I for one am dissapointed that Ford sold AM...

It was a company that has really found its market segment, and with the forthcoming Rapide... would have been a serious threat to its competition.



There never has, nor ever will be another thing quite like an Aston.

 

Thats crazy, any car can sell if it's done right, you make it sound just because it has jag on the hood it sucks. ford dumps the money wherever they feel the need, they have had no real interest in doing anything with linclon mercury for a long time and has nothing to do with jag, just now thier getting interested in LM again and doing something with it. We just got our copy of ford world yesterday, and it had an interview with Mark Fields and he said he is now commited to doing something with LM and turnning the brand around. With jag, they need to either pee, or get off the pot, They have choose to pee. ford shouldn't sell any of it's companies, should work on making them the best that they can be. For years ford has had a bad habit of letting cars die a slow death through neglect, they now know that doesn't work and doesn't make good business sense. They can make jag a primere company if they set thier mind to it. What happens to jag or any other of fords companies is in thier hands, they have the power to make it, or break it. Ford has suffered for awhile from poor management, hoefully thats changing.

 

While I will agree with you that if a car is "done" right it should sell. When was the last time you saw a Jaguar commerical? When was the last time you saw any sort of advertising for Jaguar? The consumer won't know the car is "done" right if you don't get them into the showroom and let them drive it. Same thing with LM. The first time the new Navigator and XR or whatever they call the rebadged 500 came out there were acouple of commericals and now I can't remember the last time I saw anything on LM.

Ford not wanting to do anything with LM could have alot to do with Jag. And I stress could because I'm talking from a business stand point. If Jag is sucking alot of money out of Ford, and with recent downsizing where is Ford going to get the money to help a sinking ship? I can bet you that they will pull money out of their other money making divisions to try and keep the boat floating.

Your right about the pee or get off the pot analogy. I don't think Ford has a choice in the matter and money talks. I would let the ship ( Jag ) sink and move on to the ships that are afloat and make sure they stay that way.

 

Dear, Dear Fred........I too feel your pain.

But there was AM before Ford, and Ford did an excellent job of not dilluting the marque (something that cannot be said of Mondeo chassied Jags)

I believe AM will still remain one of the most stunning Viagra substitutes known to man.......even if it is a shame that our beloved Ford is no longer a part of that.

 

I just finished an interesting article about Chrysler that applies in some ways to Ford and G.M. also. One sentence really grabbed me, "It's like they are in the pension and health care business and they just sell cars to fund that". Chrysler is valued at around $15 billion excluding debt, but it's liabilities for worker pension and health care benefits total $18 billion. In theory, Daimler-Chrysler should pay a buyer $3 billion to take Chrysler off its hands.
The playing field is not level and won't be until a generation dies off or bankruptcy cleans the slate.

 

I agree there smiggs, ford does rend to get a little lacks in thier advertising, now adays it's all fusion and edge, maybe a few f seres comercials. I haven't seen a jag comercial since Sting did a few spots for them a few years ago. I forgot but I have seen some lately promting the mkz. I know I differ from everyone else, but I'm a believer in jag, I love those cars and I think it would be a shame to let it die, or anyother great nameplate. I still believe you have to have the will to make it happen. I just saw a tractor trailor pass the other day loaded with new jags. I thought to myself, what beautifull cars and very distictive, there's only one jag, they were gorgious. If ford can't do something with cars like that, they need to let someone who can. Reguardless, ford is going to do what thier going to do and we just have to set back and enjoy the ride, or get off the train, which ever ha ha. Since I'm a 4wd nut, I like land rover as well and wish they would bring back over the defender 90 to go head to head with the wrangler. The price of the highend wranglers keep going up, close to 30 grand now, the defender could play ball in that park. Thier heritage is every bit as rich as jeep. Build some rovers for the common man, true wheelers and you could wrestle away some jeep customers. When talk of a new bronco was on the forums, the jeep guy's seemed to be the most excited. Yeah, the last I heard the bronco was a go, it was to have straight axles, removable top and a hose out floor to compete with jeep and haven't heard anything since, this was last spring in truck trend.

 

It's pretty amazing that the basic shape of jags hasn't changed in so long yet they look modern and new still.

 

they ride rediculously, and i have a video of me going across the sunshine skyway bridge doing 90 flooring it,and taking it effortlessly up to 127, car was not shaking,very smooth, could have gone faster, 3.0 x-type.

it will go up for sale probly end of this year or next, but lack of advertising, diminishing sales, and a very tough luxury department with imports, its only fords fault.
if it ends up going it would be a shame, thats really the last line of defense for an american luxury product, that has class,looks,styling, sportiness.
i bet if they got sold, whereever jag would end up, im sure they will once again be contenders in the luxury line.
the big three has there version of luxury vs. foreign competition, and were losing out, and especially if ford sells jag, we would be losing out.

 

I think Ford's problems stems from the bean counters running the shop. If they can't see the profit on paper they drop it move to another product. They are very short sighted and leave a string of discarded designs in their wake rather than year after year refined products to build a reputation on. Never mind that it draws people to the showroom or that it would give Ford some bragging rights. The Pantera suffered the same fate as the GT or Aston. The demand was still there. Pantera’s may have been disliked in the shop, but they were loved on the road. The cars had no major problems. The minor gripes should have been solved with dedication to continue and improve the design. Do you think early 70’s Vettes or Ferarri‘s had no problems? Ford just doesn't know how to cater to the high-end crowd and their after sales support is another big part of the problem. That cartoon says it well. Stop counting the beans, fix the problems and then put a price on it. People will pay a premium for a good car with a good reputation, just look at Mercedes.

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->Jag is another story. IMHO they have always been problem cars. 40 years ago people just put up with it cause they had style and performance and there were few choices in the luxury sport field. Not now, choices abound. They don’t stand out in any respect and in the high-end market where reputation is everything, they are lacking. If they can drop them they should.

 

No they shouldn't and they better not, or I shall be pee in thier corn flakes, long live jag.

 

Wendell, I'm not against Jaguar, I'm against Ford spending billions on a car that won't sell. It's one thing to compare a Fusion with a Camry...it's one twenty grand car vs another. The luxury market is a whole different cup of tea.

Over the past 10 years, Lexus has made a major impact on the luxury market...targeting Mercedes-Benz. Explain to me please, how Jaguar can possibly compete against those two brands. It just isn't going to happen. Now add BMW, Cadillac and Infiniti to the mix...too much competition...all of which has a far better reputation than Jaguar.


If you want to see Lexus or Mercedes ads, they are everywhere. The only place I've seen Jag ads is in Conde Nast Traveller. The very fact that the current Jag luxo-sedan looks like the same car it did in the 1970's is one factor against Jag. When Ford restyled the car several years back, they did away with the rectangular headlights, returning them to round. People totally rejected the car. People that can spend 80 grand for a car want something fresh, not a 30 year old design. Now Ford is spending more money to restyle it again.


Ford can spend another 6 billion on Jag, and it won't make a whit of difference. The competition is too stiff, has a better reputation, and has cars people want to buy. Where does Jaguar fit in? Drive around places like Beverly Hills or Newport Beach...you'll see more Rollses than you will Jags. It's too bad, but Jag is a car of the past like Packard and Pierce-Arrow. Yesterday's news.

 

It's unfortunate but true. The combination of health care and union labor costs has made it very difficult for cars made in the US to compete.

 

After doing some soul searching, to be honest, it's not jag that I'm really concerned about, it's land rover. I'm a 4x4 freak and since we can't have jeep, I think it's awesome that we have LR. I allways loved thr defender 90 from watching old Tarzan movies or Doc Tarie. I'm afraid if they sell jag, they will sell LR as well, so thats why I'm defending jag. I would rather ford let jag die off, than sell LR just to get rid of it. These are just personal feelings, not business sense oriented or anything. I thought it was time for me to come clean with my true agenda.