Would you buy a $150,000 Ford?

Oerdin · October 14, 2003, 21:02

Well, Ford Motor Company thinks they'll be able to find people who are willing to pay that much for their latest sports car. The Ford GT, the spiritual successor of the famous Ford GT40 of the 1960's, is powered by a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine and was designed to out accelerate and out handle everything which the European exotics produce and to cost a good deal less to boot.

The original Ford GT40 was designed as Henry Ford II revenge upon Enzo Ferrari because, in the 1960's Ferrari signed a deal to sell the Ferrari Motor Co to Ford but at the last second Ferrari backed out of the deal and refused to honor the contract. Ford the designed and built the GT40 in record time and the GT40 dominated European motor sports for several years. Eventually so many Europeans were upset by constinently losing to the Americans that they rewrote the racing rules so as to specifically exclude the Ford GT40 from competetion.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/1....ap/index.html

Verto · October 14, 2003, 21:26

This is old news; I don't know why CNN is just now picking up on this.

MRT144 · October 14, 2003, 21:43

only if its a jaguar

Joseph · October 14, 2003, 23:12

They will sell some, maybe not many, but some.

Asher · October 15, 2003, 00:00

Surely this is some clerical error, they added an extra order of magnitude.

Ted Striker · October 15, 2003, 00:02

they'll sell all of them

dodge made a MAJOR image comeback when they released the Viper

this is a smart move on Ford's part

Asher · October 15, 2003, 00:03

Isn't the Viper about $60K?

Ted Striker · October 15, 2003, 00:03

A single hot car can bring up an entire company

Look at the amazing comeback that Nissan has made this year with the release of the new Z and also the Infiniti G35

People are buying other Nissans because they associate them with those hot cars

Ted Striker · October 15, 2003, 00:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
Isn't the Viper about $60K?

runs 80K retail but not sure what the acutal price is that people pay for it

Kaak · October 15, 2003, 05:51

Quote:

At 160 kph (100 mph) in third gear, the car was still manageable on the road course, with very responsive steering. It has six gears and can reach more than 320 kph (200 mph).

i'll take two

Az · October 15, 2003, 06:14

It's clear that they've got a very serious branding problem.

Honestly, it looks like a very good car.

Really, I don't know what you have against Fords. the Mondeo was a great solid family car, for example.

Q Classic · October 15, 2003, 06:36

no.

i can think of plenty of better investments to make with 150k. like real estate.

if i wanted something that lost its value as fast as a car does, i'd buy new computers. i wouldn't have to fork over as much as i would a car.

CerberusIV · October 15, 2003, 06:45

This may work in the US but they aren't going to shift many in Europe where they will either have to hike the price a bit or compete directly with Jaguar, whom they own. If the price here is around £100-120,000 they are up against the Porsche 911, the Ferrari 360 and the new Lamborghini for not much less money. If less they may hurt their own subsidiary's sales.

The Viper listed at around £70,000 in the UK last year and corners like a pig in sh1t. They only sold a handful.

Ford in Europe is associated with pretty good mass market cars that sell well, not exotica. They barely have a presence in motorsport here, apart from rallying.

Chemical Ollie · October 15, 2003, 06:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Ted Striker
A single hot car can bring up an entire company

Look at the amazing comeback that Nissan has made this year with the release of the new Z and also the Infiniti G35

People are buying other Nissans because they associate them with those hot cars

I think the other way around. I would not buy a hot Nissan Z because I associate it with the lame Nissan cars.

Az · October 15, 2003, 07:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
no.

i can think of plenty of better investments to make with 150k. like real estate.

if i wanted something that lost its value as fast as a car does, i'd buy new computers. i wouldn't have to fork over as much as i would a car.

Actually, luxury sports cars actually gain in value as time goes. It's very interesting.

Q Classic · October 15, 2003, 07:32

unfortunately, not as much as good real estate.

Tiberius · October 15, 2003, 07:45

Does it out-accelerate this Porsche Carrera GT?

(5700 liter, V-10 engine, 612 HP engine, max. speed: 330km/h, acc: 3,6 sec from 0 to 100km/h).

the price, hmm, well, the price is 450.000 euro

Tiberius · October 15, 2003, 07:51

the picture:

Tiberius · October 15, 2003, 08:04

... or this Ferrari?

Ferrari "Enzo Ferrari"

Engine: V-12, 6000 l, 660 HP, 3.6 sec. from 0 to 100 kmh, max. speed: over 350 kmh

price: 650.000 euro

DaShi · October 15, 2003, 09:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Tiberius
the picture:

Does it come standard with middle-aged bald men, or do you have to buy the limited edition?

Cookie Monster · October 15, 2003, 10:18

Based on the experience with my wife's ford exploder I'll never ever ever buy another ford again. I will never buy another american car again either.

American workers are too busy thinking about weekend partying and drinking to be concerned about job quality. It's true, how many of you out there actually care about the quality of work you produce? Do you constantly think about partying at work? Probably not but the blue collar worker lives to drink and doesn't care about his job other than the paycheck. %^&* them and their products.

The Japanese have an admirable discipline and work ethic. I trust the quality of their products.

Don't ever buy american.

Az · October 15, 2003, 10:31

Puzzling post, Cookie monster.

oh, and

@DaShi. It's quite a shame that the only time you'll be able to buy such a car, you'll look rediculous in it.

On the yellow car, you sure it's a Ferrari?

Arrian · October 15, 2003, 10:36

I wouldn't spend $150K on a car anyway.

But a FixOrRepairDaily? **** that.

-Arrian

Cookie Monster · October 15, 2003, 10:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
I wouldn't spend $150K on a car anyway.

But a FixOrRepairDaily? **** that.

-Arrian

FoundOnRoadDead - DriverRunningOnFoot

Az · October 15, 2003, 10:40

Dad's Ford was great. I don't know what are you talking about.

Arrian · October 15, 2003, 10:42

We're talking about the tendency of Fords to break down, fall apart, and otherwise generally suck ass. Your Dad got lucky.

-Arrian

Cookie Monster · October 15, 2003, 10:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Azazel
Dad's Ford was great. I don't know what are you talking about.

Azazel -

I'm willing to bet Ford of Europe is a better car than what we get here in the states. Do you live in Israel? Your dad probably was driving a ford for the European market.

Arrian · October 15, 2003, 11:06

Oh, yeah, that's true. I remember that Ford was considered a solid brand in the UK. They must realize that Euros are smart enough not to buy total crap (but they can get away with it here).

-Arrian

CerberusIV · October 15, 2003, 11:16

Fords in Europe used to be crap and break down every five minutes. Then people began to realise that you could get a Japanese car for the same money with more toys to play with that didn't break down. Ford sales went through the floor. Credit to them they came back with better cars and are still a major player in the european motor industry.

I don't own a car (I loathe cars actually) but hired a Ford Focus turbo diesel for a week's holiday earlier this year. As cars go it was very good.

If I were to pay silly money for a flashy car (never!) I would want one with a brand that has more history or exclusivity. No one would buy a Toyota instead of a Mercedes but they would and do buy Lexus.

Japher · October 15, 2003, 11:29

The only Ford I'd ever buy is a 65 Mustang Shelby, and I don't think they get up to $150,000...