strife

I orignally posted this in the vt cigarette lighter post but thought it deserved its own thread

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/business...lash-financial

Ford dropping car features to save cash, aid recovery

The Associated Press
5/15/02 3:37 AM


DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. is hoping car buyers won't notice if it removes some features like rear seat ashtrays and map pockets.

The Dearborn-based car company is searching for ways to reduce expenses after losing $5.45 billion last year.

The No. 2 automaker is planning to eliminate a number of features -- without hurting customer satisfaction or reducing quality -- from its vehicles beginning in the 2003 model year as part of a widespread campaign to cut product development costs as much as $2.5 billion.

The moves mark a change in philosophy at Ford. Under former Chief Executive Jacques Nasser, who was fired in October, 2001, Ford often loaded cars and trucks with features that didn't always pay off in fatter profits, reported The Detroit News on Wednesday.

Venom XR

Better rear seat ashtrays and map holders than air bags! (*Ahem*, GM)

Well, only side airbags on some models, and they're going from standard to optional extras. Same goes with ABS brakes on some models.

__________________
The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for a life. - Andrew Brown

davocol

Not really the smartest thing that the U.S has done, No rear ashtrays where are the butts going to go? You guessed it out the window. Lets hope we dont follow suit.

strife

it worked out well for me the monaro has side air bags the GTO does not,

helpful when i want to replace the seat for race day. not sure I could have got away changing the seat on the monaro.

Fireman Sam

I've never seen a smoker use their car ashtray, the dirty stinking bastards always flick them out the window

aurora

Who cares about ashtrays

Im not buying another car again.