Fifty150

Here you go, mrtn. Just for you. Feds Watching: Ford’s Run Around on “Chicken Tax” Riles U.S. Customs Officials SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 AT 2:33 PM BY CLIFFORD ATIYEH 47 COMMENTS PHOTOS Marijuana smokers in decriminalized states know it best: You can light up in public and get away with it, but if they want, the Feds can crack down with alarming force. We don’t think Ford executives were high when they chose to import vans from Turkey, rush them off the boat to chop shops, and skirt federal laws in plain sight. But from the eyes of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, they’re wrong. At issue is Ford’s Transit Connect, the compact, light-duty van that’s been on sale here since 2009. (The next-generation model, which goes on sale soon, is pictured here. If you want to gawk at a dead van rolling, here you go.) Like with most imports, Ford has to pay a tariff on each vehicle to clear customs. But instead of the normal 2.5-percent tariff levied on passenger vans, cargo vans are charged a heavy 25-percent tariff. (This so-called “chicken tax” was President Lyndon Johnson’s response to high West German and French tariffs on exported U.S. chicken, and was a retaliation that would destroy commercial sales of Volkswagen’s popular Microbus.) So Ford, like many automakers before it, got creative. Even though most of its customers order the two-seat, stripped-out commercial model, Ford ships every Transit Connect to the Port of Baltimore in five-passenger Wagon trim. As soon as customs agents approve the vans, Ford whisks them offsite where a shipping contractor rips out backseats, flooring and rear windows. The brand-new parts then get sent to Ohio for recycling, and a new floor and metal stampings to cover the window openings go in place. Customs officials say it takes Ford less than 11 minutes to convert a Transit Connect from a people mover to a cargo van, and, while everyone knows Ford has been doing this for the past four years, the Feds have had enough. VIEW PHOTOS “The product as entered is not a commercial reality; it exists only to manipulate the tariff schedule rather than for any manufacturing or commercial purpose,” wrote customs director Myles Harmon in an internal document (available here; downloads Word document). To prove his point, Harmon compared the conversions to similar moves by sugar and lumber companies, which modified their products immediately after arrival. He even referenced our own first drive review to demonstrate that the vehicle was really designed to carry cargo, not people. The report, dated January 30, forced Ford to start paying the full 25-percent tariff. But the customs decision came to light only after Ford filed a complaint to the U.S. Court of International Trade on September 17. According to the filing, Ford alleged that officials incorrectly levied the tariff since the vans “have all of the features identified by these authorities as establishing that the vehicles are principally designed for the transport of persons.” Since it began paying the higher tariff in March, Ford spokesman Said Deep says the company hasn’t changed its import practices—and won’t, not even when the new 2014 Transit Connect arrives from Spain next year. Ford doesn’t anticipate raising prices to fully compensate for the losses, he says. VIEW PHOTOS “The tariff classifications are based on the condition as imported,” Deep says. “That’s based on centuries-old legal authority. What we’ve been doing has been known by customs and common knowledge,” he says, referencing a Wall Street Journal story first reporting on the company’s runarounds in September 2009. While customs officials did not respond to requests for comment, other automakers have successfully beat the chicken tax. During the 1980s, Subaru put plastic seats in the beds of BRAT models so they wouldn’t be marked as pickup trucks. Before Mercedes opened a plant to build the Sprinter in 2007, it shipped the cargo vans as kits from Germany and assembled them in South Carolina. Mahindra, which ultimately never made it over, was planning to do the same with its pickup trucks. Feature Test: 2010 Ford Transit Connect Long-Term Road Test Wrap-Up: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Instrumented Test: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Plug-In Hybrid But while Ford protests in court, the company actually supports the tariff—along with Chrysler and General Motors—because it continues to obstruct sales of foreign-made pickups and vans from Japan, China, and other markets. In fact, a bipartisan majority of both houses of Congress are now telling President Obama to keep the tariffs, with the goal for Japan to adopt currency exchange rules and lift quantity restrictions on imported vehicles. Any debate about the chicken tax is largely moot as its definition and enforcement are so liquid. All the Japanese automakers build trucks here, without tariffs, and while the government does have a strong case against Ford—including proof that Ford’s VIN labels show the vehicles originally tagged as cargo vans—this same government is no stranger to mislabeling vehicles. Besides its double standards for fuel-economy tests, the Environmental Protection Agency, in just one example, classifies the Ferrari California as a “minicompact,” the same size class as a Scion iQ. VIEW PHOTOS View Model Details Shop Local Cars View 47 Comments Price Starting at $24,335

Too political. It would "Make America Great Again". U.S.A. company producing vehicles in U.S.A. Surely there would be some sort of government incentive to build the factory and create all of those jobs. Perhaps even using U.S. Steel. Cars made by Americans, sold by Americans, to Americans. America: Open For Business. But nobody is buying. Can you imagine all the people who would boycott Ford and call them Trump-Mobiles?

Those tires look alright to me. I would still drive on them. Some of the tire shops are franchised, and they could work with you. Costco & Wal*Mart may have lower "out the door" pricing. As I drive around here in Norte Califas, I see Firestone, Big O, Bridgestone, WheelWorks, Goodyear, Manny, Moe, & Jack,. In my area, there has to be about 15 independent shops for 1 corporate chain shop. They all want your business. Make sure that you compare "out the door" pricing. Some places quote a price, say that you get free installation, then still charge you for everything as an itemized fee. "Free Installation" only means that they put on your lug nuts free of charge. You still have to pay for disposal of old tires, TPMS service, valve stems, mounting, balancing, weights, "compressed air fee", "torque application", "shop time", "the donut you ate while staring at the receptionist", and "anything else that we can make up to get another $5 per tire". Oh, and ask to see the tire before it goes on your car. Don't assume that it will be fine. I know more than 1 person who got tires "on sale", and they were old stock. Check the production date. My ex bought tires like that. I brought the car right back, and the tire shop owner agreed to replace with new tires if the the tread started splitting or the rubber started rotting. None of that "pro-rated pricing". He also agreed to fix any flats she may get "on the house" - what other people call road hazard insurance. I didn't call the Bureau of Automotive Repair, or the District Attorney's Office, and I didn't beat him up. I was younger then. With the office door closed, I could have given him a real hurting until his guys in the shop break down the door to save him. As I am more mature, I've learned that is not how you do things. Wait for him to go home for the night, and burn down his shop! My ex was one of those independent "I don't need a man" types. She had to prove to the world, or maybe prove to herself, that she was capable of getting through life without help from anyone. Worked out well in my favor. Less heavy lifting for me. Except for when the car dealership service writer sells her the $100 fuel injection cleaning, and all that they did was add a bottle of Techron to the gas tank. Or the tire shop installs tires with a date code from 5 years ago. Or when the dry cleaner adds a "pressing fee" to her business clothes. Or when she pays the extra charge for vegetarian pork fried rice (no pork). No babe. They don't make the fried rice, then pick out all the pork by hand. They just make friend rice, and not add any pork.

You just wait until this thread goes off topic.

Bring an angle grinder with a cut off wheel. Chop out everything that you want. Worry about carefully backing out fasteners when you get home. Really. You will want to take the rear tim panels to work with those new seat belts. Take the carpet kit. And if your car does not have one, take the rear auxiliary junction box. Maybe take the passenger van headliner too. And while your're at it, you may as well take the 3rd row seats. Just in case you want to add them at a future point in time. If you have a junk yard find, take everything that is still in good condition. Even the hubcaps. Send me a good condition set of those OEM wheels and hubcaps. I'll trade you for coil springs from a 5th generation Ford Mustang, and a boba tea drink.

The van was imported with seats, then stripped. Source the seats and all hardware and you should be fine.

It's in a junk yard. Take everything you need from it. Cut out the floor if you need to.

Ah, Vermont. You have Bernie Sanders over there.

As they say, "life in the big city". Another one of the things that divides us. People in big cities, like me, are so far removed from the day to day realities of the rest of the country. Big cities tend politically influence the nation's policies and economy without consideration for everyone else who is not in the big city. In New York, the “low income” threshold for a family of four is $83,450 per year. In Los Angeles, it's$77,500. Making ends meet for a family of four in San Francisco requires a household income of $92,139, according to MIT's living wage calculator.Jun 28, 2018 San Francisco families earning $117,000 qualify as 'low income' https://www.cnbc.com/.../families-earning-117000-qualify-as-low-income-in-san-francis... We have people earning 6 figure incomes for work which in some parts of the nation, is paid at a federal minimum wage. Cost of living and standards of living are different. As I look around me, nobody except for me has an old car. My truck is over 10 years old. Every bartender, store clerk, coffee shop barista, et al are driving new cars. A waiter in SF can bring in hundreds of dollars in cash tips every night, over a thousand in unreported income a week. He can buy a Transit Connect in cash. A waiter in another part of the country making the federal minimum wage, may not even qualify for credit to buy a $22,000 car when he only makes $14,500 a year.

We used to have shop classes in high schools. Wood, metal, auto, electrical, drafting, horticulture, printing.....those kids did repairs for the actual school building, and other nearby city facilities. Auto shop used to do service work on city vehicles. Print shop made year books, produced business cards, letterhead, et cetera. If a kid took shop in high school, he/she learned everything needed to graduate into a trade. The Shop Program was eliminated for several reasons. Unions did not want high school kids taking union members jobs. Parents wanted the money allocated for college prep, sports, and arts. Then came talk of money for computers, and basic supplies like paper and pencils. Kids were not signing up to take shop. And believe it or not, kids don't want to take science classes (too hard). Budget cuts, plus lack of interest, eliminated Drivers Ed, JROTC, Arts, Science, and Shop. To satisfy all the thespians, musicians, pole dancers, fashion designers, FBI sketch artist, chefs, broadcasters, mimes........The City opened a School of Arts (SOFA). More cost effective to put them under one roof, and protect them from all the other kids who beat them up. There is now a technology program which may turn to a Technology School. A School of Science was developed for biology, physics, chemistry, MythBusters geeks, meth labs, and bomb builders. School of Business also absorbed the foreign languages. No interest whatsoever in a School for Trades, or a War School of Political Science to ready teenagers for military service. Ongoing joke is that they are starting a 4H Program and teaching indoor marijuana production. San Francisco does not have 4H. Our boys don't get to know sheep up close and personal.

Awesome! Thanks mrtn.

Good for you. Whomever receives them is getting a lot of help from you. A set of tires is so expensive, that it could equal someone's grocery budget for a month. Actually, any vehicle maintenance can be out of reach for a lot of people who are low income. If you're barely getting by, an oil change or brake job can impact your food budget. Tough choice. Nobody ever listens to me, because I am Nucking Futs. For years, I have been trying to interest people in a non-profit garage. Provide job training for automotive maintenance skills, and poor people get work done fro reduced or no cost, based on a sliding scale. Ask dealerships for sponsorships with training material, shop supplies, tools, parts.....all which they can write off. Train unskilled workers and provide job placement. And the most important part of all is providing vehicle maintenance to people who cannot afford expensive repairs. So that a single mother has a safe vehicle, with working brakes, to drive her children around in. But again, I am Nucking Futs.

Thank you. A few questions in regards to OEM wheel. What are the specs for the OEM wheel? My OEM is 16", with 215/55R16 size tires. What are the wheel's width, backspace, offset, lug pattern, et cetera? In other car forums, moderators make it a "sticky" at the top. So that you don't have to search through 10, 20, 30 threads, in order to find basic information like TSBs, recalls, et cetera.

One of you guys needs to make a video like this one, with your Transit Connect and your new tires.

I would go back out there, set up some glue traps, and get those little vandals.

Without telling everyone what you spent, since it's nobody's business what your financial standing is, where the tires cheap enough that you saved a significant amount of money? That factors in with "are they worth it"? Since I bought tires on Amazon, it's not a secret what the pricing is, and I don't care if someone knows how much I spent, save, whatever......The GreenBall Kanati in size 35X12.5R17 was priced at $160 per tire, with Sears installing for $19.99. A BFGoodrich in that same size is about $300 depending on the retailer, plus mounting, balancing, valve stem, TPMS service, road hazard coverage, rotations, disposal, shop supplies, et cetera. I'm with you. It's a pickup truck, so the ride quality isn't going to be great with any tire. And you're right. As far as real quality, who knows. When I buy the tires for half the price of something that is known to be good, I don't expect much. When the tire holds air, it's "worth it" until it stops being round.

In case it helps anyone here, I have used the same set of tires on my pickup truck for the last 10 years. Approximately 60,000 miles. Hankook DynaPro ATM RF10 Overall, I am satisfied that my set of Hankooks did everything that I wanted them to do, and lasted as long as they did. DynaPro ATM style is not offered in 215/55R16. But if another Hankook style looks like a good fit for Transit Connect, I would consider buying it. Hankook is now OEM on several makes and models. Pricing has gone up since they now have a track record. Maybe not the best tire for performance. But good enough for an economy tire. When I purchased the Hankook tires, this was a new tire on the market. Most of the Jeep & pickup truck owners I knew used BFGoodrich & Goodyear. But a few guys like me, always bought the cheapest tire on the market, because when you deflate tires to drive offroad, tires cut and puncture easily. If I spend the extra $100 on a tire, it would still get cut or punctured when offroading. No retailer will pro-rate or replace a tire that you damaged rock hopping. The tires rode for as comfortable as can be expected in a truck. It's a truck, so road noise was not a factor and did not bother me. Traction was better than i thought. With full air @ 50 PSI, it held up to every load of bricks, and towed whatever I hitched behind it - boats, motorcycle trailers, race kart, and a few small subcompacts. Traction was sure & solid on soft soil, in snow, rocky terrain, and every off-road condition I encountered on camping, hunting, and fishing trips. Never lost control or hydroplaned in heavy rain and standing water. Tread always grabbed onto pavement when braking, and truck never went into a skid. Recently developed a slow leak in 1 tire. The sidewall was damaged. Most likely from rubber aging and deteriorating. But then again, offroad use with lower PSI, bouncing off and rubbing against rocks, city parking "curb rash", could all be factors in tire damage. A quick look revealed that tread depth was still acceptable, and the lugs still had sipes. If the rubber were not splitting, cracking, and falling apart after 10 years of constant abuse, and parking outdoors with UV rays from the sun, I would keep the tires and drive them until bald. Maybe I can convince a cobbler to re-sole my boots or make campfire sandals with my old tires. Hankooks have been replaced by GreenBall Kanati Mud Hogs. If these do not suffer catastrophic failure, I could have them for the next 10 years. Probably will not keep the truck longer than that.

I am so jealous. I would love to have the room in my apartment for that. Most of the equipment is not expensive. The problem for me, is that I have no place to install all of the equipment. I would also love to have a lift, a transmission fluid exchanger, and the list goes on. Tools are not cost prohibitive. Real estate is what sets me back. I can buy all this stuff, but have no place to put it.

motive, means, and opportunity

High 5

After reading the warranty, it seems like nothing is covered. Unless the tire is defective. Meaning that what you describe does not sound like the tire was defective, and your tires are simply worn down because of normal use. I think what they would consider a defect would be tread separation. If through no fault of your own, and they will try to blame you, the tread comes off. It could happen. But not likely to happen.

Owners of AWD SUV tend to overestimate their vehicle's ability, and their own driving skills. I've learned over the years that even if you do not have a great amount of experience driving in snow, reducing speed makes a world of difference. I see a lot of people actually cutting in and out of traffic, and speeding beyond the posted speed limit (meant for dry roads) in those little cross-over type sports utility vehicles which do not have a true 4 wheel drive system. Most people that I know with 4 wheel drive, like with a Jeep or truck, would never drive like that.

It all depends on the part. Certain brands we are familiar with, just because we see them everywhere. But that doesn't make it good. Dorman, Wagner , Four Seasons, Champion, Fram.........you've heard of the brand, but the parts are nothing special. I find that unless it is a specialty aftermarket part, like FlowMaster muffler, Eibach shocks, & PowerStop brakes, your best bet is OEM. Buy a Motorcraft part for your Ford. What good is saving $5 on a thermostat, if it doesn't work?

Hokum! Sounds to me like the service advisor was feeling you out to see what else he could talk you into. There is no way that your tires could be that worn, at 15,000 miles. Almost 20,000 miles on my OEM tires, and they still look new. Looks don't mean anything. Go measure the tread. There are several popular ways to check your tire tread depth. One easy way is the penny test. Simply insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it's time to replace your tires. Check Tire Tread Depth | Goodyear Auto Service https://www.goodyearautoservice.com/en-US/tire-basics/tread-depth