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Since you asked, I care. I happen to like the conservative but practical Five Hundred and Montego. I think the Fusion and Milan look good. I hope Lincoln does the MKS right.
I care because I don't want to see Ford and Lincoln out of the car business.
-Loren
Rocky
if am/jag are sold, i guess ford would put the money where they think they need it most. where that is, i don't know.
it still leaves some friction from volvo for lincoln.
GM does not have 'in house' competition for cadillac.
foreign nameplates still have a perceived advantage of domestics, not just referring to cars.
The public does not care, however. In October, sales of the Five Hundred, Freestyle, and Montego were 6,010, 3,297, and 1,508, respectively, compared to 7,915, 6,707, and 2,016 for October, 2005. The cars are flops, and I happen to like the styling of the D3's. I don't think that there are huge numbers of buyers sitting around, waiting for the 3.5L V6 next year.
Sales of the Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr/MKZ were 9,908, 2,229, and 2,288 in October. Sales of GM's Epsilon trio, Malibu, G6, and Aura,were 9,886, 11,273, and 4,661, respectively. Nissan sold 14,761 Altimas. Honda sold 23,645 Accords. Toyota sold 33,812 Camrys. The public doesn't seem very interested in the CD3 triplets either.
I am a lifelong Ford fan, but I grow more pessimistic by the day. If Ford went out of business, I think that only Mustang fans and businesses that the Super Dutys and Econolines would be upset.
My issues is not with Mazda, but with the Mazda based sedans now being sold at Ford. I think I showed in my post above that the Fusion and Milan are not selling well at all.
While we're on the subject of Mazda, the new CX-7 was its second most popular vehicle last month, selling 4,272. Most every other Mazda declined in sales. The 3 sold 5,987, compared to 8,241 last year. The 6 was down to 3,865 from 5,092. The MX-5 sold 1,020, compared to 1,236 last year. The RX-8 sold 640, compared to 1,212 last year. The 5 was up to 928, from 92 last year.
I think GM has a tremendous upside with it's new Epsilons. The Saturn Aura looks to be a huge hit, and the G6 has already proven to be. The Malibu styling is rather unfortunate
-Loren
Apparently they do. Look at the numbers in ehaase's post. GM sold almost as many G6s as Ford sol Fusion and Milan put together.
Apparently they do. Look at the numbers in ehaase's post. GM sold almost as many G6s as Ford sol Fusion and Milan put together.
The G6 has now replaced the Taurus as the most popular rental car in the country -
But insiders on other boards say that Ford could add another shift if demand warranted it. Demand doesn't warrant it.
However, Chevy doesn't intend to stay with an iteration for eight years (like Ford planned for the 500, the Jaguar S-Type, etc.). This new Malibu will be competitive with the Fusion. I do hope Ford has a revamp of the Fusion already in the works. Nothing can go eight years anymore between major redesigns and stay a best seller.
How do you add another shift to a plant that's running 24x7? Do you have a time machine?
Fusion rental sales are around 10%. Care to guess at the rental sale % for the GM cars?
1) Cancelling the Taurus and
2) Saying they were going to do everything in their power to PREVENT the Fusion from becoming a rental car.
More brilliant manuevers from a dying company?
Actually, yes. Building cars that nobody wants to buy at retail and dumping them into rental fleets or selling with huge incentives kills profits and resale values and gives people bad impressions. Putting the Fusion in rental fleets in small numbers is good advertising because there are people who would never set foot in one otherwise. But putting too many would be suicide.
GM was selling those rentals before Ford said they were pulling out. Not sure which one but one GM sedan that was selling well had over 40% rental fleet sales.
Commercial fleet sales are another story - Ford isn't walking away from that business because it's still lucrative and doesn't impact retail sales.
It took a while for me to catch up to the board, spent way too much time in the GM sections. Anyway, I thought those questions weren't really asked and was curious to what the board members thought.
It appears many here have good ideas/answers; unfortunately they don't translate to Ford-ese I guess. Meaning, it would seem common sense should rule the roost @ Ford, they they read boards like this and actually listen to consumers, like myself, you and others. But nope, too much like right I guess. I had hoped when the LS first came out FOMOCO was finally taking Lincoln seriously again. The LS was a good entry-level lux piece, being as 3-series, ES/IS 300 competitor. But as usually it was left to whither and die as the F150/Nav/Expedition & Excursion were catered to. A d*mn shame as the vehicle could have been the start of a major direction to revamp the car line. I was hoping for another hot-rod Mark like the VII LSCs with the HO 5.0, still one of my favorites (behind the late-50s Mark IIs).
One can only dream I guess.
They're STILL using that thing? Geez, I can't stand that!!
What are they trying to do, bring back the old Powerglide days?
Looks like Ford/Lincoln are missing the finer details.
In case you haven't been following the news, this mentality of building to a price with beancounters deciding which features were in or out are over, according to Fields and Mulally. They say the future is adding content and features to justify higher prices and meet consumer demands.
'Bout time.
-Loren
I do like the looks of the MKS though the Milan is not too bad. All three are yet another adequate FWD car, with a bit more style than the appliance crowd. Now if the Lincoln or even the Milan was the standard Ford, perhaps people would be more interested. Sell the car in the $21K to $25K range, with a V6. The Lincoln, first of all is not a Lincoln, and secondly is overpriced by $5K+.
You won't see results until maybe the 2008 models at the earliest. The point is the mindset is different and that's a big step in the right direction.
You're talking my language here:>) Gotta correct one thing though, the LS was a 5-Series competitor. A wee bit bigger than the 5 actually with handling equal to or better than.
Many of us had high hopes for the LS as well. In fact there was a core group of a couple dozen of us, me included, who met several times with Lincoln product planning and engineers to give them personal feedback about where we might like to see the LS go. They seemed to listen and some of them even seemed to care and agree. However, business is business and 2 dozen enthusiasts can not a car save. The coffin was built in 2003 when they dropped the stick shift option. And we all know the car was buried this past summer.
Now Lincoln competes with Buick, maybe Oldsmobile in the not-too-distant future. I own 2 Lincolns, but there's nothing they make now or are planning that interests me in the least.
Talked to the owner of the 1990' 7-UP Mustang about 45 minutes ago. I'm going to pull the trigger on it tomorrow and send him the money. I will take all kinds of pics of my new baby when I get her. He has made shipping arrangements already.
I couldn't be more excited. :shades:
Rocky
P.S. Rollin' in my 5.0-Vanilla Ice :P
-Loren
Rocky
The MKZ is a nice-enough car, but it's not really a Lincoln. My LS is a Lincoln. The MKS might be a nice car, and I hope Lincoln indeed doesn't let the bean counters decontent it as akirby says, but I don't see much Lincoln styling heritage in it, and with a turbocharged V6 and FWD it is not a flagship. That would have to be a decent replacement for the Town Car.
I won't reiterate what nvbanker has said elsewhere about what Lincoln needs to do, but he's spot on.
my sister's prius only has forward and back. :surprise:
... word to your mother.
That's not exactly what I what thinking.
How'z about them Lincolns, Huh?
how about this? why is the fact the mkz is based on a mazda 6 platform, a fine handler, such a big deal? lexus bases their es/rx models on a camry, a pretty average platform.
"How bout them Lincolns" Well the MKZ, MKX, Navigator are all new for 2007. Well The MKZ, is slightly newer than the Zephyr. I guess all will succeed from the looks of it. I guess we've talked about the MKS, enough it's like kicking a dead horse, until we get some facts. The MKZ, is rumored to get a 3.7 in 2 years. The Navigator won't get a significant upgrade until the hurricane engine comes along. The Lincoln Mark LT, is a disappointment as it's a rebadged chrome cl added, upscale leather, F-150. Where the THX surround sound system ? I briefly went through the option lists of both the Mark LT, and Navigator and to my surprise Lincoln, didn't upscale the Gadgetology of the LT, to Navigator levels. My question is WHY ? Better Leather and Wood isn't enough. If I wanted a leather upgrade package, I could go cowboy and get the King Ranch edition which their are several rolling down the roads here in West Texas in 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. The MKX, I can't comment about since it's not a vehical I'm not very interested in. However it did get some Gadgetology, and should sell well to the Trophy Soccer Moms. :P
That about covers it doesn't it ?
Rocky
P.S. scootertrash-If I had a "Ford" forum I would of posted it there....
My last post regarding the 7-UP:
The 1990' 5.0 7-UP Fox Body Mustang I'm getting only has 2,320 miles on it and is a rare 5-speed. It looks brand new and the original owner still owns the car. I promise to post pics on my carspace page as soon as she arrives. If you have any more questions shoot me a e-mail
Rocky
I know, I know - the letters suck.
If it was really overpriced they wouldn't be selling them in 19 days with minimal incentives.
Rocky
Rocky
The Navigator gets all up in its own grille
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=117518?tid=edm- unds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
Rocky
A good read....
Rocky
-Loren
Yes, I know, The Cayenne Porsche helped save the day financially.
Rocky
P.S. Agree with your comment on the Mark LT, Ford could of done more with it !!! :mad: