Comments on: As long as it’s black

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:06:01 +0000

What they mean is that instead of 7 different radios, you get three. Keep the big tooth design for the big stuff, but why don’t we get the Ford Falcon that the Aussies do? That thing looks great and is quick, Ford wake up and give the world an chance at that car.

By: MatthewBrewster

MatthewBrewster — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:01:25 +0000

Well this guy obviously knows what he is talking about. He worked in the airline business. And we all know how much we enjoy our time spent on a plane don’t we?

By: jackirius

jackirius — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:56:29 +0000

some people have missed the point here i think. its just unnecessary and pointless choice thats being removed, like having 5 shades of the same colour or having different types of seat fabrics. instead, there will be only one red and either pleblon or leather seats. options that people are cncerned about like adding sat nav or air con will remain. i think its a good idea!

By: Jim Bob

Jim Bob — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:47:27 +0000

There is nothing wrong with limiting the number of minor options available that make no functional difference. If the car is a really well built model people will still buy it if they do not have a choice of colors for the radio buttons. However, their styling in the American market is awful. Whoever thought of that 3 or 4 bar grille should be shot. The Fiesta will be sold in America, but they are modifying it to look like a Taurus. The Euro version is so much nicer that I do not understand why they wish to make it look like a poor selling car that no one wants.

By: Graham Potter

Graham Potter — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:31:46 +0000

Build a car that appeals to the market because it’s good and desirable and they will buy it, simple as that. Who buys a car because it’s a particular shade of silver? You buy the car first and then choose the colours/options. Also, I can’t abide these companies which allow you to buy a basic model and then option it to the hilt to make it look like the top model i.e. Audi. I remember when Fords came in “L”, “GL” and “Ghia”. That was it. Good on you Ford for being sensible.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:26:46 +0000

This isn’t such bad business actually, they’ll make money out of this.

Rather than pick n choosing your options, you’re locked in to buying set combinations.

You want cruise control? Then you get (and have to pay for) sat nav, rear parking sensors, bi-xenons, curtain airbags. So now rather than getting $300 for the cruise control, Ford is getting $2000 because you’ve had to get the whole lot.

Similarly, you want a stereo upgrade? Then you also get electric leather heated seats, upgraded climate control etc. And you’ll pay more for it.

Yes some people might not buy a Ford or might go without an option they would have normally gotten, but that will be more than made up for by people who do buy by the package. And it can be a benefit for people who might only get 2-3 options, because now they are getting more add-ons for only slightly more money, giving them a better car than they would normally get.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:55:24 +0000

From the company that brought one of the finest, stylish American cars that the country went nuts over, the fully customisable Mustang, comes a complete U-turn in the wrong direction. What they need to do is stop unions, etc pushing wages up so that the labour is more cost effective, and build cars with Japanese levels of quality and German levels of customisation. The brand is doing badly because Ford are not cool anymore, even the new GT can’t save them because their normal cars are so dull and poorly made. Also why now? Brands that do well in the US are Mini, Nissan and Toyota. So they either need to offer more customisation to consumers or more quality. Cutting both of these options out would send them spiralling straight down into Kia and Hyundai territory, already the fastest growing car company in the world! We won’t need a black box to determine why an ex-Boeing exec helped Ford fail if they’re going down this route. Crazy. Absolutely crazy.

By: Last week, a blog

Last week, a blog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:39:26 +0000

There’s a sporting event of some kind on 26/10, so it’s been put back a week.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:58:06 +0000

I ve just been reading topgear and it says at the end of jeremys and and hammonds columns that topgear is back on the 26th of november but it says on the site it is back on the second of november? any answers?

By: Hals

Hals — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:15:29 +0000

Hi Jeremy, James and Mr Hammond
Could you guys please make a podcast on itunes