Ford "Bold Moves" documentary

[BlaRo]

Has anybody seen this yet? Ford basically is putting out their own version of "The Office", except without Steve Carrell/Ricky Gervais ().

http://www.fordboldmoves.com/default.aspx

There's a prologue and an episode out already, and it's the only chance you'll see somebody consider Ford an "underdog". As opposed to what? The US government?

Anyway, there's going to be a new episode every few weeks or so, showing the behind-the-scenes action (or lack of) at one of the world's largest car companies, all sprinkled with a bit of Kool-Aid propaganda (Autoextremist readers will know what that is) . It's all pretty interesting stuff, and there's a "Point/Counterpoint" set of articles on the site about American cars, and some more features and stuff.

So, what do you think of it?

(Ford's not the only one to do the reality show thing, though: Honda's doing something like that and Jeep had some wierd thing called "The Muds" which was created by some stoned teenagers having a laugh apparently.)

[fbc]

Definitely going to follow this - look beyond the marketing talk and management buzzwords and there's some frank honesty there and an acceptance of the mess they're in, and more importantly why they're in that mess. Very brave of them to publish those negative comments too.

Will be very interesting to see how much of this talk is actually translated into action and product.

[watto]

Wow, that's amazing that they're going to let the cameras so 'deep' into the company.

I've bookmarked it and shall be keeping a keen eye on it!

[Blind_Io]

I too have bookmarked it and read some of the articles they have. I don't agree with everything they say, I have started leaving comments. I hope the management types watch what the public has to say about it.

[pfrocker]

what so I'm suppose to feel guilty and buy a shitty Ford so the company can live? unless they improve their cars, I'll stick to European and Japanese. It's the survival of the fitest.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by pfrocker

what so I'm suppose to feel guilty and buy a shitty Ford so the company can live? unless they improve their cars, I'll stick to European and Japanese. It's the survival of the fitest.

I aggree, though I won't bother with European, until I can afford to tortue myself with an Alfa

I love the Ford Exec actually going "wow" over a Hyundai, that right there should tell them everything they need to know.

[AutoMX]

my experience with ford has been good. the 91 taurus we had was reliable, cheap, and fairly easy to drive (and even had ABS). but we got it out of necessity and got rid of it ASAP because it was such a shitty feel when driving it. i feel no draw to any of the new fords. the mustang looks nice (havent driven), and the focus is pretty good to drive, but they ignored them when making the new lineup. no character from any of the new cars.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by AutoMX

my experience with ford has been good. the 91 taurus we had was reliable, cheap, and fairly easy to drive (and even had ABS). but we got it out of necessity and got rid of it ASAP because it was such a shitty feel when driving it. i feel no draw to any of the new fords. the mustang looks nice (havent driven), and the focus is pretty good to drive, but they ignored them when making the new lineup. no character from any of the new cars.

The Escape is suprisingly nice, my Grandparents have one, they say it's the best ford they ever owned. Not suprising given it's mostly a Mazda.

If Ford would stop screwing the US on cars and bring us what we want, like the new Focus, not a rebodied old one, and the Aussie Ford's, they might actually sell some cars without having to give massive discounts.

[BlaRo]

Episode 2 up: "Commitment to Design"
http://www.fordboldmoves.com/Episode.aspx?episode=2

[fbc]

Interesting ep - it says a whole lot about how much they've lost their way that they've reached the point where they need to make such a recognition about design, when it should be an everyday part of everything they do.

[matt_shaw]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Has anybody seen this yet? Ford basically is putting out their own version of "The Office", except without Steve Carrell/Ricky Gervais ().

Sorry to take this off topic, but how the hell is this like The Office?

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by matt_shaw

Sorry to take this off topic, but how the hell is this like The Office?

It's a fucking joke. Go watch an episode. Both are in reality show format, except Ford's not trying to put out a comedy show (no comments if you think it is, though).

[matt_shaw]

What? The Office is a scripted TV show. This Ford Bold Moves thing is a real documentary.

[AutoMX]

...with people who are way too comfy with the camera and have bosses who pretty much tell them what to say. this is just way too biased for me to watch, it's more of a corporate image booster, and it will surely have no real outcome on products...

[thedguy]

This type of stuff is ALWAYS an image booster, but the are still atleast admitting they were being stupid. They are pointing out where they fucked up, and where they hope to fix it.

[AutoMX]

watched ep2 and it's really annoying how they are constantly showing the concept cars and calling them Ford cars. yea maybe, but they arent something you can buy.

i like most of the concepts (except the big metal block...erm, truck) and would completely change my mind about them if they actually built stuff like that (less wild of course, but still with character), but i can't really see that happening.

it's funny how things change, asian auto makers were always made fun of for making cars that all look the same. now it's the opposite.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by AutoMX

it's funny how things change, asian auto makers were always made fun of for making cars that all look the same. now it's the opposite.

I never thought about that, but your right. I always joke that all 80's japanese cars are nothing more than "the 4door small toyota/nissan/honda" no real need to use model names cause they all looked the same.
Now it's "that 4 door from Ford/buick/pontiac/chevrolet/lincoln/mercury/chrysler/dodge/plymouth"

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

[wahaha]

The only way for these macroheads with microbrains to stop loosing money, is to GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

The world would be safer, cleaner, without em.

[matt_shaw]

Originally Posted by wahaha

The only way for these macroheads with microbrains to stop loosing money, is to GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

The world would be safer, cleaner, without em.

If they go out of business so does Aston Martin, Volvo, Mazda, Land Rover, Jaguar

[wahaha]

If those companies weren't good enough that they had to be "saved" by ford, then they should have died long ago. There's hardly a demand for Aston or Jag.