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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,580
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,580 |
Most buyers of Mustangs are over 35, and want something that doesn't look like a trendy, Lime Green Scion, Eclipe, and Celica. Also, it is not like the T-Bird, a $40K two seater. I know 16-25 year olds want "futuristic", but then they end up buying used Civics, since they can't afford insurace for sporty cars. (Rich kids are a small minority.)
The 500 is not meant to be a "enthusiast" car, it is for the 80% of buyers who don't read car rags and memorize drag times. The top 10 car sellers are average family sedans, like Camry, Civic, Corolla, and Accord, not the "rocket ships".
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8 SE, Code Red. '00 Tropic Green Ford Escort SE [Contour's little cousin]
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 154
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 154 |
My short-sighted opinion (jaded by the fact that I worked for them, in Dearborn, from 1994-1997) is that they're trying to be everything to everyone - and coming up short on most fronts. The high profitability of full-size trucks has carried them for over a decade and that is getting slowly eroded by new foreign competition in that sector. The Mustang is somewhat of an icon so unless they completely screw that up, they can count on some sales there - but that is a specialty car and will not see the volumes of Taurus, F150, etc. The new GT is certainly a cool "halo" car but is not going to bring your average Civic buyer in to look at a Focus, or your blinders-on Accord/Camry buyer to look at a Taurus/500/or even a Mazda 6.  For the BMW/Audi/Lexus/Acura crowd - I just don't seem much that's going to draw them to a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury showroom. Maybe they should focus (heh) on their Vovlo and Jaguar lines  -Peter (loving my Mazda 6 but wondering how it will hold up in the long run)
04 Mazda 6s V6 MTX, in service 10/28/03 
02 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 165HP 4cyl auto AWD
former: 95 Mystique LS V6 MTX [11/14/94-5/19/04]
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 194
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 194 |
Well being one of those old farts trying to regain his youth (as a child I couldn't appreciate a sweet looking or running short.) The Mustang is good on the out side but the interior doesn't get my juices flowing, I think they went a little overboard with the dash and steering wheel.
I haven't seen enough of the other models to judge but something needed to be done, the Taurus was looking as uninteresting as a mud fence and the Focus is looking a little dated. As for the T-bird I always thought of it as a rich guys cruise Beverly hills or Palm Springs with their replanted hair fluttering in the breeze machine.
Sarge43
"00" Tique 2.0L I4 ATX
"98" Mustang 3.8L V6 AT
The reason there's so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117 |
Originally posted by PT95LS:
your blinders-on Accord/Camry buyer to look at a Taurus/500/or even a Mazda 6.
This is more than just an alternative to the Accord/Camry crowd - perhaps Ford is not even considering that. The appointments & ergonomics suggest a sedan for the mini-van soccer mom & SUV dad who's kids have grown & gone off to college. Its higher seating & safety features will give it a distinct advantage over those imports for people making that switch.
Originally posted by PT95LS:
For the BMW/Audi/Lexus/Acura crowd - I just don't see much that's going to draw them to a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury showroom. Maybe they should focus (heh) on their Vovlo and Jaguar lines
You seen & read about Jags lately? Talk about aggressive competition, and Jaguar is doing way better than it did in the 80s. Unfortunately, the shared Ford components seem to take a little luster off the marque. In the long run, that strategy will out last BMW & Audi, but Acura & Lexus also share components with their sister makes, Honda & Toyota.
Besides, that crowd is more into making a statement, & whatever brand is hot-this-moment will get the buyers. To become the hot-this-moment make, you've gotta have superior quality, good performance, supreme luxury, better than average reliability & some kinda goofy gimmik. Price doesn't count for much. You can price your cars above the comparable models if the other criteria are satisfied.
I haven't looked into Volvo much myself, but my daughter in college really likes a couple of their models.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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