"The move, though, failed to resuscitate already sagging sales. Ford sold only 68,178 Taurus and Five Hundred sedans last year, down 19 percent from 2006."
For all of you who thought that bringing back the Taurus name would help sell cars... how exactly do you like your crow prepared?
“Taurus” not selling ping!
What, exactly, do you have engineers for, anyway?
I’m surprized the suits at Ford have little care or concern for the Ford Taurus/500/Whatever.
These are just FANTASTIC rental units.
Please!
I work with a guy who worked at Ford for 10 years and he left because he got sick of the place, especially the lip service given to “Quality.” He says they went to all-day quality seminars, but when push came to shove on the shop floor, it was business as usual.
Not surprised. This is the company that had the ad slogan: “Have you driven a Ford LATELY?” The implication being “we don’t suck nearly as much as we used to”.
These were two high-level executives, so it wasn't a loose canon thing. This is guaranteed to hack off dealers, and it makes their advertising look very disingenuous. Ford dealers are hurting right now. I recently dropped by a few, and it was like walking into a house where someone was dying. After dealers take delivery of these cars, they have to sell them. If Ford trashes their own cars, these dealers may end up having to take several thousand dollar losses per vehicle just to move them. Bottom line, at $6.64 a share, I'd still have to see Ford do SOMETHING right before buying. PS. The new Mustang is still cool.
Taurus, that’s like a horoscope sign isn’t it?
None of us ever suggested that simply attaching the Taurus nameplate to an already-existing, bathtub-like conveyance was going to sell more cars. It was, though, a marketing error to simply do away with the Taurus name.
It looks as though Ford might finally be figuring that out.
The Germans engineer cars that are simply a pleasure to drive. The Japanese build cars that are absolutely bulletproof and thus very cheap to own, regardless of initial purchase price. Unfortunately, the American mentality is to gain market share via the lowest price, and that short-term outlook does not result in good products.
Good products will gain market share in the long run, and will command price premiums. It’s unfortunate that by and large, Americans don’t seem to recognize or act on that.
The package and looks were good. I was never dissatisfied when I rented them - ever. When fitted with a respectable drivetrain (SHO) things were just great.
There is a huge segment still up for grabs in the mid-size car market. It’s not my segment, but they do serve a purpose. The Camry and Accord make their respective companies oceans of cash. Same segment.
American automakers usually do well with the “wow factor” (ie: new Mustang, 300, Charger, G6, Taurus, etc.) but they shave that last $2K in quality and the cars drop off the road in 10 years. I was looking at a new Mustang on a lift. Rust already appearing on brand new car as it had no protection what-so-ever. Will that car really be on the road in 10 years?
Detroit was given a chance in the 80’s to meet the quality bar and instead they pinned their hopes on “home run” looks/features (hot pony cars, neat Tauruses, etc.) Those days are over.
Last Detroit car I bought was a Fiero. POS.