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Ford unveils programs to woo GM, Chrysler buyers


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Now, the Dearborn automaker is unveiling pilot programs to give Chrysler customers more money to help pay off their loans so they can buy Ford models. If the strategy works, Ford may soon be doing the same thing for GM owners.

 

"We're going to be aggressive," said Ken Czubay, head of U.S. sales and marketing for Ford. "But we're not going to be predatory."

 

Ford dealers across the country are seeing more and more Chrysler and GM trade-ins, he said.

 

"There are a lot of people out there that don't like the concept that government is running these companies," Czubay said. "They're also disillusioned by the resale value of their products."

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On one extreme, some marketeers have advocated a no-holds-barred approach, including direct mailings to every GM and Chrysler owner in the United States noting the uncertain future those companies face and offering cash incentives to buy a Ford. Others are anxious to avoid the appearance of gloating at their rivals' troubles.

 

I'd go with the cautious people. Americans don't like opportunism. Ford needs to keep pushing their products and distancing themselves from the messes of Chrysler & GM. I think the second they say "General Motors" or "Chrysler" in an ad (unless they're actually closed) is the second that the backlash roars.

 

But what do I know?

 

Scott

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Since when has Ford made derogatory remarks about GM or Chrysler in its advertisements?

None so far and they probably never will.

 

It's all about Ford's products and services to customers, not about rivals' misfortunes.

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No amount of marketing bullshit has ever made me choose or not choose a car, so why bother to kick GM Chrysler in the nuts whilst they are lying down on the floor it will only be seen as a cowardly act.

 

Government Motors are still stuck with the same dull boring range of vehicles that require a $3,700 loss making bribe to sell them, nothing has changed or will change until they start to make cars folk want to buy again.

 

GM will emerge from bankruptcy a much smaller company with all the good bits like the Classic Siverado, Chinese manufacturing base & operations etc in a few months maybe, the rest will be paid off got rid of in long term Chapter 11.

 

Why worry about GM nothing has changed l shall just drive straight on past my local GM Vauxhall dealers with on the way to work or their dealers l pass by when l visit my Father-in-law not even to givng their rows of all the same looking boring, dull, bland, anonymous non-entity looking jellymould cars a second or even a first look as usual, at the same time l watch heads turn and even get the thumbs up as l pass by in my old Capri or Escort it always puts a big wide grin on my face.

Edited by Ford Jellymoulds
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No amount of marketing bullshit has ever made me choose or not choose a car, so why bother to kick GM Chrysler in the nuts whilst they are lying down on the floor it will only be seen as a cowardly act.

Ford is not kicking GM and Chrysler the nuts.

 

Rather than offering disillusioned GM and Chrysler customers disgusting low ball trade in figures,

Ford dealers are converting these people to Ford by doing the right thing and offering fair trade in prices.

That is not predatory, that is good business.

Edited by jpd80
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Ford is not kicking GM and Chrysler the nuts.

 

Rather than offering disillusioned GM and Chrysler customers disgusting low ball trade in figures,

Ford dealers are converting these people to Ford by doing the right thing and offering fair trade in prices.

That is not predatory, that is good business.

 

Nobody with any sense is going to spend risk their hard earned cash or touch anything GM or Chrysler make with a barge pole. Ford won't have to do to much second hand values will plunge regardless just like they did at British Leyland (Who were loosing big money on every car they sold, in 1969 just after the absolutely awesome Mk1 Escort & Capri's were launched in the UK British Leyland cut 47,000 out of their 190,000 jobs as their market share plunged from 40% to 11% that year, the same big drop off might happen to GM) when the were viewed as if they had become infected with the Bubonic plague, the economic climate is a lot worse now than when the Leylands and Chryslers of this world moved in and out of bankruptcy in the past sad to say.

Edited by Ford Jellymoulds
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while I (and most everyone else) dont want to see gm and chrysler fail, I still think now is the time for Ford to push their history/products/and mostly the economic insight of the guys at the top to have been proactive on getting headed in the needed direction before needing billions in tax dollars- push the fact they BORROWED tons of cash in advance for just in case, and have made the painful cuts and expensive redesigns of their business they all should have seen looming...cant quite put it to words, but help folks feel if anyone out there worldwide has EARNED someones business, right now that company is Ford...and wish GM/Chrysler well in their late reaction to the situation, in that Ford will welcome their competition again someday, as it also helps them drive innovation to keep their pencils sharp for a competitive edge...but until that time Ford is still here doing better than most in the business Henry Ford took the initiative and risk to start 100 years ago with foresight that was spot-on for the time...Fords still doing this, and I for one am sure glad they aint needed more of my great-great-grandkids (that wont even be born for 40-50 years) tax money yet to remain in business. I also think it might be a ripe time to mention how efficient most government institutions usually run- maybe take a respectable jab at telling the government as soon as they get things somewhat rolling they need to take a hands-off approach and make the automakers stand on their own...like controlling a battle-by-batttle war from the whitehouse, the more they meddle with the auto companies, the more problem$ will likely crop up from micromanaging. Like chrysler/Iacocca, once they got going again with a shot of tax money, they stood pretty strong on their own for quite a while- had the government stayed in there, doubt they woulda lasted thru 1990.

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I think Ford just needs to distance themselves from those two and let the customers come on their own (which will happen anyway). There a few Chevy guys at my work pissed off at Chevy and are looking at Ford's. Ford doesn't need to prey on those two right now, because what if....strong IF, Ford ends up in their shoes and Toyota, Hyundai, & Honda come pounding on the door.

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I think Ford just needs to distance themselves from those two and let the customers come on their own (which will happen anyway). There a few Chevy guys at my work pissed off at Chevy and are looking at Ford's. Ford doesn't need to prey on those two right now, because what if....strong IF, Ford ends up in their shoes and Toyota, Hyundai, & Honda come pounding on the door.

 

As if Toyota and Honda haven't already done that ...

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