Ford cedes the performance pick-up....

They just said it's being delayed until further notice.



I kind of think it's for 1) to focus on putting the new Cobra out and 2) to see what gas prices do. It'll kind of be hard to sell a large, high performance truck that guzzles the gas if it costs $50 a week to fill it up.
 
I think the Big 3 should try marketing a lower-priced (lower than SS/SVT/SRT) full-sized "street" truck. Maybe something with a body kit, lowered a bit, wheels, and their biggest V8 as an option. I'm thinking that there are a lot of people like me who would buy something for a little more $$$, but don't necessarily have $35-50K to spend on an SS, SRT or SVT.



Of course you can always buy off the lot, and then customize yourself. But after pouring a bunch of money into my Tacoma and then not realizing any of it when I sold it, I'll never go down that road again (well, not very far down that road). I would like to put some nicer wheels on my Silverado, but I just can't justify spending the money. It would somehow seem different if I were spending then money up front for a factory truck with a few more niceties, and it was all rolled into the loan. I guess that's not very money-savvy, but that's how a lot of people think, and in my opinion it would sell more trucks than the all-out expensive performance trucks.
 
Dave in reality they could sell both the SVT and SRT closer to $30,000 rather than $50,000. The price of all the add-on do not equate with the price of the base truck plus these items. Unfortunately, the market and lack of availability (company created shortage) allows pricing to greatly out-distance cost. Somewhere along the line they lost the formula for reasonable hi-preformance option pricing (1995 V6 Camaro ~15,000 Z28 non-convertible ~18,500). :nixweiss
 
I guess on the upside, Chevy put a real V8 into the SSR, so it now has 390hp. It won't keep up with the Dodge but it is more than 100hp than they rolled it out with.



I wish GM would come out with a more affordable and better styled version of the GTO. Not that the GTO is hideous but it looks too much like a Cadaver, I mean Cavalier. A nice, mid sized, RWD, V8 powered sedan with a real back seat that doesn't cost $30,000.
 
I own a 2000 f-body and a 2002 Lightning.



I am the death knell for a model line.... :D



Seriously though...it appears that the "bean counters" have gotten a hold of the power at Ford recently and are cutting projects/models like mad. They do not seem to realize that while a performance truck may be a niche market...it does one heck of a job bringing folks into the dealership. They may not buy a Lightning but chances are they'll still buy an F150.



All the while Dodge keeps hitting home runs....
 
I think it'll be back. All SVT models are defunct for the year. The new Cobra will be coming back next year since they just brought out a brand new Mustang. The F150 is also new, wouldn't be surprised to see a new Lightning.



I think the SVT Focus was axed because of bad sales. It was a cool little car, my 50 year old mother drives one, but that's one I wouldn't expect to see back.



Dodge is attacking the performance car market pretty hard. The Neon, Crossfire, and Ram all have high performance models. The 300C is going to get one. The Magnum's probably the fastest factory station wagon ever. The Viper speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Ford has the GT and the Mustang, and GM has the Corvette, GTO, and CTS-V, although there's plans to hop up more models in the Cadillac and Pontiac line soon. If SVT comes back, there could be a nice fight for the niche market going on.
 
I would like to see Ford bring back the 427 and replace the V10. The 427 would get better MPG than the V10 and you could really add some power to the 427.
 
$50 a week for gas - in your dreams!



I traded my L for an Accord V6 Coupe because June and July I paid $280 each month just for gas to go to work and back - that was within $20 of my loan payment!



It had 4# pulley, 4 way chip, TB, cone filter, shift kit, 4:10's, traction bars, line lock, Bassani exhaut from heads to tips (SS), chrome replicas, making 371RWHP 475 RWTQ at 90 degrees air temp on 92 octance. 12 MPG or less in the city (minimal hot rodding) but 20 MPG on interstate doing 70 on cruise. Sorry to see it go!



Last month the Accrod was under $100....
 
Guys do some research, the SVT line up is not dead. It has been confirmed that the CObra is coming out and the Lightning will be too. Most likely not until 07 MY though.



IMO, the cost of the Lightning really isnt out of line for what you get. I mean $33k sticker (you can find left overs cheaper then sticker) for 380hp and 440ft-lbs of TQ? 13.7 1/4 mile stock out of a truck? I will agree however that the SRT10 is overpriced, but that viper engine is pretty costly. Plus the LIghtning can still haul almost a full payload and tow 5000 lbs.



I agree they suck with the high gas pricers though. It actually costs me less for my Countour SVT per month then I was spending on gas for the L when I tried to drive it everyday. But Im OK with that because I really enjoy the SVTC! I think gas prices arent going to get much cheaper so we are going to start to see a shift back to cars and wagons from Pickups and SUV's.
 
Ford management makes poor decisions at best and the result is Ford is hurting and is bleeding red. Their new car sales are abysmal and the F150, Explorer, etc. is carrying the company but not enough to get the books into the black. With as strong of sales as the truck division has there is no excuse to have such a bad bottom line.



The new 500 has been met with less than enthusiastic reviews from both the automotive press and buyers. The Focus while a great concept initially has suffered from horrible build quality problems (and why donâ€â„¢t they offer the rally car version in the US?) and is becoming an old design. The retro thunderbird has been a flop. The minivans are inferior to the offerings of Toyota, Honda and Chrysler. But for the truck sales, Ford would be in even worse shape. They throw away millions in a half a$$ed attempted to race in F1 making (made bad decision after bad decision in the process and were a disgrace). It would seem that killing the SVT lines will only help to extenuate the problem. I hope Ford does not make this mistake as the SVT vehicles are the best vehicles that Ford offers.



In my opinion the US manufactures have really backed themselves into a corner with their discount pricing methods. They canâ€â„¢t seem to sell anything without offering rebates. The used car values of the their products really suffer and further dilute the image and reputation of the products (no one wants to buy a depreciating rock). There was an article about 2 weeks ago that said the US manufacturers had over a 100 day supply of new vehicles (way to much inventory) and that all were going to have discount more (GM was even going to have âہ“vacationsâ€Â� at plants to reduce the inventory). None of this is healthy for the bottom line or for the US economy for that matter. The automotive industry is still very important to the US economy and weak and struggling US manufacturers do not help.
 
bet993 said:
Ford management makes poor decisions at best and the result is Ford is hurting and is bleeding red. Their new car sales are abysmal and the F150, Explorer, etc. is carrying the company but not enough to get the books into the black. With as strong of sales as the truck division has there is no excuse to have such a bad bottom line.



The new 500 has been met with less than enthusiastic reviews from both the automotive press and buyers. The Focus while a great concept initially has suffered from horrible build quality problems (and why donâ€â„¢t they offer the rally car version in the US?) and is becoming an old design. The retro thunderbird has been a flop. The minivans are inferior to the offerings of Toyota, Honda and Chrysler. But for the truck sales, Ford would be in even worse shape. They throw away millions in a half a$$ed attempted to race in F1 making (made bad decision after bad decision in the process and were a disgrace). It would seem that killing the SVT lines will only help to extenuate the problem. I hope Ford does not make this mistake as the SVT vehicles are the best vehicles that Ford offers.



In my opinion the US manufactures have really backed themselves into a corner with their discount pricing methods. They canâ€â„¢t seem to sell anything without offering rebates. The used car values of the their products really suffer and further dilute the image and reputation of the products (no one wants to buy a depreciating rock). There was an article about 2 weeks ago that said the US manufacturers had over a 100 day supply of new vehicles (way to much inventory) and that all were going to have discount more (GM was even going to have âہ“vacationsâ€Â� at plants to reduce the inventory). None of this is healthy for the bottom line or for the US economy for that matter. The automotive industry is still very important to the US economy and weak and struggling US manufacturers do not help.
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Agreed that the US manufacturers have really screwed up over the years (GM in particular). The big 3 controlled over 90% of the American automobile market in 1960 and now control only 60% with GM taking most of the loss of market share. In 1960 GM controlled over 50% of the market, Ford had 30% and Chrysler had 15%. Chrysler has held their ground and still controls 15% today. Ford has dropped to around 25% and GM has had a massive drop to 30-35% of the market. Those are huge numbers and a big reason is the American consumer perpetuating the myth that imported cars are still better than the domestics. I have owned both and have been involved in working on cars for almost 12 years and can tell you I don't buy it. The big 3 were far behind the imports in the 80's for quality but for the last 10 years or so I see no difference whatsoever except that if your import breaks down it will cost you a lot more to fix. I also find that the imports use significantly cheaper materials in putting together their interiors which tend to wear a lot faster than comperable european or domestic vehicles. Just my take.
 
Just to be ornery...



A lot of imports are now made in-country, so have the true domestics risen to the higher standard or have the imports fallen to a lower level?
 
Gas prices or not..I LOVE my F250 Superduty crew cab......Does everything I want it to do and MORE!!



And as far as gas prices.....In Illinois right now...diesel is about 30 cents more a gallon than regular unleaded..I would love to know why, since it costs less to produce diesel (less refining and no ethanol added). I work in the industry and still dont know!!
 
chaotik said:
Gas prices or not..I LOVE my F250 Superduty crew cab......Does everything I want it to do and MORE!!



And as far as gas prices.....In Illinois right now...diesel is about 30 cents more a gallon than regular unleaded..I would love to know why, since it costs less to produce diesel (less refining and no ethanol added). I work in the industry and still dont know!!
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they are offsetting the increasing gas prices, by jacking up deisul prices even though deisel is not more expensive
 
Gonzo-at least the Accord V6 coupe runs pretty good for a 3.0 liter engine. Nothing like your Lightning but Motor Trend got a 14.5 at 99 mph with the 6 speed coupe, not bad for something that also gets decent mileage.
 
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