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chunderboy

chunderboy

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So,

As it turns out my g/f's roommate has been seeing this guy who turns out to be a ford engineer who stands by his brand like we do ours. So, after a long and somewhat heated conversation about the two manufacturers we decided to come to the decision that we agree to disagree.

This is my question to yall, if you guys were there in my position, what sort of questions would you ask. Reason being, I am going to Bean town this weekend, and for sure this conversation with continue. But this time, we are going to take it to the highway. His exploder is 2004 limited, and mine is the 2004 SE.

Give me some more bullet points to use on this kid, so I can make him feel like isht.
 
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Point out the recent report that it will take 11 years for your 4Runner to be in the shop as much as his Explorer will be in the shop in it's first 3 years.
 
I had an Exploder XLT that I bought new in 1999. Ask him:

- why Ford used weather strip tape to seal the accessory compartment below the dash

- why water drains down to the bottom of the doors and rusts them out

- why heat shields in the engine compartment can't stay bolted on

- why a pulley in the front belt serpentine that snaps off during highway speed isn't considered an extended warranty item

- why the driver's side door handle mechansism disintegrates

- why I had to take it back within the first 2 weeks for a cruise control recall and a TSB for wheel seals/bearings that squeak

- why the light behind the headlight switch in the dash keeps burning out (I gave up after 3 replacements)

- why my emergency brake stopped grabbing after about 4 years

- why the emergency brake light kept staying on even when the brake was off

- WHY do they use dorky steering column shifters?!

- why the upper and lower ball joints reach end of life after about 65,000 miles

- why water leaks into the rear wiper motor, freezing it solid in the winter

That's just off the top of my head.
 
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^ wow... had enough problems with it?


one main question: why does Ford still make cars as it continues to lose money? what about the pension funds and the impact it has on the company?

oh wait.. he's a mechanic? um..... why does Ford have so many problematic issues with their cars? what kind of certification/training programs do Ford techs need to go through/pass? is there constant re-education/continual education?
 
-Ask him why his employer is losing money.
-Tell him about where the 4runner is made (specifically the Tahara and Hino plants in Japan) and difference in overall quality, design & manufacture philosophy.
-XREAS - why didn't they think of something like that?
-Point out that all those "quality is job 1" commercials are just false advertising.

As for the specific models you mentioned. Don't get me wrong, ford makes some pretty capable trucks and vehicles, but an Exploder next to a 4runner? Come on. Now I can't say 1st hand that I ever own an Exploder (and why the hell would I), but my buddy drives an explorer and compared it to my Runner. Am I biased? Absolutely. However, he parked it right next to my 4runner in my driveway and compared. Hell, he even took my truck for a spin and liked it.
 
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chunderboy said:
LSUMBA

Is there really a report that says that. And where did you find it.

He'll love that one
Click to expand...

I heard that stat on the NBC Nightly News the other night when Consumer Reports (I think it was them) released the top 10 cars in the US & they were all Japanese manufacturers. An industry expert came on & that was his exact quote. He said that domestic quality had dropped so much that over an 11 year span, Japanese imports will have spent as much time in the shop as a domestic will in its first 3 years.

I will see if I can find a link for you.
 
eorange said:
- why I had to take it back within the first 2 weeks for a cruise control recall and a TSB for wheel seals/bearings that squeak
Click to expand...

That cruise control recall wouldn't be the same one that fixed the issue of the car bursting into flames while turned off and in park would it? Apparently the cruise control module would continue to draw power even though the car was turned off causing it to over heat and catch the car on fire. I think it burned down a house or two and millions of trucks were affected by the recall.
 
No, that was a different one. It had to do with brake system, something about a module that had an electrical switch on one side, and brake fluid in the other, separated by a thin membrane. The membrane eventually gives way, causing electricity + brake fluid to meet. I'm sure that one would have caught up to me eventually.

The cruise control problem was equally bad - dealt with a sticking cruise control cable that wouldn't release the throttle!
 
Ford employee? Don't waste your time. Well, waste a little time, but don't look like an a$s. GFs don't like car babble.

:D


Search for recalls and TSB on the Exploder vs. 4Runner. Or the rebates Ford needs to sell vehicles. Resale is also tough pill.
 
Drew- don't mean to hijack this thread, but your inbox is full- you will be passing my house this weekend- why not stop by- I've got a great, short off-roading trail by my house that would make for a great t4r photo op! E-mail me and clean your PM box.
Karl
 
You should ask him to go off-roading with you and let your 4Runner do the talking. Take him to a place that is somewhat challenging and when you have to pull him out of a ditch that will shut him up for good.
 
If his is a V8 dont even try it. But your V6 will blow his 210hp 12v V6 away. A buddy of mine has one, nice rig if you like fixing it and not being able to go anywhere with it.

Coop
 
since he's an engineer, ask him this simple question:

Why are you guys reinventing everything again for another vehicle? Why not use the same part over multiple platform? (switch mechanisms etc).

Toyota for example is very successful in what they do is by making a single item that is cross platform compliant. By doing this you cut costs on everything and effectively build vehicles more efficiently and with less errors.

Now if Ford started doing that then I would suspect a big turn around.
 
I think you should take him off-road and let the trucks do the talking. Then take him on road and smoke him too. Even if it is the 4.8L V8, the vvt-i V6 should be able to edge him too.

If he wants to argue your 4Runner against his Exploder, then you have him hands down. Tell him that your truck handles better, rides better, drives better, is better off-road, has higher resale, is more reliable, and just about anything else he can think of.

The only remotely close thing he may be able to argue is that his fully independent suspension can handle better, in which case you might agree, if not for the X-REAS and the fact that solid rear axles are better for towing, in which case you should bring up the towing advantage you have over the V6 exploder.

If he won't shut up and you want to piss him off, tell him:

A) Firestone wasn't to blame for the tire mishaps, the POS independant suspension is tuned so stiff that the techs at the dealerships let out too much air to try and soften the ride, resulting in overheating the tires. This will happen on any and every tire made. Nice work Ford.

B) Ask him why Ford keeps putting 3 valves per cylinder in all of their V8's and running them on a single overhead cam. Ask him if he knows the rest of the world is adapting variable valve timing and advise him that this is not possible with one overhead cam.

C) Tell him that Ford thought they were so cool introducing the shocks outside the frame rails on the '05 F-150's, but the 4Runners have been doing it since '03.

D) Once the Tundra gets a big honkin' twin turbodiesel its going to outsell the Super Duty's, and thats a fact. Look at all the other segments Toyota has taken from Ford. Which leads to...

E) Tell him not to make too many plans for the future of his job as the outlook for Ford employees isn't going to get any better as stiff as competition is.

I could go all day...Especially if alcohol gets involved. :beer:
 
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OUTRNNR said:
B) Ask him why Ford keeps putting 3 valves per cylinder in all of their V8's and running them on a single overhead cam. Ask him if he knows the rest of the world is adapting variable valve timing and advise him that this is not possible with one overhead cam.

C) Tell him that Ford thought they were so cool introducing the shocks outside the frame rails on the '05 F-150's, but the 4Runners have been doing it since '03.
Click to expand...

B) Damn you...did you really have to remind people of that?!! Mercedes has done the same thing until 2006!:( Oh well, my G500 engine is/was ancient technology...just have to move on with my life....:(

C) Well, before Ford F150, most trucks that i know of has the shocks near the pumpkin. Therefore, Ford F150 was a breakthru in this regard.

Out of all the Fords, i respect two vehicles...F150 and Mustang. The F150 truck sets the standard for quietness and toughness combination. The Tundra is refined but not tough enough for the American public. My friend has a F150...holy shit, it is quiet and smooth riding! Of course, the new Tundra will set the standard, but until then, F150 is still my favorite truck to own. The frame on the F150 is quite impressive...fully boxed rails with crossmembers welded thru-and-thru both sides of the boxed frame.

The Mustang is just the perfect retro design IMHO. It's pretty much awesome in every way except for lack of independent suspension in the rear.

These two are really well-thought out vehicles and this is reflected in the sales. The other vehicles from Ford, however, are behind the times.
 
amen, a efing men. Then when it is all said and done, i can stand on the hood of his car in the captain morgan stance...
 
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