I had a nightmere from this thread last night where my dad replaced our brand new Toyota with a Ford..uh it was a horrible dream.

Quote from speedfreak227 :

you're picking one extreme example.

go buy 10 fords, 10 hondas, 10 VW's that are all 10 years old with 200,000 kms on them and see how they're all running.

and i'm not sure if fords that are sold outside of north america are the same or different. i've heard they're much better outside of north america.

speedfreak227

European Ford is majoyly different from American ford.

Actually all ford outside the states are better then american one's.

All cars outside america are better...

I couldn't afford the running costs of a ford so I had to settle for this.
Car

If I could have my choice of any 5 cars in the world, a Ford would make it onto the list.

I would definatly love to get my paws on an Escort Cosworth, even if I do have to fix or repair it daily!

Another 'project' I would love to do if I had time/money to spare would bt to get hold of an old Cortina Mk 3, (GT or GXL) and see how big an engine I could squeeze into it...now THAT would be RWD Heaven!

Also, who in their right mind would say 'NO' to having a 1967 Mustang??

btw, Wifes/My 2nd car is a 1996 Escort 1.4 LX, never had ANY problems with it, and we have had it over 10 years now!

From time to time, a Capri is parked in our street... Even though it might not be the best, it's definately the coolest car in our street...

For sale.... http://koti.mbnet.fi/nakkitar/sierra.jpg

I voted in name of my family (dad, brother in law, sister). And I voted for that we have one, and we like it. My dad always drove ford (his first car was a ford capri, and he never got anything else than a ford). Because of my dad, my sister's first car was a ford escort, which was old and so it broke down, then she bought a fiesta, which will be my mine soon. My brother in law drove our ford, and he really liked it, so after wrecking his honda, he bought a mondeo, just like us. And he's very satisfied with it. We don't have many problems with our fords, so I guess only american fords suck (mondeo's are made right here in Belgium).

Quote from Jakg :

Fjord - Lake

A fjord is not a lake.. it's a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between steep slopes.

And btw, I've had three Ford Sierras, they all sucked bigtime. But The 2,8 4x4 was fun in the winter.

Quote from bbman :

All cars outside america are better...

So you don't like Honda, Hyundai, or toyota?

First, they are all japanese, not american, and second, the american versions are setup different than the european ones afaik... God knows why americans prefer soft, wobbly suspensions over handling...

'Cause their roads suck

Quote from bbman :

First, they are all japanese, not american, and second, the american versions are setup different than the european ones afaik... God knows why americans prefer soft, wobbly suspensions over handling...

Great differences are found in the crash safety system, e.g. parts behind the bumper or the fact that US-market cars have knee-airbags while Japan/Euro-market cars don't (it has something to do with the seatbelt-laws in America)

Why do americans like soft suspension? Because they go a LONG way in a dead-straight line over rubbish roads - soft suspension helps, especially when there aren't that many corners!

Quote from Jakg :

Why do americans like soft suspension? Because they go a LONG way in a dead-straight line over rubbish roads - soft suspension helps, especially when there aren't that many corners!

True for the majority of the USA. However, there are some roads over there which for us bikers would be a dream to blast along!! Especially in the Tenessee state (IIRC) there are some lovely twisty roads. But yes its a pity most of the cars are setup badly for this type of road.

Check this out for heavenly curves

www.tailofthedragon.com

Very dangerous though unfortunately

Quote from sgt.flippy :

'Cause their roads suck

You can say that again! Though where I am in Pennsylvania, we were always close to the top in the worst roads in the US. They are slowly getting better. Unfortunately, the winters will kill even a recently done road with the freeze/thaw cycle that goes on. One day you can be happily riding your motorcycle on a mild 50 degree (F) New Year's Day, the next you are digging you car out of 18 inches of snow.

Quote from Jakg :

Why do americans like soft suspension? Because they go a LONG way in a dead-straight line over rubbish roads - soft suspension helps, especially when there aren't that many corners!

That isn't all entirely true, and a very stereotypical statement. They all are, in fact. Yes, where I live, we do go a LONG way, but it is definitely not in a dead-straight line. They are quite windy roads with many many elevation changes. Also, I definitely am not interested in a cushy ride. I have a truck due to needing to haul stuff, but if not I would have some type of very well handling car.

2001 Fiesta XRV van

Illinois definitely has a lot of straight roads, but every intersection is a potential 90 degree turn. I have to admit that my Grand AM was not bad at handling in corners, and wasn't uncomfortable on a longer drive either. I did tend to rent a Buick if I was going a really long way on the I-80.

The effect of the freeze/thaw in Chicago was dramatic. Because the extremes in temperatures ARE so extreme, a road surface has little chance of much longevity. I have to say, though, that road building in the US is attrociously slow. They took a whole summer over resurfacing a 2 mile stretch of a road that I used to get to work. Unbelievable. They're not fast here, but they're nowhere near as slow as in the US.

I don't know why people think all roads in america are straight, thats such a retarded statement to make. The U.S covers an area of almost 10 Million square kilmeters. You can't say "In the U.S, the weather is like this..." or "In the U.S, the geography is like this...", without being an idiot because the US covers SO MUCH area! Anyway, how is it americas fault for the MIDDLE WEST REGION being flat? The earth was made that way, george bush didn't say "I think I'll remove the mountains"....

Here are some twisty roads not to far from me:
http://www.kaphoto.ca/pic/SkylineDrive_VirginiaUS_Apr2006/ < Skyline drive, doesn't lool so straight to me!

http://www.weatherbook.com/isabel.html < So many trees, they fell down all over the NOT STRAIGHT roads when a huricane came through.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f= ... 97,0.21698&iwloc=addr < A map of the area that I live in

Quote from mrodgers :

You can say that again! e. They are quite windy roads with many many elevation changes. Also, I definitely am not interested in a cushy ride. I have a truck due to needing to haul stuff, but if not I would have some type of very well handling car.

we have some very very twisty roads in americas as well. infact, i sorta live on the side of a mountain so you can imagine what kind of roads i have

@wheel.. stop assuming every comment about the US is a criticism. I reckon only 80% of them are in any way derogatory or condescending

The US does have a lot of straight roads, especially compared with other places, such as the-rest-of-the-world. That's a result of a few reasons, among which are that MOST of the US was invented AFTER the road was invented. Almost every other country on the planet has a road system which follows the outlines of fields which were staked out in the stone age, rather than a road system designed to go from one point to another. The US IS flat, in large part, and its roads also reflect that.

To say that the majority of roads in the US are straight is not a criticism, nor is it a condemnation, and it sure as hell isn't a retarded statement. If you count mile for mile, I'm pretty confident you'll find it's actually a true statement. This goes doubly so for Wisconsin.

Quote from Bob Smith :

Fiesta - just plan horrible (old ones more so)

It's not usual that you talk such a bullsh*t . I do have a fiesta and i love it.

Just a Fiesta MK6 - i love it - as i said. Fast (for such a car), sporty, very good suspension!

Did i already say, that i love it?

Greets,
Warper

EDIT: Picture added

I have a Toyota Yaris right now, my legs are too long to fit in it, so I don't do long journeys at all, and being 18 I can't afford my own car (Yaris is my mums).

However on topic, I really want a Ford Fiesta, one of the 2002 shape ones (when the new shape came in) I just think they look good, and I've heard they drive well too and they're comfy!

Quote from wheel4hummer :

Here are some twisty roads not to far from me:
http://www.kaphoto.ca/pic/SkylineDrive_VirginiaUS_Apr2006/ < Skyline drive, doesn't lool so straight to me!

http://www.weatherbook.com/isabel.html < So many trees, they fell down all over the NOT STRAIGHT roads when a huricane came through.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f= ... 97,0.21698&iwloc=addr < A map of the area that I live in

Nah, you missed the greatest road in the US, The Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap.


"The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America's number one motorcycle and sports car road. The nearby Cherohala Skyway is quickly becoming number two with its remote 60 miles of scenic mountain highway."

www.tailofthedragon.com and www.dealsgap.com

The only problem with this awesome road? Well, see for yourself... Remember, we drive on the right.

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html

I've posted this stuff before somewhere.

Quote from mrodgers :

"The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, with 318 curves in 11 miles

Pick a B road or country road in the UK, I bet it probably has more

I've always wondered how boring it would be to drive in the US, that's why I'm glad I live in the countryside of the UK... plenty of country lanes, so many, they could easily have a tarmac rally here with alot of challenging stages :P