10.12.2006 12:46 the birthplace of our vehicle
Comments
jm - 10/12/2006 13:28:39
The music and (?Mario’s) verbal Ford-a-thon at the end were lots of fun.
That Ford team itself is certainly serious about their product, and knowledgeable. Actually, I was surprised that I found it kind of jarring to have experts on the team be women. Yeah, that old sexism ain’t gone yet.
Tony - 10/12/2006 13:55:09
Damn it! Claycomo is not KC! Actually, that’s a new mistake since most people think we’re in Kansas. I hope, hope, hope there is another episode about KC coming. Also, since I’m a jerk for criticizing free content anyway, I’d like to put in a request for more Amanda dancing.
Brooklyn Kitchen - 10/12/2006 15:33:43
You are aware that the song you chose (by The Happiness Boys) is about Henry Ford’s anti-Semitism. Ford was a despicable bastard. So much so, in fact that Adolf Hitler hung a picture of Ford on his wall and based several portions of Mein Kampf on Ford’s writings.
Walter Crespo - 10/12/2006 15:41:50
That was cool, thanks for talking about food, it’s one of my favorite subjects. BTW I don’t mind when you do commercials, I like ‘em, sell me something, I luv it.
leron - 10/12/2006 16:26:49
Oh man, wait ’til the old RB viewers find out… Amanda’s wearing glasses again!
Is it tacky to point out that Ford just recalled 6,800 Escape hybrids for possible driveshaft fractures? (And another 150,000 non-hybrid vehicles to boot?)
Just wedge a brick under an inside wheel when you park, guys, and you’ll be fine.
Seriously: As long-term test drivers, it’d be interesting to hear more of your personal experiences with the Escape.
ChrisM70 - 10/12/2006 18:04:22
I was just about to give up on seeing any videos from the KC area! I hope you enjoyed your time in Kansas City, and hopefully we’ll see some more video…?
I would also be interested to hear Amanda and crew’s thoughts and impressions on visiting the Heartland (or the fly-over states, or whatever you want to call the space between the coasts). I’m guessing you are all life-long East Coasters?
Interesting video.
These Hybrids are a good start towards a “greener” environment, but all hybrid SUV’s really do is reduce the MPG numbers back to around the same as poor efficiency regular sized cars. Now, hybrid cars like the Prius can get around 60 MPG – that’s real efficiency. Of course, with a big group (like yours) this is a great solution. How much money and gas do you think you have saved?
I urge people to see the movie “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and learn more about we need to find better solutions – because oil won’t last forever! If only California hadn’t destroyed the electric car movement a few years ago, America would be leading in the Hybrid/electric car movement instead of following Toyota and the Japanese.
Great Stone Face - 10/12/2006 18:50:18
Brooklyn Kitchen is right about the song you used for you opening & closing. Henry Ford had libeled Aaron Sapiro, publishing in Ford’s newspaper that Sapiro headed a Jewish conspiracy to exploit America’s farmers. Ford had to settle the suit and issue a public apology to American Jews. Some Americans still won’t buy German cars because of the Holocaust, but before them many others refused to buy Fords for similar reasons.
Terrence Walker - 10/12/2006 20:56:23
Hahah! Amanda running to the bulding was great!
I think it unfair to use as an example of how despicable someone is, WHO admired them or hung their picture. Ford was a phenomenal business man who created an industry and an empire with almost no education to speak of, as conventional American education goes. I think his story should be required reading for any would be entreprenuer. Persistence and drive are at the core of what made his success.
I do drive a Ford so maybe I am biased, but many of today’s noted entreprenuerial writers have a lot to say about Henry Ford.
ChrisM70 - 10/12/2006 22:28:51
From Wikipedia: “By 1920 Ford had become virulently anti-Semitic and in March of that year began an anti-Jewish crusade in the pages of his newspaper.”
I can’t understand why someone can’t be both sinner AND saint. Yes, Ford was a great businessman and should be applauded for his contribution to the advances of business and industry. However, he was strongly anti-semitic and there appears to be ties between Ford and the Nazis. For these things, Ford should be reviled.
Of course, Henry Ford has been dead for a LONG time and we shouldn’t necessarily punish the employees of Ford for his crimes over 60 years ago. Ford does a lot of good for America and has tried very hard to make good on the promises of pensions to former employees, even though it is a terrible burden on the companies finances.
chuck - 10/13/2006 00:17:29
Wow, I had no idea that song was a reaction to Ford’s anti-semitism. Or rather, a reaction to his apology – more info here.
I was quite happy to find the song on archive.org but there was no context for it. It’s a real toe-tapper, now with historical context thanks to y’all.
Of course I drive a Volkswagen, which was once Hitler’s “People’s Car”.
MichaelT - 10/13/2006 04:59:24
I agree that Ford is a different company than it was in the 1920s. Ford was not the only company with anti-Jewish attitudes at the top, either.
Brooklyn Kitchen - 10/13/2006 08:23:58
If you think Ford is in any way beneficial for America, for society, or for the working man, you’ve got another thing coming, ChrisM70. By definition, a corporataion only serves itself and it’s bottom line.
Dennis Swanson - 10/13/2006 08:32:55
I want one…
Great Stone Face - 10/13/2006 08:38:40
Chuck, you’re not alone re German cars. Israel is Germany’s biggest trading partner in the Middle East. I wanted to back up Brooklyn Kitchen’s comment with some context about Henry Ford.
Brooklyn Kitchen, I agree that corporate official have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to maximize the bottom line. However, there are ways to do in partnership with workers in a way that is beneficial to both the company and its employees. Many companies today that outsource and offshore their work, and import foreign workers at sub-prevailing wages have lost sight of this.
ChrisM70 - 10/13/2006 10:27:04
Brooklyn,
I didn’t say that the corporation was good for America – in that respect I agree with you.
However, HENRY FORD and Ford Motors by creating the assembly line and making cars more affordable helped this country grow and prosper.
Plus, even evil companies can do good things as well…
dr denn - 10/13/2006 23:35:16
hey, what kinda gas mileage does one of those bad-boys get? i’ve heard that their highway mileage (& i’m talking all hybrid’s) isn’t all that great b/c the electric motor isn’t really doing anything @ high speeds. the city mileage, where the e-engine is kick is obviously great. therefore i’m wondering how it would work out for a road trip such as this. of course the best part about any hybrid is being able to sneak up on ppl while driving on battery.
d henry - 10/14/2006 18:58:33
Not so skeptical am I. I am pretty happy about the breakout of the hybrids and hope we can get more environmental awareness going. I liked the “up” feeling of the piece. Go Amanda!
Buck - 10/16/2006 12:29:22
That Chris Ferrell boy was yummy!
Steven - 11/06/2006 19:52:52
Cool to see inside an assembley factory. So noisy inside that place, dunno if I could handle it.