Monday, August 18, 2008

Have You Driven a Ford Lately?


I drive one everyday. It's all I buy (except for the Corolla when Ford didn't approve our credit). My first car at 18 was an Escort Wagon and now 20 years later it is a Focus Wagon.

Born and raised in Detroit (city of, not the 'burbs), many family and friends worked for The Big Three. My Grandfather worked for Ford for as long as I can remember. I know that when a "mandatory" retirement age was implemented he was already past that age and "grandfathered" in. My Uncle Jim worked for Ford as well and had a pension that has taken care of his widow for many years. Of course much has changed in the automobile business, parts are built around the world and shipped in for assembly here. Growing up though ALL was done in Detroit, parts and assembly both were done at the Rouge plant and others.

When the trip to BlogHer last month happened and GM was a sponsor, I was thrilled to be allowed to drive one of their Hybrid cars and give my opinion. I have to admit now that it felt a bit sacreligious to drive something other than a Ford but it's not like I bought it and at least it was one of The Big Three and it was a Hybrid so it's ok.

A couple of weeks ago, Adam was talking about a concert up in Oakland that he and his friend wanted to attend. We looked at airfare, train even bus fares and none were very cheap. I told him that I wouldn't mind driving them since it would be the same cost and I'm sort of a control freak that way. He said it would be fine, that I wouldn't cramp his style.


During this same time, a bunch of blogging friends were in Dearborn to check out the Ford Media Day. Ford is ahead of their time to invite Social Media in with Regular Media and have the opinions of many respected Bloggers check out their 2009 fleet (including an Awesome Pink Mustang).




The wheels in my head began turning. I contacted the Social Media contact for Ford and explained my background and the issue of the GM car and expressed my interest in doing a compare and contrast with a Ford Hybrid. He told two friends and they told two friends and so on and so on...... no really, he emailed me that I should expect to hear from someone soon.

Today I received an email from a Distributor in Irvine and they will be dropping off an Escape Hybrid on August 29.

5 comments:

  1. I am SO glad that worked out!!! Can't wait to hear how the trip goes! :)

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  2. Sweet! Will be interested to see how it compares.

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  3. OMG. You are the luckiest girl on the planet.

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  4. You ARE a rare bird! A California driver with an American brand car (other than an SUV). I thought I was the only one. I admit I am also influenced by my Detroit up-bringing but also by the new Honda Civic I bought 10 years ago. What a disaster!! NO MORE FOREIGN BRAND CARS FOR ME.

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  5. If anybody is going to do a comparison, they picked the right person to do it. Your fairness and honesty will show through and give them information they would not get anywhere else.

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