Ford Ditching Cars For SUV's Has Cost Them Loyal Customers

[gixxersixxerman]

I ended up getting a Mazda6. Great car, probably one of the best cars I have owned. Sporty enough with the 2.5T, great fuel economy( actually its almost the same as my focus. Focus averaged about 31-33 MPG in the Mazda I am getting 28-30). Ford not having any good cars and moving away from cars led me away to buy from Mazda.

Same reason we got a Mazda 6 and now a new Mazda 3 when that lease was up. We wasnt a fan of the optioned Fusion's in our price range, so went to the 6, and then Ford announced the drop off cars so when the lease was up we looked and nothing out there beat the deal we got on a 19 Mazda 3 sedan. at 23kmsrp it was stupid nice, we got a great deal nothing in Fords range was close, a base ecosport???? hahha a base Fiesta?? hahaha the Mazda we got a pinch over 19k.

Ive tried to give American cars a go again after decades of great Japanese cars, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota. My FoST was a good car but MSRP 31k was worth 14k 2 years later and the little issues ive had with my mustang and fact it was a 51kmsrp and shows 27k 1 year later with 4k miles on it for trade. my 25k 86 got me 19k 4 years later. The value just isnt there. Still may give that C8 a go next or a new Ram limited.... or a CPO AMG GTc letting someone else take the hit on that depreciation.

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[Big Boss]

Same reason we got a Mazda 6 and now a new Mazda 3 when that lease was up. We wasnt a fan of the optioned Fusion's in our price range, so went to the 6, and then Ford announced the drop off cars so when the lease was up we looked and nothing out there beat the deal we got on a 19 Mazda 3 sedan. at 23kmsrp it was stupid nice, we got a great deal nothing in Fords range was close, a base ecosport???? hahha a base Fiesta?? hahaha the Mazda we got a pinch over 19k.

Pretty much the same reasons here. My focus died on me so I needed to pick something fairly quick. To get what came on my Mazda6 in a Fusion would have required me to get the titanium trim and that car MSRP'd for around 35ish IIRC. The MSRP on my Mazda 6 was 30. And I know 5K isn't a huge difference but when you are in the situation of needing something asap that + the better lease deal was an easy decision(and the Mazda drove way better than the Fusion)

 

[Rocket403]

I have had my share of Ford's I have had 2 Mustangs 3 Panthers, Escort and 2 Windsucks but I'm not a Ford or a GM guy, I'm a big car guy and the Panther platform was by far my favorite. I would own a Mustang again as I like the Current style or I would go back and get another Fox, but other than that Ford have nothing that I would buy, just plan on staying with the RWD cars until they are gone or I am.

 

[cosmic charlie]

My Focus RS would beg to differ and I'm pissed that the next generation RS isn't coming to America. Fiesta ST is another example of an economical hotrod

It would be nice if they brought it here. Hybrid 400+ Hp would be awesome.

 

[venom5.0]

Finally bought a brand new 2018 Mustang GT PP a bit ago, been wanting one for a while (since 2012). I'm coming from a Mazda 6 and BMW 3 series coupe... But now I don't think there are any fords left of desire, except the Mustang (no interest in crossovers/don't need a pick-up). Although I don't know how long Ford will support the mustang considering their leadership is the most anti-car company of anybody right now...

 

[Tuxedomouse]

Its bullshit because ford was dominating WRC at the time and they were selling badass variants of the focus in europe and sending Americans trash lol

Before I bought my Mustang, I had a FoST, and loved it, but lusted after the FoST wagon they sell in Europe. Two weeks ago I was in Germany for work and saw one on the road - Performance Blue Metallic wagon - the perfect color, the coolest Focus ST we never got because aMeRiCaNs OnLy LiKe SuV's

 

[nrc]

Before I bought my Mustang, I had a FoST, and loved it, but lusted after the FoST wagon they sell in Europe. Two weeks ago I was in Germany for work and saw one on the road - Performance Blue Metallic wagon - the perfect color, the coolest Focus ST we never got because aMeRiCaNs OnLy LiKe SuV's

This is exactly why it's stupid for Ford to write off passenger cars. Wagons became unfashionable and everyone went to mini vans. Then mini vans became unfashionable and everyone went to SUVs. Then SUVs became unfashionable and everyone went to CUVs. Ford is stupid not to recognize that this is going to circle back around and leave them without a chair.

 

[nrc]

The cars were ugly and low margin. Apart from the Focus RS the only thing that was decent was the Taurus SHO. Pretty low success rate in sedans over the last two decades in the US I’d say so why waste resources? No one grows up aspiring to own a Ford Fusion so is anyone really going to miss it?

It’s a business and I’d rather they have focus on profitability and creating value for shareholders than waste resources making cars that don’t excite anyone.

If Ford can't attract buyers and be profitable in the passenger car segment then what magic do they possess that is going to save them from being in the exact some position with CUVs and SUVs in five years? All the same competitors are going to put the exact same squeeze on them in those markets that they did in the passenger car market.

No one grows up aspiring to own a Ford Edge. They only had one brand with that kind of equity and they just threw it in the bin.

 

[GasPedal]

If Ford can't attract buyers and be profitable in the passenger car segment then what magic do they possess that is going to save them from being in the exact some position with CUVs and SUVs in five years? All the same competitors are going to put the exact same squeeze on them in those markets that they did in the passenger car market.

No one grows up aspiring to own a Ford Edge. They only had one brand with that kind of equity and they just threw it in the bin.

I think they’ll be fine. Specialization is a very basic economics term that explains why they’ll benefit. Their partnership with VW for autonomous driving and Rivian for an electric platform is part of the reasons why they’ll be fine in 5 years.
No one is talking about their plan for the future just whining about their Ford Fusion being gone. If you want a Ford sedan that bad you can find one overseas where the demand and business case is there.

 

[oneheadlite]

Yeah, right..
Ford and their 'loyal customers'.?!?!

How about Ford being "Loyal" to their customers?
I wonder how many 'Loyal Ford Customers' are treated like Harley Davidson treats
their 'Loyal Customers'?
(Harley tells us that nothing is wrong with our engines or no oil transferring)
I've read threads on this forum of guys having problems that Ford won't admit.
And when they do, it's blamed on the owner; just like Harley.
Businesses are NOT out to please the masses and CERTAINLY not car makers.

If you are fortunate to get a car that doesn't have any problems; well, you're lucky...........

 

[Bikeman315]

Another report from Car and Driver.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...il&date=111619&utm_campaign=nl18627675&src=nl

 

[EcoVert]

Another report from Car and Driver.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...il&date=111619&utm_campaign=nl18627675&src=nl

It's like Ford drank some c6g koolaid all camaro drivers will trade their cars in on c8 Corvettes. Ford thinks Fiesta and Focus buyers will buy Escapes or Explorers, not likely.

 

[tcman54]

IF Ford is ditching cars, people can use their new SUV's to get their cars out of the ditch

 

[Rapid Red]

Think the station wagon could be coming back. There are a lot more roll overs these days, than have been, in the past years.

Seems no one has figured out that the SUV is top heavy, A little honda gets under the mid section and over they go.

SUVs got to be the easiest vehicles to run a pit maneuver on, they sure are fun to watch on Live PD.

 

[CS19]

I have had my share of Ford's I have had 2 Mustangs 3 Panthers, Escort and 2 Windsucks but I'm not a Ford or a GM guy, I'm a big car guy and the Panther platform was by far my favorite. I would own a Mustang again as I like the Current style or I would go back and get another Fox, but other than that Ford have nothing that I would buy, just plan on staying with the RWD cars until they are gone or I am.

Same here. We have a 2005 Lincoln Town Car. Last July, test drove a new Lincoln Continental. What a disgrace compared to the 2005. Ride, seat comfort, room, and quietness didn't compare. Excessive tech was the only Continental strong point, something that we found unappealing. We decided that if we were going to ride in a stiff riding car, we would rather have a convertible top instead of a glass one and a V8 rather than a V6. We bought a 2019 Mustang GT/CS convertible. LOL.
When Ford eliminated the full size, rear wheel drive, V8 luxury car in 2011, they made a HUGE mistake. They lost ALL sorts of commercial and personal use sales. They DROVE people to buy clumsy, unappealing SUVS to get some of the space, seat comfort, and ride back. Funny, that European makers have zero problems selling all the large sedans they can make...

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