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2010 Ford Taurus

493 messages,  Last post on Oct 05, 2011 at 8:37 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Automotive News, Future Vehicle, Sedan

Messages Page 18 of 51

#162 of 493 Re: akirby [marsha7] by gregg_vw

Sep 30, 2009 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Sep 30, 2009 2:31 pm)
I think all of you but Allen are missing something here. Yes, Ford products have depreciated markedly of late, and historically as well (I'll get to a personal example), but this has not always been true for all models in all times. It wasn't that long ago that big SUVs commanded very good resale prices. There were years when the Explorer was #1 and quite popular as a used vehicle. Trucks are another example. Even today, though the F150 takes an initial hit, well-equipped used trucks in good condition still command fairly good prices. For example, a 2000 F150 4X4 extended cab V8 typically equipped still sells for $7,000 (I have one, so I know). That's a lot of cash really for a 10 year old vehicle with anywhere from 120K to 150K miles. The Explorer of a few years ago and the F150 illustrate that if you don't get your high sales numbers from fleet dumping and huge rebates (because people actually covet the conveyance), long-term resale will be fine. Most buyers did not pay more than mid-20s for either vehicle back then. I am old of course (in my 50s) and I remember well when a new car costing $2500 was worth $100 eight to ten years later. My first car was a loaded 1962 Galaxy which I bought in 1970 for $100. I sold it a year later for $125 (after spiffing it up), but the point is, some Fords do not depreciate like they used to in the bad old days, and Ford is doing the right thing with the Taurus by not dumping more than people actually want into the overall vehicle fleet.

#163 of 493 Re: akirby [marsha7] by akirby

Sep 30, 2009 (5:07 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Sep 30, 2009 2:31 pm)
If you go to an auction and there are 50 Tauruses there, fresh from Hertz with high mileage, you don't think the bidding prices will be significantly lower than if there were only 5? Same with retail prices - supply and demand. Keep the supply in line or slightly lower than demand and prices go up. That is economics 101 and it applies to Ford and every other retailer.
 
The price of a 3 year old Taurus is DIRECTLY affected by the price of a new one. Would you buy a 3 year old vehicle for $20K if brand new ones were selling for $25K? Of course not, so the used prices go down accordingly.
 
I also think you underestimate the general public's opinion of Ford - it has changed considerably after the GM/Chrysler bailouts and Fusion Hybrid introduction.
 
What has impressed me most about Ford's business plan is that they bit the bullet when they needed to - closed plants and bought out UAW workers to cut costs and reduce excess capacity. And when sales took a nose dive they cut production even more - resisting the temptation to simply throw cash on the hood to sell more cars which would have hurt resale values even more.
 
Like I said - this all hinges on whether the public likes the Taurus enough to buy it without huge discounts. And I think they will - to the tune of at least 60k/year which isn't bad in a 12M unit market. That's equivalent to almost 100K 2 years ago when the market was 17M. And given the shared platform and drivetrains that should yield a tidy profit.

#164 of 493 Re: akirby [gregg_vw] by akirby

Sep 30, 2009 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Sep 30, 2009 3:25 pm)
C'mon, Gregg - you can't bring up examples and facts that contradict opinions......

#165 of 493 Is there a new Sable as well? by jpp5862

Sep 30, 2009 (5:15 pm)

Probably a dumb question, but for all the hype of the 2010 Taurus I haven't seen or heard anything about a new 2010 Sable. I have to believe they've created one that is just like the Taurus, but even at the auto show last winter I didn't see anything on it. Just looking to confirm the 2010 Sable will be out there and mimic the changes in the Taurus.

#166 of 493 Re: Is there a new Sable as well? [jpp5862] by dodgeman07

Sep 30, 2009 (5:36 pm)

Replying to: jpp5862 (Sep 30, 2009 5:15 pm)
There is not a 2010 Sable. Mercury has no equivalent offering to the Taurus. Lincoln has the MKS of course.
 
The future of Ford lies in next year's Fiesta and the next generation Focus and Explorer. 2010/11 may bring an end to GM without another bail-out and if it does, all bets are off because Ford will clean up.
 
IF GM survives the next 24 months (50/50 at best) then there will be a real battle because we still have too many automakers and the cars from India and China will be here in a few short years.

#167 of 493 Re: Is there a new Sable as well? [dodgeman07] by jpp5862

Sep 30, 2009 (5:48 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Sep 30, 2009 5:36 pm)
Thanks for the info Dodgeman. While it seems odd to think that Mercury doesn't have a Sable, I have to admit it makes sense.

#168 of 493 Can we please drive the car first by lilengineerboy

Sep 30, 2009 (7:05 pm)

I am a little confused. We have a group of people that, by all data presented, have yet to actually touch/feel/sit in/drive this vehicle, yet seem like they have already pinned its value in line with an '87 Yugo. So the data we do have so far from the automotive press seems to be at least encouragingly positive (actually its mostly glowing but anyway), and it would imply they actually drove the car.
Yes there are trade-offs. Yes if you want the limited edition super high output model there is a price premium. Can we try it first and see if we like it before we doom it to a fate worse than Hyundai Excels?

#169 of 493 Re: Still puzzled by weight of SE 2010 Taurus [pod] by lilengineerboy

Sep 30, 2009 (7:14 pm)

Replying to: pod (Sep 30, 2009 3:15 pm)
That is a 21% weight gain over the past decade 3333 to 4015. Pretty soon this car will get diabetes and hypertension.
 
...while the 4 cylinder Honda Accord "blossomed" from 2378 lbs to 3367 lbs, or about 1000 lbs difference. I hope it has some Lipitor handy...
 
So they added side impact air bags, seat mounted air bags, massaging multi-contour seats, adaptive cruise control, 19" wheels (that I think are worthless but w/e), power this that and the next thing (Taurus in the 90s could still have crank windows, oh the horror) and a lot more interior and trunk space.
 
I agree though that there are gains to be made here as composite technologies mature. The Lotus Elise is a great example.

#170 of 493 Re: Still puzzled by weight of SE 2010 Taurus [lilengineerboy] by dodgeman07

Sep 30, 2009 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Sep 30, 2009 7:14 pm)
That is a 21% weight gain over the past decade 3333 to 4015. Pretty soon this car will get diabetes and hypertension.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------
...while the 4 cylinder Honda Accord "blossomed" from 2378 lbs to 3367 lbs, or about 1000 lbs difference. I hope it has some Lipitor handy...
 
===========================================
 
The Accord hasn't weighed 2378 pounds since the mid-1980s.
 
2000 Honda LX I4 auto: 3075 lbs.
2010 Honda LX I4 auto: 3289 lbs. A gain of 6.96%
 
2000 Ford Taurus SE auto: 3368 lbs.
2010 Ford Taurus SE auto: 4015 lbs. A gain of 19.21%

#171 of 493 Re: Is there a new Sable as well? [dodgeman07] by akirby

Sep 30, 2009 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Sep 30, 2009 5:36 pm)
It makes perfect sense that Ford is finally focusing on Ford and not putting out Mercury clones just to keep the L/M dealers alive. It's a simple matter of priorities - Ford first, then Lincoln (just starting), then Mercury.

Messages Page 18 of 51

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