Long Wheel Base Models In Doubt

[Redrum]

As I mentioned late last year that the Fairlane/LTD is not going to be around much longer, GORMAN is now quoted in todays Herald Sun as saying the models are in doubt and being assessed. Otherwords, they are softening the market for the decision.

[Poetic Justice]

Did it need a new thread?

[AWD Chaser]

No it didn't. There was a large multipage thread about this a few weeks back.

I reckon it's all in the gold badging though - Honda's got it, Toyota's got it, why not Ford. Seeing you spend about $75k on it, it would be nice to see some bling... lol

[Dauphin]

Maybe Ford is frightened by the fact that the new Statesman will have it's own larger door to fit the extra LWB length.

[LTDHO]

I'm sure I read a thread on this just last week.
Had a quick look for link - no good.

Why would Ford drop out of the LWB market?

[Redrum]

Geez it is so easy to upset some here with a thread. Well fact is Ford had no public announcment, now they do. If it is a : I apologise to all those perfectionists. At least I gave you a chance to post your valuable comments.

[max]

Originally Posted by Redrum

Geez it is so easy to upset some here with a thread. Well fact is Ford had no public announcment, now they do. If it is a : I apologise to all those perfectionists. At least I gave you a chance to post your valuable comments.

Well, I appreciate it Redrum, methinks I better fast-track my quest for a G220! They may well become a collector's item before too long!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Can't see that many people being upset by the deletion of the Fairlane, Ford is better off spending the extra development money on the Falcon and Territory lineup then a car thats basically had it. The Fairmont Ghia is too close to it and for the money it certainly looks better.

The Caprice is a much nicer car then the LTD to, it looks good, its got the 6.0L V8 now and a host of other options that the LTD don't have.

[Iphido]

These cars have been struggling for existance for atleast 15 years now.

They don't sell enough and what they do sell is mostly fleet which gets them at great discounts and makes the whole thing extremely unprofitable.

Holden have had a magic door with UAE exports.

While I think the fairlane name will die, I think the LTD name will live on as a SWB car. It will compete at some level with the caprice (price, aussie manufacture, existing fleet pecking order etc) it will also target mid range luxury (Nissan G35? Honda ledgend? IS250 GS300? etc). Equipment and technology will flow from Jaguar, aston, Lincon, Volvo etc into this model before further range disimination. It can also prototype how to run such a model inbetween the regular ford lineup and Jaguar, something ford I think is having problems grappling with.

And with ford backing out of the space race with the caprice (a impossible task as the caprice is eventually going to be a factory limo with 2+4+2 limo seating) money and effort can be dedicated to the single wheelbase and improvements can be more substancial and eventually benifit the entire range.

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/ar...f=2&bg=24&pp=1

"New Statesman crushes Fairlane" Hmm I could have swear I said exactly the same thing a few weeks ago..

[Smoke Pursuit]

The only thing keeping the Fairlane allive is Limo hire sedan sales, private sales are very very low and dealers are having to give them away at cost, especially if they arent white as no limo companys want them..

Still interesting to note that most if not 99% of Limo organisations still run a Fairlane fleet over the Statesmen, they last longer and they are more durable. I would say Fairlane will get a serious upgrade towards the end of the year with the introduction of Mark II in the BFs, it will receive the BF Fairmont Ghia front bar with foglights, LED technology etc, whether its enough to keep it in production will be another story.

I just dont know why Ford never made the Fairlane G220 or G8 with a G240 option as in the Turbo, bigger wheels and more power and it certainly would have done alot better then it has!

[Bossxr8]

They only sell about 100 a month, not worth the development dollars in such a harsh environment for large cars. Sad, but true. Most people who used to buy Fairlanes and LTD's now buy Euros.

[blackers10]

being that ford and lincoln are joined
they should just switch the fairlane for the lincoln continental and towncar..

as both are RWD limo type cars
and would save ford the development $$

but the fairlanes are THE best for rear passenger leg room and boot room
which is GREAT for familys and pimping out mwahaha!!

GO THE FAIRLANE!!

[Twinpiston]

Ford should have put the Boss 260 in the LTD, it would have diversified it from the rest.

[XR Martin]

Continental is no longer made and and the last one was FWD V8. The Town car is a rebadged Crown Victoria, which probably is about as good to drive as a NA Fairlane.

Ford are better off making a LWB Territory and bling it up like a Navigator or Escalade.

[Fairlane]

Lincoln LS is a nice piece of kit (stylings not my cup of tea though), the town car has the styling and the trim levels, but im not sure the dynamics would suffice even in the luxo-barge maket.

[jmc-007]

how about use the AUDI A8 Luxo platform and go from there.

Seriously the marketers at ford need a kick up the ИИИИ. so do the product managers.




I aspire to own a Fairlane G8 or LTD in BA/BF Guise. dont fail me now.

[FPV]

I don't think that the marketers are given much of a chance, i read somewhere that Ford US is not impressed with the performance of the LWB models, and thus there is a very small budget for marketing the LWB models. The holden insiders even admit they couldnt see LWB models surviving on the Australian sales itself, and that is all Ford have.

[WizBang]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

They only sell about 100 a month, not worth the development dollars in such a harsh environment for large cars. Sad, but true. Most people who used to buy Fairlanes and LTD's now buy Euros.

If they are only selling 100 a month than most come here as there are heaps of them out in the country as the wheat growers love them for the open roads ,but yeah it would be sad to see them go but they do look like a Fairmont too much

[ltd]

The continental was deleted in 2002, Lincoln is part of the Ford group in America, The town car is RWD and is not based on the crown victoria. The mercury Grand Marquis is based on the crown victoria.

Licoln does share some components with the Crown Vic however, but not many. The doors, roof and bonnet, boot are different. In fact, the Lincoln is not even a monocoque chassis, it is a body bolted on to a sub frame. It also has a higher satidfaction rating than cadillac, and has only recently been pipped by lexus. It sells alot more than cadillac too.

It comes in 4 models; Signature, Signature Limited, Designer and the range topping Signature L. Prices range from US$42875 and go through to US$51345.
The car is over 5.5 metres long, and comes with the 4.6 modular v8 rated at about 179kw.

[The Stylist]

I read last year sometime that Ford were considering dropping the Fairlane/LTD in favour for an X5 ball-park spec LWB Territory. It will be sad to see it go, just a pity that Ford doesn't have an export market for the LWB cars other than NZ.

The Territory is off to Thailand so could there be a market for LWB Falcons there?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by ltd

Licoln does share some components with the Crown Vic however, but not many. The doors, roof and bonnet, boot are different. In fact, the Lincoln is not even a monocoque chassis, it is a body bolted on to a sub frame. It also has a higher satidfaction rating than cadillac, and has only recently been pipped by lexus. It sells alot more than cadillac too.

OMG, the bonnet, doors and roof are different! Oh wait, thats less difference than what our LTD shares with the Falcon :rolleyes:
But the suspension (live axle watts linkage) engine and transmission are exactly the same as a Crown Vic.

The Lincoln Zephyr is the most intersting and unique car that have at the moment. Its FWD V6 and has nearly more power than the Town Car which is 500kg heavier.

[chevypower]

The Town Car looks nothing like a Crown VIc - inside and out

The Fairlane looks and feels like a stretched Falcon - most people dont know what kind of suspension their car has, as long as they like the way it drives.

[Iphido]

If Fairlane and LTD can redeem itself in its MKII update Ford could continue making them well into 2008. Wonder if the BA look would become classic and age well?

But there are a number of things they would have to fix:
-The rear end is just flat out unsexy. There are a number of things they could do to improve it. Lip spoiler, XR style lower rear bumper, with two chrome exhausts. Smaller rubbers around the back rear window, LED tail lights.
-Xenons have to be avalible on any car in the ~ $60-$75k region

[ltd]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

OMG, the bonnet, doors and roof are different! Oh wait, thats less difference than what our LTD shares with the Falcon :rolleyes:
But the suspension (live axle watts linkage) engine and transmission are exactly the same as a Crown Vic.

The Lincoln Zephyr is the most intersting and unique car that have at the moment. Its FWD V6 and has nearly more power than the Town Car which is 500kg heavier.

Man I was trying to be nice.
The whole car is different. All the sheet metal is different.
The suspension is different, self levelling optional IRS.
The front suspension is different as well, different springs and sway bars.
The transmission is different to the transmission in the crown vic, it has different shift patterns along with a much bigger oil cooler.
The engine is the same, whoopdi ИИИИИИen do.
Ford and Lincoln are the same company, suppose they might have thought of sharing components. BTW, the 4.6 v8 is in the explorer and navigator too. Conspiracy abound.

Thats like saying the engine in your car links it to the 1980 XD falcon.
Like the 3v 5.4 is in the F trucks too.

I don't make sweeping general statements without atleast doing a little research first. You should look further into facts before trying to impress us with your supreme knowledge.

[Funtime25]

Just a querie on this then...........

does that mean that the AU-BF LTD\Fairlanes will be or hold there value?
will they be come what u would call a collector vehicle.
would one think that then would that apply to LTD's all across the board?.from early 70's to current models?

Just wondering

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Funtime25

Just a querie on this then...........

does that mean that the AU-BF LTD\Fairlanes will be or hold there value?
will they be come what u would call a collector vehicle.
would one think that then would that apply to LTD's all across the board?.from early 70's to current models?

Just wondering

With fuel prices on the rise, they will probably be looked on as a relic from another age, just like the muscle car Falcons. Sad but true.

[Iphido]

They might have some value holding. Fleets won't be so keen to ditch them given the Holden is unproven. Private buyers will proberly hold onto them longer as well.

BF or BF MkII LTD in black with a V8. Last of the Ford made 7 series. Fairlanes and LTD tend to age well styling wise.