Jaguar XJR8 delimited

[Paul XJR]

What a shame you've not had the Ford RS cars in the US ... you've definitely missed some cars that helped to strengthen the Ford (Europe) brand.

The key thing about Fords (in the UK) is that they are one of the cheapest cars to buy and own - the nearest rival is probably Vauxhall (GM), but their image is a bit out of date. Anything "foreign" (e.g. Peugeot, Renault, Fiat, VW) is 50% more expensive to run. The proliferation of Fords on the roads keep labour rates down. Therefore, drivers tend to start with a Ford (Fiesta) and stay with them, unless they can afford to run a foreign car or want something a bit different. This is, of course, my opinion and the subject of many hours argument with friends over a beer or three!

Now, of course, if you want something a bit different (but still want a Ford), you can buy a Volvo! If you move up market, you can buy a Jaguar. Higher up, you can have an Aston - All Ford...

Nice to see you have a couple of Fords in your selection of fine vehicles.

[LateNightCable]

Outlaw the leaping cat? And what about the " Spirit of Ecstasy " what's a Roller without that?? I know that retracts now, but I'm not sure if it moves. The leaping cat is not on the XK because it is thought of as more of a formal touch, better suited to the sedans. Although the XJS had it as an option.

I don't know if you ( Paul and SpEed ) have checkout out the " XJ Analysis " yet, but in that, I go into the design of the new XJ. It's practical, but no amount of technical sophistication can replace the charicter that has been lost. I'm sure it's a nice car, but it's not a " Jag. " I don't see how you Englishmen can stand foreign carmakers buying up your marques and fiddling with them. That calls for war.

[Paul XJR]

It's funny, and I know that Henry Ford was American, but somehow I think of Ford as being a global car manufacturer - as much British as it is American. We have (or had??) so many Ford production plants in the UK (Dagenham, Halewood, Southampton) and Ford UK/Europe cars are different from the US cars (we have RS's for instance!) We also think of Vauxhall as being British (even though it is GM).

However, I think the only truly British (mass production) manufacturer is MG Rover. Of course, we do also have TVR and Caterham Cars and numerous other high-performance car manufacturers.

[LateNightCable]

Ford has probably done a better job of putting on a global face than anyone. The " cottage industry " in England is something I hope never goes away. In stale times, that and old cars are what it's all about.

[thepolarfoxqx]

Let's put it like this, the finest cars sold by ford north america have a version of the AJ-V8 in them, Ford all over the world borrows from volvos work in safety, emmissions, and odds and ends (like their shift and AWD systems), next to M-Power and AMG, ford's SVT is a top in house tuner, Jaguar tuned fords 3.0L V6 better than anyone else, and I wish i had more ford cars, i personally think very highly of them, i just wish their north american cars were better enginneered.

Don't forget mazda, mazda is ford too!

and while henry ford was an american, he was the son of irish immigrents.