Ford will only build two cars!!

[krewat]

For me, this is more than just discontinuing the Taurus - we've all known it was barely breathing the past few years, and the only reason it's still around, I think, is the Police Interceptor.

But all cars in general? Why not just cut production down to the point where they all sell? There can't be THAT much difference in cost to produce between X (current production) and X/3 (1/3rd the production). I think they are being very short-sighted in this. People still buy cars. It's possible that those people might even pay a little more for them if the costs are higher because of lower production. But to just cancel them across the board is ... dumb (to coin a phrase )

I've been mulling getting the wife a new car - her Cougar is quite old at this point, at 21 years old. Parts, especially suspension, are getting really hard to find. Just rebuilt the IRS a couple of years ago, and finding some parts was like finding hen's teeth. Combing eBay every other day. She kinda likes the Fusion.

And truth be told, I don't want anything but Ford (or Lincoln if it comes to that). I MIGHT go for a Chevy, but (cough cough) don't really want that either but if the wife's OK with it, well, the **** with it.

 

[SHOinVa]

- Now that I think about it, my Dad told me the other day the Ford teams where going to use Mustangs next year for NASCAR Cup series. That should have caused a red flag to go up, but at the time it didn't occur to me. I would argue part of the problem is none of the "Stock Cars" look stock or have any manufactures parts. No one watches NASCAR the way they used too (including me) but now there are not going to be any American sedans to race. The issues with NASCAR is a whole other topic but they used to say "What wins on Sunday sales on Monday". Anyway just something I thought about.
C/

 

[krewat]

And BTW, this might make me go down to the dealer and snatch up a 2018 SHO they have in stock with the PP. I'll have to end my current lease early, but I'll take it in the shorts if I have to.

 

[Matt M PA]

Maybe a bit of insight....it seems that Ford is going to only have "2 traditional" cars, meaning gasoline only cars. Folks who have a closer connection with Ford suggest that Fusion hybrids, for example, will remain...but a gas only version will be axed. Which, makes sense as they offer a Fusion hybrid in the police vehicles.

 

[kinder]

It's all in the math. Our views are skewed because we all like sedans. It's why we are part of this forum. But the math shows more people are buying SUV's. People feel safer, like the added versatility and the fuel economy is comparable.

Although.... I'm also willing to bet we may see some European models cross the water.

Lets face it. Mellennials don't like anything past generations liked and thus are a big part of this change.

 

[Roger Batts]

Well, Ford took it in the teeth when they pushed the Ranger out of the North American market, and is now bringing it back. Maybe they'll see the light again.

 

[Lostneye]

They keep saying that the car market is going away, especially now that SUVs have nearly the same MPG.

There's an article today that the new Honda Accord has a 107 day supply on dealer lots, which is the most ever, they aren't selling either.

The Taurus has nearly $10k on the hood at large dealers just to move them. Hyundai is struggling with sales of their Genesis brand of cars. There does seem to be a fundamental shift underway.

Remember the Taurus announcement back in 2009, they didn't expect sales like in the past and they set expectations for the current Taurus to be a low volume car.

In the past when gas prices rocketed up, cars sold and they got attention, when the gas prices dropped, the attention shifted to SUVs. This time, SUVs get the same MPG, so shifts shouldn't really occur.

I own a 2015 5spd Focus Titanium, a 2014 5spd Fiesta SE 1.0 Ecoboost, and my 2010 SHO. They have all been great, trouble free cars. Guess they are soon to be relics of the past!

Question is... Do I buy one of the last 2019 SHO's?? (A ten year old car...)

I'm not a SUV fan, but that new Lincoln Aviator looks nice. Of course, so does the (4,600lb!) Genesis G80 Sport.


Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

Part of the reason for slow Accord sales is Honda not offering completive lease deals but regardless we have been talking about this in other threads... Americans love SUVs and will continue buying them as long as they can. Even luxury brands like Audi, BMW, etc are losing sales on sedans here. GM is dropping models as well, the SS was killed the Impala is on the chopping black along with their Fiesta competitor I forget the name of. Average auto loan terms are consistently getting longer as well allowing people to continue to but more expensive SUVs which personally I feel is not sustainable and will have an adjustment in the future and affect SUV sales like gas prices have in the past.

 

[OmaHahn]

Another article on MSN:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...and-suvs-only-offer-two-cars-in-us/ar-AAwlcsr

 

[Irish Pride]

Our agency just ordered another sixteen Taurus P.I.'s.

The dealership I work at sells Police issue Explorers 20 to 1 vs the Taurus.

Metro Nashville is a mix of Taurus and Caprice but the surrounding cities and Tennessee State vehicles are 98% Explorers.

 

[Lostneye]

Ford sold over 4 times as many Interceptor Explorers to Inceptor Sedans in 2017... 33,075 to 7,994

 

[Devin]

I've always been a car driver, and always will be. I picked up an Optima when I was out looking because it was a lot more competitive than all the Fords. If they can't make money (read: higher profits for shareholders) on sedans, then it is probably best they exit the market. I will never have a truck or SUV as a daily driver though, so my '90 Ford car will be my last one, apparently.

 

[SHOdded]

I think the 2015+ Edge Sport would be a nice transition into the SUV fold if you choose to go that route one day.

 

[sperold]

For the year 2016 (latest data) of all the cars sold in that year, the Ford Taurus had the highest count of vehicles that exceeded 300,ooo kilometers.

So, of course, that would be the model to be cut.

 

['14SHO]

Guess I’ll be going to an explorer sport or edge sport and mustang lol

 

[SilverSH0]

It doesn't surprise me here at all. There's no market for cars right now. Gas prices are low, SUVs are safer, and now they get acceptable mileage when gas prices get slightly higher. Start throwing in hybrid technology (see Hybrid F150 in future) and people are going to stay happy with their SUVs until gas gets north of $4/gallon. Combine that with the fact that the Taurus needs a complete redesign plus tooling and there's no profit in continuing production RIGHT NOW. The Fusion and Focus are in the same position just a few years behind. Major redesign costs, tooling costs, and bad sales make it a bad decision to continue production right now. I would imagine in 5-8 years when gas prices climb high, the cars will make a comeback in hybrid or electric form. But until that point, there's really not much point in continuing to produce gasoline powered cars that aren't selling. I don't like it, but it really does make sense.

 

[Lostneye]

Reported end of production dates:
-May 2018: Focus
-March 2019: Taurus
-May 2019: Fiesta

 

[Noxqsaz]

Spoke with owner of Ford Lincoln of Queens yesterday about my purchase (2018 SHO). He stated as well, SUV's are Fords main focus do to market demands and that fleet sales of the Taurus were almost non existent. Most of the police agencies including NYPD are now ordering Explorer Police Interceptors. Hence the death of the Taurus as we know it. I have owned many of vehicles in my day, this car is awesome I/M/O. I decided on the SHO because of my prior ownership of a Lincoln MK S and a Ford Taurus SEL. Rumor has it the 2019 Taurus if any, will be imported from China, along with everything else ! LOL

 

[Matt M PA]

I'm sorry to see the SHO and other Taurus go...but I get it. Same way my beloved Excursion was cancelled. I haven't seen a 2019 Taurus Order Guide yet, but I'm sure it will be the same as the 2018. The China market car isn't coming here..

 

[Juicybaka]

My SHO and F250 will be the FINAL Ford vehicles for ME. Importing vehicles made in China along with DEPLORABLE customer relations will force me to look elsewhere with over 20 years of loyalty!

 

[SHOinVa]

When I first posted this, it was one of those things I knew was coming, I wasn't surprised an didn't think much about it, now that I've had a day or two to think about it I'm pretty ****** so here is some random thoughts on my part.

1. I've seen the numbers and I agree people are NOT buying American cars BUT the manufactures have to take some of the blame since they have done NO MARKETING, the ONLY commercials I've seen from FMC is for trucks, In fact now that I think about it the one commercial I did see for the Taurus SHO got me to buy one, a few years later but still I bought one. Not just the SHO Ford makes some really nice cars but they do little to no marketing for any of them, at least compared to other manufactures I see BMW, Toyota, Lexus etc all the time, nothing from America. IMHO It seems to me we are all being taken for granted, they just assume those who buy there product will continue to do no matter what the are selling, I find it very insulting.
2. American auto makers are always chasing trends NOT setting them, I always find them to be reactive not pro-active. When Japan first started importing cars into the states everyone laughed BUT then they started selling us the cars we didn't know we wanted, until we did. Electric/Hybrids is coming weather we like it or not gas prices will go up again, the world will go to **** again, and American auto manufacturing will once again be playing catch up
3. FMC is risk averse, they are still primarily owned by the Ford Family and from what I have seen the only rule is, "Keep the checks coming and keep them big", In some ways that is a good thing, they did not need an auto bail out, on the other side nothing cool ever happens without some risk. As with most companies today it has nothing to do with building a good product, great brand, taking care of your customers or expanding into new markets. This is all about stock price, meeting Wall Street expectations, and making money for share holders. Henry Ford was a SOB who did a lot of crappy things BUT he was also a visionary who wanted to do more them make money he wanted to build something.
4. Lastly, I have been an American Automobile Ford man my whole life, my whole family has, I cant even count the number of Fords we have owned BUT F-it this is greedy, lazy, and short sighted, they are not even trying to build loyalty or a customer base. I think I will start saving my money for one of those Alfa Romeo Giulia, I always wanted an Italian sports care an it seems American company's no longer want my business. Look I know how the world works an I know this is a rant BUT its also true company's used to stand for something, they used to want to build there business and build a better product then the next guy, it just seems like we are losing more then a few car models, Have a great weekend all.
Charlie/