If the Full IUP as we know it, goes away for whatever reason...... do you think that Dealerships that have V-6's and GT's on their lots that have the IUP will change their normal pricing, and mark these cars way through the roof? Just a thought, because with the 18R being added as an alternative to the 18G (Full IUP), that there may also be different alternatives down the road......and that the Full IUP that we have been acustomed to could be discontinued all together. The reason I posted this hypothetical question is because I noticed that my local dealership has had a V-6 Redfire with IUP for several weeks now, and I just noticed they placed a markup on it this past week.

 

that is the way supply and demand works(I think) so it would make sense that people will want it and therefore pay more

 

Heck, from what half of you have said, most of the dealers don't realize that there is a problem. I also don't know if it makes that much of a difference to the general public (the non-enthusiasts). To make my point, we have had our GT with IUP in stock for over a month (at $200 under invoice) and it is still sitting. If the IUP were that important to the general public, I would think this one would be gone.

 

IUP's not going away...if anything it will be enhanced in the coming model years!

 

I believe he is referring to the lawsuit, and the MyColor portion of the IUP.

But, I agree with you, Ford will win the lawsuit. MyColor isn't going away.

 

Grantsdale, I agree, the lawyers will take care of it, and the guy will probably get a healthy settlement to make this go away.

The only thing that can mess up MyColor in the short term is if a injunction is granted to stop building the units.

If MyColor did happen to go away, I would hold off buying my '05 until all the bits from the IUP were offered (Message centre, 6-gauge cluster, dash trim, etc.)

 

I doubt he'll even get a settlement. Just completely shot down.

 

I don't know about that. The ideas are VERY similiar... and if Ford can't produce the IUP in its entirety they are going to lose a TON of sales. Ford may throw this guy a bone if they know they swiped this guy's idea and a long litigation will drastically affect their bottom line by not being able to produce the IUP.
Every day I read these threads, I get happier and happier I bought my car (and more nervous when I leave it in a parking lot for more than 5 minutes) early.

 

My dealership was well aware of the IUP thing, in fact prior to reading it on here one of the guys mentioned while installing my alarm how Ford had put a hold on them and I was lucky to find a car with it.

I think we are getting ahead of ourselves with the lawsuit deal. I don't know what the out come will be, if any, but Ford could have the complete IUP without the my color feature if all else fails. The my color thing isn't what sold my on the IUP and I really wouldn't miss it.

If they discontinue only the my color thing, I doubt dealerships will mark up for ones that have it, I wouldn't pay a rusty nickel for the my color feature. I really dig the aluminum dash though and aluminum colored trim, thats what I paid for. The message center thing is also cool but the dash trim is all I wanted.

I really think Ford just underestimated the demand for it, so they didn't produce enough.

 

It doesn't matter if they are similar, they would have to be practically identicial. Also, the guy never produced a working prototype. The fact that he "shopped" it to the different car makers is bad for him, because he should have not done that without a contract saying they wouldn't do it if they didn't buy it from him.

 

Wel, tha may be true, BUT - juries are very sympathetic to the little guy in a situaton like this. I really think Ford would lose this if it went to court. If they got the MyColor idea by checking out this guy's patented schematics and secretly decided to use his idea without compensation, then he has a case, definitely. AND if he wins he can also peddle his wares to another company (ahem GM ahem).

 

Yeah, something about 'you can't patent an idea' you have to have something that works.
And if the guy dropped the ball and didn't renew it...its his fault and he's just pissy.

 

A friend of mine that works for a major automotive parts supplier told me how they have patent lawyers looking at the new goodies in R&D. Given that his patent was used as a reference I am sure the lawyers took a good look at it.

 

The MyColor thing isn't that big a deal to me either...... but as much a novelty thing as it is, if it is discontinued, that will make it a novelty of the collectible sorts sometime down the road.

 

mycolor is a very generic idea and i doubt the engineers who designed it ever knew about this guy's idea untill the patent lawyers did their research. most companies will not accept unsolicited ideas and i suspect ford is the same way.

 

see this makes me feel alot better since i agree with grantsdale. im just afraid of it going away because i want it soooo bad