions. Plus RWD offers better
weight distribution.

To each his own.


On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:18:25 GMT, "Stephen M. Henning"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"John Robertson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> GO BACK TO REAR WHEEL DRIVE as the only people who say FWD is any good are
>> the guys selling the darn things as wheel as the spare parts guys .The
>> latest Volvo looks so much like any other auto .
>
>You are quite right in that the Volvo doesn't look like a box any more.
>The 850 was the first Volvo since the P1800/1800E/1800ES that was
>considered to be styled better than a shoe box. They were mighty sturdy
>and reliable shoe boxes, but boxes they were. At least now they have a
>chance of getting some aerodynamic efficiency, much more than the
>previous shoe box Volvos. And the aerodynamic efficiency of the non-XC
>models has proven to be quite high. They have more power and use less
>fuel. That is a good combination.
>
>Regarding RWD, I wouldn't go back. The old Volvo RWD models were the
>only vehicles in their class that didn't go to independant suspension.
>I guess that is why they had so much body roll and their cornering was
>never very good. I am very pleased with the FWD and AWD models. They
>are a giant step forward.