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Autoweek confirms Ford Goofed on the Focus

8.8K views 177 replies 58 participants last post by  wilko  
#1 ·
In January 22,2007 Autoweek

2008 Ford Focus

"Sources with in Ford, however, have admitted the cost of developing the car off the existing platform exceeded projections-and, in fact, ended up costing more that it would have to build the car using the C1. In other words, Ford might have shot itself in the foot, but somehow we're the ones who get to take the bullet."

Gee exceed projections in Detroit, Noway

Morons
 
#5 ·
rejectzx3

The only thing surprising about this is the fact that they admitted it.
:lol: Good one.




CTZX3

In January 22,2007 Autoweek

2008 Ford Focus

"Sources with in Ford, however, have admitted the cost of developing the car off the existing platform exceeded projections-and, in fact, ended up costing more that it would have to build the car using the C1. In other words, Ford might have shot itself in the foot, but somehow we're the ones who get to take the bullet."
There are some policy/management changes in the works and this is one of the reasons why. Too many freaking bean-counters and too much bad demographic information have led to overlooking what would really sell alongside their popular trucks and SUVs.

Meh. I wish I knew what was really going on. LOL. :p
 
#6 ·
The great thing about Ford NA is that when somethings wrong they will run with it as long as possible just incase god answers their prayers.

GJ Ford! Niiiiiiiice.
 
#9 ·
Someone should be losing their job over something this ridiculous. Ford can't afford huge errors like this if they ever hope to recover.

If anything, this just adds fuel to the "unify Ford globally" fire. Ford of N/A has proven that developing region specific products is not cost effective.
 
#10 ·
I'm waiting for our insiders to come in here and point out what's wrong with this biased article :lol:

-Brian
 
#13 ·
FocusOnPunk said:
Well in their defense (Ford's, and anyone else's) by the time you realize you're over-budget or over estimate, it's far too late to do anything about it.
Not too sure about that........

I know there are a few videogames that were in development for a LONG time that were finally cancelled by the company because they would lose more money by selling the game than by writing off the unused development costs on their taxes. I know Valve did this for the Dreamcast version of Half Life. The game was DONE but was never shipped because it would have been released after the DC was officially "dead" by Sega and would have had HORRIBLE sales.

Couldn't a car company do a similar thing?
 
#19 ·
I can describe this situation in one word....

Whoopsie..........

I find it so ironic they said "it would cost too much to import the C1", then they spend MORE THAN THAT to "update" the older-than-dirt C170....:lol:

Doh! The North American Ford Focus, the Ford Ranger of the 21st Century!!! :garage:
 
#20 ·
azbobbybooshay_10 said:
I can describe this situation in one word....

Whoopsie..........

I find it so ironic they said "it would cost too much to import the C1", then they spend MORE THAN THAT to "update" the older-than-dirt C170....:lol:

Doh! The North American Ford Focus, the Ford Ranger of the 21st Century!!! :garage:
But of course you had the lynch mobs out cursing at all of us that didn't see how it could possibly be cheaper to redo the current car than just working on importing the already designd, developed, and tested Euro C1.

Yes I know the car C170 car had already been greenlighted and it was basically a raging locomotive that couldn't be stopped. But its sad that the people who started that train couldn't see it being easier to test and certify and already existing car than trying to re-engineer the current car.

If this information is completely true then it means that they either went incredibly overboard on the 08' project (i'm talking 10's of millions) or they were just so pig headed that when it came down to it the two projects were so close money wise that it was just amazing they decided to go with a redesign instead of the port over that had worked so well for them back in 2000.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Ataru said:
Not too sure about that........

I know there are a few videogames that were in development for a LONG time that were finally cancelled by the company because they would lose more money by selling the game than by writing off the unused development costs on their taxes. I know Valve did this for the Dreamcast version of Half Life. The game was DONE but was never shipped because it would have been released after the DC was officially "dead" by Sega and would have had HORRIBLE sales.

Couldn't a car company do a similar thing?
Sure, they could have done that. But would having the current car for another 2-3 years have helped the situation?

I know I wouldn't have bought an '05 style car in '09. The new one is enough of a difference that I'm interested.
 
#24 ·
CTZX3 said:
In January 22,2007 Autoweek

2008 Ford Focus

"Sources with in Ford, however, have admitted the cost of developing the car off the existing platform exceeded projections-and, in fact, ended up costing more that it would have to build the car using the C1. In other words, Ford might have shot itself in the foot, but somehow we're the ones who get to take the bullet."

Gee exceed projections in Detroit, Noway

Morons
That pretty much sums it up.
My follow-up question is therefore: who will be promoted as a result?
 
#25 ·
gobstopper said:
Isn't it about time for Ron's new podcast, "SpinCycle"?:lol:

I hate to say "I told you so" but...

No, wait, I love saying that!

Cue Ron...
I've got no need to defend it. :dunno: I'm not the person in charge of the project. ;)

The new car, by all rights, SHOULD have been less to develop... a LOT less. That fact DOES NOT change just because someone made budgeting errors.


Anyway, I think it's safe to say that those that made the decisions are no longer at the helm. So, what does all this hand-wringing after the fact really do?

Look:

Either people accept the new car in the interim and wait for the next generation or they don't, and move onto another make and model. I think that's simple logic. :dunno:

Focaljet isn't going away anytime soon. :D
 
#26 ·
Thameth said:
But of course you had the lynch mobs out cursing at all of us that didn't see how it could possibly be cheaper to redo the current car than just working on importing the already designd, developed, and tested Euro C1.

Yes I know the car C170 car had already been greenlighted and it was basically a raging locomotive that couldn't be stopped. But its sad that the people who started that train couldn't see it being easier to test and certify and already existing car than trying to re-engineer the current car.

If this information is completely true then it means that they either went incredibly overboard on the 08' project (i'm talking 10's of millions) or they were just so pig headed that when it came down to it the two projects were so close money wise that it was just amazing they decided to go with a redesign instead of the port over that had worked so well for them back in 2000.
As I mentioned above... managed CORRECTLY, there is NO WAY IN HELL that a redesigned C170 should have cost more than a C1 variant.

I think a lot of people fail to grasp the layers upon layers of bureaucracy in getting a automobile to market.

There are financial, marketing, engineering, etc. departments, all involved... and sometimes (obviously) they have different agendas. That is what can cause wrong decisions, delays, budget escalation, etc.

There are also things involving, suppliers, plant capacity, unions and much, much more.

It's VERY easy to Monday morning quarterback decisions AFTER the fact. To use a cliché, hindsight is 20/20.

At this point, I'm sure a lot of people feel good about this report, why I don't know. :dunno:

Knowing what I know about the new car, I can actually understand HOW it went over-budget...

Besides all new sheet metal, the interior is a big leap forward and completely new. Also, there has been a TON of work put into NVH and vehicle dynamics. This is stuff you do not SEE in a photo. Potential customers will FEEL the difference when they drive the car.

Whether or not that was money well spent, only time (i.e. sales) will tell.