The Color Orange

[Grizzly]

Saleen builds a nice car. I used to have a SA-10. The point for me was having a new Shelby. This may be our last opportunity to own a real Shelby Mustang that Carroll was actually a part of (small part perhaps, but still a part). Unfortunately, the dealers went nuts, people are willing to pay up and real collectors, like me, get shut out.

I've always thought that brand loyalty and past history should count for something when limited cars come out. Ford should look and say, "Oh yeah, he's bought six new Mustangs from us and he currently has four vintage ones in his collection. Let's put him at the top of the list." Of course, they don't. Whoever has the most scratch gets the car. If it's a 19 year old dope dealer who runs it into a utility pole, so be it. As long as Ford and the dealer make their money.

I figure at a projected 7000 cars per year the exclusivity won't be there and they'll become completely attainable, but I wanted a very low serial number car. Didn't happen, so I'll move on.

[RandallNeighbour]

Grizz, Ford can't afford to play favorites these days. They're bleeding so badly financially that they have to be cash-driven in every decision they make... good or bad.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Grizz, Ford can't afford to play favorites these days. They're bleeding so badly financially that they have to be cash-driven in every decision they make... good or bad.

Yeah, it's a shame really. How many people are they laying off? Last I heard, the plan was somewhere around 60,000 between them and GM.

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

Yeah, it's a shame really. How many people are they laying off? Last I heard, the plan was somewhere around 60,000 between them and GM.

I read last year that every GM car has about $1,600 in fixed cost to cover their retired employees health care insurance!

[RandallNeighbour]

I also heard that Mercedes is breaking it off with Chrysler. Don't know if that's urban legend or the truth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

American car companies better do something radical and do it soon if they want to retain automobile manufacturing in any form.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

I also heard that Mercedes is breaking it off with Chrysler. Don't know if that's urban legend or the truth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

American car companies better do something radical and do it soon if they want to retain automobile manufacturing in any form.

Hmm, my brother-in-law works for Chrysler Europe - I hope they don't split, that will hit him and my sister pretty hard. That relationship has been very good for Chrysler

Yeah, I heard the same thing about the rediculous overhead costs. I want to place the blame on our lovely unions, but I really don't have any information to support my position.

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

I want to place the blame on our lovely unions, but I really don't have any information to support my position.

You wouldn't have to look far to find the evidence to place blame for this mess squarely on the shoulders of the unions. As much as I'd like to feel sorry for the American auto worker, I can't. Did they really think that the American car makers were going to be able to support this pyramid forever? The factory workers weren't crying when they went out on strike after strike, always looking for more, more, more and holding the industry hostage. A few weeks ago one of the big evening news shows had a good story about the whole mess. They said the average auto worker's salary is six digits, counting O.T. but not benefits. Now we're supposed to feel sorry for them while they cry on TV about losing their jobs and acting like the world owes them something? The truth of the matter is that their greed drove the American Auto Makers into the ground and the unions were holding the reins. How long did the unions think the automakers could stay one up on the Asian manufacturers while supporting those salaries, benefits and retirement packages?

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Grizz, Ford can't afford to play favorites these days. They're bleeding so badly financially that they have to be cash-driven in every decision they make... good or bad.

You know, I was willing to pay the $45,000+ sticker for their car because it's a limited vehicle. They pissed me off, so I'm probably going to buy the Dodge. In 2001, I wanted to buy my wife the new T-Bird. It was the same story, $8,500 over sticker. Two years later, they couldn't give those T-Birds away and eventually discontinued them. Right there, that's 85 grand that I wanted to give to Ford. They chose to lose it to other car companies. I bleed Ford Blue, but how many times do you think I'll allow them to reject me before I don't even consider Ford when choosing a car? If I live 40 more years, I'll likely buy 40 more cars (assuming Ellen and I can still drive into our 80s). That's 1.6 million in sales that may very well go elsewhere. And I'm just one customer.

...forest for the trees...