[ 09. May 2004, 09:22 AM: Message edited by: blkragss02 ]
Posted by SS_CarGuy (Member # 2065) on :
Kinda old news......and still no word yet on whether Ford will put it into production. I like the engine but the car is a bit off the mark style wise. It would be better if they left well enough alone and NOT produce it..........IMHO. Nothing can match the originals. Besides, the COBRA name is really worn out to the point no one is sure what you are talking about when you hear "Cobra".
Posted by 30thSSNerd (Member # 2155) on :
I'll match it on an auto slalom any day! Posted by Harry P (Member # 533) on :
It appears Ford has figured it out with regard to retro-performance vehicles. With the '05 Mustang, the Cobra, and the GT 40, they are headed in the right direction, IMO. GM, on the other hand, seems to be plying the path of Toyota or Honda... build SUV's, minivans and reliable, albeit boring, sedans and coupes. I have always been a fan of the original Cobra since my tenth birthday or so. I give Ford a lot of credit for going after the niche, even if it doesn't have a financial return like those <<yawn>> reliable front-wheel-drives do. The Buick Century is a great car, but it's no Cobra.
Posted by chrisL (Member # 97) on :
quote:Originally posted by Harry P: It appears Ford has figured it out with regard to retro-performance vehicles.
We'll see. The Thunderbird didnt fair too well. I'm not convinced retro means persistant/consistent sales.
It will be interesting to see how the '05 Mustang does long term after the initial "wow" factor is done.
Posted by Harry P (Member # 533) on :
quote:Originally posted by chrisL: We'll see. The Thunderbird didnt fair too well. I'm not convinced retro means persistant/consistent sales.
It will be interesting to see how the '05 Mustang does long term after the initial "wow" factor is done.
I don't disagree, Chris. But retro-styling is only part of the equation. Selling high-performance reliable cars in a particular price class is the issue to me. I am convinced if GM wanted to sell F-bodies instead of shutting down the assembly plant, all they had to do is advertise. I am absolutely convinced that Camaros and Firebirds would have sold plenty if GM put it's marketing into high gear on these cars. I only saw a few ads in '93 when the 4th gen came out. That was it. Mustangs will always sell because a) they are affordable, and b) they are actively marketed. The same for the Mitsubishi Eclipse and other sports cars competing in the same price class. The T-bird had early reliability issues, and with that sticker price, there's too much competition with much better reputations for reliability in that class. People with that kind of money will buy a Lexus, Beemer or Vette instead of a Ford that won't start, regardless of retro-styling.
GM didn't want to sell f-bodies anymore, that's my opinion. They want the safe and boring road of building four-wheel appliances like so many Hondas. That's not a bad thing overall, and is certainly a very wise business decision, but it isn't good for people like me who don't want to drive a washing-machine-and-dryer. Chevy used to build affordable high performance reliable cars... hell, I proudly own one. Will I ever have the choice to do so again? It sure doesn't look that way.
[ 11. May 2004, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: Harry P ]
Posted by Xsta Z 28 (Member # 740) on :
Hate to say it, GM needs to get their head out of their peverbial ASS, and get going on some COOL cars.
I fully respect the endeavors Chevy has taken to introduce, what 15 models in so many months . . . but come on, whta about the other lines?
Aveo? rebadged Daewoo Malibu Maxx? for the right crowd Impala SS? neat but will never be accepted like the other Monte SS Supercharged - nice but a little late GTO? cool idea but a vey plain wrapper Bonneville GXP? kinda lame looking Vibe? Rebadged Toyota Equinox? Kinda neat barring the damned ricer lights Colorado? another truck???? SSR? Dealers are going to f$%& that up by marking it up $1,000's of dollars Silverado SS? Cool, but the Dodge Ram SRT - WOW! Corvette? Drool - but is it enough?
I really hate to say it but Chrysler and Ford are pulling out some really incredible machines, GM it almost feels like they're pumping out the status quo . . .
Just my 2 cents, spend it as you like.
[ 11. May 2004, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Xsta Z 28 ]
Posted by Jim Mac (Member # 113) on :
Ugly - didn't like it at the NY Auto Show, still don't like it a month later. It just doesn't have the.......sexy (for lack of a better term) lines that the original Cobra had.
Posted by chrisL (Member # 97) on :
quote:Originally posted by Xsta Z 28: I really hate to say it but Chrysler and Ford are pulling out some really incredible machines, GM it almost feels like they're pumping out the status quo . . .
Just my 2 cents, spend it as you like.
A Hemi powered Dodge Magnum for around $30k Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
quote:Originally posted by Harry P: But retro-styling is only part of the equation. Selling high-performance reliable cars in a particular price class is the issue to me. I am convinced if GM wanted to sell F-bodies instead of shutting down the assembly plant, all they had to do is advertise. I am absolutely convinced that Camaros and Firebirds would have sold plenty if GM put it's marketing into high gear on these cars. I only saw a few ads in '93 when the 4th gen came out. That was it. Mustangs will always sell because a) they are affordable, and b) they are actively marketed. The same for the Mitsubishi Eclipse and other sports cars competing in the same price class. The T-bird had early reliability issues, and with that sticker price, there's too much competition with much better reputations for reliability in that class. People with that kind of money will buy a Lexus, Beemer or Vette instead of a Ford that won't start, regardless of retro-styling.
GM didn't want to sell f-bodies anymore, that's my opinion. They want the safe and boring road of building four-wheel appliances like so many Hondas. That's not a bad thing overall, and is certainly a very wise business decision, but it isn't good for people like me who don't want to drive a washing-machine-and-dryer.
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