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GMPenguin's Automotive and Etc. Homepage -> GMPenguin's Automotive and Etc. Forums -> The Mainstream Cars Forum -> Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego sales increase
Post Info TOPIC: Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego sales increase
ifcar


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Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego sales increase
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Ford says its new car lineup is gaining traction
Reuters / February 28, 2005

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said on Monday its new car lineup gained traction in February, with U.S. sales for the trio of vehicles hitting an annual selling rate of about 185,000.

Ford is forecasting total February sales for the new Five Hundred and Montego sedans and the Freestyle wagon in excess of 13,500 units, up at least 24 percent from 10,921 in January.

Automakers will report February sales on Tuesday. Analysts are forecasting lower sales for Ford overall, and a ninth straight month of market share losses for the second-largest U.S. automaker.

The new vehicles are central to Ford's strategy for boosting its U.S. share and increasing much-needed automotive profit. It hopes to sell more than 200,000 of the vehicles this year. But four months after their launch the annual selling rate for the three cars, built at Ford's Chicago assembly plant, was only 167,000 in January.

Ford, which sells the three vehicles without any cash incentives to mostly retail customers, is expecting them to reach the targeted selling rate by the end of March.

The Five Hundred and Freestyle have been touted by Ford as replacements for its aging Taurus sedan, once America's best-selling car. But Ford sold 24,269 Tauruses alone in February 2004 and its new vehicles, which have gotten off to a relatively slow start, have been criticized by some for their conservative styling.

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thewizard16


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RE: Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego sales incr
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Well, it's good the sales are getting a bit better. I think the only reason the Taurus still sells is because you can pick a new one up dirt cheap.

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ifcar


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quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"Well, it's good the sales are getting a bit better. I think the only reason the Taurus still sells is because you can pick a new one up dirt cheap."


According to a fascinating comparison test that I read recently, a Taurus doesn't really offer tremendous features for the money compared to its competitors, falling short mostly in its lack of safety features.

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thewizard16


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RE: RE: RE: Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego sa
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quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"

According to a fascinating comparison test that I read recently, a Taurus doesn't really offer tremendous features for the money compared to its competitors, falling short mostly in its lack of safety features."

You know, I think I read that comparison too! What I meant was that what they sticker at and what they actually sell at are very different. I remember an offer a dealer had going in Iowa a while back. We were up there waiting for the Camry to come in, and there was a Dealer closing out 2000 Tauruses, (probably base models, but they were new) after rebates and dealer cash for a price of $9,999. I remember thinking "Wow, we could have bought two Tauruses", but I really dislike that car, so I wasn't proposing that in the least. That's the most extreme price cut I've ever seen on a new one, but I'd never heard of someone paying MSRP for one, more often than not you can easily get one for at least $5,000-7,000 under MSRP.

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ifcar


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quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"
You know, I think I read that comparison too! What I meant was that what they sticker at and what they actually sell at are very different. I remember an offer a dealer had going in Iowa a while back. We were up there waiting for the Camry to come in, and there was a Dealer closing out 2000 Tauruses, (probably base models, but they were new) after rebates and dealer cash for a price of $9,999. I remember thinking "Wow, we could have bought two Tauruses", but I really dislike that car, so I wasn't proposing that in the least. That's the most extreme price cut I've ever seen on a new one, but I'd never heard of someone paying MSRP for one, more often than not you can easily get one for at least $5,000-7,000 under MSRP. "


A previous model-year car would be expected to sell well under MSRP, and the Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego probably aren't selling at MSRP either, just without rebates.

BTW, I'd have taken the Taurus at have the price of the Camry, if they were comparably-equipped.

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thewizard16


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quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"

A previous model-year car would be expected to sell well under MSRP, and the Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego probably aren't selling at MSRP either, just without rebates.

BTW, I'd have taken the Taurus at have the price of the Camry, if they were comparably-equipped. "

We saw it afterwards, but when you're buying a car in full, not financing or anything, and you have more than enough allotted for the car you like best, I get the car I like best, not the one that I hate, but could get for half price.

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ifcar


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quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"
We saw it afterwards, but when you're buying a car in full, not financing or anything, and you have more than enough allotted for the car you like best, I get the car I like best, not the one that I hate, but could get for half price. "


What's there to really "hate" about the Taurus? The styling, I suppose, but other than that it's basically a Camry that's not as good as a Camry. However, at half price, I'd be more than willing to excuse a few shortcomings.

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thewizard16


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quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"

What's there to really "hate" about the Taurus? The styling, I suppose, but other than that it's basically a Camry that's not as good as a Camry. However, at half price, I'd be more than willing to excuse a few shortcomings."

The styling didn't bother me that much. The interior design was extremely unappealing, as were the materials, and I didn't find the seats to be that comfortable. For some reason, I also felt like I was sitting very close to the floor of the car, no matter how I moved my seat in the Taurus, something I don't like at all. The engine was fine. Not impressive, but not disgusting, but really, nothing about the car pleased me, and I didn't see any reason to buy a car I didn't like, even if it was cheaper.

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ifcar


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quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"
The styling didn't bother me that much. The interior design was extremely unappealing, as were the materials, and I didn't find the seats to be that comfortable. For some reason, I also felt like I was sitting very close to the floor of the car, no matter how I moved my seat in the Taurus, something I don't like at all. The engine was fine. Not impressive, but not disgusting, but really, nothing about the car pleased me, and I didn't see any reason to buy a car I didn't like, even if it was cheaper."


Your money.

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thewizard16


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quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"

Your money."

Yep. If I'd needed two cars, or wanted a nice plasma TV, I might have been compelled to buy a Taurus, but, like I said, it just wasn't the car for me in any way. I don't regret it.

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