| Author |
Message |
    
cody (Mightyreal)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 11:31 am: | 
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Realize the following is only an opinion, but probably represents a likely path that Ford will drive LR down. A promising future? hardly.
http://www.bonforums.com/trucks/land_promisingfuture111202.htm |
Greg Davis (Gregdavis)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 11:50 am: |
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Erik Olson (Jon)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 12:18 pm: |
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If only there were as many Land Rovers out there as there are Saturns... that should definitely be Ford's goal when retooling the Experience. |
Jess Alvarez (Jester)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 09:43 am: |
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Slowly going the way of the buffalo
Bummer. |
Alan Yim (Alan)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 11:13 am: |
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or the Dodo... |
adtoolco
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 11:32 am: |
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Personally I think it opens up a potential niche' market. Some enterprizing individual or group will realize this and capitalize. Good products never go away. Pre-Ford Landrovers could go the way of Harley Davidson. Maybe this might increase the value of the Pre-Ford Landys...... I guess I'm just looking for a silver lining.
-Chris |
cody (Mightyreal)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 10:49 pm: |
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Chris, the increase in value of the pre-Ford's was my point exactly...Amen brother. All this talk of platform this and platform that. The old "don't make 'em like they used to" adage I believe is about to be in full effect. |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 11:12 pm: |
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Lots of that is old news and thankfully has already changed. The question is still where will Ford take Land Rover. The public is starting to change it's minds on SUVs and executives from the big auto makers have even stated that the younger 20 somethings aren't looking for SUVs as they once did. So the focus may more to other vehicles. The good news for us (I hope) is that they will see that there is always a core of buyers who want vehicles like the D90's and past Discos. Just look at the TJ. It was the TJ and CJ's that kept Jeep alive all these years. |
charlie
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 04:22 pm: |
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It is a poorly written marketing related article. If what it said will come true, it will be a big mistake for Ford. It is way too expensive and risky to change a 50 year old brand name than to create and market a new brand. Volume potential does exist for LR, but it will be more cost efficient to market a new brand. Further, Mass Market = high volume but low margin; Niche and more upscale market = lower volume but high margin. Moving to the mass market focus have the high risk of getting the "high volume". MB and BMW are trying to grab the entry level customer but still maintaining their image as a high end product (at least in NA). but this is not the same as changing market positioning.
This is a very poorly written marketing piece and looks like it is written by some college marketing class student without doing a throughout research.
HOWEVER!!! I always believe in reality, US automakers are not up to par in marketing. They are mostly follower in the industry. EXP: in the 70s to 80s following Japanese's smaller car design and focus, and the current auto trend.
Just my though. |
Jason Johnson (Discomojo)
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 06:35 pm: |
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I have this to say about the article (and I contacted the author who seems to be a nice guy albeit slanted towards Ford)
Ask yourself this question...
will you ever see an '03 Jaguar S type at a classic or vintage auto show....the answer is a resounding no. Reason: Jaguar, MG, Rover, Land Rover etc. built their reputations on relatively low volume, largely hand built, vehicles that had heart. Stories of Land Rovers crossing Africa with little more than bubble gum and a prayer holding them together (when they returned)when other vehicles were no where to be found. Who would want to own a Jag when any 17 year old can own one at $299 a month lease? Cheapen the marque and you may gain volume, but you will lose those who helped generate interest in the vehicles for what they really are- Ford doesn't see that as a problem yet. |
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