Ford family leadership & credibility...
wmquan said:
I think car-based SUV's are great. Me Too! But there is still room for true truck-based SUV's. E.g. for folks who do heavy towing (say, 6,000 lbs)... Obviously a lot of folks don't really need a truck-based SUV, but I think a minority still do.
Unfortunately, THE MAJORITY of SUV's sold & on the road are truck based ones. Not only do "most folks" not need 'em, I also think their presence upsets the safety concerned & environmentalists.
In fact, I think it is mighty two-faced of Mr. Ford to say he is "embarassed" by the wasteful SUVs and then bring out YET ANOTHER inefficent V8 powered, too heavy, truck based SUV...
I'm not much of tree hugger, and neither are my neighbors, but two familys have sprung for Honda hybrids -- one family got an Impact the other a hybrid Civic. I thing Ford ought to have given priority to a hybrid Escape or Focus BEFORE green lighting the Aviator. The Aviator extends the Mercury Mountaineer, which is been marketed poorly. It "takes on" the GMC Envoy and attempts to preempt Caddy's planned mid-sized SUV/crossover vehicle. Pretty cynical marketing....
Now Honda ain't blameless in marketing second vehicles -- consider the Passport & SLX (or even the Oasis based early Odys). None will go down as a high point in the Honda archives!
Let's hope that MDX/Pilot, CRV, and current Odys will be the 'guiding light' of Honda & Honda will invest in making them better IN ALL WAYS, including effiencey!
The Aviator moves in the wrong direction, both technologically and societally. It will not win any friends or admirers in an auto industry increasing taking the blame for excess and shoddy offerings to easily duped consumers.
Lincoln COULD have made a BOLD, HIGH REACHING vehicle, drawing on Ford's VAST INVESTMENTS in Volvo, Aston-Martin, Land Rover, Jaguar. They could have used cutting edge technology to push the limits and commanded a good price for premium tech -- instead they are pulling a "Cimmaron" -- widely regarded as the low point in automotive differention & innovation.
Lest you dismiss the Cimmaron as offering nothing (unlike the Aviator, which borrows healivy from the Navigator) consider the Cimmy had unique, engine suspension, headlights, interior, extior colors, carpet, and much much more --
http://100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1980/cad83c.htm