Continental Revival

Alexander

Alexander

Well-known
Paid Member
I got this letter from a Lincoln dealer manager. I agree with him Lincoln needs a new car, and an exciting one, to bring people back into the showrooms. Lincon needs another car that can generate the enthusiasm of ownership like the Mark VIII. It would be great to have new Continental owners in our club.

Show your support for this concept car!

I am writing to you today to ask for your help. I am sure that you have seen the concept Lincoln Continental which has been show on the auto show circuit for the past several years. We have heard from our sources that Ford Motor Company has scrapped any possibility of putting a version of this exciting vehicle into production. We believe that a version of this vehicle is vital to the continuation of the Lincoln nameplate. We only ask that if you believe this as well that you click this link http://www.hplm.com/f_specials.cgi?ad_id=1106383&ix=510 which will take you to our website where there is a direct link to the Customer Relations department of Ford Motor Company and that you let them know how you feel. We only hope that the voice of the many can change the mind of the few who have the ability to put a version of this vehicle into production. We also ask that if you do agree that you pass this link onto as many people as possible as we are hopeful that we can generate at least 200,000 emails to Ford Motor Company about the urgent need for a revival of the Continental. Thanks for your support in this endeavor.

Bob Lee
General Manager
Highland Park Lincoln Mercury
On the Web at www.hplm.com
Phone: 847-831-5880

Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
 
RE: Continental Revival

I did it, but don't get hopes up. Ford is lousey with consumer requests.

After a year of work, correspondance, and false hopes being served to me, I could NOT get our site showcased on the Lincoln Site, as the LS Club has.

I cannot write and get production numbers, color breakout nor option or package installations on MY Town Car.

GM they ain't. I write to Cadillac Division once in a while, they reply within 3 weeks, THANKING ME for my interest in Cadillac and they enclose a gift of a nice ball point pen in silver or gold, and look up what I want, and send me MORE than I asked for.

Lincoln, on the other hand ignores the letter.
 
RE: Continental Revival

Ya know what's sad - Ford/Lincoln pays big money to supposedly figure out what people want in cars, especially when it comes to new releases of concept cars, etc. But I really believe these "forecasters" are biased - look at how the new T-Bird failed. I predict the same for the Crossfire and Chevy's new SLR (?) retro pickup. Yet they fail to consult places where actual prospective owners hang out, such as Internet forums, etc., which I believe represent a good cross-section of potential buyers, where they could see what buyers really want...

John
[link:mark8.org/lodnca|NorCal Chapter Website]
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L
 
RE: Continental Revival

Whether Lincoln accepts our opinion or not, they need to bring out new exciting cars to attract young affluent buyers.

At this point Lincoln mostly has geriatrics and livery drivers as customers.

It would be huge mistake for Ford to rely solely on its luxury import brands such as Jaguar and Aston Martin to stay in the luxury car market. Most buyers of these cars have no idea that they are Ford products. They consider them independent import brands.

Ford needs to make Lincoln a standout brand to improve its image.

Ford has lost the number two spot in sales. They need to try much harder if they do not want to slide further down.


Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
 
RE: Continental Revival

I can tell this website is getting well used in the short time it has been up. Pretty soon Steve will be reminding us to use the search function. :)

That dealer just contacted me yesterday.

Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
 
RE: Continental Revival

I honestly believe the future of the Lincoln brand is in jeopardy. Lincoln is relying on trucks/SUV's for sales. New offshore models will hit this market HARD in the near future. Caddy is on an upswing with the 'sclade and the new SRX. The LS is going to be clobbered by the CTS-V, nevermind the XLR which will act as a halo on the entire Caddy line. Caddy also has a new RWD/Northstar Deville (or something?) planned for production soon. Meanwhile, Lincoln gives us concepts revolving around the theme of the '61 Continental.

My wife just might have a CTS-V when she gets out of school and starts working as a CA. Which Lincoln could hope to compete, other that a radically modified 6-year old Mark VIII?

Dave.

Edit: The Town Car is hardly worth mentioning anymore. Its days are numbered.
 
RE: Continental Revival

HEY.....

Let me tell you how much I love my new Town Car Cartier Limited Edition Spring Special! I have not had a single flaw/problem with it, nor even had to return for an adjustment! It floats over land, like all of the roads were re-paved while we slept. It corners remarkably well for being the biggest car in the world, excepting the Maybach, in length, width & height for a 4-Dr Sedan. You can spread out in total comfort, and never feel cramped. Every imaginable feature for convenience and a great gearing for really peppy take offs. For a 4,300 pound 215" length, 79" wide car it pampers it's owner & riders.

I test drove a deVille before buying, and there is simply no comparasion in seating comfort, nor features.

The Towm Car is definately worth mentioning, if one wants a luxury domestic sedan.
 
RE: Continental Revival

Sorry for disrespecting the Town Car, Sandy. Even I would like to have one sitting beside my '79 Mark V. But I think that we, like the Town Car, are anachronisms in the greater automotive marketplace. I'm sure they are great cars to drive, but I'm amazed that it still exists alongside the style, comfort and dynamics of the Japanese and Euro entries in the segment, including the Audi A8 which I recall you being fond of.

I guess as long as the Town Car sells in reasonable numbers, Ford will build it, but it is not a sound basis on which the future of Lincoln can safely rest. The luxury car, truck and SUV market is set to be pummelled with new entries in the near future. Lincoln's future rests on its ability to compete with products designed and produced in the new millennia. So far, Lincoln has not shown that it has any product to weather the advancing onslaught.

Dave.
 
RE: Continental Revival

I agree with all that you hereby wrote, 100%. I could not afford the Audi A8 (which I still love). Actually, they are not even close to the same class. The T.C. listed at $47,645.00 while the A8 I'd order would top $75,000, a $28,000.00 'difference' ! (Like comparing a new Grand Prix {$28,000} with riding the "52-Crosstown" !!!).

Ford is struggling with too much "fat" on the meat, and needing to bring out $30,000 sale price cars that will compete with the foreign cars inthat market, where the winners typically sell 300,000 units a year, and they are not concentrating on cars that sell 55-60,000 a year.

So, Lincoln suffers, and will suffer worse when they introduce the all new 2006 Town Car based upon the Mazda R8 - and the livery segment turns to the deVille !!!!

They've had a rash of lousey people, i.e. Gerry McGoven and that other guy they stole from Saab. Meanwhile, GM has the "KING" and look how they have bounced back! 10 new Chevys in 12 months?? Buick will emerge as the hottest car going, with the stuff that they have coming, to take up the loss of Olds.

Look at the stock market. Toyota is selling for lots more than Ford!
Investors are also losing faith. Taurus/Sable are comatose, and they are the bread & butter family cars. They can't lift themselves outta where they have sunk to with the new Mustang. While a terrific winner, as are the Ford trucks, they need ALL winners to compete with Nissan, Honda, Toyota and the other asians.

When I sit in the waiting room at Maplecrest L-M and "listen" to the other waiters, they all say that Maplecrest service is so fantastic and how they never had such good service, BUT they will NOT buy another Mercury because they have so many problems with theirs !
Quality is now "JOB-2: also......
Look at our headlights, roters, blend doors, faulty exterior mirrors, etc, etc. I think the Town Car is equal or above most, but the Mercurys have a long way to go, based upon what I overhere...

PS/ Regards to "SandyGIRL" ~ ~ Without her, I've become Just Sandy~
Good to see you back, How about $20 bucks and joining us again?
(SandyGirl, too. I'll go back to SandyBoy, if she comes along....)
 
RE: Continental Revival

Watch out for Nissan. What a load of winners in their lineup. Altima, Maxima, 350Z, Titan, Murano, Quest, Armada. Each one will do well in its segment.

I doubt I could get Sandy to visit this site any time soon. She's back in college (at 35 years old) studying to be an accountant. She spends virtually all her time studying and is rarely, if ever, on line. She's very committed to doing well and landing a good job. My role now is just to work as much as possible for the money to get her through to her goal. Then we can relax a bit and spend some money on cars again. (I hear the LS7 Z06 calling me, but I can't answer yet).

Dave.
 
RE: Continental Revival

Good Luck to Sandy. Our son, Matt is doing exactly the same and intends to graduate in 2007 with a Masters Degree in Accounting & Finance. His best pal's sister, age 26 did the same and landed a job with the phone/communacations company in New York City for $75,000 a year! AGE 26!
 
RE: Continental Revival

I don't know about that concept hitting the "young and affluent" market as Alexander says. How young? That car looks, as it is, as an older crowd car. The younger crowd (me) craves performance, good looks (that car isn't a looker) and good value for the money. I have a feeling that car will carry a hefty price tag. The last time they tried to get young, the made the LS. It was underpowered, not terribly quick, and looks so-so. You want young? Make a coupe with some balls. Or a sexy sedan. That thing is slab faced. Reminds me a touch of the new Chrysler 300C...you think that thing is going to attract young buyers? I don't. Dave is right...Nissan/Infiniti has been hitting homeruns lately. Surely there must be a reason for it. It isn't "luck" when you get so many vehicles right, and those vehicles are flying off the showroom floor, winning tests/comparos in magazines, and winning honours in the industry. Are they listening to their consumers? Do they have hot-shot designers? Whatever Nissan is doing, Lincoln would be wise to pay attention, or better yet, steal some of their brightest engineers/designers. If Lincoln would have made the Infiniti FX45, I bet they would sell triple the number that Infiniti has. Ditto for the M45. Slap a Lincoln badge on that, and Sandy would be driving one, as would countless others. Sorry..Lincoln is floundering. They are lost. It wouldn't suprise me if there's no more Lincoln in 5 years. And I can't say I would miss them. The last time they did anything exciting was with the Mark VIII..and even our beloved car had its flaws....
 
RE: Continental Revival

I do not like that slab sided ugly Continential either.
Ford has lousey stylists. They need to go steal the ones at Infiniti & Nissan & Audi.

I really love the M45, what a classy ride!! Also the entire linup of Infiniti & Nissan products is ALIVE and EXCITING and makes the buyer WANNA BUY, as much as the salesman wants to sell.

Cadillac is also ~HOT~ with all kinds of Sport Utes, the CTS and now the STS and the XLR and the forthcoming V-Series. HOT cars, and still delivers a nice deVille for over the hill folk like me :)

Chrysler is getting hot with Crossfire, Pacifica, 300-C, Magnum wagon and PR Cruise Convertible and other products.

Buick is about to bust open at the seams with 3 new hot products, and Chevy has 10 coming

Lincoln? the LS is old hat, the Marauder flopped, the Cougar is gone & not replaced, the Mark has never been replaced and the LS is stale. All they have are trucks & Lincoln needs CARS.
 
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