Discussion going on here
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=497371

and here
http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=10;t=003650

Just rumors so far, but a LOT of people seem antsy about this...I happen to agree with the theory that Toyota wants one or more of the PAG brands, like Aston-Martin...I find a buyout or merger VERY hard to believe, but if it happens, it will redefine the auto industry...

 

That would create for a lot of product overlap if it was true

 

lets see what blending toyota and mercury creates!
"the new meryota coma! coming t....::snore::"
i really do wonder what WOULD happen, not that i think it will. in a situation like that, would they merely fold fords technology into their portfolio? would they close down mercury? how would they handle a situation of having lincoln, volvo, jaguar, land rover, and lexus all in one group?
biggest question yet..would people still not buy ford cause theyre an american brand and therefore crap quality (old perceptions) if they were controlled by toyota?

 

No merger... trust me.

They will be entering into a few new joint development projects together regarding hybrid vehicles, but that's it. Kinda like the 6-spd auto tranny deal with GM.

Some may recall the thread a few weeks ago in which I got toasted about homogeneous powertrain packages across different brands... you guys sit tight. GM won't be the last to join the party either.
We'll see what happens by 2010.

'Nuf said.

(PS - you guys check your stock picks for the long term too. The horizon will be vastly changed in 5-7 years.)

 

now i'm officially an idiot for ever posting this...
http://www.detnews.com/2004/insiders...a01-262882.htm

 

From that article, the editor's response to a woman who wrote in about why Toyota would even want Ford anyways...

Quote "...But it doesn’t account for why Toyota does what it does so well and it doesn’t account for Ford Chairman Bill Ford Jr., the Ford Family, its controlling stake in Henry Ford’s auto company and the family’s commitment to keeping Ford independent — until further notice.

This is a chairman whose corporate cash hoard is roughly $26 billion and who would sooner burn down the Glass House than sell it to Toyota or Honda or, God forbid, General Motors. This is a family that still takes its responsibility to its home and its employees seriously, even if others don’t. "

O. M. G.

Just ASK me what's cool about this guy!




And Magnum Force, never feel that way.
I will NEVER throw a slam on a guy (or gal) for posting anything in a forum like this, be it rumors, old news, old posts reposts, or whatever. The cool thing in here is that we bring it out - period.

I actually think it's pretty cool that this tidbit of trivia made it to our board in here for discussion, be it true or false. Hey, at least we knew about it before it became the biggest farce on the web last week - that's a GOOD thing!
That means we all have our eyes and ears open.
I say... Good Job!