My Name Is Nobody wrote:
> "Michael Johnson" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Big Al wrote:
>>>> IMO, because Ford couldn't charge the outrageous prices for an option
>>>> package like they can for cars like the GT500. They are making insane
>>>> profits on the GT500 and will on he new Boss etc. Making these car's
>>>> components just option choices kills their exclusivity and therefore
>>>> profits.
>>> Insane is right. They make cars few people could afford and keep the
>>> price high while the company is going down the tubes. Why not SELL the
>>> cars? Selling cars is what they are supposed to do. Now they are going to
>>> quit selling Crown Vic's except to fleets. Sell the people what they
>>> want. What genius decided to re-badge the 500 and call it a Taurus? That
>>> should really help.
>> Unfortunately, Ford's problems run much deeper than what they are doing
>> with the GT500/Mustang sales. They only wish the rest of their car line
>> was as successful as the Mustang. IMO, Ford's biggest problem is they
>> have good cars that have no identity. They have ditched their long time
>> model names and in the process disconnected themselves from a large number
>> of past buyers of those cars. Re-badging the 500 a Taurus is a step in
>> the right direction, IMO. They need to bring out a RWD, V-8 two door
>> coupe and sell it as the Thunderbird too. Maybe even make an upscale
>> version of the Mustang and market as the new Cougar.
>
> Except the 500 badge name was in my opinion a step in the right direction, I
> liked the car and the name. Sticking the Taurus name on that car ****es me
> off, they couldn't have kept the 500 and redone the Taurus?

I think re-badging the 500 was the best they could do to stop the
profuse bleeding. I think they would prefer to bring out a new Taurus
but didn't have the time, and maybe the cash, to pull it off. I think
they should have designed an all new car that was as risky as the first
Taurus was in its day. Ford really crawled out on a limb with the
original Taurus and it paid off BIG. They did the same with the new
Mustang's styling and it too paid off big. IMO, they need to regain
that same spirit in order to get themselves out of their current mess.

> Now where the hell is the new Mustang chassis based retro 1969~1970 styled
> Mercury Cougar??? I want my 500 horse 5.4 2009 Cougar Eliminator!!!

I think an upscale Cougar well optioned with a 400 hp, 5.0L, N/A 32
valve V-8 would sell like hotcakes priced around $35k.