Comments on: Ask the Best and Brightest: Is That a Lexus in the Jet-Gate Video?

By: Failure to Eat Own Dog Food Has Severe Consequences « blogit ergo sum

Failure to Eat Own Dog Food Has Severe Consequences « blogit ergo sum — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:20:28 +0000

[...] to Eat Own Dog Food Has Severe Consequences Could thishttp://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ask-the-best-and-brightest-is-that-a-lexus-in-the-jet-gate-video/explain the quality of Ford [...]

By: AG

AG — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:50:28 +0000

Its either an S-class or a ls430.

By: jgeorge

jgeorge — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:16:49 +0000

I too am apt to dislike the guy but, as I recall, that ABC news clip eventually shows Mulally hopping in the driver’s seat.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:33:11 +0000

I got to say that Ford has a cultural tradition of driving their own products. In fact, as a vendor, we used to try very hard to show up in a Ford when visiting Ford.

If that’s his own car, he should have traded. It’s not like he can’t afford it. There is plenty wrong with a Lincoln, and he should learn about that first hand.

As I said in another thread, the car could belong to the FBO (gas station for planes).

By: jkross22

jkross22 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:06:25 +0000

For the MOT’s on the board, Ford backward is

D – Definitely
R – Returns
O – On
F – Foot

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:20:44 +0000

Guess he’d figured “f&*k it, the MKS looks like a cheap Lexus so I might as well show up in the real thing

By: dilbert

dilbert — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:13:57 +0000

Yup, previous generation LS

By: highrpm

highrpm — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:11:48 +0000

Nothing wrong with the guy driving a competitor’s vehicle.

Like someone mentioned above, the last thing we want Mullaly to do is to start thinking of the current Lincolns as top notch because he hasn’t driven anything else.

By: AllStingNoBling

AllStingNoBling — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:52:44 +0000

If that’s not an LS-430, I will buy a Ford.

*Actually, no, I won’t… But that’s still an LS-430, and a glarring addmission to the, “crapposity,” of our cars.

By: gheinrich

gheinrich — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:55:22 +0000

Thanks for the link love on that original post, Robert. Allow me: http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/is-fords-ceo-still-driving-a-lexus/

By: BlueBrat

BlueBrat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:55:20 +0000

If I could afford one, I’d take a Lexus LS430 in a Ford Heartbeat.

By: whatsanobeen

whatsanobeen — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:49:13 +0000

Its a previous-gen Lexus LS430. Wasn’t that obvious?

By: Droid800

Droid800 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:46:45 +0000

This is not the ‘Jet-Gate’ video. The guy next to Mullaly is wearing shorts, and Mullaly himself doesn’t have a jacket on. It’s 41 degrees in D.C. today, and has been that cold (or colder all week).

The video you’re looking at is at the very least from last summer, but probably is from when Mullaly first came to Ford. (because he parked the Lexus and started driving a variety of Ford products instead)

By: Droid800

Droid800 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:43:48 +0000

Come on now Farago, you should know that Mullaly used to drive a Lexus LS430 while he was at Boeing. (he kept it, but started driving a variety of Ford products as his daily drivers)

Also, like others have said, one of the guys is wearing shorts, and Mullaly himself doesn’t have a jacket on. It’s 41 degrees today in Washington, and has been around that temp (or colder) since the beginning of the week. There is no way in hell that this video is recent.

By: Stingray

Stingray — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:38:09 +0000

+1 on the Lexus LS430, the taillamps and headlamps say it all.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:18:27 +0000

Wow, you guys at TTAC can’t tell that’s a prev-gen Lexus 430? hmmm…

By: Edward Niedermeyer

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:10:30 +0000

I’m gonna jump on this LS430 bandwagon. I was pretty sure it wasn’t a 460, but I didn’t imagine Mullaly wasn’t rocking the latest models. Hence the DTS guess, but I’m with ya now. 430 it is.

By: JJ

JJ — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:05:04 +0000

Well, looking at the front 3/4 I would say it’s that big KIA that has a different name in the US, so with that in mind, it’s probably a Lexus LS430.

By: TEXN3

TEXN3 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:03:42 +0000

Can’t blame him for keeping his own car…not like he is getting a new one every year.

Finally, I think it does say alot about Mullaly for driving a competitor’s car…especially from Toyota. He wanted the best that was not obscenely extravagent, but was also reliable and well-made. Definitely makes him less “blind” to what Ford is offering.

Except for a Jag Super V8, Ford hasn’t offered anything since Mullaly has been there. Now Ford’s flagship car, for all practical purposes, is an S80 V8 (which would be fine with me).

By: 50merc

50merc — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:03:35 +0000

I would think Lincoln buyers would feel better knowing that Lincoln’s designers and engineers have to deal with a boss who drives an LS430, and wouldn’t swallow any “we’re just as good as Lexus” crap.

By: RobertSD

RobertSD — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:01:51 +0000

He might still have the Lexus in Washington, but that’s not what he drives in Michigan.

It was bought and paid for with his own money long before he came to Ford. There’s no story here.

By: WaftableTorque

WaftableTorque — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:49:33 +0000

It’s an LS430, with the Ultra Luxury package (it has chrome wheels). I own one, I recognize the silhouette.

By: Jordan Tenenbaum

Jordan Tenenbaum — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:47:48 +0000

100% positive that’s a Lexus LS430.

By: f1guyus

f1guyus — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:39:39 +0000

He probably wants to make sure he gets to his destination.

By: Lichtronamo

Lichtronamo — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:39:34 +0000

It’s a Lexus LS400/430. The short hood and headlight along with the tail light housing that doesn’t run the full height of the rear fender is the give away that it’s not a DTS.

One issue with the footage is that the guy holding the door is wearing shorts. Based on the weather this week here in Minneapolis, I doubt anyone in Detroit or Washington DC is wearing shorts.

It could be footage from when Mullaly was being courted by Bill Ford Jr. It was widely reported at the time that Mullaly drove a Lexus then.