New Ford CEO drives the best: a Lexus

crackityjones submitted on 09/13/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 11:26 AM
from: www.freep.com

[48] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: Lexus, Ford

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Lexus

Ford

New Ford CEO drives the best: a Lexus

Detroit Free Press journalist Tom Walsh writes,

"The newly named chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co. drives a Lexus LS 430, the flagship luxury sedan from Toyota Motor Corp. that he unabashedly says he purchased because 'it's the finest car in the world.'"

Enough said? Read Article

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Mark - 9/13/2006 11:49:17 AM

-1 Boost

And in 3...2...1...the gloves are off.

An major automotive executive that doesn't drive a BMW or MB...good for him.

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Mark - 9/13/2006 11:54:51 AM

+1 Boost

At least he is at Ford and can keep it. I can't imagine what he would say if the position or some other one was at BMW or MB, and they told him he had to get rid of it.

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huu76 - 9/13/2006 12:03:07 PM

+1 Boost

Probably going to use it as inspiration to get the design staff going. Basically saying "Until you build me a better car, I'm keeping the Lexus".

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AUDIMAN4 - 9/13/2006 12:40:20 PM

-8 Boost

This guy is truly a fool if he honestly thinks the LS is the best car in the world. It's not even the best in the segment. With that kind of disillusionment, it's hard to imagine this guy doing anything but screwing Ford even more than it already is.

And, a 37 year-old CEO? Even though I am Generation Y, I don't think it is smart for a large company to hire someone that young to run a company--they lack the experience.

This guy is just as stupid as the one he replaced.

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neutral - 9/13/2006 12:51:52 PM

+4 Boost

He's not 37 years old, he is a 37 year veteran of Boeing, this detail caught me too!!

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Agent004 - 9/13/2006 12:53:29 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

You mean he doesn't think the Ford 500 is the best car????? ;)

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WalterMax - 9/13/2006 1:04:17 PM

+1 Boost

As a CEO for Boeing and future CEO of Ford, I think he has way more credibility than your response on the LS430.

He is not stupid, I agree with huu76. Keeping the inspiration going!!

I'd love to see Ford come up!

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jeffy210 - 9/13/2006 1:18:11 PM

0 Boost

A Lexus, eh? So does this mean they're going to let him park in the parking lot, or is he going to have to walk?

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webguy - 9/13/2006 1:20:30 PM

+1 Boost

Good. "Make me want to drive a Ford" should be his mantra. When Lincoln is building cars to Lexus spec, at least Ford will be back in the luxury car game again. I would be a gravely concerned if he drove a Town Car and called that the finest in the world.

A CEO with the cojones to tell their company’s engineers to try again because the competition is still better, is what the company needs.

With that, no its not "enough said." It’s just one man’s opinion… maybe when Dieter Zetsche says that, then it may be enough.

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shiftright - 9/13/2006 1:27:53 PM

-2 Boost

I guess Mr. Walsh likes substance over anything else. Good for him. To have a CEO like him bodes well for Ford.

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crackityjones - 9/13/2006 1:35:11 PM

+1 Boost

Audiman, why are you calling a guy you've never even met stupid ... when you get his age wrong?

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Carboy - 9/13/2006 3:23:17 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

WHAT THE HELL

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JUGNU - 9/13/2006 3:39:04 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

He just said what he feels is true.And as the CEO of FORD,he have more level then us to say which is best.
And look at the appeal of Lexus,wowwwwwwww
even other companies bigwigs praises and appreciate Lexus for being the best.
Truth can't be hidden for more time.

And what is the parking issue,he probably will park the another as well,the NEW LS 460.
Ford u got the right man this time,let him keep as many Lexus as he wants,And u also follow him
Maybe this will help u to make a return and a good car.

JUGNU

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1970toyotamarc - 9/13/2006 4:08:34 PM

+2 Boost

""Make me want to drive a Ford" should be his mantra."

Webguy, you hit the nail on the head with that slogan.

American politicians cant be seen in a foreign car. I think its the same all over the world. I remember East German politicians had to drive Volvos because they couldnt be seen in MBZ's from West Germany. So it's nice to see a CEO stick by his guns and drive whatever the hell he wants. But to use it as a tool to make Ford successful would be brilliant.

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Dave - 9/13/2006 4:42:09 PM

+3 Boost

JUGNU, you said it right. After years of mostly unreliable cars(FORD--Fix Or Repair Daily), the new appointed CEO is using Lexus as a benchmark and as his daily driver. And as for the parking issue, if he ends up getting the new LS460, he wouldn't have to worry cause the car will park ITSELF!! With the salary he'll be getting, he might as well get the LS600hL. For the former head of Boeing(and Agent 001 who ain't afraid to say it as it is) to say Lexus is the best and give them credit, you know it's true.
Love or hate Lexus, one can't deny the facts. Lexus didn't just get to where they were by accident. They made the extreme effort to be the best, and they deserve the recognition. (most people don't know this, but the amount of people assigned to develop the original LS400 was about half the amount Boeing assigned for it's 777 project!) I mean, the odds they had to overcome is enough proof. When Lexus was being developed, people couldn't even COMPREHEND the idea of a Japanese luxury car, much less think about buying one. That's like saying at this moment, Hyundai will build a flagship sedan to beat a Mercedes S class. They'd be laughed at. But that was the same reaction back in 1989. Lexus overcame extreme difficulties(avoided the gas guzzler tax, was faster and had a less coefficient of drag than MB or BMW) such that they even became the #1 selling luxury nameplate in the US in a very short time...an unparalleled feat for a total underdog.
But it's not stopping now. The immense attention to detail is being utilized on the next LS460. The new CEO of Ford is using the best in the world as his benchmark now, just as Lexus used Mercedes(the best in the world then) as their benchmark then.

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audiot - 9/13/2006 4:47:10 PM

+2 Boost

This guy is a maverick. More power to him. The fact that he overlooks the S-Class and 7-series (and Maybach for that matter) says the guy thinks for himself. The LS is a darn fine car. Ask Billy Gates.

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lexusis350 - 9/13/2006 6:22:45 PM

-1 Boost

Gee, even the top notch employees at Ford hate their vehicles. I can't say I'm surprised, I drive an LS 430 and it is the best car in the world.

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S4cabriofox - 9/13/2006 8:26:34 PM

-2 Boost

LS is luxurious and is probably the most refined car in the world... but the best? I beg to differ.

The entire reason the S-Class is regarded so highly is because IT'S the most desirable, best car on the planet. If I didn't have extracurricular expenses (college, law school) I'd have an S65 in a flash! I respect the LS for its challenge, though. But I just stare every time I see an S-Class. I can't help myself!

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lexusis350 - 9/13/2006 9:06:44 PM

0 Boost

Well, I beg to differ with you. The Mercedes is too much for what you get in it and it isn't because it's a prestigious car, it's because Mercedes overcharges you for their vehicles. And I stare at every LS I see, I just glance at the S-Class and say to myself, "those suckers were taken for a ride."

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Ryan - 9/13/2006 9:26:37 PM

0 Boost

What the article failed to mention is he also owns an Explorer.

The LS was a vehicle paid for by Boeing through his Executive compensation allowance

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sold2early - 9/13/2006 9:57:23 PM

0 Boost

I wonder what the union mongoloids are saying about this... probably something like "That guy's got some f*ckin nerve parkin that car here. I got half a mind to go down there with my Louisville f*ckin slugga and bust out his f*ckin windshield"

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crackityjones - 9/14/2006 12:47:57 AM

+1 Boost

CommonSense,

The beauty of this guy saying the LS is the world's greatest car is -- it isn't the most expensive car.

Why do you have to reach up into the $100,000+ range to prove something is the best? You're succumbing to a cliche there.

Whether it's the best or not, it's certainly in expensive enough. Perhaps its 65K price is part of what he thinks is so great about it.

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Matthew1 - 9/14/2006 12:59:19 AM

0 Boost

Perhaps we all think that because he has been working for FORD for five minutes, suddenly we must respect him as an unsurpassed car expert?

Answer me that.

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breh760li - 9/14/2006 1:13:01 AM

0 Boost

Well I guess it's a the sign of the times, Lexus is really becoming a big part of the reality in our everyday lives. The german sedans are now not alone in the premium class car market...They're now not the only "best" cars in the world..(:

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Agent63 - 9/14/2006 6:00:16 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Come on now, he works at FORD!. Any car is better than a Ford these days. Let's face it. Of course he'll believe the LS is the best car cause his own company hasn't proven him wrong yet.

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bigslick83 - 9/14/2006 11:55:26 AM

0 Boost

quote: lexusis350 - 9/13/2006 9:06:44 PM+1 Boost
Well, I beg to differ with you. The Mercedes is too much for what you get in it and it isn't because it's a prestigious car, it's because Mercedes overcharges you for their vehicles. And I stare at every LS I see, I just glance at the S-Class and say to myself, "those suckers were taken for a ride."

i dont think price was really in consideration. the "best car in the world" is different than the best car for the money in the world. in that case the s-class would be better while maybe not as good as a value then the ls. i have neither but your comment knocking the s-class is irrelevant.

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luvmybmr - 9/14/2006 3:19:33 PM

0 Boost

this is old news, it was in the paper, he actually said that he was getting rid of his lexus as the first step of becoming the new ceo of ford. and hey, aston martin is owned by ford. i would choose that any day over a lexus, or even a range rover come on guys, theres a lot of alternatives.

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Rupert - 9/14/2006 4:00:49 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

i think a range rover is the best car in the world. you guys may not agree, but i think that.
i wouldn't this lexus is.

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TybeeZ4 - 9/14/2006 5:23:02 PM

-1 Boost

If he really thinks a Lexus is "the best car in the world", then Bill Ford has made yet another error in judgement!

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bigslick83 - 9/14/2006 5:36:00 PM

+2 Boost

gert12345 im not "using my logic" i was saying that if we were talking the best car in the world, it would be based on options features styling uniqueness performance and the like. not price. hes the freakin ceo of ford he just got 18.5 mil for taking a job. price shouldnt mean much to him, or this conversation, and no im not wrong i never even gave my opinion on any car. just that price in comapring the best car in the world should nt be an issue, or it would be "the best car in the world under $50,000 or something. gosh, retard

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NYC45 - 9/15/2006 12:43:12 AM

+2 Boost

To me Lexus is not on the same level as the europeans.

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Matthew1 - 9/15/2006 4:18:26 AM

+1 Boost

Quality, or reliabilty, Will?

Lexus does have some interior materials which I do consider to be higher quality than what you would find in a Mercedes-Benz, Audi..etc.

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krzykarl - 9/15/2006 11:40:08 AM

+1 Boost

lets cut this guy some slack guys..... he cant know much about luxery or style or preformance....he dose work for ford afterall

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mpls - 9/28/2006 12:45:59 AM

+1 Boost

Whatever measures or surveys in terms of quality or reliability around the world.. what you will find is that Audi cars never come in the top 10.. There is a reason for that.. because it doesn't deserve to be in the top 10.. relibility is the pits.. this is from experience, friends and family experience. Granted they may have created a sort of a desireable image like BMW or MB.. but that does not put it on the same league as the BMW, MB, Lexus

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