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.