Bringing up the rear: Ford to revive rear-wheel drive in U.S. (http://"http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080324/AUTO01/803240338/1148")
Mustang Aussie: Ford To Focus On The Falcon, Not So Much Mercury (http://"http://jalopnik.com/371261/mustang-aussie-ford-to-focus-on-the-falcon-not-so-much-mercury")
So there ya go. Ford, inexorably intertwined with following GM's lead, finally does the right thing at the expense of Mercury division. This is what happens when the focus on reorganization is not being spearheaded by car guys. And as flippant as Jalopnik can be sometimes, their comments seem to convey the prevailing attitude about Mercury division. Look for the ax to fall within a few years.
Oh wellz...at least it's half good news anyway.
(and LMAO @ "Ford bringing up the rear". Haven't we been doing that for Ford all this time?!)
Good info. And I thought the title was apropos.
Mulally seems to be the first CEO in a long time to know what he's doing.
Mercury's already dead in Canada. All of the L-M dealerships were converted to Ford-Lincoln dealerships and the brand went away. The only Mercury we can buy here is, tragically and almost comically, the Grandma Marquis.
I don't care if Ford is following GM, since when you think about it, GM is following Chrysler. The important thing is that RWD cars are coming, so in 10-15 years I'll be able to buy a decent beater and won't necessarily have to go with an old Charger or 300 :hick:
The problem with mercury is that they have nothing unique, everything is a ford clone, maybe with a few extra luxuries.
I say bring back the marauder for the panther platforms exit...
A Mercury has always been an upscale Ford...there's never been anything pretentious about that. The real problem is that the luxury features which used to be in upscale vehicles like Mercurys are now trickling down to even base Ford vehicles. In other words, Ford vehicles are bypassing the reason why Mercury existed in the first place. So what to do with Mercury now? That is the connundrum that Ford is in.
A few articles have suggested that Mercury could become FoMoCo's niche division, with unique cars (read: imported). That has been tried several times with extremely limited success (1991 Capri, 1999 FWD Cougar, the entire Merkur fiasco, etc.). Plus parts availability will be limited and expensive, something that Ford doesn't need to get into at this point.
If Mercury were to build vehicles unique to that division, that would be something positive. The Messenger coupe from the auto shows a few years ago comes to mind. Of course we'll always be rooting for a Mustang-based Cougar derivative. But Ford already does their own unique vehicles, and so does Lincoln. The Mercury brand cannot be like the other two in that respect. They have to blend the two other divisions in order to survive.
I've always been happy with Mercury Division as being upscale Fords. There are so many more quality features in my basic Mountaineer than in a semi-loaded base Explorer of that era. I believe the Mountaineer was the equivalent of the Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition, which means you had to bypass several lower Ford versions to even get close to what Mercury offered as standard. That's a pretty sweet idea (although I've always said that the Mountaineer is the one vehicle that Mercury has always gotten right from day one...now you know why). Even with our cars, and their nearly 75% parts interchange rate, there are enough differences between the Cougar and Thunderbird to make the Mercury version a little more substantial. There's no shame in that.
Probably what Mercury should be in the future (if Ford keeps them around, anyhow) is more of what makes them unique. Take the upscale Ford idea but push it further. Give features that no Ford vehicle has, to make the Merc that much more desirable. Like these multiple glass roofs that a lot of newer vehicles have. Ford: single or dual traditional-style power moonroofs. Mercury: quad-style power. Lincoln: Full glass roof with split opening. See that? The idea works because you cannot easily switch roofs on a car...if you want that feature, you have to buy that division's car, simple as that. It's not hard to figure out stuff like this if they used a little brain power.
I look at things backwards: from a parts perspective. In other words, what parts can I scavenge from the upscale car to put on mine, and make mine look more upscale (or even "factory customized")? It's like the people that swapped out the Cadillac Escalade EXT front ends onto their Chevy Avalanches a few years ago. Simple swap but makes a big difference in looks, without paying the full premium price. If the Mercury parts (seats, grille, dash panels, etc.) were so far beyond what the Fords offer, then you've got brand equity. The only problem then would be, how far can you push a Mercury's uniqueness before it becomes a Lincoln?
That would be a great problem to have, though...
Guess I'll be takin out another car loan.:hick:
With the current state of affairs at FoMoCo, they can't afford to do what needs to be done IMHO. Remember when there were dramatic sheetmetal differences between Ford and Mercury counterparts?
Remember how Ford had that problem figured out two decades ago but are too stupid to figure it out now? :hick:
I am a huge Mercury-of-the-past fan, but the current successful car manufacturer model is base-brand and luxury-brand as established by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Mercury's existence doesn't make sense from a workload perspective considering all the white collar workforce reductions.
-yeah, the older mom and pops still come in looking for that platform, and alot want the CV, alas, as unless your fleet, no CV for you. so you have the GM, which some dont want, and the sales people push them towards the taurus/sable(500/montego).....
im glad to see Ford keeping RWD around, but kind of disappointed because we all know Mercury will go the way of Oldsmobile. Sure we all know the "New Edge" Cougar Neco Cougar what ever you want to call it was a total detour from what had been the cougar for the past 20 years , in fact before i actually drove a 99 i hated them. But alas i doubt we will ever see a new V8 Cougar i would love to but just don't think we will.
the cars will probly be automatic only over here like all the chrysler ones are, so none of this :burnout:
I duno! If you seen Gumby's Mounty you would think otherwise.
I can honestly say an Ozzie Falcon brought to the US as a Crown Vic replacement would be a new car that I would very heavily consider. Mulally is a tough customer, I have high hopes for him at Ford.
i agree about the falcon. i love fords, would never buy any other american brand, (would consider puppiess solely for mpg for my wife) and mustangs are just too common.
Heh kinda funny the mustang gets Falcon underpinnings again.
Great news, Eric!!!! Drinks for everybody.... except for Carmen, for saying GM, and Ford, followed
Chrysler! Holden has always been GM, (and Ford is Ford) so they're using their own cars and parts. Mercedes told Chrysler to "here, use these. We were throwing them out anyway, and they're still ten times better than anything you're puppiesing off now." So very not the same. The only similarity is that they're all using RWD chassis from other continents.
Here's a question. Why can't Ford build a Cruise Control switch that isn't Kamikaze? Three times now they've recalled the same switch and had them replaced. This is what's killing the company, not just BFJr.'s last days of destruction. Anyway, after the second recall, it's time to farm this one out.
So in other words, Ford and GM are following Chrysler :hick:
My point, however, was that it was Chrysler that first took the plunge and started offering modern large RWD sedans to mainstream Americans. A fact that is all the more remarkable because it was Chrysler that completely abandoned RWD first, in the first place
Last I checked Ford was still making the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car when the 300/Magnum came out. Wasn't the "retro" TBird and the Lincoln LS still in production as well? Oh and the Mustang.
GM was the only RWD abandoner. With the exception of the GTO and Corvette GM had no RWD cars since the Camaro's demise in 2002 until the Solstice/Sky came out. In fact, those don't count either because they are still expensive, low production sports cars. GM's first RWD blue-collar accessible 4-door since the demise of the B-Body (Caprice/Impala in 96) is the G8, which just came out this year.
The Panther and Mustang platforms don't qualify as "world car" chassis.
They had to totally dumbdown the DEW platform for the Mustang, and it's pretty much worthless for anything else. The P71 chassis belongs in the museum with all the other fossils.
This is a comittment to RWD world car platform that is actually useful.
No, they weren't. Chrysler had nothing, save for the Viper, that was RWD, and the Prowler fits in that same category as the Solstice/Sky as an expensive 'sport' roadster in extremely limited volume. They sold a rehashed E series as a 300, but the day before they had nothing but Neons and Intrepids.
Ford really was the only one making affordable RWD cars, even if they were for the most part questionable (30 year old chassis and big ugly retro roadster with a tiny V8). The Mustang was the only thing to be proud of, and that's not easy to say about a 25 year old Chassis.
Did the 300 come out before the GTO? From what I can find, Pontiac showed us the GTO in 2003, which is when the 300 M became the C. I know for a fact that there was an '04 GTO, so if at all, I'd say they were maybe six months apart, which means GM was working on a RWD program for NA before they felt they had to 'follow' anyone.
You know, I was always partial to the Crown Vic of any year, especially the current years, I don't know why, but I like it.
My soft spot will always be the Cougar, with the TBird a close second...
All these cars are RWD, that must be it. lol, I hope Ford pulls the rabbit out of there hat and makes this Interceptor a reality... even though, I'll be honest, I don't really care for the look... but I felt that way about the 300 and Charger (although I loved the front end on that charger!)
Frankly, as long as all the big 3 survive and thrive, I'll be happier than a pig in mud. But I won't lie, as everybody goes forward, I find myself wanting to go back...
all the way back to Mercury.
There's a Canadian's take on how saddened I am Mercury is dead in Canada, and I'll try to be optimistic that Mercury won't be the next Olds, but if it is... well, let's just say, I am sure there will be a renewed appreciation for our real cars. :D
But! The RWD lives on with apparent new energy... Go Ford Go!
Just because Ford hadn't killed that platform (like the LS and Tbird)does not make them the pioneer in the return to mainstream RWD. Making taxis, police cars and pa-mobiles RWD is not mainstream. It was for fleet sale and mandated by the those fleets (police). I wouldn't own one and neither would y...oh, wait....;) And anyway these are part of the platform they are abandoning. Please don't give Ford any credit. They are the follower, not the pioneer. Even after Chrysler established there was a viable market and GM got on board, it still took for 18month to 2 years to get on board.
Ford was right on mainstream RWD muscle cars but way behind on RWD sport sedans.
:iagree:
Not that I would argue with your point today, it is unfortunate, because they, quite historically, used to be
THE pioneer.
I only hope FoMoCo's moment in time has not lapsed, and won't lapse for generations to come.
That 'Monument' of Ford's hasn't been true for the company for a very long time. They Pioneered the affordable car, and the mass production of it. Hyundai is truer to the first part, and mass production has been the way of Autoland for most of the last century. It's not the fight it used to be, since Ford has actually had competition for a long time now. All the coach-buider Automakers back then were like button makers, when out of nowhere comes Ford with their Zippers and Velcro.
:toilet:
I said "mainstream". The Panther is only mainstream if you happen to be a cop, cabbie, or own a funeral home (or are within hours of needing one). The Mustang, no matter how well it sells, is not a mainstream car. It is too impractical for everyday family transportation, which is why in its best year it might sell 10% as many as Camcords sell. Likewise the retro Bird, but with an even smaller market. The Lincoln LS was too upmarket to be mainstream (but too downmarket to be successful).
Chrysler was the first abandoner of RWD. From the early 80's on the meat and potatoes of Chrysler's products were FWD, based on either the Omni or K-Car chassis. Only the lowly Diplomat/Fury/Imperial soldiered on with its ancient full frame and leaf spring rear end until 1990 or so. Other than that and the Viper there were NO RWD Chrysler cars. Even the minivans were FWD.
Chrysler came to a sudden stop. GM and Ford kinda wound down slowly through the 80's and 90's. The X-cars started the switch for GM in '78. Then the Tempaz replaced the Fairmont about the same time the RWD Sunbird/Monza stepped aside for the J-cars. The Taurus came out in '86 (killing off the small LTD/Marquis), the W-bodied GM's in '87 (which also saw the end of the RWD G-bodies). The LeMans saw the Chevette out of the room. Ford kept the RWD T-Bird/Cougar alive 'til '97, just one year after GM pulled the plug on the B/D bodies. Gm's last broad-selling RWD car, the Camaro, rolled over in '02, leaving only the CTS/Catera until the GTO could come to the rescue.
As Chrysler was the first to bail, they were also the first to jump back in. They actually replaced their midsize segment entry, the FWD LH cars, with the RWD LX cars. Whether the GTO actually hit showroom before the LX is inconsequental - the fact is that Chrysler threw everything they had at the effort and took a big gamble by giving up on a huge seller (the LH). GM simply slapped some boring bodywork on a foreign car and hoped for the best, not really caring if the venture was successful.
Now GM is learning from their GTO mistakes (GTO was 2-door, 2-big for a 2-door, 2-pricey, 2-bland) and is bringing an honest, affordable, mainstream four-door RWD sports sedan.
5 years after Chrysler did it.
Now Ford, who has become too used to sitting on the sidelines waiting for others to be successful, then trying to copy the success with too little, too late, is finally getting on the bandwagon.
I see what you mean, Carmen.
You're right, they were the first to make a RWD volume seller commitment. The only problem is, it wasn't their car. The 300 was not a Chrysler, it just looked (vaguely) like one. The Charger is not a Dodge, and neither will the Challenger be when it comes. They are left overs from before the DMC 'merger' of Mercedes. And it doesn't just end there, the Crossfire is even worse, as it has no Chrysler engine either. Ever bit but the cheap interior and ugly bodywork is old (outdated) SLK. (as if the Chevette was really a Pony underneath) Maybe when the LY cars finally make it to market they will have some more Chrysler tech (which is pretty much just Mitsubishi tech these days) I'll see them as Chryslers, but now I see them as E's missing their funky headlights, wearing a Captain America costume.
I always did think that was an ugly, silly-looking costume...as I think the LX cars are as well.
Hehehe I was thinking the SAME thing. Now if we can just get a slightly larger, more luxorious version of the Mustang (*cough*Tbird*cough*), then order would be restored.
And maybe show the Cougar some love?? , but alas i dont think Mercury will last much longer :(. Actually come to think of it this is Fords chance to bring the Cougar back the retro T bird's bad taste is still fresh in a lot of peoples mouths ( I personally would love to have one of the retro's but they are just to rare / expensive). Bring the Cougar back as a Mustang twin (Like it was originally) and offer some luxurious options that would be specific to the Cougar.
The end of Ford as a pioneering company seemed to coinside with Jacques Nassar becoming President and CEO. The 2005 Mustang has been the only hit since then.
Haha well it's kinda hard to have a Cougar without first having a Mercury brand...hence why I just said Tbird. But if Mercury is able to hang around, then yes, a Tbird/Cougar duo would be mandatory :D .
Ah, !
http://www.leftlanenews.com/not-so-fast-ford-australia-denies-rwd-development-shifting-to-the-us.html
It's always too good to be true with Ford. *sigh* :(
Shouldn't Ford have say over their divisions foreign or not? What i mean is should they not have the authority to say f*ck you Australia and move it over here, something reeks here.
I think the gist of that article is that RWD Fords will still be developed in Australia. It doesn't necessarily mean they won't send 'em here, or indeed, even build 'em in North America...
Of Course, this IS Ford, so they WILL screw the few loyal Ford fans that remain...
Thats what worries me I love me some Fords but it seems lately they have sat around with their thumbs firmly glued in their asses.
What-effin-ever.
I gave up caring long ago. They wanna run the company into the ground? FINE. Good thing these cars are cheap now. Most of us on this board already have our hands on one (or more!) and if not it sure aint hard to. We'll just continue enjoying the old stuff in memory of a time when the people who produced them actually gave a rat's ass.
I honestly couldn't give a at this point if Ford's entire lineup looked like a Focus morphed, stretched, and ized (quite POORLY, of course) into whatever the particular vehicle was, whether a van truck SUV etc and they were all wrong-wheel-drive and all boring-ass hybrids.
I don't mean to sound cold and cruel and pessimistic but there's never any good news....so if I don't expect anything good...then there's no shattered hopes!!! :D = I WIN WIN WIN.
i thought that was fords current line-up:shakeass:
oh well, seems no american car manufacturer wants to make a modern midsize rwd car with a manual trans that isnt a mustang:hick:
Cadillac CTS http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/model/landing.jsp
Pontiac G8 GT and GXP
:edited:
im not 50 years old so no caddie for me, and i wont confuse pointy styling for modern either. point made though;)
however, i dont follow GM but i dont know how i missed the pontiac G8. hmm....
Or the Poncho-camino. Or the Camaro. :dunno: The Chrysler LX cars are built here too. The problem is none of those cars were developed here. Anyone else think the new Zeta platform is the closest thing we've seen to Fox in a while? As in they are building at least five different cars on the platform, and a lot more models in different countries (even a Lumina).