[Shotimes] Another loss for Ford.

[Steve Tatro]

You complain that the Focus SVT is "too small..." yet you praise GM for
still offering a Z24?  You can't be serious!?

Is there really any reason to be excited about a Grand Am, even if it
does have Ram Air?  What's that add, about 5 hp?

If Ford offered a Taurus with a special "Ram Air" system that didn't
really even "ram" any "air", would that be better?  No, it would be
stupid.

The CTS is "good" even though it (performance wise) is *almost* equal to
the SHO from 14 years ago?  Whatever!  Or should it be praised because
it has a snazzy (albeit cheap) interior?

Oh, and you knock the LS saying it's "more lux than sport" yet you seem
to think it's dandy that GM offers a s/c Buick?!  Is the s/c Regal, or
GTP, or any other GM plasticar available with a manual?  Hmm.

Now, I'm not saying I'm happy with what Ford is currently offering.  I
want a Taurus, with a brand new Yamaha engine, with good cams.  And not
the current Taurus body, something that looks good and doesn't appear to
be a water vessel.  But none of this makes it okay to pretend that GM or
DC offer anything worth buying!

Steve Tatro
Red/Black '93 with 162k miles
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.picturetrail.com/stevetatro






-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Ron Nottingham
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 12:13 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Another loss for Ford.


----- 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
_______________________________________________
Shotimes mailing list
Shotimes@autox.team.net http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes