If you could design and build a car from scratch... - Ford Forums

The MaDDeSTMaN · 12-27-2004, 01:27

Ok, for arguments sake, lets say you won 100 million dollars (plus another million each month for 3 years, and if funds start to drop too low you have a practically limitless fund you can borrow from for those first few years, remember this is pure fantasy not dictated by reality), and decided you were going to get into the car manufacturing business.

Because you are starting a complete new company from scratch, you are not limited to making any particular style of car, you can make whatever you like that you think might sell.

So, what would you make, what part of the market would you go after, basically what would you do for the first year or two?

Remember, although you have practically limitless funds for the first few years, after that you're on your own, so after a few years you'll need to be able to generate enough cash flow to be able to operate without running at a huge loss, so you couldn't just build $300,000 supercars that cost $295,000 just to build without offering some sort of cheap base model shopping trolley and some sort of family car as well...

mr_mkII · 12-27-2004, 01:47

id make a .......car company........that ummm makes err.......cars.........ummm they would have errr ummmmm engines and ummm..........like seats and stuff (how am i going so far???).

they would look like umm.....them cars..... that you know.....ummmm ahve them things.........like um, well you know them things......well yeah and they would come with them whatchamacallits.......you know.......ummmm i think theyre called..........the things that turn the car?????????

oh yeah and they will cost $50,000 for a base model coz they would look so like unreal and stuff! and the haeps really grouse models would get ummm............well....they would get.......ummmm......hmm what would they get???? oh thats right, a free dice thingy tio dangle from the thing that lets you look behind the car but from the inside, how cool wuold that bee??????

so ummm yeah.....like howd i go??? you think i got wot it takes?????

The MaDDeSTMaN · 12-27-2004, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_mkII

id make a .......car company........that ummm makes err.......cars.........ummm they would have errr ummmmm engines and ummm..........like seats and stuff (how am i going so far???).

they would look like umm.....them cars..... that you know.....ummmm ahve them things.........like um, well you know them things......well yeah and they would come with them whatchamacallits.......you know.......ummmm i think theyre called..........the things that turn the car?????????

oh yeah and they will cost $50,000 for a base model coz they would look so like unreal and stuff! and the haeps really grouse models would get ummm............well....they would get.......ummmm......hmm what would they get???? oh thats right, a free dice thingy tio dangle from the thing that lets you look behind the car but from the inside, how cool wuold that bee??????

so ummm yeah.....like howd i go??? you think i got wot it takes?????

Hahahaha "the things that turn the car?????????" - you going to build hampster-powered cars bro?

mr_mkII · 12-27-2004, 02:03

why yes it would be a HAMpster powered car tehehehehehe

xrgran · 12-27-2004, 02:07

I wanna free dice thingy, woo hoo!!! gimme gimme

can it have a bobble head and fluffy seat covers wif matchin' steer wheel fing? please, huh!

bwue of course

ST170ish · 12-27-2004, 02:19

Id work on devoping powercell technology into a viable product, pantent it and sell it to all the car makers... specialise in one type of product bugga making whole cars.

ianmcginley · 12-27-2004, 02:34

/me points at the Joss Supercar product as a good sample of starting up a product line in a mature closed market

The MaDDeSTMaN · 12-27-2004, 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianmcginley

* ianmcginley points at the Joss Supercar product as a good sample of starting up a product line in a mature closed market

it's just for a bit of fun, aka what would you do different to what is available now...

Personally, I'd want to make a range of smallish, front engine (probably 4 cyl), RWD/4WD cars, low weight, base model being made as a basic around-town RWD run about that is well balanced and although a little underpowered, still a fun car to drive and relatively cheap, both to buy and to run.

Next up from that would be the same basic car, but with a more powerful engine, still RWD.

Next up from that would be the same basic car again, but with a force-fed version of the mid-spec engine (probably turbo) and the option of 4wd.

All would be a modern day version of the Mk 1 and 2 Escorts.

I would also make something slightly smaller then a Falcon, powered by a bigger engine (probably a 6 cyl, maybe V6, maybe I6 in the base and mid-range versions, definately V8 in the top models), alloy block in all and strike a balance between weight and features.

Base model would be 6 cyl, rwd, up-spec would be same but with better cam/timing, intake and exhaust (sorta like AU XR6) , sports would be same as up-spec but with a turbo.

Muscle car version would start off with a basic V8, then the option of either a supercharged or Twin-turbo V8.

Of course, all would have suitable gear ratios for what they are designed for, so the base models would have a taller diff ratio and be designed for fuel econ, while the sporty models would have gear and diff ratios designed for performance.

Main difference would be that I would be following the Lotus method of achieving performance not by brute power, but by weight reduction and intelligent gearing.

mr_mkII · 12-27-2004, 04:50

lmao! figured they would have to be based on the MKI MKII eski lmao!

rofl:

The MaDDeSTMaN · 12-27-2004, 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_mkII

lmao! figured they would have to be based on the MKI MKII eski lmao!

rofl:

Of course...

Try and tell me you wouldn't be interested in a modern version of a Mk II Escort, with a modern engine?

Or that nobody would be interested in something like a BA Falcon, but at least 100kgs lighter with better gear ratios?