Latest news with #Fords
Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a mechanic and you should avoid buying these used cars in UK before major change'
As the used car market continues to grow, experts have been warning potential buyers of what to look out for, including which models to choose, and which to avoid A car mechanic has issued a stark warning to motorists looking to buy used cars, naming certain models that he believes should be avoided. The trend of opting for second-hand vehicles over brand new ones has surged in recent years, as drivers hunt for nearly-new cars at bargain prices. This shift in consumer behaviour has allowed some car dealers to increase their prices in response to the increased demand. However, amidst the scramble for a premium deal, experts have been advising potential buyers on what to look out for, which models to opt for, and which to steer clear of. In response to a query about the least reliable vehicles, car mechanic and author James Goodhand offered some advice on which cars prospective buyers should approach with caution. James singled out two popular brands at opposite ends of the premium scale, pinpointing Jaguar Land Rover 's Range Rover model and certain used Ford cars as ones to avoid. Speaking about Range Rovers, he said: "The ownership experience is akin to sitting in a comfy leather chair on top of a block of flats, tearing up fifty-pound notes." He added: "As I have had to advise several unfortunate customers who've faced ruination, this is a £100k car and no matter that you bought it second hand for £25k, it still has the running costs of a hundred-grand vehicle, and an appallingly built one at that." On Fords, James added: "Sadly (as a historic blue oval fan) I tend to direct people away from used Fords. The petrol engines with their 'wet belts' can be an absolute disaster - killing an engine if they break or disintegrating with a consequent 2k repair bill. "Timing belts are reliant on friction and rubber breaks down in oil, and yet these engines have the belt quite deliberately running in engine oil as a timing chain would. And Ford's diesels seem to suffer more particulate filter issues than most, so the brand is best avoided full stop." While James slammed second-hand Fords, another motor expert sang the praises of one of the marque's most beloved models, the Ford Focus, claiming it represented excellent value in the used market. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Paul Lucas championed the Mk1 Ford Focus for its straightforward design and dependability. He told the publication: "For me, a 20-year-old 1.6 litre Mk1 Ford Focus is top for reliability. "It was designed before all the unnecessary bells and whistles came in and even lets you start the car with a real key rather than press a button. I bought mine 15 years ago for £500 and have no regrets." The contrasting views from James and Paul emerge as the pre-owned vehicle sector experiences significant transformation, driven by growing numbers of electric motors flooding the marketplace. This trend has been highlighted by the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) who reported that appetite for second-hand electric vehicles had rocketed in 2024. In a statement, they said: "Demand continued to soar for used battery electric cars (BEVs), rising some 57.4% to a record 188,382 units and achieving a new high for market share, at 2.5%, up from 1.7% in 2023 and 13 times larger than back in 2019. "Combined, the number of used electrified vehicles changing hands increased by 43.3% on 2023, with more than half a million of these ultra low or zero emission motors accounting for a 7.7% share of sales. "This growth aligns with the new car market and demonstrates the increasing demand and choice across the sector for new and used electric motors - at price points to suit all potential buyers."
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Saudi's Red Lorry: How these vintage trucks helped build Saudi Arabia's transport legacy
TL;DR From the 1940s to 1970s, red vintage trucks were the backbone of transport across Saudi Arabia. were the backbone of transport across Saudi Arabia. These trucks moved people, goods, and culture, connecting isolated villages to growing cities. Though no longer in use, their legacy lives on in stories, memories, and even modern truck manufacturing in Saudi. In Saudi Arabia, from the 1940s through the 1970s, vintage red trucks, mostly American-made, often Fords, became essential for getting people and goods across long stretches of desert. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Known locally as a 'lorry,' the truck wasn't just transport. It was a lifeline. Families used it to reach cities. Pilgrims used it to reach holy sites. Merchants relied on it to bring goods, like dates, spices, and livestock, to local markets. In a time when camels were still common, the red lorry offered something new: comfort, speed, and a sense of progress. What Made the Red Lorry Special? These trucks weren't fancy, but they were reliable. Made by American brands like Ford, they stood out with their bright red paint. They had handcrafted details like canvas roofs, juniper wood floors, and sunroofs. Built to handle the heat, dust, and long desert trips, they were tough and practical. People still remember the smell of the wooden floors and how the canvas roof would flap in the wind. It was simple, but it did the job. The red truck wasn't only about moving from one place to another. It carried families during times when there weren't many travel options. It also supported trade by bringing food and supplies to markets. Beyond that, it helped bring communities closer, some drivers even gave free rides to people in need. Speaking to Saudi Press Agency, a local media outlet, historian Abdullah Al-Zahrani told the that residents and pilgrims heavily relied on these trucks for long journeys often spanning several days. He noted that the red truck represented a shift in transportation, offering much-needed comfort for families and children. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Economic backbone for rural areas These trucks didn't just move people, they moved goods and money too. They carried things like dates, spices, textiles, and livestock, helping farmers and merchants bring their products to city markets. This meant fewer slow camel caravans and easier trips for traders. Because of that, small towns started to grow, and families had better chances to connect with bigger markets. That's why so many people still remember these trucks with a lot of warmth. From import to innovation: a new era of Saudi trucks Then, in 2012, Saudi Arabia took a big step. It stopped just using trucks from abroad and started building them at home. A factory opened in Dammam, where Isuzu began producing thousands of trucks every year. This was the first full-scale Japanese truck plant in the Gulf. A few years later, in 2015 and 2016, another plant in King Abdullah Economic City started making Volvo and Renault trucks. This wasn't just about factories, it was about the country changing from relying on imports to making its own trucks. Why this red truck still matters This story isn't just about trucks, it's about how Saudi Arabia grows and changes. Back then, the red lorry was a symbol of getting around and pushing through tough times. Now, the new trucks represent progress and standing on their own feet. Both show how Saudi Arabia keeps moving forward, one truck at a time.
NDTV
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Exclusive: Inside A 200-Year-Old Havana Bar With The Ghost Of Ernest Hemingway
Sometime in 1960, writer Ernest Hemingway found himself with a bitter pill to swallow. It was the last glass of daiquiri he was downing in his favourite bar in Havana. The communists and their revolution had made it difficult for Hemingway to stay on in Havana, the Cuban capital he had fallen in love with and moved to twenty-one years ago. He had to leave. The Cold War made it inevitable: he had to pick from between US and Cuba, and the writer chose the former. Hemingway left Havana for its mightier neighbour. He went to Idaho but not without a promise: he was going to return to the Havana where he wrote, played, loved and lived. The next year, Hemingway shot himself in the head. A few thousand miles away, Havana mourned Papa, the name it had bestowed on its wayward child. A Birth Anniversary Like Any Other Hemingway, today, is long gone. The classics shelves in bookstores around the world store a thin paperback copy of Old Man And The Sea as birth anniversaries come and go. Everywhere, Hemingway is a memory at best. Not in Havana. The city that Hemingway loved and let crush him, loves him back equally devastatingly. It is a love affair for the ages; one that outlasted all of Hemingway's four marriages put together. The writer first made a stop in Havana on a layover to Spain in 1928. He spent three nights in the city and made up his mind. He was going to return. In 1932, he came to Havana for the second time, and brought along two friends. He stayed at Hotel Ambos Mundos on that visit and walked down a few minutes for a drink. This was going to be the first time Hemingway set foot in a bar called El Floridita. He did not know that he was to change the history of that bar with that visit. The Most Famous Landmark In Havana Ask anyone in Havana the address of El Floridita. A seven-minute walk from the Capitol, down a boulevard lined with colourful vintage Fords and Chevrolets, you'll bump into the occasional beggar asking you for a dollar. Men in bright-yellow scooped-out coconut-shell-shaped taxis wait for a ride. A toothless grin follows if you ask them for directions to Hemingway's favourite bar in the whole wide world; and there you have it: the Cuban revolution anthem Guantanamera performed by the band Quinteto D'Amore bellowing out of the glass doors, bowtied bartenders ruffling up rows after rows of syrupy-sweet daiquiris, and patrons lining up for a 'Hemingway Special'. You have entered El Floridita. You are expected to know why you are at the bar when you're at the bar. El Floridita holds the hype for being one of the most famous bars in the world. No trip to Havana is complete without it. No trip to Cuba is complete without it. A Seat For Papa Once you're done taking in the mixologist's dance to your right, your eyes go left. There, a life-size bronze statue by Jose Villa Soberon of Cuba's most famous expat sits at the bar. Meet Ernest Hemingway; world-famous writer and mad lover of Havana. The Hemingway corner is the most famous spot at the mahogany table. You'll find a queue of patrons waiting to throw their arms around Papa, as their friends go clickety-click on their phones. There are framed photos of Hemingway with a host of personalities. The one with Fidel Castro mid-conversation is arguably the most popular. The Birthplace Of Daiquiri All of it is a moment for Instagram. Hemingway might have scoffed it off but El Floridita is happy cashing in on it. A Hemingway Special daiquiri is the most expensive cocktail at the bar. While a regular daiquiri in the land of rum would cost you INR 350, Hemingway's favourite will set you back by double the amount. Price inclusive of history and Hemingway. El Floridita is the bar where the daiquiri was invented. In 1914, Catalan immigrant Constantino Ribalaigua Vert moved to the bar as its bartender. Four years later he bought the place. In 1931, the experimenter that Constantino - 'Constante' to his guests - was, he created the daiquiri. Rum cocktails were his favourite. A year later, the fame of Floridita's daiquiris brought Hemingway to Constance. The writer wasn't disappointed. His daiquiri was special. It helped his pen flow, as it did deal with difficult people. Hemingway, a diabetic, had his daiquiri sugarless. Today at El Floridita, you find a Hemingway Special the same way; except for the sugar. You need to ask if you want it the way Hemingway had. Hemingway's Havana In 1939, Ernest Hemingway moved lock stock and barrel to Havana with his third wife, Martha Gellhorn. The couple bought a 'lookout farm' in Havana the following year. Finca Vigia was home to the Hemingways and a dozen cats that shared the place with them. The Third Mrs Hemingway soon made way for the fourth, but the writer's love for daiquiris stayed constant. Hemingway regularly drove down the half-hour way from his home to El Floridita for the drink. Posing with Papa. Photo: Author When the daiquiri hits you, Quinteto D'Amore sings out Guantanamera at the top of their voices, busy patrons jostle for a space next to Papa's bronze statue... you might catch Hemingway winking. This is his Havana. This is the Havana he loved. Now you too know why.
Otago Daily Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
A bit out of their league
I. Crossan breaks away for City A during his team's rugby league match against Pacific B. — Otago Witness, 28.7.1925 City A and Pacific B met at Montecillo on Saturday afternoon under very favourable conditions, the game resulting in an easy victory for City A. The teams were very unevenly matched — a first grade side being pitted against a young and inexperienced team. The game towards the close was in the nature of a farce. Although a large total of points was registered against them, the Pacific lads played a dogged game, Tearle (wing), Ferguson, Watson and Bryne giving a good account of themselves. The City backs worked together like a piece of machinery, and their concerted and spectacular passing bouts could not be stopped by the opposing side. The tackling of one or two of the City forwards was unnecessarily rough at times against such a young and light team, Tries were scored by almost every member of the City team, some of the players having several scores to their credit. The City players slackened off towards the end of the first spell, and Fibbs scored for Pacific near the corner. Watson later scored for the Whites as the result of a tricky run, Davis converting the try. The score was increased to 10 points by Davis kicking a splendid goal from a penalty for an infringement. The same player later brought the score for Pacific to 12 points by sending the ball over the bar from a penalty kick. Towards the end of the game Watson again scored for Pacific. Harris took the kick, but the ball struck one of the posts. Mr J. Underwood was referee. Scores: City A 45, Pacific B 15. Prince on tour On Saturday morning the Mayor (Mr H.L. Tapley) escorted his Highness the Maharaj Sir Bhawani Singh, Bahadur of Jhalawar and party to various beauty spots and points of interest in and about the city. A visit to the Otago University proved of great interest to Sir Bhawani, who is a noted educationist. In the afternoon he was taken on a motor trip round the Taieri Plain. Yesterday his Highness was escorted to Mr J.A. Johnstone's farm at Bushey, where he inspected the prize stock, the methods of dairy farming in different countries being a matter of considerable interest to the visitor. The party is to leave to-day for Queenstown, and will return to Dunedin on Wednesday and leave on Thursday for Wellington to sail for England, via Panama. Flying Fords Likely to be even more historic than the first Ford motor-cars are half a dozen little metal "air trucks" which have just emerged from the great Ford plant at Detroit, USA. They are new experiments in feather-weight metals and simplified motors. These little trucks with wings are being flown each day over the 250 miles which separate the Detroit and Chicago plants of the Ford company. With their half-ton loads on board, these aerial trucks soar up in the morning and return in the evening. They are being tested in the air just like a new type of car on the road. Edsel Ford is now superintending laboratory experiments of the most complete and costly kind. Already the first batch of "air trucks" are hundreds of pounds lighter, per machine, than any aircraft of similar size produced before. The aim of the whole thing is a van of the air and also a little passenger type of air car, which shall be as absolutely practical a commercial proposition as the existing Ford of the road. They will be so easy to fly that any farm lad, or handy man, will be able to jump in them and go flying away. — ODT, 19.7.1925
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford Breaks General Motors' Infamous Recall Record
We already knew that Ford was having a dire year for recalls, but a new record by the Blue Oval is the final nail in the coffin for the brand's ongoing quality issues. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford has issued 89 recalls in the first six months of 2025. That number surpasses the annual record for recalls by an individual manufacturer - and we're only in July. For dealers and customers alike, the need to attend to the various issues related to the 88 recalls has caused immense frustration. Related: Every Two Days: 2025 Is Turning Into A Recall Disaster For Ford Ford's 89 records so far in 2025 surpassed the 2014 record held by General Motors, when the latter issued 77 recalls. That year, hundreds of thousands of GM cars were affected by faulty ignition switches, including models from Chevrolet and Cadillac. However, GM is the parent company of multiple individual brands, so it figures that more recalls had to be issued, whereas Ford only has Lincoln under its umbrella. According to Automotive News, Ford's 2025 recall count is more than the next five automakers combined. Ford says it's taking a proactive approach to recalls, whereby it's aggressively auditing previous fixes of issues in an attempt to pick up problems early. As Dodge recently discovered, some recalls can come back to haunt automakers years after quality issues should have been resolved. Ford is willing to risk short-term reputational damage to improve quality in the longer term, although one wonders when customers will finally see the number of recalls decline, as Ford was the most recalled automaker in 2023, too. One of the most recent of Ford's 89 recalls is an issue with a low-pressure fuel pump. This one affects over 850,000 models, including the Ford Bronco, Ford Expedition, and Ford F-250. Prior to this, Fords were recalled in 2025 for issues with rearview cameras, steering controls, braking systems, and seats, among others. The rearview camera recall was even bigger, affecting 1.1 million vehicles. In this case, the rearview camera image could freeze or be delayed, so drivers would not be able to spot potential hazards. At the end of 2022, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that fixing Ford's quality issues could take years, and midway through 2025, the company still has its hands full resolving new and old quality issues. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
