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rmc523

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Posts posted by rmc523

    GM cashes in with new Malibu

    in Competing Products

    Posted

    It hasn't exactly set the sales charts on fire, so by some measures, it very well could be considered a flop.

     

    "Significantly higher prices"? The only prices that are significantly higher are those compared to the OLD Malibu that fleets barely even wanted.

     

    Malibu is "already about to outsell" the Fusion. Congrats. A brand-new product that is being marketed as the best thing since sliced bread is ABOUT TO outsell one of the oldest midsize sedans on the market that you consider to be a horrible effort all around. Wow. That ought to make GM sleep well at night.

     

    By his definition, shouldn't the Malibu be considered a flop by now or "uncompetitive", like the Fusion?

    Smart For2 Test Drive

    in Competing Products

    Posted

    For some reason there's something oddly appealing about this little Smart car, maybe it's just wanting to see people's reactions to it.

     

    I could imagine being in a mall parking lot, parking in a Smart all the way against the parking bumper, so from the aisle it looks like an open space....then watching somebody in their giant Expedition EL go to park there and see their reaction to seeing the Smart in the spot. :devil2:

     

    I have seen one on the road, in an ugly lime-green color. It looked funny, although I only saw it going across an intersection while waiting at a light.

    2010 Taurus Pictures

    in Rumor Mill

    Posted

    still hating that center stack on even the lincoln...wood grain, wood grain, chrome, beige pieces....SOLID CHUNK OF BLACK STEREO...ugh :(

     

    At least it doesn't use THE brick, it uses a different type.

    09 F-150 Regular Cab

    in Photos, Photoshops & Videos

    Posted · Edited by rmc523

    Yes,we have built several Reg. cab flairsides. Uses same tail lights as the current flairside.

     

    Hmmm, no "ricer" chromed lights? Interesting....

     

    Does the tailgate have the stamping like the new model or is that carryover from the current one as well? I ask because I know the stamping ties into the detailing in the new taillights.

    Future Ford Probe

    in Photos, Photoshops & Videos

    Posted

    Sorry, but no. The donor car for your work is the culprit.

     

    I'd rather have the original design but upgraded with modern mechanicals & higher safety ratings:

     

    ford-probe-II.jpg

     

    Well, the Hyundai does have a Probe-ish look to it now that I see them side by side. That said, I may not like the fact that he used a "Hyundai", but in this situation, I think that was one of the best vehicles to use.

    Mercury Capri

    in Photos, Photoshops & Videos

    Posted

    Yeah, there's a bit of that in there too. I liked the quad semi-round lights in the Euro Capris....sort of BMWish. The lower grill is sort of Fiesta, but it's much more conservative....obviously.

     

    It looks good, as I've said before....I looked at it again, maybe some chrome grille surrounds would dress it up a bit more, make it more Mercury-like?

    Refreshed Town Car

    in Photos, Photoshops & Videos

    Posted

    I thought since the new RWD chassis won't be out for 4 or 5 years maybe the Town Car could get a final refresh.

     

    I started with a 93 TC because I like the earlier version, chopped in a MKT front end (with several changes), lowered the windows but kept the roof height tall for a Lehman-Peterson Limo look.

     

    As I said over at FMCN, looks good, I like the one with the larger waterfall strips. I don't see Ford investing any more money in the Panthers though.

     

    Also, IMO, it needs something on the lower front faschia, like the chrome strip featured on the MKR and -T concepts.

    09 F-150 Regular Cab

    in Photos, Photoshops & Videos

    Posted

    Nice lookin chop. Remove the suicide door and you'll have an accurate chop of the reg cab.

     

    Now if there will be a flair-side?

     

    I also was going to mention there will be no rear "access door" or whatever Ford called it.

     

    I'd assume there'd be a flareside F-150 still, although I haven't seen all that many of the current design (but that may be because it's not as good looking as the previous generation). That said, once the new 6.5 ft bed became available, I've seen quite a few SuperCrews with the 6.5ft flareside bed. They look pretty good, IMO.

    Ford Flex turns heads

    in Flex & Lincoln MKT Forum

    Posted

    Ford Flex turns heads

     

    The official launch of the Ford Flex is still months away, but Ford Motor Co.'s new crossover is already turning heads where it matters most: on the Coasts.

     

    "I've already got people showing up wanting to buy them," said Beau Boeckmann, vice president of Los Angeles' Galpin Ford, the largest Ford dealership in the world. "Cool people. People who haven't bought a Ford forever."

     

    The Flex also drew lots of attention in New York last month during the auto show.

     

    That is music to Kate Pearce's ears. The marketing manager for the Flex says the new Ford seems poised to be the sort of hit the automaker was hoping for as it strains to turn around its North American auto operations. READ MORE HERE.

     

    Does anybody know where else they are taking the Flexes, besides Las Vegas and Los Angeles, if anywhere?

     

    I'd love to see them driving on the road here in South Florida.

    reducing options

    in Competing Products

    Posted

    This is good, yet I find it to be somewhat of a paradox. I mean, everybody is moving towards mass-customization; however, on the other hand, we're moving towards removing complexity. I think the huge challenge is handling how to package cars appropriately so the customer feels they are customized yet not making them so customizable that it creates unneeded complexity. That probably made no sense, but it makes sense in my head and that's what counts :P

     

    I understood, I think.

     

    And, yes, I believe we've (or at least I've) seen several articles in regards to reducing options/option complexity.

    ford and fiat partnership possible

    in Competing Products

    Posted

    There is an article in today's automotive news that states Fiat is looking at either buying an idled Big Three plant or converting a Case- New Holland tractor plant (New Holland is owned by Fiat). New Holland has plants in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Georgia. Of course Ford has idled plants at Wixom, St. Louis, Atlanta; GM has idled plants at Oklahoma City (although it is mostly dismantled now).

     

    What if Ford did a joint venture type of thing where Fiat could build their cars, and Ford could build the Fiesta?

     

    Wasn't the Atlanta plant/property sold to developers recently?

    ford and fiat partnership possible

    in Competing Products

    Posted

    Actually, it's old news; I posted the Alfa-Jag tie-up about a month ago, quoting a senior FIAT manager.

     

    Ford and FIAT share a plant in Poland that punches out 500's and eventually, the new Ka. If FIAT wants a US marketshare, a tie-in with Ford might be a good way to do so. At least it seems they've stopped making them out of old CinZano signs. :)

     

     

    Of course Fiat and Ford are already cooperating with the Ka and the Fiat 500 being jointly produced off the Panda platform.

     

    I don't agree with any of the speculation that Fiat would jointly produce with Ford in the US, however. Ford brings along the UAW; why take on those costs if you are a new producer? And there is no way a 500 could be produced affordably in the US. Maybe in Mexico or Brazil (particularly if Ford felt there was a market for Ka to boost plant volume), but not the US.

     

    But there are other reasons that Fiat might be in play. BMW and Mercedes (who are already paying CAFE fines) are going to be in a world of hurt with upcoming fuel economy requirements; Fiat might be a way to offset.

     

    Relaunching Fiat in NA won't be easy. Some of you might not like Lucas, but I have some "up close and personal" experience with Magneti Marelli and it wasn't any better.

     

    I too was going to mention the 500/Ka partnership in Europe. Maybe a similar type deal could be formed here?

     

    IIRC, Alan Mulally has also mentioned he is against alliances at least at this point, so whatever deal is made, if any, I would think would be small (and 500 production, I assume would be).

    Changes in option availabilty on 2008 Sport Trac

    in Explorer, Mountaineer, Sport Trac Forum

    Posted

    I have had my Black 2008 ST Limited for three weeks now and am really enjoying it. I have replaced the stock radio with a Pioneer AVIC-D3 DVD Multimedia AV Navigation Server. This allowed me to hook up a rear backup camera and keep my current XM radio subscription by adding on the Pioneer XM tuner. To supplement the stock speakers, I added a Blaupunkt Thb 200a powered sub woofer. (not a "thumper", just some added low end). A Pioneer 6 CD changer is also controlled through the head unit.

     

    Mileage has been averaging 15 - 16 MPG city/highway combined. Less than the Escape the ST replaced, but that was expected. Ride is great and is much quieter.

     

    I went with the charcoal interior after having beige in both of our vehicles for the bast 8 years. It is a nice change of pace.

     

    The one thing I would really like Ford to add to the instrument panel is a light to show when the automatic headlamps have turned on. Too often they are not on when the weather is rainy or dreary and there is no easy way to check if they are on (instrument panel lights are not bright enough to see the difference). Our last three Lexus(s) has had this feature and it is really appreciated.

     

    Another slight disappointment was the deletion of the auto-up driver's window switch. This feature was listed in the early manuals but apparently was dropped. There still is the auto down function.

     

    I would recommend this part SUV, part Pickup truck to anyone!

     

    Our BMW has a small light by the headlight controls that illuminates when the headlights are on.

     

    To my knowledge, I don't know if any Ford vehicle has had an auto-up switch (unless the last-gen ST did?). I like having auto-up and -down in our BMW.

    Does Lincoln translate into German?

    in Lincoln Motor Company Discussion

    Posted · Edited by rmc523

    Now I love the X6 and MKS, two of my favorite at the show. I am mostly interested in technology barges, not cheap sports cars ;)

     

    I swear by Lincoln of course so there is no mystery to me why I stay with the brand.

     

    Although I haven't been to the NY auto show, I saw the MKS at the FLIAS (Fort Lauderdale), and it looked great, I think it should sell very well for Lincoln. I haven't seen the X6 in person, and am not sold on it's design from pictures. Overall, I don't really like the direction BMW is going with their SUVs, I prefer the previous generation X5's looks to the current and will decide on the X6 when I see it.

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