Declining sales of anything without 'utility' in its description
01-19-19, 05:12 PM
#166
Lexus Fanatic
What's most bothersome to me regarding sedan cuts are the ones being cut that sell quite well. Particularly the Fusion and Focus have consistently sold very well but Ford put them on the chopping block because of limited profit margins. Yes, the business is primarily profit motivated but you also can't just give up major segments of the industry because profits aren't as high as your trucks and SUV's. The Fusion sold way more than the Mazda 6 for example yet Mazda has no plans to kill the 6. Car companies can't be driven purely on profit but about flexibility when the market shifts, not giving competition total dominance in segments, total brand appeal, and many other factors. Dropping strong sellers is just plain stupid.
01-19-19, 05:15 PM
#167
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
What's most bothersome to me regarding sedan cuts are the ones being cut that sell quite well. Particularly the Fusion and Focus have consistently sold very well but Ford put them on the chopping block because of limited profit margins. Yes, the business is primarily profit motivated but you also can't just give up major segments of the industry because profits aren't as high as your trucks and SUV's. The Fusion sold way more than the Mazda 6 for example yet Mazda has no plans to kill the 6. Car companies can't be driven purely on profit but about flexibility when the market shifts, not giving competition total dominance in segments, total brand appeal, and many other factors. Dropping strong sellers is just plain stupid.
Couldn't agree more.
01-19-19, 05:27 PM
#168
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Totally get that. I'm a pure capitalist but some decisions still seem odd. I understand most of the sedans announced for the chopping block but I come back to Fusion and Focus as nonsensical. Ford will continue the Mustang the only car that will be left. That sold 100K units last year. Fusion's worst year by far was 2018 and it moved 175K. It was selling 300+K when it was fresh. Of course the sales are going to slide when a car is 6 years old. The Mustang surviving supports my point. It's not just about profit or units moved but about intangibles. Ford is (now was) a full line automaker. Think about it. Ford will no longer be a full line automaker. Now they'll be like a Kia. Except just trucks/SUV's. I think
01-19-19, 05:51 PM
#169
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Thread Starter
Think about it. Ford will no longer be a full line automaker. Now they'll be like a Kia. Except just trucks/SUV's. I think
01-19-19, 06:18 PM
#170
Lexus Fanatic
Totally get that. I'm a pure capitalist but some decisions still seem odd. I understand most of the sedans announced for the chopping block but I come back to Fusion and Focus as nonsensical. Ford will continue the Mustang the only car that will be left. That sold 100K units last year. Fusion's worst year by far was 2018 and it moved 175K. It was selling 300+K when it was fresh. Of course the sales are going to slide when a car is 6 years old. The Mustang surviving supports my point. It's not just about profit or units moved but about intangibles. Ford is (now was) a full line automaker. Think about it. Ford will no longer be a full line automaker. Now they'll be like a Kia. Except just trucks/SUV's. I think
01-19-19, 06:54 PM
#171
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Did you see the results of the poll in that article?
73% of those responding said that Ford was making a mistake...only 27% felt it was a sensible decision. And, in general, the readers of Popular Mechanics are more representative of the vehicle-buying public, as a whole, than those who read more hard-core enthusiast magazines like Car & Driver or Road & Track.
Last edited by mmarshall; 01-19-19 at 06:58 PM.
01-19-19, 07:13 PM
#173
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Got to disagree with you a little on this one, though. Kia IS a full-line automaker....from Rios to K900s to Stingers to (now) large Telluride SUVs. The only thing they lack, in the American market, is a pickup.....which is probably best left to Toyota and the domestics, anyway.
01-20-19, 06:57 AM
#174
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01-20-19, 07:01 AM
#175
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I’ve no doubt hyundai and/or kia will have a pickup at some point.
01-20-19, 08:29 AM
#177
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Yeah, I don't see it. It's a massive investment to develop a full size body on frame platform. Hyundai /Kia would understand their attempt wouldn't sell. Even Nissan has a hard enough time moving Titans. But yes, we're likely to see the long roomered unibody style compact pick-up from Hyundai soon.
01-20-19, 08:30 AM
#178
Lexus Fanatic
Yes, if one is used to full-size cars, then one is not likely to be satisfied with the comfort level of a small car (though in some ways the Buick Verano was one of the few exceptions, and would have been even more comfortable with softer tires). During the first gas crisis, though, in the early-mid-70s, I downsized from a big Buick and Chrysler to a compact slant-six Plymouth without complaining....and drove small cars for years after that. Small cars also are, of course, much easier to park and maneuver at close-quarters than full-sizers......which can be important when you have you get in and out of the undersized, inadequate parking lots in some of today's businesses. But, to be honest, I simply drove them for too many years....I've become addicted to size and comfort once again. 
I drive a LOT of cars, and there are several compact cars that I think are very good cars...Civic, Mazda 3 are big ones. Even the Cruze within the GM family. My brother in law also has a Honda Fit I've driven several times and its a much nicer car than the Spark.
I think the Spark is a terrible car because It struck me as a terrible car, not because I was comparing it to much better cars. The only reason to buy a Spark is because its cheap
01-20-19, 08:54 AM
#179
Lexus Fanatic
Just curious, it is one of your favorite mags. What is the CR score for the new Chevrolet Spark?
01-20-19, 09:01 AM
#180
Lexus Fanatic
Interesting that Car & Drivers gives the Spark its Editor's Choice.