Yes, they have. They sent out a powerlease document stating that if you got the 04 cobra you could get the 07 under the powerlease. No agrument, it exists. Period. [/b][/quote]
I understand what you're saying, and knew of this previously, but the point I'm trying to make is that document isn't bulletproof...in other words, if they're going to do a major thing like cut the Cobra, I don't think that piece of paper is going to stop it.

However, of course I'm not gunning to be proven right here...the Cobras have been the cars to watch for a long time...and I hope that never stops.

 

The # of people who signed up for the Power Lease is so small that Ford could just give them a cash settlement or a big rebate on another FoMoCo vehicle. I'm sure that if you read all the fine print in the Power Lease Ford wrote a way for them to get out of the Power Lease anyway.

My broker called me on Thursday literally begging me to sell my Ford stock. He said that the SEC is investigating both Ford and GM over pension and health care funding.

From what he told me, GM is in worse shape than Ford. To fund their pension and health care plans, GM has borrowed $20B at 5%. They then turned around and put this $20B in their pension fund and are running the pension plan funding assuming that they will get a 10% return on this $20B over the next 10 years. We all pretty much know that this is not going to happen.

He said that although Ford has not borrowed money like GM to fund their pensions, Ford is assuming a 9-3/4% return on its pension fund. He said that if the SEC makes Ford and GM fully fund their pensions at a more reasonable rate of return (<5%) it will effectively bankrupt both GM & Ford.

He also was harping on me how Ford is lossing money manufacturing vehicles and the posted profits are really accounting slight of hand through Ford Credit. I guess he has a point, as I've yet to figure out how Ford Credit makes a profit financing cars at 0% APR, especially when leasedcars always seem to be worth less than the resitual at the end of a lease.

 

I understand what you're saying, and knew of this previously, but the point I'm trying to make is that document isn't bulletproof...in other words, if they're going to do a major thing like cut the Cobra, I don't think that piece of paper is going to stop it.

However, of course I'm not gunning to be proven right here...the Cobras have been the cars to watch for a long time...and I hope that never stops. [/b][/quote]
I agree, it doesn't mean there HAS TO be a car ... but I know that if I had seen the 05 and bought a 04 cobra under the PL thinking that I'd get the 07, I would be EXTREMELY PO'ED if the car didn't come out ... and only market that ford doesn't want to po is the people buying $40k+ mustangs.

 

The # of people who signed up for the Power Lease is so small that Ford could just give them a cash settlement or a big rebate on another FoMoCo vehicle. I'm sure that if you read all the fine print in the Power Lease Ford wrote a way for them to get out of the Power Lease anyway.

My broker called me on Thursday literally begging me to sell my Ford stock. He said that the SEC is investigating both Ford and GM over pension and health care funding.

From what he told me, GM is in worse shape than Ford. To fund their pension and health care plans, GM has borrowed $20B at 5%. They then turned around and put this $20B in their pension fund and are running the pension plan funding assuming that they will get a 10% return on this $20B over the next 10 years. We all pretty much know that this is not going to happen.

He said that although Ford has not borrowed money like GM to fund their pensions, Ford is assuming a 9-3/4% return on its pension fund. He said that if the SEC makes Ford and GM fully fund their pensions at a more reasonable rate of return (<5%) it will effectively bankrupt both GM & Ford.

He also was harping on me how Ford is lossing money manufacturing vehicles and the posted profits are really accounting slight of hand through Ford Credit. I guess he has a point, as I've yet to figure out how Ford Credit makes a profit financing cars at 0% APR, especially when leasedcars always seem to be worth less than the resitual at the end of a lease. [/b][/quote]
Sell it and get in on the Dreamworks IPO.

 

I will email my source, and see if he has heard this. Last I spoke to him the Cobra was a go, and the Lightning was dead indefinitely. Though it does seem silly to keep an entire division around for 1 car.

 

Just to add, this is not a rumor. Here is a quote from to Ford Engineers on the Mustang team:



<!--QuoteBegin-Scott

Like Mark, I wish I could say more.

But in a completely non-official way, I'd say that he might be on the right track!

Please get those fax machines warmed up..... Please.
[/quote]

We could be looking at a car with nothing more than a body kit if SVT is disolved.

 

Do not take this lightly. Do not hesitate. Get off your rears and fax those letters in asap, or we all might regret it!

 

Exactly, now is the time to have our voice heard loud and clear with Ford, keep those faxes coming, mine was sent today. If we don't act and SVT and the Cobra go away, we can only blame ourselves. And even if SVT isn't in danger, showing Ford what strong support they have for SVT and the Cobra can only further solidify the decision to produce the car. Just do it.

 

Don't you guys remember when i told you the new Cobra wasn't being built at SVT? It's called outsourcing, and everyone is doing it. Heck, the 05 Mustang is barely a Ford. AAI is an almost self sufficient entity. There is no coincidence it shares so much in common with the Mazda 6.

 

oh stop the sky is falling rumors. SVT is not going anywhere, and the L was delayed because the 5.4 isnt viable with the Hurricane coming out at the same time, they need to start over with another bigger motor.

 

fasteners?

 

I called SVT this am. They are still saying the next Cobra will be '07.

I declined buying an '04 Cobra based on the rumors of the '07 being so awesome. I better not get burned on it. Normally, I could fall back on Roush, Steeda, etc., but, the pictures I have seen of their offerings are just plain ugly. Performance or not, I don't want a rice mobile.

 

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101065

Here check this out.

"Ford has pulled the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning SVT pickup truck, instead putting all SVT's eggs into one basket - the SVT Cobra Mustang , due in 2006 as an '07 model."

 

I read that also. If this is coming from Ford, you have to wonder if it is to help sell the '03/'04s that are rotting on dealer lots.

 

Like any other speculative rumor in the world, I'll believe that SVT is dead and gone when I see an official announcement from Ford. Until then, it's just like all the ideas about "What will the 2005 Mustang look like/be powered with/have for an interior/and ad infinitum?"

We can all speculate away, quote our clandestine sources, and wring our hands, heaping ashes on our heads and writhing in painful anticipatory anquish.

Or, we can go on and support the Car/Brand we love and wait and see.

I vote for ignoring the rumor and believing the absolute facts. Someone said "The sky is falling!" - ok, even if it does, we can't do a darn thing about it. Yes, write letters and send faxes supporting SVT and their products.

Either way, there are a lot of Mustangs to enjoy and the 2005 is but one of them. :worship: :dance: :worship:

 

I know for sure that an IRS pacakge is in the works for the Mustang, that being said, if the SVT brand is killed off, there will be something to take its place.

 

One other thing to note - remember, the Lightning was dropped before but came back as is stated in the Autoweek article.

The same thing could happen any time.

And, like Freebass55 quoted, Ford is going ahead with the '07 Cobra due in 2006. Until FORD says otherwise, that's what I'll go by.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

 

It's no secret that there are troubles at SVT. But, it's my opinion that the L was sacrificed in order to save the Cobra.

 

SVT also has said that the L was only delayed. A new 400+hp NA motor going in the standard F-series makes the 5.4 not make sense anymore.

 

I was thinking the very same thing.