Mulally driving to Washington, but what car should he drive?
It seems the entire world is still debating whether or not Rick Wagoner, Alan Mulally and Bob Nardelli should have carpooled, walked or taken the bus for their last trip to the Capitol, but that's all behind us now. The good news for those who like to play expert on the internet is that Detroit's got another date with Congress this week. Ford CEO Alan Mulally is the first of the three CEOs to announce that he'll be driving, though we expect the others to follow suit shortly.
There's no doubt that Mulally will be driving a car from Ford's latest crop of vehicles (rather than his own Lexus), but which one would make the best impression? No matter which he chooses to drive, you can count on the fact that the choice will be dissected, so this seemingly insignificant decision could have major future ramifications. So, we ask you, dear Autoblog readers: What should Mulally drive to Washington... Mustang? Hybrid? Voting polls are now open.
[Source: Detroit News, Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
shawn 7:34PM (12/01/2008)
he should take a bus like the rest of us!!!
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Ben 8:21PM (12/01/2008)
In other words... the Flex.
AZZO45b 9:00PM (12/01/2008)
Washington DC is about kissing butt... Drive what the President-Elect owns... A Ford Escape Hybrid.
Dave 1:28AM (12/02/2008)
"In other words... the Flex."
I voted for the Flex. Its the correct choice since he surely be travelling with support staff.
Probably they would require two or three Flexes.
murplepoo 7:34PM (12/01/2008)
wow, the poll was at 1v1v1v1... when i voted, hehe. anyway, i am sure that the media will pick this apart just as much as they did with the planes last time, but i really think the whole thing is just ridiculous.
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TyWright 10:03PM (12/01/2008)
Why does he STILL have a Lexus??
sbessette91 10:38PM (12/01/2008)
I voted for the Fusion Hybrid. I mean, since the "liberal elite media" will focus on the drive, it gives the new Fusion a lot of media attention, and it's the most fuel efficient. Well, I may be wrong. The Fiesta is better on gas, I'm sure, but either way, he should take the Fusion. What could they possbily get mad at? Whoops, I may have just jinxed it.
jpvbs 10:40PM (12/01/2008)
I'm sure he doesn't drive a Lexus anymore. That was the car he was driving when he was the CEO at Boeing.
Infinihertz 10:52PM (12/01/2008)
I was working at Ford when Mulally arrived (I've been gone quite a while now), and he made it a point to announce he was selling his Lexus immediately. Any other decision would have been insane for the CEO of Ford, but Autoblog still getting simple facts wrong is also kind of insane.
Randy 12:32AM (12/02/2008)
I voted Fusion Hybrid! It's the car that has the most potential for sales volume since it's "Mid Sized" and with the media attention it will probably make it "The Car That Drove America Back To Prosperity!"
Personally, I think the time wasted making a big decision maker drive for two days is nuts and a congressional publicity stunt of sort. The guy has important things to do, that's why they have planes! To get sh*t done, faster! I do admit that flying home every weekend is a bit much! But the guy loves his family, can ya blame him?
I infer,
Randy
Randy 12:40AM (12/02/2008)
Brain Fart
How about they pull up in the ENTIRE LINEUP. Kinda like Tucker! Yeah he had 1 car (the Torpedo) but if they brought the Farm it would be kinda cool. Yeah the media would say "You spent more gas than if you flew" but it would be a world wide publicized car show!
Even the concepts! And PLEASE bring the Ranger MAX ;)
Level 1:32AM (12/02/2008)
It's official, This is a propaganda "witch hunt" to divert attention from the other 700B that are currently being distributed with out fuzz or news coverage...
Fact is the hedge fund I work for currently received 17B from the 700B this past week and I didnt see anyone B*tch and moan about it...but give the car industry 25B split 3 ways and OMG! gotta love America..... :)
SOhp101 2:18AM (12/02/2008)
Re: Level
The difference is that your hedge fund will likely be able to recover their losses and start being profitable and pay back the loans. The automakers will burn through their money and ask for more in a few months.
I don't see why the Taurus isn't on the list. Sure it isn't a new car but it would probably be a lot more comfortable for such a long drive. For publicity reasons the Fusion Hybrid would be the best choice.
tekd 3:59AM (12/02/2008)
Who says he's going to drive himself though? He could just show up in a chauffered Town Car and it'd still be a Ford product. A nice Signature one of course.
autoflogger 7:26AM (12/02/2008)
The 3 are headed back to the Hill this week to present their business plans....and because a bunch of dumbasses thought it was bad for the top executives of global companies to take corporate jets to important meetings that may or may not save the companies....the Ford CEO is going to spend 20 wasted hours driving a car to DC, and back, for the meeting.
Totally absurd. I would not want my top, highly compensated exec doing something so unproductive...especially in dire times.
I propose since our gov't is broke... us taxpayers should demand Obama reduce his pay to one dollar and not be allowed to use Air Force One for any trips within the 48 until such time as the gov't returns to a balanced budget...and that goes for Congress too.
Level 3:40PM (12/02/2008)
RE:RE SOhp101
uhuh yeah ok! at the Financial end it's back to biz as usually which is mostly shady quick returns on investments with out worrying about the long term effects so pretty much in another 15 years its not going to be 700B but double that when the financial market crashes again due to the same crap that everyone is going to start doing again. Plus Its all a domino effect, The big 3 are not in the mess they are in due to not having 101 Hybrids they are in the mess due to the financial crisis, it effected them tooo..
Torrent 7:37PM (12/01/2008)
Fiesta. It represents the new age, affordable, competitive compact car. Unlike the old fiesta which was the exact opposite.
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Ben 8:22PM (12/01/2008)
Maybe an old Fiesta might make his case more dramatic!
sam 11:24PM (12/01/2008)
I think the Ford Pinto would be better.
Torrent 11:34PM (12/01/2008)
too bad they don't resemble
CHANGE