[Guest]

Dear Mr. Ford:

I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.

Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
have to.

Pay attention, Mr. Ford, for this is the important part: *Don't ****
them up*. Bring them intact. Do the bare minimum of changes necessary
to comply with North American safety standards: Left-hand driving
position, DOT-certified headlights and taillights, sidemarker lights
and reflectors, US-spec airbags instead of the safer Australian ones,
that kind of thing, sure, but don't downgrade the suspension, brakes,
tires or anything else to bring the car in line with what you perceive
as "American tastes". Your notions of "American tastes" are obviously
in dire need of recalibration, and the machines linked herein are just
the tools to do so. Most imperatively, don't replace the world-class
4-litre inline Six engine these cars have with the mediocre V6s you've
heretofore foisted on North Americans. Do what is necessary to ensure
that quality is built into the cars, not slapped on as an advertising
slogan. Bring the cars *intact* from Australia.

You don't sell anything I want, Mr. Ford, and you haven't for decades.
But do this, Mr. Ford, and I'll buy one. Maybe even two. I bet I'm not
alone.

--DS

 

[Guest]

In article <[email protected]>, Daniel J. Stern wrote:

> Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
> http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
> high-zoot version

I intended this to be in my letter to Ford should the person who was
telling me to put up or shut up in the Mustang NG live up to her end and
get me a meaningful contact name and address.

If this car were made in a 2 door, I'd buy one right away... as a four
door I might have to think about it bit. I would certainly love to drop
the drive train into my maverick

 

[Guest]

While I dont agree that Ford hasnt produced anything most people might
want, I think Mr Stern has hit the nail on the head.

Ford is trumpeting the relationship with Volvo engineering as a door
opener to the Left Coast crowd. And that's fine and a little overdue.

But looking at the Fairlane Line styling against the current mid-size
Fusion offering shows where some tastes might split.
- If I were buying it would be the Milan, for impression of Front-End
styling, alone.
- and I like Volvo styling, but I dont like the Fusion.
I'll take the 'strayan offering!

I understand Ford's dilemma .. just look at those who think Chrysler's
styling is good looking. I dont!

Surely, though, there's a middle ground.

By the way... "Fordvehicles.com" should have a selection intro.... one
path would be "Twentysomething Viewer", the other "Adult Viewer"

As it is, what an overglitzed, empty of meaningful content, PIECE OF
SHIT!


"Daniel J. Stern" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Dear Mr. Ford:
>
> I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
> this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
> offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
> rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
> tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
> from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
> in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
> years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.
>
> Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
> http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
> high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
> the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
> 2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
> dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
> taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
> have to.
>
> Pay attention, Mr. Ford, for this is the important part: *Don't ****
> them up*. Bring them intact. Do the bare minimum of changes necessary
> to comply with North American safety standards: Left-hand driving
> position, DOT-certified headlights and taillights, sidemarker lights
> and reflectors, US-spec airbags instead of the safer Australian ones,
> that kind of thing, sure, but don't downgrade the suspension, brakes,
> tires or anything else to bring the car in line with what you perceive
> as "American tastes". Your notions of "American tastes" are obviously
> in dire need of recalibration, and the machines linked herein are just
> the tools to do so. Most imperatively, don't replace the world-class
> 4-litre inline Six engine these cars have with the mediocre V6s you've
> heretofore foisted on North Americans. Do what is necessary to ensure
> that quality is built into the cars, not slapped on as an advertising
> slogan. Bring the cars *intact* from Australia.
>
> You don't sell anything I want, Mr. Ford, and you haven't for decades.
> But do this, Mr. Ford, and I'll buy one. Maybe even two. I bet I'm not
> alone.
>
> --DS
>



--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

 

[Guest]

Backyard Mechanic <[email protected]> wrote:


..
>
> But looking at the Fairlane Line styling against the current mid-size
> Fusion

Ooops! Falcon, not Fairlane!


--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

 

[Guest]

Dang... i should do my research before I jump on the bandwagon!

Daniel.... look at those MSRP's on there.

The Fairlane runs about 40,000 USD to start.

Sure bringing them in here would bring the price down... but THAT much?

"Daniel J. Stern" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Dear Mr. Ford:
>
> I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
> this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
> offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
> rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
> tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
> from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
> in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
> years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.
>
> Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
> http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
> high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
> the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
> 2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
> dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
> taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
> have to.



--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

 

[Guest]

Brent P wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Daniel J. Stern wrote:
>
>
>>Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
>>http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
>>high-zoot version
>
>
> I intended this to be in my letter to Ford should the person who was
> telling me to put up or shut up in the Mustang NG live up to her end and
> get me a meaningful contact name and address.
>
> If this car were made in a 2 door, I'd buy one right away... as a four
> door I might have to think about it bit. I would certainly love to drop
> the drive train into my maverick
>
>

Better qualify your statements; they may bring it over with a $60K price
tag :/

I would seriously consider a GTO if it weren't so expensive...

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

 

[Guest]

The styling was decent...but wow! I don't know what the SVT guys have been
doing in the US, but this was awesome!
I doubt I'd ever buy one, purely on price, but I've dreamed of a Nissan
Skyline coming to the US for years. Same for this car, very nice. And what
impresses me the most are the (seemingly) small details in the interior that
look fabulous.
niiiicccce.

 

[Guest]

Decades ago, Ford used to have the occasional display car in the lobby
of the NAAO building and Ford World Headquarters. The ones from
Australia were stunning then too and I pondered why the hell they were
never seen in America. They did not get it then and they won't now so
we won't either.

 

[Guest]

"Daniel J. Stern" wrote in part:

: Dear Mr. Ford:
:
: I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
: this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got
on
: offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
: rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
: tough to stomach.

Uh, there is NO Lincoln version of the Five Hundred on the market at
this time.

No wonder it's a flop.

Sigh.

john cline ii, who notes in passing the Zephyr (is that what you were
thinking?) JUST came out, and is based on the Mazda6 platform, as is
the Fusion/Milan...

 

[Guest]

On 28 Jan 2006 22:27:30 -0800, "Daniel J. Stern" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Dear Mr. Ford:
>
>I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
>this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
>offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
>rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
>tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
>from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
>in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
>years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.
>
>Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
>http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 .

I guess its too much trouble for them to state whether its a front wheel drive,
rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive, which would make all the difference to
me. I just bought a Subaru WRX about 6 months ago because not only does it
have power, it can put it to the ground, even in the wet. I might even be able
to drive it in the snow, too...

But no matter - the car would not be a moneymaker here in the US. The vast
majority of people don't give a hang about a sports car any more. They buy
SUVs. If they don't buy SUVs, then they're buying something really fuel
efficient and cheap so that they can drive it most of the time, and be able to
hang onto their SUVs for the things that they _need_ SUVs for, including the
"status" function.

Dave Head

>Definitely bring this
>high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
>the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
>2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
>http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
>dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
>http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
>taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
>have to.
>
>Pay attention, Mr. Ford, for this is the important part: *Don't ****
>them up*. Bring them intact. Do the bare minimum of changes necessary
>to comply with North American safety standards: Left-hand driving
>position, DOT-certified headlights and taillights, sidemarker lights
>and reflectors, US-spec airbags instead of the safer Australian ones,
>that kind of thing, sure, but don't downgrade the suspension, brakes,
>tires or anything else to bring the car in line with what you perceive
>as "American tastes". Your notions of "American tastes" are obviously
>in dire need of recalibration, and the machines linked herein are just
>the tools to do so. Most imperatively, don't replace the world-class
>4-litre inline Six engine these cars have with the mediocre V6s you've
>heretofore foisted on North Americans. Do what is necessary to ensure
>that quality is built into the cars, not slapped on as an advertising
>slogan. Bring the cars *intact* from Australia.
>
>You don't sell anything I want, Mr. Ford, and you haven't for decades.
>But do this, Mr. Ford, and I'll buy one. Maybe even two. I bet I'm not
>alone.
>
>--DS

 

[Guest]

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006, Jon R Patrick wrote:

> The styling was decent...but wow! I don't know what the SVT guys have been
> doing in the US, but this was awesome!
> I doubt I'd ever buy one, purely on price, but I've dreamed of a Nissan
> Skyline coming to the US for years.

You've just nailed a big part of Ford's problem: They've painted
themselves into the corner with decades of mediocre-to-crappy products, to
such a degree that they could offer a brilliantly-engineered,
flawlessly-built car, a true delight to drive that would run perfectly for
over a decade, and the instant reaction from North Americans would still
be "That much?! For a FORD?!!".

 

[Guest]

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006, john cline ii wrote:

> : offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury :
> rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be :
> tough to stomach.
>
> Uh, there is NO Lincoln version of the Five Hundred on the market at
> this time. No wonder it's a flop.

> john cline ii, who notes in passing the Zephyr (is that what you were
> thinking?)

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. They all look pretty much alike to me.

 

[Guest]

> You've just nailed a big part of Ford's problem: They've painted
> themselves into the corner with decades of mediocre-to-crappy


the sad part is, back in the mid 80's they were truly leading the
american manufacturers. 5 of the top 10 best sellers were fords,
quality was rising rapidly, and products such as the Tarus and then
Explorer were ground-breaking and class-leading.

Mr. Ford had a LONG way to go when he took over from Ghosn, and I'm both
encouraged and excited by what they're doing. Personally, I like the
Five Hundred, and I'm just about in lust with the Fusion. I drive a
Focus, but if TODAY I had to replace it, it wouldn't be with another
Focus... I'd want something a bit more refined. Honestly, the Cobalt is
a heck of a car, but I'd probably go for a Mazda 3.

That being said, Ford still HAS a long way to go. In a word -
unfocused. Right now, they're in the 'fix the product' stage, and that
means replacing products into existing niches. You can see from their
concepts they're getting ready to expand into new niches or overhaul
what they have (the Edge), but there's only so much work a staff can go,
and I get the distinct feeling that the SVT staff are idleing right now.

Maybe more later on my thoughts for product placement

(and, yes, Ford, I would move to detroit for a product planning job and
a high 6-figure salary! )
jp

 

[Guest]

You are certainly entitled to you own opinion, but unless you are buying GM
products, Ford sells more to vehicles to more buyers of its vehicles then
the number of buyers buy the brand you buy. Apparently not as many buyers
agree with your assessment. LOL


mike hunt


"Daniel J. Stern" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Dear Mr. Ford:
>
> I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
> this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
> offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
> rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
> tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
> from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
> in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
> years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.
>
> Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
> http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
> high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
> the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
> 2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
> dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
> http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
> taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
> have to.
>
> Pay attention, Mr. Ford, for this is the important part: *Don't ****
> them up*. Bring them intact. Do the bare minimum of changes necessary
> to comply with North American safety standards: Left-hand driving
> position, DOT-certified headlights and taillights, sidemarker lights
> and reflectors, US-spec airbags instead of the safer Australian ones,
> that kind of thing, sure, but don't downgrade the suspension, brakes,
> tires or anything else to bring the car in line with what you perceive
> as "American tastes". Your notions of "American tastes" are obviously
> in dire need of recalibration, and the machines linked herein are just
> the tools to do so. Most imperatively, don't replace the world-class
> 4-litre inline Six engine these cars have with the mediocre V6s you've
> heretofore foisted on North Americans. Do what is necessary to ensure
> that quality is built into the cars, not slapped on as an advertising
> slogan. Bring the cars *intact* from Australia.
>
> You don't sell anything I want, Mr. Ford, and you haven't for decades.
> But do this, Mr. Ford, and I'll buy one. Maybe even two. I bet I'm not
> alone.
>
> --DS
>

 

[Guest]

The very first Mercury Milan was sold to the owner of a 2002 Camry. His
tranny went out with 62K on the clock. He and he and his car were taken off
the interstate to the local Toyota dealership. I was a dual store, Toyota
and Lincoln Mercury. The salesman tried to sell him another Camry but after
he saw, drove and priced the top of the line Milan, he drove home in the
Milan.


mike hunt


"Backyard Mechanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> While I dont agree that Ford hasnt produced anything most people might
> want, I think Mr Stern has hit the nail on the head.
>
> Fusion offering shows where some tastes might split.
> - If I were buying it would be the Milan, for impression of Front-End
> styling, alone.
> - and I like Volvo styling, but I dont like the Fusion.
> I'll take the 'strayan offering!

 

[Guest]

Ford did bring over an Aussi car, a two seat convertible and sold it as a
Mercury Capri, it was a piece of crap.

mike hunt


"Al Bundy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Decades ago, Ford used to have the occasional display car in the lobby
> of the NAAO building and Ford World Headquarters. The ones from
> Australia were stunning then too and I pondered why the hell they were
> never seen in America. They did not get it then and they won't now so
> we won't either.
>

 

[Guest]

"Mike Hunter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> You are certainly entitled to you own opinion, but unless you are buying
GM
> products, Ford sells more to vehicles to more buyers of its vehicles then
> the number of buyers buy the brand you buy. Apparently not as many buyers
> agree with your assessment. LOL
>
>

That reads like a GWB quote.
--
John C.

 

[Guest]

Mike Hunter wrote:
> You are certainly entitled to you own opinion, but unless you are buying GM
> products, Ford sells more to vehicles to more buyers of its vehicles

My guess is that Ford probably sells 100% of the vehicles it sells to
buyers of its vehicles, don't you think?

> then
> the number of buyers buy the brand you buy. Apparently not as many buyers
> agree with your assessment.

Don't know what kind of cars Dan buys but my guess is the math is
pretty much the same. (Or were you trying to say something different)

LOL

Yup, LOL

>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
> "Daniel J. Stern" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
> > Dear Mr. Ford:
> >
> > I see you're having tough times lately. It sounds as if you realise
> > this is mostly because people don't want to buy the cars you've got on
> > offer. That new Ford Five Hundred sedan, and its Lincoln and Mercury
> > rebadged versions, are total sales flops for you, which has got to be
> > tough to stomach. But it's not all bad news; your salvation, at least
> > from the product side of the equation, is right in your own backyard,
> > in Australia. I mention this because it's been the case for about 12
> > years now and you and your predecessors seem not to have noticed it.
> >
> > Bring this car to America, Mr. Ford:
> > http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 . Definitely bring this
> > high-zoot version, sure, but also bring the more docile Falcons like
> > the ones shown at http://www.ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/ . The
> > 2-doors, the 4-doors, the station wagons, and the utes:
> > http://www.ford.com.au/range/falconute/models . Replace the aging and
> > dangerous Clown Victoria with the Fairlane:
> > http://www.ford.com.au/range/fairlane/models/ , and every cop shop and
> > taxi company will buy your cars because they want to, not because they
> > have to.
> >
> > Pay attention, Mr. Ford, for this is the important part: *Don't ****
> > them up*. Bring them intact. Do the bare minimum of changes necessary
> > to comply with North American safety standards: Left-hand driving
> > position, DOT-certified headlights and taillights, sidemarker lights
> > and reflectors, US-spec airbags instead of the safer Australian ones,
> > that kind of thing, sure, but don't downgrade the suspension, brakes,
> > tires or anything else to bring the car in line with what you perceive
> > as "American tastes". Your notions of "American tastes" are obviously
> > in dire need of recalibration, and the machines linked herein are just
> > the tools to do so. Most imperatively, don't replace the world-class
> > 4-litre inline Six engine these cars have with the mediocre V6s you've
> > heretofore foisted on North Americans. Do what is necessary to ensure
> > that quality is built into the cars, not slapped on as an advertising
> > slogan. Bring the cars *intact* from Australia.
> >
> > You don't sell anything I want, Mr. Ford, and you haven't for decades.
> > But do this, Mr. Ford, and I'll buy one. Maybe even two. I bet I'm not
> > alone.
> >
> > --DS
> >

 

[Guest]

In article <[email protected]>, Dave Head wrote:
>>http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.440 .
>
> I guess its too much trouble for them to state whether its a front wheel drive,
> rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive,

Falcons are RWD.

 

[Guest]

That did come out a bit convoluted didn't it.

The fact is Ford sells more vehicles to more buyers then there are buyers of
any other brand, including the one he buys, unless he buys from GM. He is
entitled to his opinion but obviously it is that of a minority since there
are many buyers who disagree with his assessment of Ford vehicles."


mike hunt





"John S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
>
> Mike Hunter wrote:

> My guess is that Ford probably sells 100% of the vehicles it sells to
> buyers of its vehicles, don't you think?
>
>> > Don't know what kind of cars Dan buys but my guess is the math is
> pretty much the same. (Or were you trying to say something different)
>
> LOL
>
> Yup, LOL
>