What Do You Think?

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Did someone call for an idiot?

[lightning_strike]

Ford have been settling out of court for ages with victims of rollovers in Explorers.

Until the latest model, Ford Engineers knew full well that the wheelbase was 2" too short to support the explorer body without rish of rollover. But it was going to cost several hundred million to rectify the fault. Remember the Explorer is based on the old Bronco which was predominantly a two door.

In the early 80s, in early prototype testing, their chassis engineers know of the cars penchant for rolling over at 40mph or slower. Basically the Jeep Cherokee was a runaway success and ford needed something to compete. Fortunately when the Explorer came out, it quickly made them THE most profitable factory in the world at the time. They made enough cash just out of the explorer alone to purchase Volvo.

Because it was so profitable a vehicle, ford went on ploughing them out to the public. When deaths occured, the accountants said just make a settlement out of court and keep it hush hush. They've settled many hundreds of cases this way

When the Firestone court case came up, it was a sign that ford had simply come to the point where the couldn't keep covering it up any more. So they asked their old mates firestone to 'take one for the team'. There may well have been issues with the tyres, but the real issue wen't right back to the chassis.

These factoids are from a doco I saw about 18 months ago on SBS about SUVs. Ford are furthermore to blame because they started the trend and everyone followed (nissan pathfinder, toyota hilux, prado etc)

Ford extended the wheelbase 2" to help prevent rollovers in the latest model. Again they kept it very hush hush so as to not admit to the collosal clusterfcvk. IT was jac nasser's parting gift to the company.

But if you have seen the mythbusters episode where they test the myth that it's more economical to drive with windows up and AC on, you will know that they couldn't take corners fast without fear of rolling over in their Explorers.

[oldraven]

83 MILLION DOLLARS!!

seriously eighty three   

what that money could do for the Sick, desperate or Needy !!!   

shazzy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is America. Who the f*ck cares about the sick, desperate or needy?

The sad thing is there are enough instances where Auto companies are actually at fault. Making seats too comfortable (causing drivers to fall asleep) would not be one of them. Now trucks catching fire while parked in the garage, and burning down your house, that's another story.

As for unstable SUV's, it's a common sense thing. In my Jeep Cherokee there is a warning on the back of the drivers side sun visor. It warns that you are driving a high centred vehicle that is prone to roll if you abruptly take a sharp turn at speed. Seriously, it's basic physics. If you don't know how to drive an SUV, you shouldn't own an SUV. It's pretty bad when you need your sun visor to teach you basic rules of driving.

On a side note. Rule #1 on being a noob. Get your first impressions over with before handing out insults.

Edited 21/11/05 04:26 PM by oldraven

[Cowiesxr6t]

83 MILLION DOLLARS!!

seriously eighty three    

what that money could do for the Sick, desperate or Needy !!!    

shazzy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is America. Who the f*ck cares about the sick, desperate or needy?

The sad thing is there are enough instances where Auto companies are actually at fault. Making seats too comfortable (causing drivers to fall asleep) would not be one of them. Now trucks catching fire while parked in the garage, and burning down your house, that's another story.

As for unstable SUV's, it's a common sense thing. In my Jeep Cherokee there is a warning on the back of the drivers side sun visor. It warns that you are driving a high centred vehicle that is prone to roll if you abruptly take a sharp turn at speed. Seriously, it's basic physics. If you don't know how to drive an SUV, you shouldn't own an SUV. It's pretty bad when you need your sun visor to teach you basic rules of driving.

On a side note. Rule #1 on being a noob. Get your first impressions over with before handing out insults.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

oldraven

Don't think phantomchic was being a noob (nob, aussies here)

Physic's (in a SUV) not sure if he fell asleep on a corner or not. May have been a straight road. What physic's then???

Cheers

Cowie

[oldraven]

oldraven

Don't think phantomchic was being a noob (nob, aussies here) 

Physic's (in a SUV) not sure if he fell asleep on a corner or not. May have been a straight road. What physic's then???

Cheers

Cowie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was reffering to the parents argument, that it was a tendancy to roll that made the accident Ford's fault. Obviously, I agree with you guys. It's BS. And the talk of needing a warning label on everything (like the one on my Jeep). Jumping into a pit of aligators may be harmful to your health. No sh*t. If you take a corner like your'e driving F1 in an Explorer, it'll roll over. No sh*t. It's not Ford's fault their customers are too stupid to drive a vehicle as it's meant to be driven.

(and by noob, I meant newbie. The guy calling everyone idiots on his second post)