<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Dec 30 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]368693[/snapback]</div>

If they are smart, that's exactly what they'd make. Many people have posted here asking for a hybrid minivan. The Toyota Estima (Japan only) would fit a lot of needs. The Escape Hybrid only seats five, no third seat available. For the life of me I can't figure why Ford won't put the Escape hybrid drivetrain in a minivan body and beat the competition to it.

For my part, two months ago I was looking for a reasonably fuel-efficient vehicle that could take six people. I've driven Fords, I like them and have had good experiences with them. If Ford had offered a hybrid minivan with decent mileage I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. Instead, my only options from Ford, seating 6, were huge and even more huge. My family and I even went to the dealer to look at the Ford Freestyle (with a continously variable transmission, which was a plus from my standpoint), but we just shook our heads and moved on. By our standards, it was enormous, and the kids hated it instantly. It's every bit as large as a midsize SUV. It's EPA rated MPG 20/27/23 (city/hwy/overall), but the internet buzz is that you'd be lucky to get 20 overall. So we grudgingly bought a Mazda5 "micro van" instead, and are getting maybe 30 MPG with careful driving. That Mazda has essentially the same footprint as the Prius and is as easy to drive.

I hope Ford is listening. Ford owns a big chunk of Mazda, I believe the Ford Focus is essentially a Mazda 3, you'd think Ford could learn something from Mazda. Like, not all Americans who want to drive Fords want to drive large cars.

I heard a financial guy talking about Ford stock as a "buy" at $7 a share ... he thinks they are doing the right things to trim costs. And then he said something that really struck me: buying Ford stock might be a good play in case Toyota buys Ford.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Dec 31 2006, 10:07 PM) [snapback]369181[/snapback]</div>

I SERIOUSLY doubt that Toyota would want to buy Ford or buy enough for a controlling stake. Why should they? What would Toyota gain from it? If they were to buy Ford as a whole, they'd be inheriting huge debt, and burdened w/UAW contracts and legacy retiree/health care costs. The gains that they'd get from it to me are minimal and they'd be stuck w/a whole bunch of stuff they don't really need like another dealer network. That doesn't make any sense to me.

Toyota is on its way to passing GM in becoming the world's largest automaker by volume and it doesn't need Ford's help to do that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jan 1 2007, 12:40 AM) [snapback]369199[/snapback]</div>

Good points, and if I was making the decision, I would pass on buying Ford. However, it would give them control of Mazda, Jaguar, Volvo (I think) and the other companies Ford bought when they were flush. So the buy strategy would include not only the world's largest market for autos, but a domestic competitor and some prestigious European brands.

If Ford were smart, they would somehow combine the Escape hybrid drive train into the Mazda 5 mini station wagon and re-badge it as a new, practical micro van for late 2007 release.

Toyota isn't looking to buy Ford and Ford isn't looking to sell to Toyota.

Ford is looking to buy the use of more hybrid technology that Toyota owns. I imagine because they've found their independent research and development isn't so independent and is very costly. Why reinvent the wheel when you can rent one? Makes me think they're expanding their hybrid line beyond the Escape. As was stated before, if they were smart, they'd do a Hybrid Mini-Van.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jan 1 2007, 12:55 PM) [snapback]369306[/snapback]</div>

Hmm - I heard Ford is killing off their mini-van business. It has been an abysmal failure against Honda and Toyota so they are dropping the line altogether, last I heard. Unless of course a Hybrid minivan is a way to get back in the game.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jan 1 2007, 02:40 AM) [snapback]369199[/snapback]</div>

That makes sense to me. After all, Toyota is expanding their R&D presence in Detroit, picking up the people let go or ready to jump from the Big 3, so they're getting the brainpower they need already in a much cheaper fashion.

I did read recently (unfortunately there were no references, just a short blurb in the local paper) that Toyota is apparently thinking of incorporating Suzuki diesel engines (I think they're part owner of Suzuki, pretty sure it started with S and it wasn't Subaru) into their HSD in the upcoming years. That would get awesome mileage! The diesel Ford Escort in the 80's got up to 50 mpg, of course that was before ABS, air-bags, auto-seats, windows, locks, etc. Pair that with a good hybrid system, and the hypermilers would go nuts.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Jan 1 2007, 01:07 AM) [snapback]369181[/snapback]</div>

For what it's worth, I agree; Ford's historic low has been in the $6's. and $7 is still a good buy.

I've been buying every time the stock goes below about $7 and selling when it gets above $9 or so; play the bounce and there's money to be made. Just keep an eye on the situation; things might go sideways in a hurry.