jpd80 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 (edited) LINK “The G8 will not be a [Chevrolet] Caprice, after all,” said Lutz. “I’d said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the [Commodore-based] G8 was just too good to waste. “That’s all still true, but with my new ‘marketing’ hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today’s market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be.” Bob Lutz reality check 101: you cannot sell a $30,000 car to police and charge $20,000. Moderators, Please delete as this is already covered in Competition, My apologies for posting in the wrong area. Edited July 18, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 You could if you put it on a Panther chassis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I know I've mentioned this in the past. Why not just build the Panther for those who buy it? LE and taxi. They could hybrid one too in order to make it green. Better yet, just remanufacture old ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) I know I've mentioned this in the past. Why not just build the Panther for those who buy it? LE and taxi. They could hybrid one too in order to make it green. Better yet, just remanufacture old ones! Yes, there's lots of things they could do but unfortunately, all those customers want cheap cars. I think it speaks volumes that Ford haven't significantly upgraded the panthers with power train and safety features available in other Fords. It's not a case of they just want it to die, there's just no cash in it. It's like when Ford shut down Atlanta even though they were making Taurus at 196,000/yr. Edited July 19, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman100 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) Yes, there's lots of things they could do but unfortunately, all those customers want cheap cars. I think it speaks volumes that Ford haven't significantly upgraded the panthers with power train and safety features available in other Fords. It's not a case of they just want it to die, there's just no cash in it. It's like when Ford shut down Atlanta even though they were making Taurus at 196,000/yr. The unseen men in Washington who pull the levers squashed this one. Not to mention, with the new Obama CAFE requirements, they are going to force manufacturers to do stupid things like build "full size" sedans off of a car like the Ford Fusion. Lutz has to remember he no longer builds cars in a free country where consumers make the decisions - Big Brother makes decisions now. Edited July 19, 2009 by taxman100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelsonlu Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 The unseen men in Washington who pull the levers squashed this one. Not to mention, with the new Obama CAFE requirements, they are going to force manufacturers to do stupid things like build "full size" sedans off of a car like the Ford Fusion. Lutz has to remember he no longer builds cars in a free country where consumers make the decisions - Big Brother makes decisions now. This would be a potentially valid criticism of the Obama Administration if any large cars getting fuel efficiency figures comparable to the Panthers were still selling well. None was. And none has been for several years, even before the gas prices went up in 2008. In many ways, the Obama Administration's revised CAFE standards actually ran behind what the public already decided. Don't go all paranoid just because you want to continue to buy what the general public no longer did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelsonlu Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) (Accidental duplicate posting blanked.) Edited July 19, 2009 by nelsonlu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) And then there's all the billions of petrodollars that flow out of the US each year to God knows where. Who ultimately gets that money and what are they using it for? All I'm saying is that maybe the US shouldn't be giving unseen foreigners so much so easily....... Edited July 19, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 This would be a potentially valid criticism of the Obama Administration if any large cars getting fuel efficiency figures comparable to the Panthers were still selling well. None was. And none has been for several years, even before the gas prices went up in 2008. In many ways, the Obama Administration's revised CAFE standards actually ran behind what the public already decided. Don't go all paranoid just because you want to continue to buy what the general public no longer did. Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Some convieniently forgot that GW Bush signed off on higher CAFE, but it's too easy to blame Obama for 'death of RWD V8s'. If there were buyers, there would be more big boats [but the CV interior ain't really that roomy]. But, today's buyers get a truck or SUV if they want size, room, and towing. I see more older drivers in crossovers, SUV's, minivans, pick-ups, and NOT in DTS's, Grand Marqs or TC's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) Some convieniently forgot that GW Bush signed off on higher CAFE, but it's too easy to blame Obama for 'death of RWD V8s'. If there were buyers, there would be more big boats [but the CV interior ain't really that roomy]. But, today's buyers get a truck or SUV if they want size, room, and towing. I see more older drivers in crossovers, SUV's, minivans, pick-ups, and NOT in DTS's, Grand Marqs or TC's. Large sedans can't compete with many of the options now available to retail consumers. I think it's a market that is shifting away from the high volume middle market to just luxury-class automobiles. Consumers in this market have largely shifted to smaller sedans or crossovers and SUVs. Large sedans, like wagons, have been replaced by more flexibile, stylish, and utilitarian choices. I moved from large sedans to Crossovers and won't go back, the MKX is the best car I've ever owned. I love the Taurus SHO, but I would never go back to a sedan, life is just too good in a tall spacious Crossover that can haul my Costco purchases . That being said, the Taurus is by far the best large sedan available, partly for the fact it has command seating Edited July 20, 2009 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 And then there's all the billions of petrodollars that flow out of the US each year to God knows where. Most of it goes to Canada.... and ends up lining matthewq4b's pockets..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipnzap Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Is he talking about North Amerian-market Commodores or Commodores in general? Because if GM kills off the Commodore, they would be essentially screwing Holden up the ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Most of it goes to Canada.... and ends up lining matthewq4b's pockets..... IIRC, most of the Alberta oil patch is US-owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 This would be a potentially valid criticism of the Obama Administration if any large cars getting fuel efficiency figures comparable to the Panthers were still selling well. None was. And none has been for several years, even before the gas prices went up in 2008. In many ways, the Obama Administration's revised CAFE standards actually ran behind what the public already decided. Don't go all paranoid just because you want to continue to buy what the general public no longer did. Well, although I admire the President and all he's trying to accomplish, here's something that was mentioned in the media a while back when the bailout money was spent. He rides in a goldarn Chevy Suburban, a rolling vault. Maybe he should do his part in using a pig such as that to be driven around in. Yeah, sure, there are safety issues. But other heads of state use smaller cars and they live to tell about it. CAFE standars are probably another way of making them see that bailouts will cost them (us) any way you look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 AMC and then Chrylser made a few Law Enforcement models in their history. They made them to meet a need. GM doesn't have the balls to do it, and if Ford had to raise prices on the Panther to meet higher expenses, what would LE have to do? I've seen hybrid Toyota cabs in NYC, and I think I've seen an NYPD unit as well. That's okay for inner cities where there is no room to fly like on a highway.What other manufacturer will step up and create a RWD model that is needed for this application? There has got to be a way to make a profit on a car that gets sold. Does Ford lose on every cop car they sell? Were talking the oldest damn technology in automotive history. They prove it themselves because they don't upgrade the old beast. Isn't there a way to get more power out an engine and improve it's fuel consumption? How is it done in other countries? It is made to sound so bleepin' impossible because it may be done by someone else. What a crock. :beatdeadhorse: literally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelsonlu Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Well, although I admire the President and all he's trying to accomplish, here's something that was mentioned in the media a while back when the bailout money was spent. He rides in a goldarn Chevy Suburban, a rolling vault. Maybe he should do his part in using a pig such as that to be driven around in. Yeah, sure, there are safety issues. But other heads of state use smaller cars and they live to tell about it. CAFE standars are probably another way of making them see that bailouts will cost them (us) any way you look at it. Well, protecting the President is so important that for that one car I can care less if it gets 0.1 MPG. Plus, the vehicle he himself owns is an Escape Hybrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Well, although I admire the President and all he's trying to accomplish, here's something that was mentioned in the media a while back when the bailout money was spent. He rides in a goldarn Chevy Suburban, a rolling vault. Maybe he should do his part in using a pig such as that to be driven around in. Yeah, sure, there are safety issues. But other heads of state use smaller cars and they live to tell about it. CAFE standars are probably another way of making them see that bailouts will cost them (us) any way you look at it. I would like to see them make that limo into something with say...hydraulic launch assist and clean diesel power...and promote it while it is around.... :stats: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Was doomed by few buyers and no profits. The basement bloggers expect otehrs to buy their favorite toys, and now some are buying with huge rebates. So, no profit = cancellation. Business 101, look it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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