Posted on 01/22/2006 7:19:36 PM PST by Flavius
Sorry, should I make it clearer?
If anyone is interested, Ford isn't done with the cutting. My husband is still in limbo, and was told it wouldn't be finished until the end of March. I guess they need to figure out who is left and then make the final cuts. The not knowing is awful, but at least he will either retire or continue working.
Ford would be IDIOTS to eliminate the Ranger. They won't. I don't mind if they broaden its spectrum to include everything from stripped-down fleet vehicles to yuppie 'treemers' to adolescent rat-racers. Make a hybrid too. Make a pink Barbie edition. Just keep making them.
Besides, after Israel bombs Iran and oil goes to $4 a gallon, we're all going to need trucks that get 25mpg+.
Correction: gasoline goes to $4 a gallon.
And we'll be lucky if its only $4 a gallon. Iran could shut down the Straits of Hormuz (until the Navy shows up), which would cut off 15.5 mbpd of world supply, or nearly 20%. I think you could reasonably be looking at $7-8 on the low end.
There.
Also; General Motors would be IDIOTS.
Why is it that we can see that, but corporate leadership can't see it?
Is it because we are only the simple car-buying public?
You may be right, but I was taking from a newspaper article on Ford styling: quotes : "Ford is undergoing a design renaissance," says Paul Carrannanto, a principal with A.T. Kearney Inc.'s automotive practice in Southfield Mich. "They've suffered from a lack of identity since the 1990's. You can see it in the Ford Five Hundred. "I'm sure it's a great car, but they clearly benchmarked the Europeans for that look, and now it just doesn't say anything."
Peter Horbury, Ford Motor's executive director of North American design, acknowledges the Five Hundred as the brand's turning point. "No more European, pronounced Horbury, an Englishman who ran Volvo Car Corp's global studies for more than a decade, "The Five Hundred was not a success."
As for the Freestyle, I saw today in the paper a picture of a local major outlet with row on row of unsold units. I guess Ford is in the house of pain for the foreseeable future.
LOL! Who knows why they call it the "500." There used to be a popular model called the Ford Fairlane 500 back in the fifties. Maybe it's a retro thing...
all of you all are missing the reason that Ford and the others are leaving the US, its the UAW they have bankrupt the auto business with there crazy demands.
"...Ford would be IDIOTS to eliminate the Ranger. They won't. I don't mind if they broaden its spectrum to include everything from stripped-down fleet vehicles to yuppie 'treemers' to adolescent rat-racers. Make a hybrid too. Make a pink Barbie edition. Just keep making them..."
I was just reading a very long and interesting story on another automotive website that Ford isn't thinking about performing a comprehensive update to the Ranger until sometimetime in 2010 or so?! My eyes were nearly bugging out of my head with that unbelievable news!
I'm getting ready to head out the door to work now, but I'm going to have to send that hyperlink over to you two to read for yourselves. They'll be absolutely buried if they think they can wait around for that long. Have a good day and I'll check back with you two somethime later tonight.
~ Blue Jays ~
That would be WAY too long to wait, especially considering that Nissan and Toyota won't rest in the meantime, and the Colorado is out there as well. The Ranger will be dead by then....
I passed a 1997-1998ish model on the way to work today that was for sale for $1500.... If I had space in the garage... :)
Yep - the 500 has been criticized more for lack of innovative styling than anything else. Its sales are decent, though not spectacular. Considering the number of components it shares with Volvo, though, it probably doesn't need huge volume to be profitable. As for the Freestyle, it has unfortunately had what seems to be zero marketing support. I can't recall seeing a single ad for it in the past few months. Personally, I think if they're serious about killing off the Freestar, they should start marketing the Freestyle heavily and give it some time. It carries nearly as much, and isn't really any worse on mpg. They could reduce the number of platforms but still hit the market...
I didn't even know the Fusion existed when I bought my Accord in October '04, although I think it did. It probably would have been a little out of my size requirements and price range, though.
If I was looking today I would consider the Fusion or the Mercury version of it (name?). Can't help but wonder if it will hold its resale value like an Accord or Camry, though, or whether it'll still look good on the road in 6 or 7 years.
I don't really understand the knock ont he 500's styling. For the mainstream sedan market they're trying to reach conservative but classy like that should sell - it does for Honda and Toyota. But then it may be that Accord and Camry buyers buy the name and just put up with their bland styling - that describes me and my Accord, at least somewhat.
The Mercury Milan is probably a better value than the Fusion - problem is that there were very few Milans in stock when I bought. The Milan Premier comes standard with leather and ABS which, when added to the Fusion SEL, actually makes the MSRP of the Fusion SEL higher. The Milan also has a no-cost option of woodgrain trim on the dash if that's your cup of tea; I like the black carbon fiber on the Fusion but would like the woodgrain better than the standard brushed aluminum or whatever it is that comes on most Milans.
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