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Cougar Support Group - A New Start
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Comments
Ward's Auto World 29-May-2000
author: Said Deep
Ford Motor Co. plans to move Mustang production out of the Rouge complex in Dearborn,
the lifelong home of the pony car, and replace it with the Ranger pickup and a new
multi-activity vehicle, codenamed U260, sometime in 2003, Ford sources tell Ward's.
The current plan is part of a multi-billion dollar modernization of the Dearborn assembly plant
that calls for transferring Mustang production to AutoAlliance International (AAI) in Flat Rock,
MI, a plant Ford jointly owns with Mazda Motor Corp., Ford insiders say.
AAI currently builds the Mercury Cougar and Mazda 626. Ford is expected to discontinue
Cougar production in '03, which will free up space for Mustang. Ford recently announced it
would eliminate the second shift at AAI July 17, due to slow Cougar sales. Mustang will
continue to be rear-wheel-drive, utilizing a less expensive version of the DEW platform
currently used for the Jaguar S-Type and the Lincoln LS, Ford sources say.
The switch to a high-volume product such as Ranger and the U260 vehicle, described as a
miniature version of the Explorer Sport Trac built on an all-new platform, would allow Ford to
better utilize Dearborn Assembly's nearly 2.6 million sq.-ft of space, something Mustang rarely
has been able to do in its 36-year life.
Ford earlier considered transferring Ranger production to Dearborn, but cancelled that plan in
favor of an aluminum intensive vehicle dubbed D219 that was targeted to debut in '03/'04.
That program was scrubbed and now Ranger is back in at the plant.
Bringing Ranger pickup production to Dearborn invariably means that one of the two current
plants building the Ranger -- Edison, NJ, and St. Paul, MN, (Twin Cities) -- could cease
building the compact pickup.
Ford sources tell Ward's that Edison is the plant most likely to lose Ranger and could be
outfitted for a brand new product. It's also possible Edison could be closed. The plant dodged
that fate in the late 1980s when Ford decided to replace Escort/Lynx production with the
Ranger.
Preparing Dearborn Assembly for the change to Ranger from
MWS, can you please comment on this?
Thanks!
Yes rumors can be a useful sources of info, but most of the time they seem to be made up and based on scattered information.
Suppose Cougar sales take off in 2002. Do you think plans might change?
Anyway, I don't really care if they drop the Cougar. I've got MINE. Mwooohahahahahaa!
Coming home today, a fellow in a fairly new Tercel was HANGING out his window to check out my kitty, coming up to a red light driving slow (I was already stopped) and took his time looking at every inch.
I'm proud but a teensy bit insulted....he didn't notice ME at all, just the Cougar!
And from what I gather inside the hallowed walls, the story is not too far from the truth... If the second shift is curtailed as it is planned, well that doesn't bode well for 626 or Cougar. Both cars are competing against staunch competitors though I think the Cougar still has class compared to the "new kid in town" Japanese products. I really thought Mercury was trying to reinvent itself by moving L/M HQ to Irvine... It worked for the LS; got a younger crowd to look at Lincoln(not much younger overall but younger still) (glad, since I am involved with the LS program, but sad for Mercury...)
Guess you can't get away from the Grand Marquis mentality... Anyone old enough to remember the SNL skit with the Rabbi performed circumsions in the rear seat of a of a Grand Marquis Brougram (spoof of the L/M diamond cutter commerical)? That about sums it up...
Before we get carried away and actually believe this rumor, why don't we wait for MWS to shed some light on this situation? I'm sure he is going to comment on this announcement.
This morning on the way in to work I was driving up Route 287 doing about 70mph when all of a sudden a can (looked like a tuna fish can) shot out from underneath the car in front of me, pinged off my front bumper, shot straight up in to the air, and came down behind me three cars back landing on the hood of a Toyota. I was really pissed, I figured my front bumper was going to have a HUGE scratch in it. But when I got to work I saw that the can hit my front license plate and not the car. The plate has a small dent in it, but I could'nt care less about it. I got lucky, for once.
As for advertising... we were in the market for a car and the sky was the limit. We started researching on Edmunds and reading what different groups had to say. We had never seen the cougar - but after reading the extensive praise this group lavished on the car, we checked into it, loved it and bought it (after spending several afternoons looking at Aleros and Malibus and Beetles and Z24s). Would we have bought a cougar without the CSG? No way. Do we love it? So much so - that my husband considered buying a second one a month ago (got an Subaru Impreza instead - just for the AWD). If the rumor is true, the bottom line is that Mercury/Ford shot THEMSELVES on this one.
Ppptttttt. (Big raspberry...)
Try it. You'll see.
I'm happy that at least I own what I would say is one of the difinitive turning point cars of the new millenium, and I'm proud to be a member of this group. It's just too bad that there wasn't more "look at me" type advertisements or I believe the Cougar would have outsold itself. It was on a good run there when it first rolled off the line.
Maybe they did, but I guess they underestimated the unisex design that bodes so much more than any other typical "chick-cars". (No offense) The Cougar appeals to more people than genders, but FMC missed the demographic by a mile. I guess they think all men should be F-150 drivers or something. Although their SUV's appeal to more women than men ... Quite the quandry, indeed.
AHHHHHHHHHHH! I remember those days all to well. After a few weeks my salesmen answered the phone saying "Straub Lincoln Mercury, what do you want Rob?"
I wish there was some magic button I could push to produce your Cat, I wish there was someone I could call and motivate. All I can offer you is the shelter of the CSG.
My Opinion On MTV:
I used to watch MTV all the time, but once they started to air shows like the Real World and Road Rules, I lost all interest. I have now moved on to VH1. I think they really try to offer a good assortment of music focused shows, such as: Pop Up Video, Music Jeopardy, Behind The Music, and Where Are They now?.
I went out for lunch today and it seemed like every turn was immaculate. It's the right temperature here, too, about 70 degrees. I really love my Cat, and hope that Mercury decides to hold on longer, so I can reap all the benefits of the aftermarket -- someday!
Hang in there, Malibu!
Take care all, and Happy Cougaring!
I would not be surprised if they did move it to Ford. Maybe not as Cougar, but with a different name (Mini-Mustang?!)
On the other hand, if they advertise the Cougar on MTV and VH1, they will finally reach their target demographic big time. Then watch sales of the Coug' take off! Young females really dig this car, but most females do not research vehicles the way guys do. If you build it, they won't automatically come. You gotta show it to them.
C'mon, Mercury. You got a great car here. Do it justice!
Amazing how smooth this car is at that speed. It felt no more strained than if I was going 55. I slowed down and put her on cruise control for the rest of the ride home. Nice car.
New tire pressures helped. I heard a radio report that claimed tire makers say everyone underinflates their tires. You should inflate the tire to the maximum embossed on the sidewall. Yipes! That didn't sound right to me. What about heat expansion. But I did inflate by Goodyears to 36 psi. Way better ride. Smoother turns, No wheel hop on washboard roads. 105 mph with no shimmy. Hmmm. Might be something here.
Hey, Lisa girl, just hang it there. After you get your Cat, you won't even bother thinking about all the waiting you've done and are still doing.
Don't feel bad. Some of us had it worse. Not only did I wait long (over 3 months) for my Cat, my dealer gave me lousy service as well as ripping me off. But that's another story. Your car will be in any day now!!!
Badulah:
MTV didn't change. You did. Your taste changed, and so has your maturity level. That's why you're now watching VH1 and driving a cool car.
MTV's for little kids and teeny boppers and drivers that like to put stickers on their cars.
PS
Do think you can put that Borla mods onto the Ranger?
RSG? Um, well, actually, ya see, er, I don't ever plan on buying a pick up. My next car is gonna be a Vette (and then I woke up). So we can keep the CSG name!!!
Just found out that my job may be sending me out to San Fran sometime soon. If this actually happens, I will see if I can meet with MWS at FMC HQ, and maybe even the staff at Edmunds HQ. My company is doing a job out there for Sony music and it isn't going so well, so they are thinking about sending me out there to supervise (LOL!! THAT'S LAUGHABLE!!). So if I go, I will be sure to make the most out of it since I have never been on the west coast.
Thanks everyone for your support...you'll be the first to know when I get "the call".
As for the "chick car" comment someone made, I don't know about that, in my experience so far more dudes compliment me on my Cougar than females and females usually are looking for cars that are more kid friendly.
As I have indicated numerous times before, I do not comment on future product actions nor do I comment on rumors and innuendo. This is a very competitive industry. Speculation is rampant. Journalists need to sell their stories.
Enough said.
So if the kill the cat, we have something special
but regardless of what FMC thinks it does need advertising.... such as the electric car ad I saw
recently.(great ad, but does FMC sell a E-car at all??) advertizing the first time I saw a cougar, in FL while my dad's Towncar was in for a oil change, and I noticed the tail lights laughed and went to look at a navigator... wasn't till later I realized what I was looking at. It took alot of my own research to find out what it was. Yes I remember the Bond type commercial, so much for quick angle shots, and long shots not selling the best part of the car (its looks) I could almost see the cat in one of those Black and white BMW ads of course that would be copying so do it original, maybe with cougarfest we could get something going(no luck here)
Speaking of cougarfest, name another <20K car
that has a following enough to generate 50+ drivers from around the country to participate?
this must speak something for the car...
On another topic:
So I love my cat, and every night my wonderful tree over my cat rains sap, I love my tree....
anyone else have a nice tree like me?
Well I've rambled on long enough,
enjoy,
E-
He was just kidding of course. Well I have to go get my car now...how I've waited to say those words. I'm shaking so bad I don't think I should drive. I'm sure it will subside once I slide into the drivers seat. Yippie!!!!!!
P.S. Thanks for everyones support while I whined and complained. Your awesome!
The feeling that I get when I typed those words is one of happy anticipation. The Cavalier that I am driving is competent, but unexciting, and there is nothing about it that makes me want to drive it. But it served me well in the canyons of New York City, where I would have been a little worried to take my Cougar.
Is it worse to never have had a Cougar and want one, or have had one and want it back? I'm getting jazzed!
Cheers!
Rick
One unexpected bonus: I received the improved cupholders, even though I have the V6. I thought I heard that this design was on the I4 only.
Jayhawk: thanks for the congrats, I got Spruce Green.