Is killing the Panther the right thing to do?

[the Teuton]

After doing a write-up on Ford's June sales for work, I found out that the Crown Vic was up a whopping 76 percent in the month of June to 5,526 sold while the Town Car remained stagnant in sales at 979 sold. But, it sold more than the 395 MKTs Lincoln is replacing the TC with.

Also, the Ranger is still well outselling the Transit Connect, not like the really compete with one another even though they do.

Is it right to kill such a successful platform in the Panther and compact pickup for that matter when GM is coming out with a new RWD car and midsize truck and Chrysler's LY cars are looking to take over the fleet market?

Also, and interestingly enough, the Transit Connect is kicking ass in the taxi market, but is that enough?

[the Teuton]

Also, for reference, the newest Crown Vic picture Ford has on its media website is from 2007...



...just saying...I had to go back a few years to find it.

[Cookie Monster]

^looks like there's a dead body in the back already.

[ifcar]

Crown Victoria sales have been up recently as police departments stock up before they're gone, and Rangers sell because they're stupidly cheap. Ford is presumably trying to retain those same buyers while transitioning them into pricier models, though it will be hard to tell from the stats whether they'll pull it off.

[3.0L V6]

After doing a write-up on Ford's June sales for work, I found out that the Crown Vic was up a whopping 76 percent in the month of June to 5,526 sold while the Town Car remained stagnant in sales at 979 sold. But, it sold more than the 395 MKTs Lincoln is replacing the TC with.

Also, the Ranger is still well outselling the Transit Connect, not like the really compete with one another even though they do.

Is it right to kill such a successful platform in the Panther and compact pickup for that matter when GM is coming out with a new RWD car and midsize truck and Chrysler's LY cars are looking to take over the fleet market?

Also, and interestingly enough, the Transit Connect is kicking ass in the taxi market, but is that enough?

The big questions are: Is Ford making money on each unit sold? Also, does the number sold times profit per car justify the value of investment in updating the car to current crash/emissions/stability control standards? Or standards that are coming in 2012 and beyond? Does the consumer market demand such a vehicle to help underwrite the costs of production? Sales to individuals tend to be much more profitable than fleet orders. Will there be a demand for a large body-on-frame rear-wheel drive car in the future?

Tooling tends to wear out over time - should Ford invest the money in replacing that?. Does it justify running an auto plant vastly under capacity (most plants try to move several hundred thousand vehicles per year)? Does Ford have cars with higher profit margins that cover the same market niche? I'd imagine for a relatively plebeian platform such as this must sell a fair number of units to cover its costs (say >75,000 per year).

Should Ford attempt to compete in the commercial vehicle market when much better vehicles are competing against it? (the Caprice and Charger - both of which have lots of much more profitable retail sales that justify their existence). Hybrids and more fuel efficient front-drive sedans seem to be the mainstay of taxi companies now.

Ford management has probably already asked these questions and come up with the answer.

[3.0L V6]

Crown Victoria sales have been up recently as police departments stock up before they're gone, and Rangers sell because they're stupidly cheap. Ford is presumably trying to retain those same buyers while transitioning them into pricier models, though it will be hard to tell from the stats whether they'll pull it off.

I'd imagine they'll have to go somewhere for a cheap pickup. Considering the Colorado/Canyon and body on frame Dakota will be gone soon, and the Nissan and Toyota midsize pickups aren't cheap by any means, I'd imagine they'd go to a full-size V6 pickup. Or to the used market, but I'd imagine Ford doesn't worry too much about those lost sales.

[cawimmer430]

"THOU SHALL NOT KILL"  

[MX793]

Crown Victoria sales have been up recently as police departments stock up before they're gone, and Rangers sell because they're stupidly cheap. Ford is presumably trying to retain those same buyers while transitioning them into pricier models, though it will be hard to tell from the stats whether they'll pull it off.

Indeed.  The Crown Vic is no longer even offered to regular consumers.  Joe Schmoe off the street cannot go to the local Ford dealer and purchase a new Crown Vic.  They're only sold to fleet buyers.

[cawimmer430]

Indeed.  The Crown Vic is no longer even offered to regular consumers.  Joe Schmoe off the street cannot go to the local Ford dealer and purchase a new Crown Vic.  They're only sold to fleet buyers.

Looks like I have to become a taxi driver or cop in order to drive one in America! 

Hopefully one can still buy these used! 

[2o6]

Killing it was the right thing to do. It's archaic and is severely lacking in comparison to the rest of the lineup.

[280Z Turbo]

I'd imagine they'll have to go somewhere for a cheap pickup. Considering the Colorado/Canyon and body on frame Dakota will be gone soon, and the Nissan and Toyota midsize pickups aren't cheap by any means, I'd imagine they'd go to a full-size V6 pickup. Or to the used market, but I'd imagine Ford doesn't worry too much about those lost sales.

I don't think there's much of a market for a pickup truck that can't tow or haul a lot.

[3.0L V6]

I don't think there's much of a market for a pickup truck that can't tow or haul a lot.

Indeed.

The base Ford F-150 can tow 5,000lbs. Also, the full-size trucks have bigger beds and more towing capacity.

Mostly I've seen Rangers doing light-duty (usually dirty) jobs. I'd imagine the customer's main problem would be that the F-150s and Silverados, even in V6 form, have far too much capability for what they need. Even the midsize trucks have far more capability than most Rangers.

[Rupert]

I don't want a big truck because they're big. The Ranger is the perfect size.

[MX793]

Indeed.

The base Ford F-150 can tow 5,000lbs. Also, the full-size trucks have bigger beds and more towing capacity.

Mostly I've seen Rangers doing light-duty (usually dirty) jobs. I'd imagine the customer's main problem would be that the F-150s and Silverados, even in V6 form, have far too much capability for what they need. Even the midsize trucks have far more capability than most Rangers.

Seems like I see a lot of Rangers (and Colorados) used as delivery vehicles and runabouts for places like NAPA or AutoZone.  They're a perfect vehicle for that sort of thing, although a Transit Connect would work well too (especially since you wouldn't need to buy a cap for the bed).

[ifcar]

Seems like I see a lot of Rangers (and Colorados) used as delivery vehicles and runabouts for places like NAPA or AutoZone.  They're a perfect vehicle for that sort of thing, although a Transit Connect would work well too (especially since you wouldn't need to buy a cap for the bed).

The pickups are cheaper, of course, though Ford would definitely want those customers to just move along to the Transit Connect.

[3.0L V6]

After doing a write-up on Ford's June sales for work, I found out that the Crown Vic was up a whopping 76 percent in the month of June to 5,526 sold while the Town Car remained stagnant in sales at 979 sold. But, it sold more than the 395 MKTs Lincoln is replacing the TC with.

Isn't the Town Car being replaced with the MKS? FWIW, the MKS had 1,214 sales in June.

Edit: Never mind - I saw the MKT limousine package.

[ifcar]

Isn't the Town Car being replaced with the MKS? FWIW, the MKS had 1,214 sales in June.

Edit: Never mind - I saw the MKT limousine package.

Town Car is ahead YTD.

[Mustangfan2003]

Isn't the Town Car being replaced with the MKS? FWIW, the MKS had 1,214 sales in June.

Edit: Never mind - I saw the MKT limousine package.

The MKT limo looks stupid.  I figure Cadillac and maybe Chrysler will be ahead of them now. 

[the Teuton]

I don't see what would be so difficult with introducing the Falcon platform to takeover CV and TC duties and the Euro Ranger coming in to take over as a Tacoma fighter.

Ford just replaced a Focus that had an average transaction price of $12-14k with a Fiesta that has an average transaction of $17k and a Focus that's even higher, and both are doing remarkably well. They show that if you have a product people want, they'll pay a little higher prices for it.

[the Teuton]

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/great_drives/1107_last_call_for_the_lincoln_town_car/index.html

Kickass article.

[3.0L V6]

I don't see what would be so difficult with introducing the Falcon platform to takeover CV and TC duties and the Euro Ranger coming in to take over as a Tacoma fighter.

Ford just replaced a Focus that had an average transaction price of $12-14k with a Fiesta that has an average transaction of $17k and a Focus that's even higher, and both are doing remarkably well. They show that if you have a product people want, they'll pay a little higher prices for it.

The Falcon platform is right hand drive only sadly, so it can't be exported to LHD markets. It has to be totally redesigned to be exported.

The Ranger might come here from South Africa if all goes well. I'd imagine that if it was a success, Ford might set up a North American production line.

[SVT666]

I don't think there's much of a market for a pickup truck that can't tow or haul a lot.

Yeah.  That's why it sells so well right?

[SVT666]

I don't want a big truck because they're big. The Ranger is the perfect size.

I have always felt this way.  I love the Ranger.  I want one with a 3" lift kit and 33" General Grabbers. 

[2o6]

Yeah.  That's why it sells so well right?

It's dirt cheap and the only car in it's class.

I don't see what would be so difficult with introducing the Falcon platform to takeover CV and TC duties and the Euro Ranger coming in to take over as a Tacoma fighter.

Ford just replaced a Focus that had an average transaction price of $12-14k with a Fiesta that has an average transaction of $17k and a Focus that's even higher, and both are doing remarkably well. They show that if you have a product people want, they'll pay a little higher prices for it.

I wouldn't be suprised if Ford did it very soon. Taurus has a limited lifespan on such an old platform, and the current Falcon is old, too.

[SVT666]

It's dirt cheap and the only car in it's class.

The Colorado is in the same class.  People obviously still want the Ranger, so why cancel it?

[280Z Turbo]

Yeah.  That's why it sells so well right?

Does it? I didn't even know it was still on sale.

Most of the Rangers I see are Oxford White automatic work trucks.

[SVT666]

Does it? I didn't even know it was still on sale.

Most of the Rangers I see are Oxford White automatic work trucks.

Rangers still sell very well.

[280Z Turbo]

Fleet sales?

[GoCougs]

Nah, there ain't much $$$ left in 20-year-old products...

[Onslaught]

I don't want a big truck because they're big. The Ranger is the perfect size.

I agree. I need a little truck to do things around the house in or use to drive to work and bring tools and stuff home with me. But not pull boats or things like you need a big truck for.

The only thing left out like that is a Ranger, so I can't have a little truck.