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Comments
And, hang up your cell phone.....
Normally, I think of GM of that era....
I took a second look at the Ford tail end of '69 and you are right.... not a bad looking car and pretty much timeless
-Loren
Catch-up game simply does not work when it is done four five years after original. You have to come with revolutionary design like original Taurus, Ford Focus or Chrysler 300 to become a leader. And Ford had it with Taurus and Focus and screwed it big way again and again. They are pretty consistent on that.
Concepts from Ford are just concepts and unlike Chrysler’s have nothing to do with reality. If Fusion is what 427 is turned out to be – then who cares?
But I agree - that is how REAL American car should look in mid 2000s. No wonder Detroit is failing
The Edmonds InsideLine article indicated one reason this likely won't be built is that Ford doesn't have a suitable domestic platform (Mustang notwithstanding) and again mentioned a possible solution of sharing an Australian platform. There was talk of co-developing a RWD platform with the Aussies. Where does Ford stand on this? One moment it sounds as if they're thinking of it, the next the idea seems to be axed. What would be the reason for not using an existing RWD platform from Oz? Import costs? Just wondering.
NAVIGATOR: Have to say I'm impressed still with that truck. I miss mine terribly and it's possible at some point, I may go back to one. They are nicer in some ways than even my 03. In fact, other than the 78 Ford F-150 guage cluster (read stupid into that, Ford) it's very nice. The leather in the seats is 12 times better than mine was. It's still a very appealing interior. The Remington Razor grille is still a disgrace to me, but I could even possibly get over that. Those power running boards, powerfold third seats and comfort of the Navigator remains.
TOWN CAR: Surprise, surprise - they are reviving the Town Car a bit. There is now a Designer Series with some color piping on the very luxurious seats. One of my big beefs with recent Town Cars were the miserable seats, but that has been corrected. They still don't cool, but you can get Navigation now, and things are actually looking up for the old Town Car customer. If they haven't already run to Lexus like I did.
LS: They still have them, and they're still the same. Too small for me.
MKZ: Again, really nice leather seats, nice interior, 3 series size or C - Class, way too small for me. Not badly done inside though, somewhat improved over the Zephyr.
Mark LT: When is it going to become the MKLT likt it should be? Very nice truck, have always liked it. If I needed a Pickup, I'd buy one in a heart beat.
So, if they continue to improve things there, I could become interested again. The Escalade is finally up to standards AFAIC inside, except for the unacceptable third seat setup, which will keep me out of that truck forever.
Where Ford is taking Lincoln now - I see some hope. But it'll take forever to remake the brand.
The only part of the 427 that made it into the Fusion was the grille. In fact the Fusion started life with a different front end (more like the 500) but they had time to change it.
The MKR is just a styling exercise to show the public and the Lincoln designers the future direction.
The new Aussie platform isn't ready yet so the only suitable concept platform would be the current mustang platform. I expect it will be built either on a shared platform with the Aussies or on the new Mustang platform (which could be one and the same).
So they are still developing something - good. I for one have no problems with sharing platforms across brands and across continents. It makes sense, and all the better if it gets something like the Interceptor and the MKR built.
Ford can't sell Land Rover without selling jaguar as they are actually one company under the skin.
Nearly all of the people I deal with at Land Rover have dual role jobs with Jaguar.
BMWs purchase of Land Rover was more of a way for them to get into the SUV market quickly. What better way for a company with no experice building SUVs and trucks then to purchase a company that only built SUVs and trucks. Also keep in mind that BMW purchased the entire Rover group not just land rover so they got the MINI brand in the sale as well as Rover cars.
Everything I have heard from people who have been with the company since before the BMW purchase suggest that BMW had no intention of holding on to Rover any longer then it took to get the SUV/4wd tech from Land Rover and figure out what parts of Rover cars/Mini cooper were worth keeping.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06356/748288-185.stm
That article not only tells you why Ford has had problems but also why Mulally is doing all the right things to fix them.
It sounds like he has what's been missing at Ford-common sense.
The Mustang isn't going to happen, but the MKR/Interceptor sure seem to be closly related.
At least it seems Alan has full discretion to do what he has to do to break down the walls of protection from the Ford family..... Not unlike when the Deuce took over for his Grandpa, and fired Harry Bennett.
The 1971-72 cars were good looking, but Ford was definitely pushing the cars in the direction of the luxury market, and any pretense or whiff of sportiness vanished.
Among the new cars, I do think that the Fusion is very handsome...one of the best-looking cars in its price class. The 427-inspired front does stand out in traffic, and the car has a nice profile.
Unfortunately, the Five Hundred needs more than a new grille and headlights. That car needs a whole new skin on it.
I hope he is handy with the axe.
Indeed! For such a short timer at Ford, Bunkie had a profound influence on the design for those years. Don't forget the 71-73 Mustang, which looked a lot like more like a Camaro, and is generally discounted as "not a real Mustang" these days. Bunkie got those Galaxies and LTDs looking a lot like a Pontiac, didn't he? I liked them generally, especially the front. But as soon as he was gone, they started to "square" back up and look like a Ford again really fast.
I recall looking at a 1975 Ford LTD Landau two-door when I was shopping for my first car back in 1981. I kind of liked it as it had flip-up lights as if it were trying to ape a Lincoln Continental. I passed on this car as I noticed the beginnings of a very serious rust problem in the rear quarter panels. Early to mid '70s Fords were notorious rusters.
And sadly, and unbelievably, I had one of both!! A 72, and a 74!! Both extremes, both losers, never had one of the "good Mustangs"...... I'm such a moron.... :lemon:
Funny you should mention that. I just saw one in a parking lot near my grandparents home in extremely rural Alabama. I told my wife that I hadn't seen one of those in years. Then again that whole area seems to be about 25 years behind the rest of the world.
As far as the "fatstang" ; I had a 71 in High School.
Even with 100k miles and a 302, I could smoke the tires.
They didn't have much room inside but there were remarkable activities conducted inside of mine, which might explain the back problems I have now.
I'm very familiar with Alabama, allen - I'll bet I know the "rural" town - what is it???? I'll go make an offer on the car..... :P
If you're serious I'll tell you where I saw it. I doubt it's been moved. :sick:
It's not running, eh??
Or a 68-69 Chevelle...
Also, did anyone notice vehicle #3 in the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction? A 1974 Mustang II...
-Loren
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070104/ap_on_bi_ge/ford_toyota_2
Something about this whole article gives one the feeling that the new CEO may not fully believe in Ford/Lincoln in relation to Japan quality. Have we not heard time and time again that the domestic cars are as good, will soon to be as good, or they are nearly as good as Japan makes? Now we have someone that had ordered a Lexus running Ford.
Oh well, certainly not the best press, but things could be worse.. stay tuned. Personally, I kinda like the looks of the Fusion/Milan/MKZ cars.
-Loren
Thanx for the link.
Rocky
I have never driven the Lexus cars. Used, the prices seem to be a bit high and I just haven't seen any look I cared for all that much. The smallest Lexus RWD may be a fun ride. Seems like some new styling has come its way. Perhaps it is something to consider. I go way back to the '60s where it comes to cars, so I was raised on BMW and other makes being the dream car long before anyone in the wildest dream would consider a Japan make as luxury. Nowadays, when Mercedes is slipping in initial quality reports, and BMW is pretty darn expensive for maintenance, perhaps I can see how some shop Japan makes in luxury rides. Still thinking a CTS may be a good balance between fun, practical, with a bit of luxury, or should I say stylin'. When buying new, I suppose a Lexus or Acura will hold value the best without even looking up the values on the Net. A simple look around the car lots gives one sticker shock! To tell you the truth, some Accords priced at $30K seem a bit much to me. OK, not quite as shocking as the Mazdaspeed6 in the $30K+ range. Am it but getting old? Seems like a shock to me, but then again, I bought an Opel Manta Rallyee for $3,150 out-the-door price back in '73, so yeah, I'm old.
-Loren
From what I've seen, more of the "We'll turn the corner and beat the Japanese when this all-new Model X debuts" talk comes from GM than from Ford.
My take on cars like the Chrysler 300 is that they built a car with cool and bold look, which is good, but with the tall doors and smallish windows limited customers looking for the practical side as well. By that, I mean those wanting to see out well and not feeling too confined. Hanging an elbow out the window is getting so hard to do these days. I see other cars with too high door window sill syndrome as well. And it need to have a refresh job soon. The coming bond with Chery cars will likely be the final chapter for Chrysler. One day they are moving classier, as in Mercedes image, and then the next they are moving to cheapo cars -- which is it? The new Challenger looks hot! Too expensive and too big for me. Won't even fit my streets here. The original car was big enough for a sporty pony car - new one adds more inches. Is this not 2007? Won't the gas prices soon be $3.50 per gallon? I was told some years ago the decade of lighter, much lighter and smaller cars was coming soon. Recall they were going to drop weights across all car lines in future years?
-Loren
Thanks for asking, loren. I've driven both, rented them frequently. They both sit too low for me and both are too small for me. IMO, the 6 cylinder is a waste in both of them. In the CTS, the 6 is turboed, and it's faster than the LS. The V-8 in each of them is great. The LS has about 20 more x "fun to drive" factor IMO. It handles very much like a BMW 5 series, with an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The Caddie is ok, but misses the details on the handling. The Caddie has way too big a steering wheel - you feel like you're twisting a bus around. The interior isn't stellar in either, but the LS is prettier than the CTS, IMO, with better looking plastic and aluminum or wood trim. Between the two, I would take the LS even in its discontinued state any day. The only point I give to
Caddie as superior - is in the exterior styling. The LS is not a pretty car.
-Loren
Well for how long ? I do see a slim possibility of this option being considered.
Rocky
Rocky
Here's a hint: CTS-V.