No more engine cover for the Lariat

P. A. Schilke

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Hi Folks,

My engine cover is not for sale. As a Ford Truck NVH Technical Specialist I realize the effectiveness of this cover in the interior quietness. Sad Ford decided to delete for cost reasons as it cheapens the Lariat package... A pox on the Chief NamePlate Engineer. Stop these stupid cost driven decisions. Take your lumps for not achiving your objectives and your bonus at the expense of the customer. I took my lumps...never hurt...JMO! Sad to say that it appears the current Management of Truck drive Lincolns and not trucks... I always had a Ranger in the driveway or garage when Ranger was my baby....I refused a transfer to Car Engineering...I am a Trucker....

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
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NickTheEnforcer

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You the man, Rick.
anyone need the nuts/studs? I ordered the cover and they sent me extra kits. I know I have them here somewhere. IM me I will give a good deal..
 

FoD

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FLASH
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Ford Performance Engineering has found that adding two(2) 73.198cm. Strips of hook&loop (common velcro) that the somewhat utilitarian engine cover can actually be used as a pizza warmer on the drive home. More servicing information scheduled and adjustments to follow. First suggested additional modification is the inclusion of 110vac standard incandescent bulb socket for 25 watt warmer bulb known as project "Bake Easy".
 

Trigganometry

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anyone need the nuts/studs? I ordered the cover and they sent me extra kits. I know I have them here somewhere. IM me I will give a good deal..
Might hit you up once mine arrives and I see for myself how it attaches. They wanted like 15 bucks for a nut! I could machine one out of titanium for less than that!
 

2.7EcoBoost

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This truck has to be one of the most profitable vehicles in Ford's recent history. With it being a global carry over, I would imagine they saved a ton on interior and exterior parts with stamping etc? The powertrain was already available in the company portfolio. It's essentially a parts bin truck. They sold 100k last year with little to no rebates and it's not as if they undercut the competition. I'm not saying it's a half ass truck. I actually feel it's pretty well executed. The T-6 was very proven. But lets be real, they did not spend much relative to a new product as they normally would have. Now they're cutting content for even more profit!?!? I have not felt a need to go purchase the cover, but I did buy a tailgate damper....???
 


VAMike

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This truck has to be one of the most profitable vehicles in Ford's recent history. With it being a global carry over, I would imagine they saved a ton on interior and exterior parts with stamping etc? The powertrain was already available in the company portfolio. It's essentially a parts bin truck. They sold 100k last year with little to no rebates and it's not as if they undercut the competition. I'm not saying it's a half ass truck. I actually feel it's pretty well executed. The T-6 was very proven. But lets be real, they did not spend much relative to a new product as they normally would have. Now they're cutting content for even more profit!?!? I have not felt a need to go purchase the cover, but I did buy a tailgate damper....???
Yeah. I wonder how well they're balancing long term vs short term financials. They're saving a buck here and a buck there, and also making me seriously question buying another ford because I'd be wondering how much stuff they took out to save a buck. Do the other brands take out "one more thing" every few months of production and I just don't pay attention? I guess I just expect that each new year adds a little bit, not makes the product a little bit worse.
 

r1ch999999

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Everyone is complaining about the removal of the cover, but none of us really know why. Maybe it's to cut costs, maybe it's because it's nearly impossible to get some parts during Covid. Who knows. I assume I have one, I forgot to check when I popped the hood.
 

VAMike

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Everyone is complaining about the removal of the cover, but none of us really know why. Maybe it's to cut costs, maybe it's because it's nearly impossible to get some parts during Covid. Who knows. I assume I have one, I forgot to check when I popped the hood.
It's not the cover, it's everything else and the cover.
 

dtech

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Yeah. I wonder how well they're balancing long term vs short term financials. They're saving a buck here and a buck there, and also making me seriously question buying another ford because I'd be wondering how much stuff they took out to save a buck. Do the other brands take out "one more thing" every few months of production and I just don't pay attention? I guess I just expect that each new year adds a little bit, not makes the product a little bit worse.
I doubt the average buyer does comparison shopping for things like number of tie downs , engine cover or that stupid pencil holder in the center console. So Ford pays someone to look for ways that will max profits without impacting sales - those decision are usually made irrespective of how healthy the profit margins are, right now they arguably have the best power train and perhaps the best offering in the mid sized truck segment. But a lot of companies will add new feature(s) when they remove something - maybe Ford will add something that buyers actually look for like a heated steering wheel. Take features away from a vehicle that potential buyers will notice and that can have a negative impact on sales. Like Phil points out , Ford is incentivizing people to wring the max profits from their products - opinions differ on whether that is a good thing, I feel it has created some downside in areas like vehicle service and financing where those people are usually highly incented to sell adds on and sometimes questionable services.
My 1st job in sales I was mostly compensated from a salary and in sales training was taught to pitch that as an advantage - decided to try that pitch on a customer who laid into me that they didn't give a rats a** about how I was paid, last time I ever tried that. I still see some commercials that try to use that same pitch - that their reps aren't paid on commission and I see Fisher investments commercial pitching on how they "different" - mostly bs.
 

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Are they down to 2 bed tie downs as well? I'm appreciating my '19 more and more.
19's are going to be known as the good year to have. Everyone is listing things removed from newer models. Don't forget our rear seat head rests fold down and our passenger side floor mats have pins to hold them in place too.

Not cool, Ford.
 

VAMike

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I doubt the average buyer does comparison shopping for things like number of tie downs , engine cover or that stupid pencil holder in the center console. So Ford pays someone to look for ways that will max profits without impacting sales - those decision are usually made irrespective of how healthy the profit margins are, right now they arguably have the best power train and perhaps the best offering in the mid sized truck segment. But a lot of companies will add new feature(s) when they remove something - maybe Ford will add something that buyers actually look for like a heated steering wheel.
They haven't yet, they've only taken away. Eventually, people start to notice.

Sure, nobody counts tie downs when they're comparison shopping, but they do have prejudices like "ford is that company that always reduces functionality without reducing price so I'd rather buy from someone else" or "I remember when I bought my last ford and those assholes didn't even give me 6 tie downs". Car sales are more emotion than reason, so it's strange to me that Ford doesn't care about leaving a bad taste in someone's mouth after they spend $40k. The word of mouth of a happy customer vs someone you've pissed off over something petty has got to be worth more than 2 tie downs.
 

dtech

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They haven't yet, they've only taken away. Eventually, people start to notice.
Agree, and when Ford can tie sales decline to lack of features or features removed that's when they may react. Right now it's mostly all upside on the sales front. Look at the relatively healthy sales volumes for the Nissan Frontier over the yrs with Nissan not doing a whole lot from the original - I would think Nissan had to be making pretty healthy margins , and then there is the Tacoma, I think finally showing some sales decline as competition in the segment builds. Maybe they'll put rear discs brakes on it - someday.
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