I’d add to that that #1 is politically the easiest, but it isn’t the best solution.  More efficient, cleaner vehicles are certainly good, but the best thing is to simply get rid of vehicles and build an efficient mass transit system. Unfortunately, most people have never lived in an area with good mass transit and…

They also don’t go all asthmatic on you up in the Rockies, either.

But details.

(granted:  I’m not actually much of a fan of the Escape - but picking a vehicle I don’t care much for and seeing how much better it really is than a vehicle I once thought was cool really puts some perspective on things)

4th gen Explorer? That was launched well before he was hired. Do you mean 5th gen?

The original Focus was a decent car in the US - but when it came time for the 2nd gen, they gave us a worse car (note: that launch happened after Mulally was hired) rather than the superior European one. All he had to do to fix that…

Good point. Of course, though, the Firebird’s torque curve was nowhere near the flat torque curve of the Ecoboost... Throw in the Firebird having a crappy 3 speed, and you end up with the miniscule engine with much lower peak torque still out accelerating the older engine....

1) California isn’t infringing on ANY other state’s rights. Does Ohio infringe on any other states’ rights by banning fireworks other than “trick and novelty” fireworks? I mean, Indiana somehow still sells them. California demanding a higher standard doesn’t mean the other states HAVE to follow.

2) Does it not infringe…

Fair point - but emissions are still generally regulated through fuel economy and secondarily through regulations on fuel and only regulated on actual emissions levels sort of as a last resort - I’d bet any of those vehicles could fairly easily be made to meet the emissions regs - its the fuel economy ones that are…

It’s also not just LA. Plenty of other areas in the country, including “flyover country” also suffer from high pollution levels. Here are the worst areas per the EPA for PM2.5 pollution.... hell, Cincinnati is about the same as the LA valley anymore - and the areas in CA that suffer the most and need the most…

So you’re saying that California makes problems for themselves and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to try to fix their problems themselves?

I’m not sure I follow that logic.

Having lived in So Cal, I agree on many respects - its an area that is overpopulated and too dependent on personal vehicles - and it is those cars…

Nonsense.

Those cars were low volume and sold for a premium.  You could easily sell cars like that today and just pay the gas guzzler taxes if you wanted to - those fines are low enough to be rounding errors for the vehicles you name.

You want a sad thought?

That model of Firebird had the following engine options:
3.8L V6: 105 hp
4.3L V8: 140 hp
4.9L V8: 155 hp
4.9L turbo V8: 200 hp
5.0L V8: 150 hp

Now look at the 2020 Ford Escape for comparison:
1.5L turbo I3: 180 hp
2.0L turbo I4: 250 hp

75%-100% higher EPA combined ratings, with the base engine for the…

I’ll go out on a limb and say Mulally was actually a bit overrated. He took over at Ford in September 2006. By that time, they had already announced all the plant closings to save $ except for 2, which were announced just days after he was named CEO (so obviously already in the works before he came on board).

On the…

FTFY...

And yet you still can’t refute that the boomer generation did EXACTLY what I said.

So if I won’t “tolerate” your ignorance, I’m a bigot. Got it.  I’ll wear that label from you with pride.

Somebody please tell this to the boneheads in charge of infrastructure in Ohio.

We’re spending billions to add ONE lane to I-75 through Cincinnati - a project that isn’t going to be finished for another 11 years at least, and they project traffic will be worse than when they started.

They COULD have used the same money…

Ok - so let me get this straight -

I’m a bigot because I won’t tolerate your complete denial of the facts of what the boomer generation has done? The first generation in US history to leave the next generation worse off?

Ok, I can live with your insane definition.

Ford actually owns part of Rivian...

Give it a 200-300 mile range and it would be perfect for an RV.  RVs today are terrible economically unless you do short hops with lots of time out traveling (ie, what would be a lot of hotel nights but not many miles being driven). 

1) They have a factory that has far more than enough capacity to reach that target.

2) They have Ford as a part owner, so they have someone invested who knows a thing or two about mass producing vehicles.

3) The number of vehicles produced each year under this agreement is so small it would get a normal Ford vehicle…

Sadly, though, you can’t contest the facts. During the baby boom generation, they acted and voted to create an unstable economy. They voted for self-interest at the cost of others over, and over, and over again, and now are still demanding more for themselves at the cost of future generations.

Bigotry is intolerance…

You don’t understand that there is a PR problem here.  Regardless of what people are paid, there is a backlash against benefits that are viewed as “too generous”.  A better approach is to avoid that altogether - take the higher employee copremiums, but get the money back in wages.  THEN on top of that you can…