Ford. Out of touch

[RCSignals]

This article is mostly about plans for Lincoln, but also reflects on the Mercury and Ford car lines.
It doesn't look good, long term

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/columnists/chi-0408180110aug18,0,5672986.colu mn

[Krytin]

My own biased opinion:
Phil Martins is a J**KA$$ and with any luck Ford will can him - he was at least partially responsible for the lack of marketing for the MM either through direct action or a lack thereof.
Jim Mateja only rehashes the latest gosip & rumors into thinly disguised opinion pieces - I don't believe he could drive a performance car and actually know he was in one!
On the other hand, these stories keep poping up and all pretty much say the same thing - Ford is headed for a AWD/FWD platform for all their vehicles.
Looks like my MM will be the last new car I buy from FoMoCo!
Thanks for letting me vent - I feel better now!

[duhtroll]

If all Ford offers is FWD/AWD in the future, I will not buy from them, either.

Mopar is looking better and better all the time as far as future pursuits.

-A

:nocomm:

[Bigdogjim]

Ford= pick-up trucks and SUV's :run: :woohoo:

[teamrope]

If all Ford offers is FWD/AWD in the future, I will not buy from them, either.

Mopar is looking better and better all the time as far as future pursuits.

-A

:nocomm:
AND they got a Hemi! (Sorry, I couldn't resist) I do agree Mopar is looking better every day.

[FordNut]

AND they got a Hemi! (Sorry, I couldn't resist) I do agree Mopar is looking better every day.
I can't agree with LOOKING better, but the platform sure suits me better. Ford should get a clue.

[chrish]

How would you like to be involved wit Mitsibotchie........they blow .........FORD rocks. :run: :popcorn: :whistle:

[427435]

Ford's game plan is to turn the Lincoln brand into their "mid-range" brand (along with possibly Volvo) and try and get into the luxury market with the Jag and Aston Martin cars (good luck). Mercury will go the way of Oldsmobile after Mz. Ford finds out that it's hard to get yuppies to buy SUV's and vans from a brand that didn't interest them with anything when they were 20 somethings.

It does make me wonder why they even bothered with the Marauder but I figure the program was started back before the above strategy was in place, and momentum managed to get it to market. The lack of advertising sure showed it wasn't part of the master plan anymore.

I love my car and I plan on keeping it a long time and putting 200,000 miles on it (like the '93 GM). Sure hope there's a good rear drive platform still around in 2015. I don't need AWD (even here in Minnesota) on more than the rig I tow the boat with either. Actually, the '93 GM towed the boat fine and I don't recall ever getting stuck with it either (nor my wife who drove it to her job). AWD just adds expense, increases the number of things that can break, and hurts weight and gas mileage----but right now it's the fad.


:gunfire: :gunfire:

[teamrope]

I can't agree with LOOKING better, but the platform sure suits me better. Ford should get a clue.
That's what I ment....In the looks dept, the styling looks too much like their trucks. If they are the only ones building a RWD V8 4 door when I need my next car, I just might end up owning a MOPAR after all. (I never thought I would see the day)

[RCSignals]

Seems what Martens is touting is a left over from the Nasser days. Something Ford needs to put an end to, and fast.
Fine if ford is going to own Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, Land Rover, but they should be running them as separate companies, not sliding all their traditional offerings "down scale" to accommodate them.
A flaw in the plan is that Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, Land Rover (even Mazda) aren't really fully accessible in the "Ford family of cars" until they are sold in the same Ford/Lincoln/Mercury stores.

RWD/AWD is where the competitors are going (smartly). FWD/AWD might be fine to have a few offerings, but to base the whole car line on it is a huge error.

They say SUV sales is starting a decline as well. If that's true, with these FWD/AWD cars, Ford is in the hurt locker.

[Joe Walsh]

I put my money where my mouth is; and own lots of FORD stock...BUT I see nothing interesting in the LM lineup now that the MM is dead. The big Lincolns are so lame compared to the Cadillacs. Ford has nothing but the Mustang and their truck line. (I don't count the $150,000 GT...TOO MUCH $$$) I recently checked out the Escape because I wanted a smaller 4X4 SUV. Several Salesman could NOT even tell me if the Esacpe had a limited slip front or rear differential. (It Does NOT...WOW a 2WD 4X4!!!) I hate to bash FORD but they better wake up soon or they will lose even more market share. Next up a front wheel drive, smaller CV? :puke: Time to dump my Ford Stock???

[Fourth Horseman]

Not that I can afford one (yet), but that new rear-drive 2005 Cadillac STS (you can get it in AWD as well, if that type of thing is to your liking) is looking better and better all the time.

:twocents:

[teamrope]

Not that I can afford one (yet), but that new rear-drive 2005 Cadillac STS (you can get it in AWD as well, if that type of thing is to your liking) is looking better and better all the time.

:twocents:
That's true Scott, but I would have to toss a coin between the Caddy and the 300C on the ugly factor. :cowboy: (I love the improved smilies)

[jakdad]

I think you guys are counting your chickens before they hatch. Don't say you'll buy Mopar or GM or anything else 5 or 10 years from now. Most of the auto makers will be doing the same thing. One reason we bought a Marauder now is that I can see the demise of the rear wheel drive in the near future. That and the fact that the MM is going out of production. Doesn't mean there wont be another Marauder, just not somthing you would associate the Marauder name with. Keep the faith boys and girls,this guy at Ford wont be around long enough to implement the changes he has in mind.


;) ;) ;)

[427435]

Part of Ford's problem is their frequent changes in direction-----they need a good LONG term plan. Not a new direction every 3 years. They need to put as much thought (and developmental $) into their car line as they do their trucks. The market will (and maybe already is) move from big SUV's back to more sensible vehicles. Check out all the "cross-over" models which are really nothing but station wagons with 2004 drivetrains. As someone that has owned 3 station wagons, back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, they are very useful and comfortable.

[Krytin]

I wish somebody at Ford was reading this thread!

[MERCMAN]

I wish somebody at Ford was reading this thread!

Ditto. but illiteracy seems to be rampant there, or perhaps they just have deaf ears when it comes to customers

[Joe Walsh]

427435, you are right about the station wagons and 'cross-over' vehicles...I saw Ford's new 'Freestyle' and it looks pretty nice. (I think it's based on the same platform as the AWD Volvo) Not a wagon, not a gas guzzling SUV, and I can still load it up and put my canoe/kayaks on top. My only problem with the 'Freestyle' is that it has a CVT. I'm NOT going to be Ford's 'guinea pig'/R&D Dept. in testing a CVT stuck between a 200hp V-6 and a 3900lb vehicle! I'll wait and see how many of the CVTs survive their first year. I love the concept of a CVT...but I don't think they are perfected yet.

[427435]

427435, you are right about the station wagons and 'cross-over' vehicles...I saw Ford's new 'Freestyle' and it looks pretty nice. (I think it's based on the same platform as the AWD Volvo) Not a wagon, not a gas guzzling SUV, and I can still load it up and put my canoe/kayaks on top. My only problem with the 'Freestyle' is that it has a CVT. I'm NOT going to be Ford's 'guinea pig'/R&D Dept. in testing a CVT stuck between a 200hp V-6 and a 3900lb vehicle! I'll wait and see how many of the CVTs survive their first year. I love the concept of a CVT...but I don't think they are perfected yet.


The Freestyle has some nice features but it's more van than car to me. Like you, I also don't want anything to do with a CVT and a 200 hp V6 isn't going to be enough in any of their new vehicles, Freestyle or 500. Again, Ford is missing the mark----especially for the young (and young at heart). Once the 20 somethings start buying "sporty" Hondas and Toyotas, they are hard to bring back to a Ford product.

[Joe Walsh]

Unfortunately, you are absolutely right...All the young drivers want a new Honda or worse a Scion!!! I still don't know how the Japanese car mfgs get away with it...They design a ****LY POS (ala Element...er...Excrement & Scion) and people line up to buy them. They must laugh all the way to the bank. The best Ford can do is offer a 'Dell' computer to try and get young buyers to look at their entry level cars.

[jakdad]

And you look at Nissan with a proven 245 Hp V-6 in the Muranno. The young folks are drooling all over themselves for that car. The restyled Maxima, same engine @ 265 HP. Ford needs to pay attention!!

[Silver_04]

Lincoln doesn't need RWD?!?! This yahoo is way out of touch. Great idea Ford...lets unnecessarily increase the mass and price of cars. Nevermind they will just be more expensive to fix too.

Of course Lincoln doesn't need a Ford GT...it and the XLR aren't even in the same league. But a lovely drop top V8 RWD from Lincoln would be tasty.

I have now updated my signature hoping someone from Lincoln sees it.

[jakdad]

:party: :party:

:beatnik: :beatnik: :beatnik:

[ADE 1000]

Its a shame Lincoln is going to the dogs. I grew up on Lincolns, but the last one that truly captured my heart was the Mark VIII. I agree that it is probably not worthwhile to follow Cadillac into the $60K plus category, but it would be nice if the cars they offered in the $30-$60K class were competitive.

I like the new Navigator quite a bit, but it just does not have enough punch under the hood. The 2003 restyle was also a little too conservative. I still think its the best looking SUV out there, but lacks the visual impact of the Escalade. Lincoln practically invented the king size luxury SUV market and its sad that they gave up the throne so quickly. The LS was also the first competitive American entry level luxury car, but it has also gotten toppled by the CTS. Its a shame they did not let the LS evolve into something better. It is still a nice car, but the sticker price has gotten out of hand it is starting to look dated.

I like the look of the Zephyr, but offering it with the 3.0L V-6 as the only engine choice is not going to cut it. The same problem exists with the 500, Montego, and Freestyle. All the competition has been offering V-6s capable of 240-260hp for years, yet Ford is still trying to push a 200hp V-6 that has been around since 1996. I think all of these cars in general are a half baked effort. Aside from the Zephyr, the styling is too boring on the rest to make anyone notice. FWD/AWD would probably still work in this segment, the TL, ES330, and Audis all do fine with this setup.

I think the Lincoln lineup should consist of

1. The Zephyr with at least 250hp to compete in the entry level market

2. A crossover SUV with V-6 and V-8 options to compete with the SRX, FX, X5, etc.. ( the Aviator concept seems to be V-6 only)

3. Bring the Continental back as a RWD sedan to compete with the STS and others in the $50K range

4. Retain the Town Car, which could probably continue forever with minimal changes for the old farts and limo drivers

5. A Navigator with at least 350hp.


Unless the 427 concept somehow comes to life, it looks like I will have an all GM lineup in the garage when it comes time to replace the Marauder. The new STS is looking mighty tempting, especially in V series form.

[Fastronald]

Ford Motor Company has turned a blind eye to what Ford Buyers want, customer service is going down hill fast as well. A New Ford product?.........well, I can always rebuild/restore a vintage car and Ford can kiss my.............:soapbox:

[Cobra25]

Ford has to wake up. The only thing they might have going in the future is the 2005 Mustang.

[JohnE]

That article points to a Ford that I would have nothing to do with. Already own a Volvo S80T6, that they are copying as a scaled down 500, etc. All wheel drive is okay, but not if it's based on a FWD platform. Giving me AWD won't make up for shrinking the car and loosing a frame. GM already has the market flooded with total crap. I also Welcome the rising Mopar, at least one company gets it.

John