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Automotive News & Views Is Ford's End Right Behind Chrysler's?
180 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2007 at 7:04 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: jeyhoe (Jun 04, 2007 8:11 am) I don't have a problem with "again". But again, again & again gets boring, and causes me to question the objectivity and motivation of the poster. Venting is OK, but please spare us and do it somewhere else. Have you written to Ford expressing your concerns and profound understanding of what they should do, and the mistakes they have made? If not, then it's clear that the motivation is to vent, damage Ford, and/or bash, and not to contribute anything positive.
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Replying to: lateralg (Jun 04, 2007 8:25 am) Everything is hunky-dory with Ford and the MKX can stop on a dime. |
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Replying to: jeyhoe (Jun 04, 2007 8:11 am) Once again you don't have the facts straight. It wasn't his idea - but he approved it quickly and for good reason. The 500 name had a recognition factor around 30% - the Taurus name has a 80% recognition factor. There are millions - yes, millions - of satisfied Taurus owners who never knew the 500 existed (or didn't care) but who are excited about the "new" Taurus. Let's come back to this discussion in about 6 months. I guarantee a significant increase in sales for the Taurus compared to the current 500. As for the VeraCruz being better - that's subjective. Let's compare sales figures in a few months.
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Replying to: akirby (Jun 04, 2007 8:41 am) By his standards, Lexus is in trouble, too, because that test said that the VeraCruz beat the Lexus. |
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Replying to: akirby (Jun 04, 2007 8:41 am) As if all Ford really needs to turn it all around right now is a couple of the *right* decisions, some good memos, and bang, Ford's on par with Toyota in 2008. Come on. The renaming IMO is a no-brainer. Easy, and sends a signal that he at least understands the history of what Ford did well. |
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Save it for a redesign. Sends negative messages to the suckers, I mean early-buyers, of the 500. And Freestyle. And Zephyr. And Montego. There really is no right decision on that. A mid-gen facelift, with new names and engines is fine, but the vehicles will not get full value for these changes in the mid-gen.  Waiting for a model change would've been ideal. I don't think Ford has time to wait for the right time. I question whether they know anything about the concept of "timing", or "market strategy".  That comparison, BTW, between a Hyundai and Lexus is a joke, and is mere filler. Only a buffoon would cross-shop those two vehicles. Hyundai called in some favors on that one!  DrFill |
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Replying to: akirby (Jun 04, 2007 8:41 am) I have to respectfully disagree with you on this decision akirby. This move is a clear sign of how desperate Ford is for car sales. The Taurus name no longer has a positive feel. Ford ruined the Taurus with the "dolphin" design and then letting it become a rental car for the past 3 years. In the mid 90s the Taurus was the number one selling car in America. Compare that to the Taurus reputation in 2006. I think you are also forgetting that Ford announced they were killing the Taurus. If the 500/Taurus does increase in sales, it will be because of the improvements to the car and increased marketing not because of the Taurus name. Something Ford should have done the first time they released the vehicle. When you release a new car like the 500 and you HAVE to use an old engine because of prior contracts and poor engine development, that is bad management. The 500 was a nice vehicle that would have been a great car with 25 more hp. The Freestyle should be selling more but when is the last time you've seen a commercial for it. Mulally has made some good decisions by bringing over the European models to the US. Of course someone needs to explain to me why Europe has the better vehicles then the US???? I'm just not sure Ford has the time or money to complete the turnaround. They are still a "bloated" company that is trying to get their production to match their sales. As you know this leads to fewer incentives and higher profits (see Honda). Hyundai versus Lexus.....whatever. A year ago I would have thought Hyundai was poised to do more damage but lately their radio commercials in my area remind me of the Mitsubishi sales tactics a few years ago: "Bad credit, no problem", "Extend your warranty to 20yr/200k miles", "Credit amnesty". It seems like their cars are showing up more on the rental lots too. But a 10yr/100k warranty is nice and the Sonata is a good vehicle.
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Replying to: dtownfb (Jun 05, 2007 8:28 pm) Yeah, me too. Makes me sad as an American that the Fords here aren't better than the Fords everywhere else in the world... 
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Replying to: john_324 (Jun 06, 2007 5:40 am) Then dodged the comment that they're not really built here anyway, they're build in Canada and Mexico (so health care cost differences don't exist) and premium-ified cars like the Mazda3 sell quite well here.
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jun 06, 2007 7:16 am) But now, the buy-American-only generation is dying if not dead as a market force, and there are tons of very nice, loaded "certified preowned" used cars available for the price of a new stripper domestic. Maybe part of Ford's strategic re-think will be realizing that the real middle market these days is willing to shell out decent money for a quality car.
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Automotive News & Views Is Ford's End Right Behind Chrysler's?
