No One Is Buying The Lincoln Continental
12-13-18, 02:25 PM
#166
Lexus Fanatic
That may very well be, but I still don't see the purpose of suicide doors. The reason the Continental isn't selling is its not a very compelling product, the addition of suicide doors isn't going to change that. You might sell a couple to nostalgia buffs, but those are few and far between. Its just effort spent on a gimmick when they could devote that effort to making a more compelling product.
12-13-18, 02:28 PM
#167
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
12-13-18, 02:34 PM
#168
Lexus Fanatic
People don't buy Rolls Royces because they have suicide doors, the product itself is what sells. Adding suicide doors to a Continental without improving the issues with the product doesn't have a whole lot of point.
12-13-18, 02:39 PM
#169
Lexus Champion
I think it's kind of cool. Will it "save" the Continental? No, I suspect not. But it's a unique feature that they will no doubt market the hell out of and get people talking about it again.
12-13-18, 02:50 PM
#170
That may very well be, but I still don't see the purpose of suicide doors. The reason the Continental isn't selling is its not a very compelling product, the addition of suicide doors isn't going to change that. You might sell a couple to nostalgia buffs, but those are few and far between. Its just effort spent on a gimmick when they could devote that effort to making a more compelling product.
And you might get some people who might buy one to pretend they have a Rolls Royce, but that doesn't move the brand forward. People don't buy Rolls Royces because they have suicide doors, the product itself is what sells. Adding suicide doors to a Continental without improving the issues with the product doesn't have a whole lot of point.
Excellent point
12-13-18, 02:53 PM
#171
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
And you might get some people who might buy one to pretend they have a Rolls Royce, but that doesn't move the brand forward.
People don't buy Rolls Royces because they have suicide doors, the product itself is what sells. Adding suicide doors to a Continental without improving the issues with the product doesn't have a whole lot of point.
People don't buy Rolls Royces because they have suicide doors, the product itself is what sells. Adding suicide doors to a Continental without improving the issues with the product doesn't have a whole lot of point.
12-13-18, 02:54 PM
#173
Lexus Fanatic
Even if Lincoln made it RWD, this would not solve it's problems. Taking lessons from the newer Navigator would be a step in the right direction. But like the Cadillac CT6, which is a decent car, the biggest problem is in the name Lincoln. Though old and full of heritage, it doesn't have the panache that it once did. They won't ever be a BMW or Mercedes, just like Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Cadillac, Jaguar or Genesis won't be. But I think it's okay that everybody does something a little different.
Lincoln CAN make a product that doesn't have those shortcomings. For instance I wouldn't say any of those things about the Navigator, and my guess is I won't about the Aviator either.
I'd rather have seen that R&D money and testing and all done on those suicide doors spent on better powertrain refinement, better suspension setup, etc.
12-13-18, 02:56 PM
#174
Lexus Fanatic
12-13-18, 02:58 PM
#175
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
12-13-18, 02:58 PM
#176
Lexus Champion
Lincoln is selling about 600-700 Continentals per month and for the year to date it's -30% vs. LY. and there most likely are a lot of fleet sales in their numbers. I don't know what their sales targets are.
It seems that the new Navigator, Nautilus and Aviator will be grabbing a good number of Lincoln buyers and there probably isn't much room left for Continental sales. The suicide doors may not be enough.
It seems that the new Navigator, Nautilus and Aviator will be grabbing a good number of Lincoln buyers and there probably isn't much room left for Continental sales. The suicide doors may not be enough.
12-13-18, 03:00 PM
#177
Lexus Champion
The big issue isn't whether it's got center opening doors or not. It's Ford's whole strategy of abandoning this market and opting to go full SUV/CUV. It's a compelling car for traditional car shoppers, but it needed to start out either as a longitudtionally mounted FWD/AWD drivetrain or a RWD/AWD setup in the first place. This is just some nice cotton candy to milk the last dollars out of huge money spent on this car to try and bring back a classic nameplate.
They likely could have waited and went with an elongated 2020 or later RWD platform, if they were serious about doing a proper Continental. At this point you can go buy a Navigator and even step down to an Aviator with just as much luxe.
They likely could have waited and went with an elongated 2020 or later RWD platform, if they were serious about doing a proper Continental. At this point you can go buy a Navigator and even step down to an Aviator with just as much luxe.
12-13-18, 03:00 PM
#178
Lexus Fanatic
For instance, even in a Rolls Royce I would prefer regular doors as the suicide doors are just a throwback gimmick.
12-13-18, 03:05 PM
#179
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The big issue isn't whether it's got center opening doors or not. It's Ford's whole strategy of abandoning this market and opting to go full SUV/CUV. It's a compelling car for traditional car shoppers, but it needed to start out either as a longitudtionally mounted FWD/AWD drivetrain or a RWD/AWD setup in the first place. This is just some nice cotton candy to milk the last dollars out of huge money spent on this car to try and bring back a classic nameplate.
They likely could have waited and went with an elongated 2020 or later RWD platform, if they were serious about doing a proper Continental. At this point you can go buy a Navigator and even step down to an Aviator with just as much luxe.
They likely could have waited and went with an elongated 2020 or later RWD platform, if they were serious about doing a proper Continental. At this point you can go buy a Navigator and even step down to an Aviator with just as much luxe.
