VirtualMirage
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2011
- Messages
- 470
I, personally, think it is a stupid idea. Consolidate the car lineup, ok. But essentially strip it to nothing. Dumb move.
I used to own a 2012 Ford Edge Sport AWD, which I loved. But the gas mileage and maintenance costs weren't as good as it could have been, we didn't need the larger size anymore (little one didn't need a stroller and car seats didn't need to be reversed), and I wanted to lower my car payment. We ended up getting a 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium 2.0 Ecoboost AWD. Gas mileage improved, car payment went down $200 a month, and while it is a few inches longer than the Edge, it is narrower and made parking easier (both at stores and in the garage). It even costs less to maintain. The trunk is big enough to fit most of what I would stuff in a car. But if it was a hatch or wagon, I would love it even more (Come on Ford! You sell them in Europe. Bring them over here!).
Having said that, they can dump the Ford Taurus as it is in its current state. Aside from the SHO option, there is very little it brings to the table that the Fusion doesn't already have. And even that isn't entirely true now that the Fusion has the Sport mode with its twin turbo 2.7l V6. Sure, it looks bigger, but the Fusion actually has more interior volume. The Fusion also, for me, is more comfortable to sit in. The Taurus has really thick pillars and head liners. I sit tall in a car (all my height is in my torso), so my head was constantly banging against the headliner over the driver side window when I drove my mother's Taurus. The blind spots were worse too. The only thing the Taurus has over the Fusion is a larger trunk, by 4 cubic feet. Maybe if they thin out the pillars and headliner and actually increase the interior volume, it may be worth keeping as a true "large sedan". China's got the lengthened Taurus that looks decent.
As for the Focus and Fiesta, ditch the sedans and keep the hatchbacks. For the Fiesta, only sell the 2 door hatchback and for the Focus keep the 4 door hatchback. The sedans versions are a waste and offer nothing over what the hatchbacks have to offer. Not sure that Focus Active is going to appeal to as many people as the standard hatchback does. Both of these cars have their place in the market that a CUV is not going to fill, both in size and economy. If they only had to keep one, I would say then say to dump the Fiesta and keep the Focus Hatchback as it is more universal in capability while economy differences are not huge.
As for the CUV/SUVs, I think there are too many and not enough to differentiate between them: EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition. I think the EcoSport and Escape can be combined to fill the small CUV lineup. The Edge I think is a perfect mid-size CUV. The Explorer and Expedition should be combined to fill the large CUV/SUV lineup. Combining models may result in the need to create a new/updated model, but I think it would make more sense economically (for both business and buyer). It may require offering some additional powertrain options or packages to help fill the niches, but I think it would be better in the long run. Otherwise, the lineup choice is just too oversaturated.
I used to own a 2012 Ford Edge Sport AWD, which I loved. But the gas mileage and maintenance costs weren't as good as it could have been, we didn't need the larger size anymore (little one didn't need a stroller and car seats didn't need to be reversed), and I wanted to lower my car payment. We ended up getting a 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium 2.0 Ecoboost AWD. Gas mileage improved, car payment went down $200 a month, and while it is a few inches longer than the Edge, it is narrower and made parking easier (both at stores and in the garage). It even costs less to maintain. The trunk is big enough to fit most of what I would stuff in a car. But if it was a hatch or wagon, I would love it even more (Come on Ford! You sell them in Europe. Bring them over here!).
Having said that, they can dump the Ford Taurus as it is in its current state. Aside from the SHO option, there is very little it brings to the table that the Fusion doesn't already have. And even that isn't entirely true now that the Fusion has the Sport mode with its twin turbo 2.7l V6. Sure, it looks bigger, but the Fusion actually has more interior volume. The Fusion also, for me, is more comfortable to sit in. The Taurus has really thick pillars and head liners. I sit tall in a car (all my height is in my torso), so my head was constantly banging against the headliner over the driver side window when I drove my mother's Taurus. The blind spots were worse too. The only thing the Taurus has over the Fusion is a larger trunk, by 4 cubic feet. Maybe if they thin out the pillars and headliner and actually increase the interior volume, it may be worth keeping as a true "large sedan". China's got the lengthened Taurus that looks decent.
As for the Focus and Fiesta, ditch the sedans and keep the hatchbacks. For the Fiesta, only sell the 2 door hatchback and for the Focus keep the 4 door hatchback. The sedans versions are a waste and offer nothing over what the hatchbacks have to offer. Not sure that Focus Active is going to appeal to as many people as the standard hatchback does. Both of these cars have their place in the market that a CUV is not going to fill, both in size and economy. If they only had to keep one, I would say then say to dump the Fiesta and keep the Focus Hatchback as it is more universal in capability while economy differences are not huge.
As for the CUV/SUVs, I think there are too many and not enough to differentiate between them: EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition. I think the EcoSport and Escape can be combined to fill the small CUV lineup. The Edge I think is a perfect mid-size CUV. The Explorer and Expedition should be combined to fill the large CUV/SUV lineup. Combining models may result in the need to create a new/updated model, but I think it would make more sense economically (for both business and buyer). It may require offering some additional powertrain options or packages to help fill the niches, but I think it would be better in the long run. Otherwise, the lineup choice is just too oversaturated.