Chysler 300 = BIG! Ford 500 = small.

Chrysler has obviously tapped something
with it's 300 sedan. Despite it's oddball
looks, it's uniqueness has apparently caught
on big with the buyers. So what does Ford do?
They bring out the 500. A sedan that has finally
lost whatever uniqueness the LTD and Grand Marquis
had and become a pale immitation of any number of
foreign sedans. How does Ford expect to capture
any kind of (more like retain!) market share with
an offering like this? People will not buy it.
The Japanese produce more reliable family sedans,
older people with money drive European, Lincolns
or Cadillacs.
Look for the 500 to last at most, two years without
major revisions or cancellation.
It's too bad. Ford had a chance and they blew it.
This is Ford's GTO.
-Rich

"Joe" > wrote in message
...
>
> Agreed, except for the 'GTO' comparison. Even though GM doesn't know
> how to sell it, the GTO performs.
>

It looks like the changes to the '05s are having some effect.

One of the larger local dealerships here sent their last six '04 GTO's down to
wholesale auction. They were just taking up space, even $9,000 + 0% couldn't
move them.

The same dealer has a waiting list for the '05 model, with over a dozen names
on it. Quite a turnaround in customer interest.

--
John C.
'03 Cobra Convt.

"RichA" > wrote in message
...
> Chrysler has obviously tapped something
> with it's 300 sedan. Despite it's oddball
> looks, it's uniqueness has apparently caught
> on big with the buyers. So what does Ford do?
> They bring out the 500. A sedan that has finally
> lost whatever uniqueness the LTD and Grand Marquis
> had and become a pale immitation of any number of
> foreign sedans. How does Ford expect to capture
> any kind of (more like retain!) market share with
> an offering like this? People will not buy it.
> The Japanese produce more reliable family sedans,
> older people with money drive European, Lincolns
> or Cadillacs.
> Look for the 500 to last at most, two years without
> major revisions or cancellation.
> It's too bad. Ford had a chance and they blew it.
> This is Ford's GTO.
> -Rich

Ford wants to capture back the midsized sedan market that has largly gone to
the Japanese makes. It is often dangerous to introduce a car that looks
radically new or cutting edge. I'd say the 500 looks okay, not daring nor
bland. I took a look at one in the showroom while getting my oil changed.
I't looks like full sized car with the high roof line.

I've seen a couple on the road already. Haven't seen any GTOs.

John

On 31 Jan 2005 03:33:17 GMT, Joe > wrote:

>"John C." > wrote in news:BU7Ld.249$oR6.183@trndny04:
>
>>
>> "Joe" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> Agreed, except for the 'GTO' comparison. Even though GM doesn't
>>> know how to sell it, the GTO performs.
>>>
>>
>> It looks like the changes to the '05s are having some effect.
>>
>> One of the larger local dealerships here sent their last six '04
>> GTO's down to
>> wholesale auction. They were just taking up space, even $9,000 + 0%
>> couldn't move them.
>>
>> The same dealer has a waiting list for the '05 model, with over a
>> dozen names
>> on it. Quite a turnaround in customer interest.
>>
>> --
>> John C.
>> '03 Cobra Convt.
>
>It's hard to disagree with a 400hp LS2.
>
>Joe
>Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
>Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

Lets see how it sells relative to the dismal sales figures
of the first one.
-Rich