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Joined: Oct 2000
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Hey, all...
According to the Automotive News, Ford is considering the Mondeo as a replacement for the Tuarus, assuming they can get the front end to meet US safety requirements. It may require a complete vehicle redisign, but, at least this is something.
It also states that the Ford Five Hundred is due next year.
Here's hoping it'll show up on US shores!!!
J
95 2.0L ATX GL
ummm... nothing else, really...
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Joined: Dec 2001
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but doesn't ford already have a front end design that meets US crash requirement.
I think it is called a contour or something like that....... :rolleyes:
Son - 1995 Mystique LS Zetec 5-spd --> newest "mod" -> a girlfriend by my side Father - 1995 Contour SE Duratec 5-spd Mother - 1999 Contour SE Sport Duratec 5-spd My CEG Registry My Car My Home Page
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Still don't understand why Ford needs to replace the Taurus. It's the standard for the mid-size American sedan...and a darn good seller too.
Besides, I thought the Five Hundred was to replace the Taurus...not the Mondeo.
-Rob- '98 E0 Contour SVT #897, T-Red. FOR SALE: '98 E0 CSVT #2663 SilverFrost; stock & in very good condition. $7,800
KKM & BAT Intake Pipe, DIY cool air intake, Resonator deleted, TH fix; short shifter, rear spoiler, hood struts, fog mod, pre-98 sails, dings removed, A4 side-markers, clear head-light corners, T-red chrome front & back. Aussie Bar waiting for installation.
"Monkey is my business...and business is good!"
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Joined: Jul 2001
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IIRC, I think I saw a report where it indicated that the Taurus Sales are getting stale....big time.
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Joined: Jun 2000
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Originally posted by GR8SVT:
IIRC, I think I saw a report where it indicated that the Taurus Sales are getting stale....big time. shocking news!!!  :p
1998 E0 SVT #3128, T-Red
2001 Infiniti G20t
1974.5 MG B GT
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Originally posted by GR8SVT:
IIRC, I think I saw a report where it indicated that the Taurus Sales are getting stale....big time. Yes ... ever since the circle themed '96-'99 models. Taurus used to be the best selling car until 1997 when Camry took over. It's gone downhill rapidly, especially considering the Firestone tire fiasco (affected all sales, not just Explorer sales) and Ford's recent reputation for recalls. I'm still surprised, since I keep seeing '00+ Tauri almost as much as I see Contours around here. But then again, the newest model (02? 03?)Camry is extremely popular here too... never thought I'd see so many of them so quickly on the streets...
Matthew
98.5 Contour SE V6
It has spent 1.5 years under the wrong identity ;-)
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Joined: Oct 2000
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That's the thing... the newer Taurus is barely bigger than the 'Tours.
With the Five Hundred coming out, they want to face off with the Avalon, leaving their mid-size market open again. That's where the Mondeo comes in.
It's just a matter of whether or not the Focus will stand up against it.
Here's hoping they bring the Mondeo hatchback, too!!!!
HEHEHEHEHEH
95 2.0L ATX GL
ummm... nothing else, really...
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Hmm let's see...we'll take our best-seller, and let it stagnate for a few years, then we'll redesign it to look like a frog, but be sure to not really improve the quality of the car a whole lot.
We should offer two engines of the same displacement, but...we'll make one of them a pushrod motor! That will really show people we are crazy!
The only problem is that we are not sure why the car doesn't sell...is it the poor resale value, the fact that they start rattling apart after 50K, the uninspiring styling, the lackluster features and engieering, or because our customer service sucks?
Take the Lincoln LS, put a cloth interior in it, get rid of the fake wood, maybe throw on AWD, which would help both the LS and this car. Get the ponies up to about 250, and sell it as the new Taurus.
Don't make the car look like a spaceship, and offer a wagon, maybe even not unline the Audi Allroad/Legacy Outback. Offer a high output version that will snuff the G35, 530, 320, and 3.0 VW/Audi...something that can build 280HP today, and can run reliable at 325+ HP (leave some running room since the auto industry is in a HP war with no sign of slowing down)
Make it reliable, and economical to own. Make it have features, make it run for 100K and not rattle. Give good customer service. Require your service advisors to be professional, cordial, and treat people right. Fix the problem the 1st time, and engineer it so it doesn't happen on next year's model. Strive to improve the product for the long term (if you are going to use the same damn chassis for 20+ years, a'la Fox body, then work to make it the best it can be!) Most of all - make people feel that they bought a Ford for more reasons than "it was cheap" and "I buy American only". The reason should be "I want the most for my money".
If Ford is going to use the LS as the new Mustang chassis base, why not use it for their bread and butter car?
And get a damn motor that can be used across the whole fleet. Nissan does it and they do it well. They took the same V6 that was in the 80's Z car, put it in the Max and their truck, and the rest is history...a decade plus later and it is regarded as a top 10 engine, even going in the new Z pushing 300HP.
Maybe take the 4.6L Ford, trim off 2 cyl, or use the 3L Duratec? How about the Rover 2.5?
Andrew
99 SVT
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