OT: Ford GT

[Thomas Rogers]

Was having the oil in the ST changed and the tires rotated at my dealer yesterday. They had a GT in the showroom. I was able to view it from behind the ropes.



They were also running a video with several segments on the car.



I must say...that car might actually be able to save Ford.



I want one! (but wanting it won't get it for me!).



TJR

 

[Robert Stanton]

Saw one a couple of weeks ago when I bought my ST. Dealer told me it goes for $200k+. Doubt that'll "save" Ford.... too much of a high-end vehicle.



If Ford's in need of saving, they need to take a closer look at what Chrylser's doing with their cars. Chryslers have style, and that counts for a lot, even with lower-priced vehicles. The new Mustang was a move in the right direction, but Ford needs to keep up the momentum.



Wow... where'd that come from? Okay, I'm done.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Chrysler is not in as good of shape as most people think. Right now, everyone is hurting. Gas prices, inflation, trouble in the Middle East, outsourcing, ec. are all playing hell with the economy.



Too many jobs are being sent overseas. Too many goods are being imported. This country is thinking going from steel to software is the right direction. That might be true if Tanks and guns were made out of recycled AOL CD's.



Once the steel industry is gone, we are going to have a hard time buying steel to build tanks from China when we are fighting them.





Tom

 

[BobPat Groves]

Caymen, I like your style!



And I agree with you 99.99%

I'll reserve my 0.01%, just because it's a guy thing!

 

[Paul Maurer 2]

Roger that, Caymen- the standard political response to the massive loss in manufacturing jobs to the countries where pay is 2-10 dollars a day seems to be " Education and retraining, in the I.T. field". Sounds good, but what about the poor bastard who cant even spell I.T.? Forever doomed to Mcdonalds, now that most of the good jobs making and building things are going or gone. I would like to sponsor a trip to our local Wal Mart and give 5 people 15 minutes to load carts with different things made in China. Then, we get on the CEOs GIV, fly to the Beijing or Shanghai Wal Mart, and give the same people 15 minutes to fill the carts with products from the USA. Good luck.

 

[Tom Schindler]

lasik1,



IT is being shipped overseas too. Allstate Insurance in Hudson, Ohio has dismantled thier IT department and has it in India. There is oe person left there to set-up PC's when they get them in. Everything else is done remotely in India.



Fortunatly, I would for a company that is not allowed to move operations overseas. The sooner Bush brings the troops back home, the sooner the money that was suposed to buy our products will quit being diverted to rebuild Iraq.





Tom

 

[walter clark]

I am worried that the swift changes in gas prices will catch american car manfactures with there pants down much like what happend in the 70's. The first crisis realy helped to usher in the forigen(asian) cars to the american market. Gas stablized over the 80's and 90's somewhat and american hunger for beheamoths was reborn. We tend to like em big and fast but when you cant afford to fill one up they arnt worth spit. Now prices are increasing at an alarming pace and 1/2 to 3/4 of the big threes product line get less than 20 mpg. American hybrids are a joke at best, you dont buy a car like that and get anywhere ahead with anything less than 40 mpg or better, and some are now saying it would take more than that to actualy see a financial gain. I dont know what it will take to change the present trend but if something isnt done american manfacturing will soon be a thing of the past. This is bad because I am and many others are part of that work force and will be in a bad way. Who will buy all that neat stuff if the job are all gone. McDonalds employees dont tend to buy many ST's and other high doller ticket items....

 

[Wes Davis]

When I bought my ST spoke to the sales guy about the GT's. He said they have sold some of them for cash and or cashiers check (Boca Raton Florida $$$). He said the mark up on the GT was huge so maybe Ford will make a little money. Two things I agree with on the above posts. Chrysler is doing a much better job than anyone in regards to style. The Chrysler 300 is the best looking car I have seen in a very long time including import Mercedes and BMW's. Also the retro Ford Mustang was right on the mark. Ford did a excellent job of mixing retro with current styling and technology. Still I take the Chrysler 300 over the mustang. Just on looks though, I have not driven either one of them. I would however take the new mustang convertible over the 300.

 

[TRACket Paul]

 

[Deleted deleted]

The GT is gonna 'save' Ford? Lol, hardly. That is a extremely low volume sales car... less than 3500 a year are being produced. I have read the sticker price is a 100% markup over production costs.

 

[user 62785]

There are several GT's sitting behind rope baracades at Ford dealers here in Phoenix. From what I'm told Dealer markup on these cars is well over $50,000. In the time that they've been at the dealerships I've only seen one GT-like car anyplace other than a dealer lot. That car turned out to be a kit car.

 

[Travis Munday]

The GT makes money, no doubt about that, and it has sparked an interest in Ford, as well as the new Mustang. BUt more importantly, it has put Ford back onto the high-performance map. With Cosworth looking to enter back into F1 racing, Ford is looking to expand it's appeal, which is always a good thing. While the GT has had many, and sometimes very serious, problems, it does get people thinking about Ford. The GT won't save the company, only a company-wide overhaul and industry turn around can do that, but it is a step in the right direction.

 

[TomT]

Yeah, but what kind of gas mileage does it get?

 

[Robert Cuenca]

how does the gt perform compared to the 06 c6 (z06) corvette? it has i beleive a 7 liter, 505 hp engine, and will run around $60k.



how much more performance are you getting for 3.5 times the money?

 

[Tom Schindler]

The Corvette is not in the same league as a GT. A Corvette is a sports car, the GT is an Exotic.



IMO thougt, the GT will eat that Corvette.





Tom

 

[user 62785]

Personally I'll still take my 'stang over a GT. Insurance costs are lower and I wouldn't have the urge to hire an armed security guard to watch over it when I take it to the store.

 

[MarkDawn Houlahan]

It gets about 15 mpg, but then I had my foot in it much of the time!



Anyone see the '06 anniversary model? It's painted in blue/orange Gulf colors from the LeMans days...



Have to dig up a photo and post...



EDIT: OK, here's a pic...





Mark[Broken External Image]:

 

[Robert Cuenca]

can someone produce some specs as to how the corvette wouldnt be able to keep up with the gt? some time trials?



im just trying to understand 3 and a half times the price



also, what makes it exotic and not a sports car? the price?



cause if performance is matched by a car that is 3.5 times less expensive, then couldnt the corvette be considered an exotic just by raising the price to $200k?

 

[Jeff C]

I remember reading in an article while waiting at the ATL airport a few months ago about a GT/Ferrari challenge in Italy. The consensus was that the GT held its own against Italy's finest on their home turf. I can find some numbers for you, but I think that even being in the same category as a 360 qualifies for the "exotic" label. If a vette can do it...well, nm, I don't think it could.

 

[Fred]

Good question robc. Maybe it's only for people with exotic bank accounts.