Would it have sold better if...

[Bowman9]

Do you think the Marauder would have sold better if Ford had made a "Cobra Crown Vic" version also?
It would have been the same as the Marauder only with different facia and badging. Just like how the current Crown Vic and Marquis are the same car only with different body mods.

Then we would be fighting with the "Crown Cobra" owners who's care is better :)

[DEFYANT]

Who knows, shoulda woulda coulda. They will have to do something with the CV or GM to remain competitive with the other cars out there now.

[Mike Poore]

Who knows, shoulda woulda coulda. They will have to do something with the CV or GM to remain competitive with the other cars out there now.
Y'know Charlie? I think an SVT Crown Vic may/ought to be in the works. I mean, how else are they gonna answer the challange from Chrysler, who's flooding the go fast market with one bomb after another? And, no matter how much we howl about the things being ugly, they're damned fast. Furthermore, we can't argue with Chrysler's marketing strategy; vs. Lincoln Mercury: New Doors Opened, indeed!

[DEFYANT]

Y'know Charlie? I think an SVT Crown Vic may/ought to be in the works.
I think you are correct sir. I read somewhere that the new head of SVT will look towards other vehicles in the ford line up. SVT was "supposed" to be for the mustang. The lightning and focus are step-children.

New leadersip at SVT breeds new ideas. We may infact see a new MM w/ SVT badging. Personally, I hope not. Let them work up the CV. Some of those modds may find themselves onto the new CVPI :)

[Shaft333]

I think a Ford badged product would do better.

Mercury needs to redesign the entire line to gain a wider audience. Possibly go back to their roots as a higher performance brand... instead of just a different trim brand.

[THE_INTERCEPTOR]

I think a Ford badged product would do better.

Mercury needs to redesign the entire line to gain a wider audience. Possibly go back to their roots as a higher performance brand... instead of just a different trim brand.

Bingo! :banana2:

[Mike Poore]

The lightning and focus are step-children.
How could you forget the wildly sucessful SVT Contour, my friend?:rofl:

[CBT]

If this car had Ford emblems on it, it would not be in my driveway.

[MarauderMike]

We will be lucky if we see a new version of the Marauder in any form. Although it would seem easy for them to put it back in the line I doubt they will. The Panther platform as we know it looks like it will disappear after the 2007 model year to be replaced by a newer FWD/AWD platform. Looks like the days of a nice comfortable full frame car from Ford Motor Company are just about over, sad as that is.

[Ezbok58a]

We will be lucky if we see a new version of the Marauder in any form. Although it would seem easy for them to put it back in the line I doubt they will. The Panther platform as we know it looks like it will disappear after the 2007 model year to be replaced by a newer FWD/AWD platform. Looks like the days of a nice comfortable full frame car from Ford Motor Company are just about over, sad as that is.


I'm guessing you guys don't know that Ford just sent the Panther Factory 3 billion for renovations in 2008-09. The Grand Marquis Gets a redesign in 2006 and the entire line gets overhauled in 2008.
The Town Car will be making a switch to a streched 500 platform and will only be available as a 60-40(rear-front) AWD Car.

Don't forget that when Ford does AWD, majority of the power goes to the rear.

And A SVT version of the CV is expected after the cars popularity in Car and Drivers One Lap of America-Cannon ball Race.
And a possible Mercury offshoot.

[MarauderMark]

It also looks like sometime in the future that Mercury is going to ahve there version of the mustang .Maybe this will be there SVT version? :argue:

[woaface]

I disagree. It's all in the image of advertising and marketing.

Acura, Infinity and Lexus do very well. Built by Honda, Nissan and Toyota respectively. Many of the platforms are extremely similar.

Nissan uses their 3.5 V6 in various applications....as in almost all of them I believe. It's just a great engine that they can put anywhere.


I think a Ford badged product would do better.

Mercury needs to redesign the entire line to gain a wider audience. Possibly go back to their roots as a higher performance brand... instead of just a different trim brand.

[Vortex]

I'm guessing you guys don't know that Ford just sent the Panther Factory 3 billion for renovations in 2008-09. The Grand Marquis Gets a redesign in 2006 and the entire line gets overhauled in 2008.
The Town Car will be making a switch to a streched 500 platform and will only be available as a 60-40(rear-front) AWD Car.

Don't forget that when Ford does AWD, majority of the power goes to the rear.

And A SVT version of the CV is expected after the cars popularity in Car and Drivers One Lap of America-Cannon ball Race.
And a possible Mercury offshoot.
I expect the CV will be around even after 2008 as CVPI/taxi versions.

[MikesMerc]

I'm guessing you guys don't know that Ford just sent the Panther Factory 3 billion for renovations in 2008-09. The Grand Marquis Gets a redesign in 2006 and the entire line gets overhauled in 2008.


Your facts are close, but not accurate.

Actually St. Thomas is scheduled to receive $300 million over 3 years. $100M for a Crown Vic and Marquis facelift in 2006, and a larger redesign in 2008.

Either way, it bodes well for panther platform supporters. But, make no mistake, there isn't anyone in the automotive world that thinks its a good thing that Ford is dumping $300M into an aging platform. It only signals that Ford does not have the suitable replacement platform they planned on having by now.

In addtion, if St. Thomas continues to have to shut down for one week every month longer than into July 05, there is potential that the $200M update for 2008 will never come.

Link to auto news for fact: http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_ford_plans_million_4/

[marauder307]

There WAS supposed to be a CV version, named the Blackhawk. It would have followed the Marauder in the 2004 model year. But when the MM sales tanked, the Blackhawk was shelved...as to the Mercury version of the Mustang, can you say "Cougar"?

I dunno for sure that that's going to be the case, but if Mercury wants any kind of sales at all, they'd better roll a '67 XR-7 into the styling studios and say the same thing that they said to the Mustang designers:

"Make it look like that. And give it the Mustang's engine/drivetrain options."

[Mike Poore]

It also looks like sometime in the future that Mercury is going to ahve there version of the mustang .Maybe this will be there SVT version? :argue:
Mark, I don't look for there to be a Mercury SVT anything in the future, perhaps a Mustang clone, and Cougar is a good bet; but I'm going with vortex & marauder 307 on some sort of SVT Crown Vic. And why not? They've shown how much interest the MM has generated immage wise, and it's the tuners and aftermarket performance guys that have shown the platform's potential. We all know Marty's gonna break 10's with LK. Who at Ford would have ever thought that could be accomplished? Anyone want to guess at a name? SVTGalaxie 500, perhaps? ;)

[jgc61sr2002]

I disagree. It's all in the image of advertising and marketing.

Acura, Infinity and Lexus do very well. Built by Honda, Nissan and Toyota respectively. Many of the platforms are extremely similar.

Nissan uses their 3.5 V6 in various applications....as in almost all of them I believe. It's just a great engine that they can put anywhere.



James - I agree that marketing and advertising is the way to go.

[BlackHole]

Anyone want to guess at a name? SVTGalaxie 500, perhaps? ;)
I say Blackhawk or maybe Falcon

[Ezbok58a]

Your facts are close, but not accurate.

Actually St. Thomas is scheduled to receive $300 million over 3 years. $100M for a Crown Vic and Marquis facelift in 2006, and a larger redesign in 2008.

Either way, it bodes well for panther platform supporters. But, make no mistake, there isn't anyone in the automotive world that thinks its a good thing that Ford is dumping $300M into an aging platform. It only signals that Ford does not have the suitable replacement platform they planned on having by now.

In addtion, if St. Thomas continues to have to shut down for one week every month longer than into July 05, there is potential that the $200M update for 2008 will never come.

Link to auto news for fact: http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_ford_plans_million_4/
3 billion, 300 million, At least I got the 3 right:P
Ford is still considering importing the Australian Falcon here, but its still just a Idea, must be watching the GTO.

[Shaft333]

I disagree. It's all in the image of advertising and marketing.

Acura, Infinity and Lexus do very well. Built by Honda, Nissan and Toyota respectively. Many of the platforms are extremely similar.

Nissan uses their 3.5 V6 in various applications....as in almost all of them I believe. It's just a great engine that they can put anywhere.
Ummm... right. :rolleyes: And they need a new product line to create that image. Think Cadillac.

The success of the Japanese makes, particularly Toyota's Lexus, have something altogether different - Quality so high, even Ford management let themselves be quoted that they are striving to match Lexus production quality.

And the Nissan is a good motor. I think it's a permanent fixture on the Ward's top ten motors. Ford doesn't have one like it.

[GA-Marauder]

There WAS supposed to be a CV version, named the Blackhawk. It would have followed the Marauder in the 2004 model year. But when the MM sales tanked, the Blackhawk was shelved...as to the Mercury version of the Mustang, can you say "Cougar"?

I dunno for sure that that's going to be the case, but if Mercury wants any kind of sales at all, they'd better roll a '67 XR-7 into the styling studios and say the same thing that they said to the Mustang designers:

"Make it look like that. And give it the Mustang's engine/drivetrain options."
I remember seeing a Mercury version of the new Mustang either last year or the year before? at the Atlanta Auto Show. It was a real looker. Anyone remember or have a photo?:confused:

[Bowman9]

Does Mercury have anything in their current lineup that isn't a rebadge Ford?

[Ezbok58a]

Does Mercury have anything in their current lineup that isn't a rebadge Ford?

The current cougar I believe.

[twolow]

Cougar was discontinued ;)

[twolow]

I remember seeing a Mercury version of the new Mustang either last year or the year before? at the Atlanta Auto Show. It was a real looker. Anyone remember or have a photo?:confused:Here it is. It was called the Mercury Messenger.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2003-Mercury-Messenger-Concept.htm


http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveServlet?attachImage=true&contentType=image%2Fpjpeg&attachment=1047

[merc406]

Here it is. It was called the Mercury Messenger.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2003-Mercury-Messenger-Concept.htm


http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveServlet?attachImage=true&contentType=image%2Fpjpeg&attachment=1047



That would sell,^^ so I don't think they would build it, Mercury is afraid to sell real cars, correction, any car lately. (Sable, just the name of it sucks)
All the Marauder's never sold like they should have since it's coming out in 63 1/2.

[Mike Poore]

Here it is. It was called the Mercury Messenger.CAPTION TO PHOTO:

NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU THE 49 REASONS WHY WE'LL NEVER BUILD THIS CAR.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2000-2003/2003-Mercury-Messenger-Concept-J-Mays-NAIAS-1280x960.jpg

[bigjon]

just so y'all know, the new 3v 4.6l was on the ward's list as well...

Power for power's sake is not forgotten on this year's list, however. Ford Motor Co. wins with its heavily revised 4.6L SOHC V-8 in the all-new Ford Mustang GT. Ward's testers praised Ford for creating a refined V-8 that produces 300 horsepower at an affordable price. Ward's testers called it "the perfect new-generation muscle-car V-8."




http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/12/21/308485.html