2001 Taurus 38k Original Miles, Reliable, Looks And Drives Good! on 2040-cars

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Ford tweaking Model E dealer program to address dealer concerns

Ford's been working on its strategy and sales reorganization for a couple of years, the initiative that created the Blue (ICE), Pro (commercial), and Model E (electric) divisions. On the Model E side, part of continuous reworking of the EV arm has been in response to dealer lawsuits filed in numerous states, since Model E not only stipulated investments of anywhere from $500,000 to $1.2 million, the automaker initially wanted dealers to set no-haggle pricing, offer remote pickup and delivery for service appointments, and build chargers that would operate around-the-clock. Another big part of the tweaks to Model E is the continually unstable ground the entire electric project is built on. As part of understanding what dealers are facing and how to keep the electric wheels turning, Automotive News reports that the automaker held 11 meetings with dealers this year in six cities. Based on the feedback, more changes are coming to Model E as soon as next month.   During the roadshow, Ford told dealers to pause their investments into getting certified for Model E. This directive followed a corporate change in plans as Ford pulled investments in battery-electrics in favor of consumers' choice for hybrids. The head of Ford Blue — the internal-combustion-powered division that, with Ford Pro, has been paying the bills as Model E posts big losses — told AN, "We don't want them to make any decisions between now and the middle of June, when you can maybe have a more informed decision-making process based off what we work out with council in the next few weeks." One change has already been made public, the VP of EV programs telling an AutoNews business conference audience, “What weÂ’re finding is more dealers want to be involved in it and we donÂ’t want to be exclusive to just a handful, and so weÂ’re making a change where weÂ’re opening up that and not requiring as many certifications or investments for a dealer to participate in the EV revolution." Don't take that comment as a revelation; since the beginning, dealers complained about being excluded and needing to throw so much money at the program. Take that comment as Ford needing to find a better way in the "rapidly changing" environment. The official list of updates won't come until next month, when Ford meets its dealer council, and it should touch on topics beyond EVs.

Feds open investigation into Chevy Express, Ford Freestar rust issues

'Tis the season... for road salt. And with that, comes rust. And what does rust bring? Well, for Ford and General Motors, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA is looking into potential recalls issues with Chevrolet Express vans and Ford Freestar minivans.
The feds have received five complaints that rust has caused leaking fuel filler pipes on 2003 Express vans. Separately, seven complaints have been filed over excessive rust in the rear wheel wells of 2004 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. The Freestar and Monterey went out of production in 2007. Neither issue has resulted in any crashes or injuries, according to the report.

2015 Ford Edge Sport [w/video]

The Edge is easy to overlook, especially in Ford's prolific stable of sport utility vehicles. But thanks to new engines, upscale sheet metal and fresh technologies, the Edge has renewed swagger for 2015. Outfitted in the Sport trim, which included the feisty 315-horsepower EcoBoost V6, a stiffer suspension, and unique fascias, my Edge was loaded, and it was priced accordingly. With options, including all-wheel drive, it cost $46,180, which is pretty lofty for a Ford Edge. But, you get a lot of stuff here – features like leather-accented seats, a lane-departure warning system, and active park assist – that make your life more comfortable and safer. It's been a while since I've driven an Edge. And unless you own one, it's probably been a while since you've even thought about an Edge. Now there's good reason to take another look. Driving Notes I really liked the interior. It was simple, clean, and done up in black. It served as a fitting backdrop for the colorful gauges and the Sync with MyFord Touch infotainment system. The interior designers added silver plastic trim and contrasting white stitching on the center console and door inserts to break up the darkness. Leather was used for the steering wheel wrap, door inserts, and console cover, and it conveyed a premium feel. The leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts were comfortable. They looked elegant and felt pleasing. The heating and cooling features were useful for springtime driving and its varied temperatures. The vista sunroof was spectacular. It let in plenty of sunlight and opened long and wide like a retractable stadium roof. Even closed, it still offered a panoramic view of the sky for my passengers, especially those in the second row. Another note on the interior: I had an excellent driving position and an elevated view of the road. When rain began to fall – which has a way of frazzling motorists – I turned up Cat Stevens and motored along blithely. My second-row passengers were also comfy. One remarked on the ample leg- and headroom, and everyone liked the ambient lighting. The cargo area, which offered 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row (7 cubic feet more than the previous version), was more than capable for a weekend grocery run. I'll admit, I'm a Luddite when it comes to infotainment systems, and Sync with MyFord Touch has a mixed reputation. Historically, it's been confusing and hasn't always worked as advertised.