Alan Mulally, Please Don't Quit
It's been three years since that infamous Saturday afternoon phone conversation between Alan Mulally and me. Three years since he asked me to "give Ford a chance to prove they are a different company, that produces products to be proud of". Then we talked about our kids and start-ups and oh, I ended up taking Alan on his word and purchasing a Ford Edge...which I loved.
It's funny how life works. In three years, we're back to where it all started. I have a new start-up and since I chose to lease (In case Alan was wrong, I had an out clause), a new car was on the horizon and Ford earned the first right of refusal. Who am I kidding? Of course I got a new one.
Out with the old and in with the new
However, with me being me, I still had to abide by my 5 questions for car purchasing.
- Does the vehicle match your personality?
- Was the previous model reliable?
- Reliable is nice, but did you love the big rims?
- How amazing was the customer service?
- Do you feel like loyalty was earned in both directions?
If all 5 of those questions can be answered positively, then the pricing works out, and believe me, when you're bootstrapping (and then some) a start-up, you try to work out every penny to help your cash flow. But I'm sure you want to know how I answered the questions.
1. Does the vehicle match your personality?
Above, I said I loved the old Edge. The new Edge is light years ahead of it. The style, technology, handling and most importantly, big rims, are off the charts. The improved body design and handling give a tighter ride. The My Ford Touch is really easy to use, Microsoft improved SYNC a lot, the Sony designed audio system is gorgeous and though the new Edge was downsized from 22" to 20" wheels, as long as it starts with a 2, I'm happy.
2. Was the previous model reliable?
In three years, we had one problem, where a rogue fuse burnt itself out. It just happened to be the one fuse that knocked out all of the electronics and the Edge was rendered inoperable. A Ford Roadside tow and quick fix at the dealer later, aside from scheduled maintenance, that was it. The new Edge? Coming from over a decade of German vehicles, I will put the Edge, head to head against an Audi Q5 or BMW X3 any day of the week. It is, hands down, one of the nicest vehicles on the road today.
Continued on the next page
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