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You might be interested in the fact that in Australia, the Subaru Liberty is what is called a Legacy here. DaimlerChrysler is not amused, I am quite certain...
Fi Fi!
The Ford Fi Fi! (As in fee-fee)
Nah, sounds like a real dog of a car...
Speaking of Futura, yesterday I saw a 1963 Falcon Futura convertible on the road. Those early 1960s Falcons were pretty good-looking cars, especially the 1963 models.
The Fairmont-based Futura coupes were good-looking cars for the time, in my opinion, but the late 1970s and early 1980s represent the dark ages for the Ford Motor Company.
Paul
"To get it Right"
"First Time!"
" Everytime!"
"On Time"
Interesting
Paul
I like the conceptual styling, but I'm guessing it's as true to the real thing as the Cobalt's concept art was. I'm beginning to think this could end up as the Ford Fubar.
That would be Falken I do believe.
It all depends on the Judge you get. When you dislike a Judges stupidity, you always appeal and go for another.
HAHAHAHA. Does Ford really expect anyone to pay retail for a Mercury version of a Ford for any more than say, the first month, POSSIBLY two?
I hope expectations arent that unrealistic. Even if Ford manages to keep rebates off the Montego, pricing nearer to invoice and far from MSRP can be expected as time passes.
Ford recently slapped rebates of up to $4000 on the Monterrey. But given the vehicles absurd MSRP, it almost seems as if they expected to.
~alpha
Lincoln-Mercury dealers, on the other hand, always have lots of Grand Marquises, and they put them front and center.
As for rebates on the Monterey - if I recall correctly, rebates on the Freestar are at similar levels. The problem is that both minivans weren't updated enought to meet the strong competition from Toyota, Honda and Dodge/Chrysler.
There is a lesson in here about fleet sales, applicable to the car formerly known as Futura, the Five Hundred and to all models, for that matter....
Freestyle has by far the nicest interior of any minivan. Its also USEFUL as a tow vehicle.
IMHO they are just priced out of the market.
Mark
Freestar, and have you been in the interiors of the Sienna or the new DCX twins. Specifically, if you look at Sienna XLE and Limited models, the interior looks as if lifted out of Lexus.
~alpha
As for fleet sales - Ford is specifically keeping the Taurus around for fleet customers. The Five Hundred, Freestyle and Futura (or Four Hundred) will be aimed at retail customers.
Second high deprecation drives price at the auction...
Third ex fleet units, say a 2003 taurus with 25k miles, will retail as a certified unit four 10 to 12k. Obviously this kills new car sales. Especially as there is more profit in the used units for the dealer, thus incentive to push them.
Ford is trying to improve the quality of its market share and make it more than just a number.
Mark
Anyway, the Ford CD338, nee Futura, needs a name pronto. I wish they'd dump the F names.
The Freestar is a flop since it's pretty much the same as the Windstar.
From last I checked, the Taurus will be kept around till 2008 and at that time, Ford will re-assess the situation and see if they'll keep it as a fleet only vehicle. Crown Vic's lifespan is around 2009 when the same will occur.
I own an 04 Monterey (The Mercury Freestar) and I have to stick up for it. I was never a Windstar fan, having rented many of them, and bought a Villager instead for my business because of my rental experience. When my lease on the Villager was up, I leased a Monterey, expecting not much. I have been very pleasantly surprised! The interior appointments are very very nice, and I got the stripper. It's extremely comfy, and best of all, no defects yet, in 2000 miles. That really surprised me for an early edition of a new model. It could use a more refined engine, but the corporate 4.2 Essex engine runs fine and has great torque. It's just a little rough for today. Reminds me of damn near anything GM makes. You may not like the Freestar, but from my experience so far, it's a big improvement over the Windstar, and a great introduction of a new vehicle.
What gives with the Mazda6 based crossover for Ford? What about the Escape and the Freesyle?
I think Ford is insane if it wants to conjure up memories of the Granada, hell even the Torino. Tomcat- how many people in the target audience of this vehicle are REALLY going to remember thundering Fairlanes of 40 years ago?
~alpha
yeah, right.
They need to resurrect that like they need more holes in their heads.
If they call it 'Torino' the muscle car crowd will howl, saying "it should have V8/RWD".
~alpha
I think Fairlane should be reserved for the Ford flagship - a model above the Five Hundred. This is where I think the Australian Falcon platform could be used to make the car rwd and V-8 powered. Styling could come from the 427 concept while the Crown Vic soldiers on for a while for police and taxi duty.
I would rather not see Granada used as it projects an old image that is not too favorable. Besides its past, I think the name just sounds old.
I just don't think Torino would fit either. It has an image of a muscle car instead of a highly sophisticated family sedan. The Accord, Camry, and Altima are targets, and I just think Torino brings up images of muscle cars. That's my opinion, of course.
The Four Hundred nameplate could work, but I'd rather see Ford give this car a name instead of a number. I'd rather be known by my name rather than by a social security number. I'd like to be able to remember the nameplate as well.
Falcon has my vote and possibly my future dollars as well.
Ironically, there is a brand of tires named Falcon as well...who knows what the legalities with that may be, btu Ford does have the name rights to Falcon which they have kept alive.
I also have to vote against Chroma. It just sounds strange to me. Ford Chroma? I still like Falcon. It is a name people wil know how to pronounce and visualize at the same time.
As I think about it, even keeping the Taurus name is better than Granada!
Personally, I think Ford has issues naming new vehicles. While the Generals (cars) may not always have been great designs, many of the names flow off the tounge more easily and sound hella better to speak. Intrigue, Alero, Ranier, LaCrosse, Cobalt, Velite, Solstice, ION, etc. are a few of the cool-er sounding GM names. About the only cool sounding Ford name I can think of is Focus.
~alpha
They just won't offer that name here because overseas it's a small SUV built on the Fiesta platform, known as Ecosport in South America.
But then again, if Ford is thinking of using Falcon which is an Australian vehicle, they could very well do Fusion here....