Joe wrote:
> "Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
> :
>
>
>>Brent P wrote:
>>
>>>In article >, Michael Johnson,
>>>PE wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I think they are too. The sad fact is that even though Ford has
>>>>given us some very nice performing cars/trucks via SVT's efforts it
>>>>really hasn't done anything to improve the companies overall bottom
>>>>line.
>>>
>>>
>>>Because they don't build these cars to demand. They build them as
>>>collectables. And unless they can get many times what it cost them
>>>to build, they won't even be a blip on ford's bottom line.
>>>
>>>The cars are more or less advertising when built and sold like
>>>this, and not much more. If a cobra isn't going sell a large number
>>>of 6 cylinder base cars then ford will drop it IMO. If ford built
>>>these cars to demand maybe they could add to the bottom line. I
>>>don't really want to bid for a cobra, which is nothing more than
>>>the top level mustang configuration to satisify some dealer's
>>>greed. It's not some supercar that they can hand build only 12 a
>>>year. It's a somewhat improved version of a MASS PRODUCED CAR. 30
>>>years from now we'll know if it's a collectable or not, I'm not
>>>buying a car to put in shrink wrap for 30 years anyway.
>>
>>I think we are both saying the same thing. Unfortunately the SVT
>>vehicles have not helped Ford sell cars. IMO, this gives more
>>strength to the bean counters argument (assuming there is one) to ax
>>the entire SVT concept (and the Cobra along with it). If that
>>happens then Ford's performance cars will suffer, IMHO, of course.
>>The existence of SVT and its influence on the DEW Mustang design
>>team is likely the biggest reason that the current Mustang performs
>>so well. My fear is the only type of performance cars Ford might be
>>interested in developing in the future will be the mega dollar (i.e.
>>highly profitable) supercars like the Ford GT. This could also lead
>>to the eventual termination of the Mustang. Chevy did it to the
>>Camaro and Ford could do it to the Mustang.
>
>
> I don't think the Mustang will be phased out anytime soon, as it's a
> decent money-maker for the beanies. However, I agree with everything
> else you guys have said.
>
> The niche for a new Cobra is getting tight. Nobody's going to want to
> pay big bucks for the same platform that the V6 is riding on (even
> with mega-horsepower), as it's got its own limitations. If SVT's
> going to survive, it's got to come out with a new car that will make
> people drool over it, and they've got to make a profit doing it.

IMO, the DEW Cobra has to be about the same level of improvement as the
DEW GT is over the SN95 GT for about the same price as the SN95 Cobra.