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Ford: Ideal Time for Consumers to Recoup Fuel Efficient Powertrain Costs is 4 Years

MSN Autos -- Fuel-efficient powertrains -- especially ultra-fuel efficient ones that utilize electric or plug-in hybrid technologies -- often come with drawbacks that turn off the average consumer: they can be difficult to refuel (both in terms of time spent and available infrastructure), they may offer limited range and they typically cost more. While manufacturers are looking to push battery technology forward to reduce the impact of the first two problems, Ford has also been delving into the cost issue -- and thinks it has found the sweet spot in terms of what customers will pay upfront versus the time it takes to recoup that investment.

According to research carried out by the Blue Oval, about one in four customers would be willing to pay more for a fuel-efficient vehicle should that upfront exp

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Submitted Aug 08, 2012 By: aservant

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remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,948 Points:2,113,615 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 9, 2012 3:47:06 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse And how about the REST of the vehicle???
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,706 Points:597,540 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:04:57 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse Oh...is that all...
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,466 Points:2,099,090 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 9:30:38 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse I'll sit back and wait.
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,161 Points:1,928,430 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 9:23:27 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Let others be the guinea pigs.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,529,650 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:23:08 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Vehicles are already overpriced and fuel efficiency should be a normal next step by manufacturers not another added cost.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,882 Points:2,128,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:20:21 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Yes they should realize that most PHEV buyers don't need the above luxury level of options, just the typical basic ones. That would save 2-3 years of payback time right there.
farn1958 All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:886 Points:183,385 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:19:06 PM Ignore farn1958 Report Abuse What is the point of paying through the nose for a "ultra efficient" engine when the cost out ways the benefit for four years?
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,043 Points:1,075,405 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:14:19 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse A lower initial cost would solve the problem. [Edited by: OOXXFF at 8/8/2012 11:15:29 PM EST]
roland1971 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,489 Points:326,585 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:13:20 PM Ignore roland1971 Report Abuse ok
libertyut Champion Author Utah Posts:1,340 Points:289,595 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:11:12 PM Ignore libertyut Report Abuse lower the price of your vehicles. [Edited by: libertyut at 8/8/2012 11:13:24 PM EST]
altima2008 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:8,145 Points:1,733,990 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:07:30 PM Ignore altima2008 Report Abuse Do Fords last that long?????
cokezero All-Star Author Philadelphia Posts:830 Points:401,510 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:04:11 PM Ignore cokezero Report Abuse ok
dulberg Sophomore Author Long Island Posts:242 Points:265,480 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:04:06 PM Ignore dulberg Report Abuse K
firefly09 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,483 Points:713,695 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:02:10 PM Ignore firefly09 Report Abuse Hmmmmmmmmm. I don't think so.
Tekkersmom57 Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,859 Points:697,640 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 8:00:05 PM Ignore Tekkersmom57 Report Abuse They need to keep that recoup investment to the four years. Many consumers are on a four year cycle with trading in vehicles. If we can't recoup the money, then it won't be worth the investment.
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,475 Points:1,506,565 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:58:51 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse I wonder about this study - lotsa variables to consider. Not just four years time but usage - total mileage - for one example. The unknown future fuel cost is another, driving habits - commute or long haul trips, etc.
justmedc Veteran Author Michigan Posts:382 Points:174,045 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:58:13 PM Ignore justmedc Report Abuse no Fuc**d Over Rebuilt Dodge for me. Thanks
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,738 Points:2,462,585 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:51:50 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Not for me.
fedupMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,933 Points:569,455 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:49:48 PM Ignore fedupMN Report Abuse ok
DandyDapple All-Star Author North Dakota Posts:715 Points:307,820 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:48:38 PM Ignore DandyDapple Report Abuse ...
famu35 Rookie Author Oklahoma City Posts:67 Points:112,655 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:47:40 PM Ignore famu35 Report Abuse I don't care for this timetable.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,082 Points:2,368,445 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:43:08 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse proof, suckers are born every minute...
walkingtall Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,979 Points:1,117,680 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:42:09 PM Ignore walkingtall Report Abuse Setting goals is just the begining but does it garantee the end results.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,417 Points:1,469,370 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:42:00 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse 4 years seems pretty good if it holds up.
seeyardee Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,080 Points:1,801,480 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:40:24 PM Ignore seeyardee Report Abuse Cars can last a long time if you don't abuse it. Taking 4 years to recoup the costs is hardly any time at all.
TheHermit Champion Author Maine Posts:3,404 Points:127,030 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:38:03 PM Ignore TheHermit Report Abuse Not many cars can last 10 years, so 4 years is a lot more realistic.
F81M Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,478 Points:783,135 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:36:29 PM Ignore F81M Report Abuse Whatever.
mrinmoyd Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,095 Points:364,525 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:35:12 PM Ignore mrinmoyd Report Abuse ok
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,337 Points:1,537,705 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:34:39 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Charge it at home for free with your solar, wind and geothermal. If you can :/
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,548 Points:1,768,870 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:33:30 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse EV's are not affordable. Setting goals is beginning but does not guarantee the end result. Go Ford!
darkknight1 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:4,320 Points:892,060 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:30:50 PM Ignore darkknight1 Report Abuse ok
phinsup67 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,365 Points:1,179,130 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:30:03 PM Ignore phinsup67 Report Abuse As I tend to drive a car until the wheels fall off, a four year return would be very doable.
scubadaniel Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,401 Points:688,170 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:28:27 PM Ignore scubadaniel Report Abuse Blah blah blah..
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,193 Points:514,850 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:27:56 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse These vehicles must be cost effective. Otherwise we won't buy them.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,697,375 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:27:07 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse Makes sense to me.
Gas Thirsty Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,866 Points:3,224,750 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:26:30 PM Ignore Gas Thirsty Report Abuse 4 years is not too bad.
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,553 Points:635,565 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:19:18 PM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse If the gas mileage in vehicle is increases just 2-3 mpg, that would results in huge gasoline savings and to sillywagon: next years Focus will not get 50mpg and they will be no where near 75 mpg in 10 years [Edited by: txkrb at 8/8/2012 10:20:09 PM EST]
kyjlh Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,602 Points:648,635 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:17:11 PM Ignore kyjlh Report Abuse need to be proven before people will buy
knot2swift Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,374 Points:695,250 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:16:55 PM Ignore knot2swift Report Abuse Time is money. No one wants to spend hours and hours charging up a car all night long to save a few bucks after paying quite the hefty fee up front! Demand CNG cars now folks! [Edited by: knot2swift at 8/8/2012 10:17:24 PM EST]
snakebitef22 Veteran Author Corpus Christi Posts:445 Points:31,255 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:16:50 PM Ignore snakebitef22 Report Abuse Whats up with that GM had a full size 2500 chevy van fully electric with a range of 70 to 80 miles on 12volt batteries..add a generator and you can extend the range.... were are they now...
regasaz Champion Author Phoenix Posts:5,775 Points:1,279,380 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:15:16 PM Ignore regasaz Report Abuse Costs, Comfort, Quality all are required to gain this Buyers attention.
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:14,857 Points:1,438,095 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:15:07 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse I prefer Ford's. But they have to make a vehicle that meets my needs and can compete against the competition. I intend to replace my Ford Focus with another Ford Focus in about a decade. By then the improvements in fuel mileage? Maybe 75 on the highway? I'd pay a little more for that. Next years 2014 model should get about 50 mpg. And the 2007 model got just 30 mpg on the highway.
12mpgnavigator Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,759 Points:647,910 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:15:06 PM Ignore 12mpgnavigator Report Abuse don't think so
iceman11 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,715 Points:536,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:14:16 PM Ignore iceman11 Report Abuse Hmmmmmm
ericbcire Champion Author Nevada Posts:4,505 Points:1,263,710 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:09:00 PM Ignore ericbcire Report Abuse Size and range are just as important as cost.
brutherruther Veteran Author Fort Worth Posts:435 Points:237,540 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:05:09 PM Ignore brutherruther Report Abuse ok
unicornIL Veteran Author Chicago Posts:446 Points:382,695 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:04:43 PM Ignore unicornIL Report Abuse prices!!!!
thinkaboutit Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,069 Points:75,710 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:01:30 PM Ignore thinkaboutit Report Abuse Fuel efficiency advocates and deniers are forgetting the message: About 1 in 4 customers is willing to pay extra for fuel economy. These percentages can change! What one wants, what one spends money on, an what will happen is not one and the same!
1stClicker Champion Author Texas Posts:5,296 Points:2,239,545 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:01:22 PM Ignore 1stClicker Report Abuse Not interested
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,562 Points:596,545 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 7:00:59 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse Time will tell if consumers buy into it.