Bad News for Ford
Thread Starter
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: April 13, 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 0
From: McAllen, Texas
Bad News for Ford
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/30/f...digit-decline/
Come one Ford, you can't wait for the F150 refresh
:cry:
Come one Ford, you can't wait for the F150 refresh
:cry:
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 2,146
Likes: 1
It wasn't that long ago that the Mustang went for 10 years without a significant update. If you don't get it, Ford certainly doesn't get it. Today 3 years is an eternity in the car biz. If you're standing still, in reality you're moving backwards compared to the competition.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: July 21, 2004
Posts: 2,924
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Many of the posters on that board really are Ford haters. Every time I read that board, my blood boils. It's like they revel in adding fuel to the fire of Ford's declining sales.
Things still look pretty bad.
Things still look pretty bad.
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
The people who post those stories have no bias against Ford or any other brand, near as I can see. They post a pretty wide and comprehensive smattering of automotive news. And, sorry to say, but that post WAS news. It's not their fault that it was BAD news.
In fact, several of the Autoblog guys who post over there are Mustang enthusiasts. And they recently did a whole series of posts about design concepts they'd love to see for a brand new Taurus SHO.
And everytime Ford introduces a cool looking new model in Europe, most of the public replies over there are positive, with people lamenting the fact that they can't buy those cars over here.
Hopefully Ford is taking note of all of this and getting the message loud and clear. GT500KRs are great and all, but they're not what Ford needs right now to cultivate long-term profitability.
I Have No Life
Joined: January 30, 2004
Posts: 10,446
Likes: 12
From: Canada
The GT500KR isn't much over the GT500, other than a bunch of FRPP parts and some tweaks. They leave the factory no different than GT500s, and Shelby does the work after.
I do wish they had more reg. cars and SE's or packages that people could buy. I'd rather they sell an engine option than a SE, just so that more people could buy them. You figure they'd WANT to sell more than capping it.
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 2,146
Likes: 1
On the other hand the Edge and MKX are bonafide sales hits.
In 3 short months the Edge and MKX have gone from promises to sales leaders in their respective market segments.
And don't forget, tape / stripe packages or not, the Mustang is the dominant force in the 2 door sporty car market with almost 50% of the total market segment sales. Absolutely unheard of these days. Please show me another vehicle that dominates it's market segment like the Mustang does !
In 3 short months the Edge and MKX have gone from promises to sales leaders in their respective market segments.
And don't forget, tape / stripe packages or not, the Mustang is the dominant force in the 2 door sporty car market with almost 50% of the total market segment sales. Absolutely unheard of these days. Please show me another vehicle that dominates it's market segment like the Mustang does !
Needs to be more Astony
Joined: October 4, 2004
Posts: 8,610
Likes: 5
From: Volo, IL
Team Mustang Source
Joined: April 30, 2004
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Source: Automotive News
Saturn seeks to boost slow sales of Aura April 2, 2007
"Aura sales have been sluggish this year, leaving Saturn dealers with a 125-day supply as of March 1, according to the Automotive News Data Center. "
"Dealers say Saturn executives have told them the sales goal for the Aura is about 90,000 units this year. But Saturn sold only 7,898 Auras in the first two months of the year."
"GM included the Aura in its spring sales incentive program, an unusual move for a new product, dealers say. "
Month by month
Sales of the Saturn Aura have been slow this year. Here are monthly U.S. totals since the car’s introduction.
2006
August 1,782
September 3,183
October 4,661
November 4,279
December 5,841
2007
January 4,102
February 3,796
Total 27,644
Saturn seeks to boost slow sales of Aura April 2, 2007
"Aura sales have been sluggish this year, leaving Saturn dealers with a 125-day supply as of March 1, according to the Automotive News Data Center. "
"Dealers say Saturn executives have told them the sales goal for the Aura is about 90,000 units this year. But Saturn sold only 7,898 Auras in the first two months of the year."
"GM included the Aura in its spring sales incentive program, an unusual move for a new product, dealers say. "
Month by month
Sales of the Saturn Aura have been slow this year. Here are monthly U.S. totals since the car’s introduction.
2006
August 1,782
September 3,183
October 4,661
November 4,279
December 5,841
2007
January 4,102
February 3,796
Total 27,644
Team Mustang Source
Joined: April 30, 2004
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Another thing, the elminination of Tauras sales is the biggest issue for down sales numbers. The Fusion and Edge are doing quite well, where as the Explorer is sucking hind tit big time
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
And when they can...they don't...Check out whats happening with the Saturn Aura:
I'm sure that an I4 in the Aura would help a bit, but there is alot of talk about European cars on the Internet, but when push comes to shove, the people who are talking about them can't afford them to begin with!
I'm sure that an I4 in the Aura would help a bit, but there is alot of talk about European cars on the Internet, but when push comes to shove, the people who are talking about them can't afford them to begin with!
Frankly, the Aura concept looked not too bad. But the production version was "dumbed down" (i.e. its interior has been criticized for using cheap materials). Moreover, the recently debuted '08 Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G8 look MUCH better. At this point, people may be waiting for those.
So in view of all the preceding points, the Aura's lackluster sales don't really surprise me all that much. It's the vehicles that GM is introducing RIGHT NOW - and over the next 12 months - that will ultimately tell the tale.