[Shotimes] Another loss for Ford.

[Ron Nottingham]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>


> Getting Bondurant's business is a great marketing coup. Plus, they may
even
> be building decontented Z06s for Bondurant to get the price down, since
they
> modify their cars a bit anyway.
>
> Ford really isn't doing too badly on the performance front, they just
aren't
> producing the kind of car that we want (MTX sport sedan). The current list
> isn't bad:
>
> Mustang GT
> Cobra

Both the above SHOULD have performance...

> Lightning

yawn, can't the whole family in one.

> SVT Focus

too small...

> Marauder

nice, but it is pricey, and a bit heavy...

> LS

more lux than sport...

> Then the GT40 will be showing up one of these days.

Can you afford one?

> You say that "Ford has lost the performance edge it once had over the
other
> domestic makes"? Other than the Viper and Corvette, there isn't a lot out
> there. Yes, new models are being promised (new GTO, V8 CTS, hipo Neon),
but
> other than the s/c Pontiacs, the cupboard is pretty bare.
>

At least GM is offering a performance sedan.  The s/c Pontiacs are nice,
even the Ram Air Grand Am is OK, the CTS (even though it is ugly in my eyes)
is good, Buick even has some s/c sedans (or did a year ago), and Cavalier
Z24's offered good punch for the money.  The new Stratus coupe and sedan are
very nice, and offer more sport than Ford offers currently.  Outside of
anything SVT, what does Ford have (and Mustangs don't count, since they
should have performance anyway)?  LS and Marauder?  bah.  60-year old men
are driving Marauders around here.  Both of these are more luxury oriented
than sport.  If I don't want a Focus, a Mustang, a pickup truck, or spending
more than $30k, what choice do I have from Ford?  Let's look in Ford's
mid-size cabinet: hmmm, pretty bare, oh wait, there's the new Mazda 6, but
not really my cup of tea, as it doesn't have the Blue Oval.

I'm not looking for a 300hp mid-size for under $30k (ok, if I were, I know
of several that approach that 300hp mark and cost under $30k), but if Ford
offered one, I would buy it.  But they don't.

Ford's lost it.  I hope they get it back, but if they don't, there are a ton
of fine cars out there that has the potential to get my money.

Ron N. - Dalton, GA
90 SHO

> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Ron Nottingham
> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 11:01 AM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Another loss for Ford.
>
>
> Maybe so, but I don't see GM giving too much discount on the Z06.  Around
> here, Z06's don't stay on the lot for only a couple days.
>
> Just goes to show that Ford has lost the performance edge it once had over
> the other domestic makes.  Aside from the Cobra, Jags, and A-M, I view
Ford
> as maker of stodgy cars now, something akin to Toyota, but without the
high
> quality :-)  Ford used to have a multitude of go fast cars outside of
> Mustangs, including the Turbo/SC T-Birds, XR4Ti's, SHO's, Escort GT's
(with
> the Mazda engine), just to name a few.  Now, what does Ford have?  T-Birds
> with more lux than sport, Focus ZX3's that are nowhere near as quick as
> competitors (well, even the Civic Si has fallen in performance), and what
do
> they have in a roomy, go fast, 4-door?  The MazdaSpeed Protege is nice,
even
> though Ford owns controlling stake in Mazda, it still doesn't have the
Blue
> Oval.
>
> I think my SHO will be the last Ford in my stable, unless I get a Mustang.
> I may do just as Bonderant has done... sigh...
>
> Ron N. - Dalton, GA
> 90 SHO
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
>
>
> > He may have put it out for bid, and GM offered the better deal.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> >
> > Ford must have really p!ssed off Bonderant, as he has always been an
avid
> > Ford supporter.  Wonder why he didn't get the new Cobras?  Almost half
> price
> > of the Z06, and power to match.  Well, it is couple tenths slower than
the
> > Z06...
> >
> > I can see the CTS deal, as they are rear drive, and seat four, Ford
> > currently has nothing to compare with it.  I don't think the LS comes
> close
> > to the CTS.
> >
> > As for the SHO's, I think he already got rid of those.
> >
> > Ron N. - Dalton, GA
> > 90 SHO
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Frank Costa" <fcosta@comcast.net>
> >
> >
> > > Does the bondurant school have any shos, currently?
> > >
> > > Frank
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Dave Kegel" <d.kegel@attbi.com>
> > >
> > > > Just read in the latest Autoweek that Bondurant has signed a four
year
> > > > deal with GM to be the official supplier of cars for the school.  26
> > > > CTSs, 16 Vettes, and four Z06s.
> > > >
> > > > Bummer.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Shotimes mailing list
> > Shotimes@autox.team.net
> > http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes