Auto sales news and statistics.

[Huney1]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...611010380/1014

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

I'm surprised to see this because where we live we see lots of people driving new Ford Fusions, 500's and their Mercury counterparts. I have to wonder if sales would be down so much if Ford hadn't discontinued their most popular selling car, the Taurus Would like to see how many Fusions have been sold as compared to an average year of Taurus's...

[Huney1]

Saw a spot on TV and they said big SUV sales weren't declining as much as expected and I guess they have plenty of money to spend on gas.

"I have to wonder if sales would be down so much if Ford hadn't discontinued their most popular selling car, the Taurus."

Taurus is the number one "fleet" car and I reckon Ford thinks the Focus is going to replace the Taurus. Not really that much difference in gas mileage betwen the Crown Vic and Taurus, so maybe the fleet owners will go with Crown Vics.

Really surprised to see JD Powers says Hyundai moved in front of Toyota for overall quality. I saw a documentary on TV about the new Hyundia plant in Alabama and boy is that a super-modern factory with NO United Auto Workers Union. Have to give credit where due and that top of the line Hyundai is one good looking car and the 100,000 mile warranty is good to future owners.

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

Originally Posted by Huney1

Not really that much difference in gas mileage betwen the Crown Vic and Taurus

I don't know if that's true. My father has the Mercury version of the crown vic and I get much better mileage than he does.

Hyundai moved in front of Toyota for overall quality.

This doesn't surprise me at all. Hyundai studied Honda and is following right in their foot steps because of it. I applaud them on their efforts. I applaud any company that thinks outside of the box and focuses on quality and customer satisfaction. Whether they achieve it or not is another question, but at least they are trying to make customer satisfaction job one, which is more than I can say for most auto manufactures these days.

[retrohwam]

Purchased my brother-in-law's 2003 fleet Taurus last week - his replacement - a Fusion.

[Huney1]

"I don't know if that's true. My father has the Mercury version of the crown vic and I get much better mileage than he does."

Hmmm . . . That's odd because both have same tranny and 4.6 ltr V8 engine set on a Lincoln frame. We've had Vics and Marquis, present 05 Marquis gets 23 mpg @ 80 mph Interstate cruising and 20 around town but only 10K mi on it and not broke in good yet. In-laws rectently got T-boned in their Marquis and nary a scratch on them, just sore from the jolt. Those babies are the last of a dead breed of big, rear wheel drive highway cruisers and for the comfort, safety and decent gas mileage they are a hard car to beat and that 4.6 V8 is almost bullet proof.