Sing This - Page 4

Topic: Sing This (Read 4001 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Sing This

Reply #45 – October 06, 2005, 01:18:44 PM

I would much rather prefer that in the future, our cars remain unique...in other words, uncopied for a "retro" version. If Ford was to "copy" our cars in the future, wouldn't that just reinforce how good these cars were in the first place? To me that would be the ultimate cop-out on Ford's part. While flattering it would still be unjust.

Nothing makes me grin more knowing that our cars were true originals in styling, in purpose and in spirit and that there is no other car on the road today that can possibly emulate that (arguably the Mustang but that's a different issue. We're talking about something that is uniquely OURS). Nobody can take that away from us. We have something 99% of the vehicles on the road today will never have: a soul. A lot of people look at our older body style and thumb their noses, lumping us into the usual 1980's mediocre offerings. But they just don't "get" it. Too bad, their loss. We know the difference and that's all that matters.

Re: Sing This

Reply #46 – October 06, 2005, 01:51:56 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken

Would it be a midsize or large, FWD 2-door, possibly based on the Five Hundred or more preferrably the Fusion chassis, with V6 and possibly V8 power (or forced induction V6), competing with the Monte Carlo? Possible, and even probable - if the T-Bird name comes back I'd put my money on this scenario. Large two-doors are a small market, so Ford is not going to invest a whole lot to get into that market. Whacking a couple of inches off a Fusion and losing two doors would make economic sense.

On the same note, it would be just as easy to take the Mustang and stretch it a bit. This would be a move that has proven itself before, and wouldn't piss off their demographic. I find that much more probable than a Fusion based 'bird.

Cougar guys refused to drive the Sport Compact Cougar, but you can bet your arse if they had made an SN95 version instead, they would have sold like hot-cakes.

Re: Sing This

Reply #47 – October 06, 2005, 04:06:38 PM

Like it or not the new style Thuderbird was a failure, hence the reason it got the ax. It missed its mark.
How has the new Stang caught on so well? Decent price, good handling, smooth ride, appealing looks, and good engine performance. Heck, a V6 will run mid to low 15's. All this combined with a rather bland lineup from GM for the '04-05 model years (other than the Stang the Ford lineup isn't soul-stirring either) and the generic styling of the imports that are within the price range of the Stang made it the right car at the right time.
Sounds a lot like another set of cars that were redesigned for the 1983 model year.

For a new Thunderbird to do well it will have to stand out among a crowd and if you're the FoMoCo you'd want a new Thunderbird to do so without affecting Mustang sales (or anything else in the lineup for that matter)

Just a guess here, but people like 4WD or AWD, but not with the amount of money they're spending to gas up an SUV. With that said you may see an AWD 4 door sedan with perhaps some styling cues from the past with a relatively small, yet efficient and powerful for it's size engine (perhaps the XC90 engine) with the name Thunderbird gracing the rear decklid. Sound like an Upscale 500, but that's what I see.

Re: Sing This

Reply #48 – October 06, 2005, 04:20:07 PM

Maybe this is just the vicodin kicking in, but..

One thing I don't see anyone mentioning here: What if this hypothetical T-bird rebirth used RX8-style mini-suicide doors on a body somewhat like the 4-eyed Birds? (smaller rear quarter windows, etc.)

Like the show or hate it, I happened to catch a showing of Top Gear a couple weeks back, and they were absolutely raving over the RX8.. and one of the plusses was the accessibility, I think. Something about "all the benefits of a coupe without any of the drawbacks", etc. etc. etc. Suicides on a T-bird wouldn't be a new thing, either.

Hypothetical as this all is, I'd love to see more of this being worked into the discussion:

http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_55183/newsarticle.html

:p

That engine, (the turbo version) find a way to work in AWD, 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual, the mini-suicide doors, market it as a midlife-crisis object? More practical than a Corvette, less boring than most new non-Mustang Fords? I guess it's the painkillers speaking again. :p

Re: Sing This

Reply #49 – October 06, 2005, 06:35:01 PM

As much as I'd like the turbo version, I'm guessing that IF they used it it would be aat a premium. The NA version would be standard.

Re: Sing This

Reply #50 – October 07, 2005, 12:06:46 AM

Quote from: OldRaven

Cougar guys refused to drive the Sport Compact Cougar, but you can bet your arse if they had made an SN95 version instead, they would have sold like hot-cakes.

Quote from: Paul Flockhart

and if you're the FoMoCo you'd want a new Thunderbird to do so without affecting Mustang sales (or anything else in the lineup for that matter)

Hmm,

Re: Sing This

Reply #51 – October 07, 2005, 10:39:53 AM

Did the 1st Gen. Cougar take away from Mustang sales? How about the Capri?

I know the Capri didn't, since it sold like shiznit (if they had given it its own identity, other than an ugly 'stang with a straight six, maybe it would have gotten somewhere). As for the 1st Gen., I actually don't know. Anyone have any sales numbers for the two cars those years?

Re: Sing This

Reply #52 – October 07, 2005, 10:47:26 AM

hell i don't care what they call it. i want that falcon in the states, if i had the dough i would sneak the bitch in so fast.. or at least the motor and put it in something else (can anyone say Trubo Coupe), maybe in the super coupe chasis..

I love inlines and i hear nothing but goodness from that car.

PS> Top Gear is my fav. car show right now, anyone that uses the "surrender monkeys" serveral times to describe the french wins my vote.. and they honestly talk about cars with out all that BS or corp influence you get here in the states.