Rick Schmidt - Ask Rick:

It is September and time for another riveting Ask Rick segment where I ask him the tough questions! Football season is here and I am looking forward to sports celebrations and a bit of tailgating at the games. This month I Ask Rick what kinds of vehicle would be great for attending and showing off at these events.`

Rick's Take On Norway Trip :

Recently Rick took a trip overseas to visit Norway and meet up with a great NPD customer that resells classic Mustang restoration pieces to a large Norway enthusiast base (their website is PonyParts.no). They are part of the largest Ford dealership in Norway in fact (Selmer Ford) where classics and new Fords are all restored and upfitted! They are somewhat of the mecca for all things Ford in Norway, and this business model is consistent with how we see other European makes operate here in the U.S. (i.e. it's common to see a classic Porsche still serviced at the OEM dealership). In Rick's opinion, this model is something that could have legs here in the U.S. as well.



Rick's Take On Dads Mountain Garage :

At some point in the future we may need to make a "Dream Garage" segment! Rick's dad Jim has an amazing vacation home in Colorado that includes a garage - built into the side of a mountain! It was his intent to have his getaway capabale of housing his fun classics and there were more than a few times he ran Trans Ams and Thunderbirds out on the Colorado mountain roads and highways. Today it's been outfitted with more living and project space, but the original intent is fairly amazing. Has anyone else ever seen a garage built into the side of a mountain before??



Rick's Take On Ford Backing Down on DEI :

Recently Ford and several other large scale public companies (Harley-Davidson, Lowe's and John Deere) have reduced their stance on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policies. I asked Rick about this and while he admittedly wasn't heavily familiar with any of their policies, in general it seemed that most companies has likely (or possibly unintentionally) gone further into something than they realized was needed or wanted. His best guess was that the businesses just want to get back to business and focus on getting their work done instead of working on forced pandering to special groups and creating a forced-fake culture. Most employees would prefer to be evaluated on their job performance and capabilities; nothing more, nothing less.





Is there a future for a true 4-door Mustang in the future? Rick says.....yes! Image Credit: Motor Trend

Rick's Take On New Four Door Muscle Cars :

Revology founder Tom Scarpello sees a need in the marketplace for a new - 4 door Mustang. Not the EV Mustang - but a 4-door equivalent more suitable to the marketplace. The current Mustang he claims only sells 50K units per year. I Asked Rick about this and he agrees and pointed at multiple other manufacturers including Korean (KIA Stinger) and other luxury car manufacturers that all have four door sports vehicles. In today's day and age, two door sports cars just do not sell and the younger generation is not drawn to them because they want four doors for having fun with their friends. With the current market, releasing a four door sports (not Mach-E) Mustang would not diminish its legacy and would enhance sales by keeping a sports version that appeals to many markets instead of one.

Rick's Take On Tailgating Investment Cars :

Football tailgating season is upon us and we asked Rick to review an eye catching and affordable ride to take to the game. He'd need room for himself and 3 buddies, a fully stocked (large) cooler, grill, pop-up tent, and chairs. He'd purchase the vehicle this week, then sell it at the end of the season. The goal is the most fun and comfort first, followed by the best ROI. Entry price is irrelevant, but cost of ownership is.