[stressdoc]

Not my area of decision making, but damn, what if the big wheels in Munich had seen fit to buy up a big chunk of Ford stock a year ago (OK, in hindsight we all should have grabbed it at $5 a share...). The idea being to produce some really interesting autos for the USA/Canada market. Something outrageous like a quality family car (SUV, truck, etc.) powered by a -- lord forbid -- 4 or 6 cyl BMW diesel engine that would get 40+mpg.

Yes, rumor has it the current version of the seven sisters would not look kindly upon such efficiency in the homeland. And given entrenched BMW corporate independence it would take nothing short of a 9.0 earthquake in the boardroom. Not to mention the politics of foreign interests buying up our auto industry (Fiat anyone?).

I guess it's a good thing AG doesn't ask my opinion.

[ENINTY]

Thank God they didn't. BMW would have killed the M3-smokin'2011 Mustang GT.

[Oulixes]

Your idea is interesting. BMW buying into Ford might had given us a reliable high pressure pump, but we would have had to live with even more complex software than that we suffer from now. To extrapolate further, let's just hope that Ford will never get control of BMW - Ford is known for selling Mondeo (Contour), re-badged as Jaguar.

[stressdoc]

BMW is very well protected from takeovers and mergers. VW would love to force the issue with increased Audi market share.

I just have a good time imagining what kind of changes BMW would make in Dearborn. If done right, BMW + Ford could challenge VW and Toyota.

[Serious]

Since when is a company being large ever helped make better cars. Every time a new manufacturer makes it to #1 quality goes to crap and the cars become junk.

That is the last thing I want to see BMW attempt.

[jeremyc74]

I'd say much like the Diamler/Chrysler merger, it would be horrible. There were a few good things that came of it, but the two cultures just don't mesh very well.