RE: Mark IX or Mark X (didn't know where to put this post)
John,
Other than disagreeing with you over the choice of IX or X
I think deep down inside you are very right about the direction Lincoln is being taken. I just hope (for America's sake) that at some point in Detroit's history they do more listening than trying to push product down our throats. I am a personal fan of the Aviator, but it hasn't appeared to do as well as planned. That may be because they over expected from it, but who's to say? It has Lincoln luxury, but maybe a nudge in the way of performance may help it - especially where they have it positioned. Navi is and Navi is!! Right now it is one of the standards the breed is measured by, and as a Lincoln person I love that! When people shop SUV's they often say "but how does that stack up against the Navigator?"
Back to the Mark. I am not adverse to a two seater, but I think that the X seems more like a compromise and copy to me than a forward idea. What would you think if the IX were offered in a convertible? And seeing that our Marks are full size luxury coupes, the IX/T-Bird thing seems too far a departure from that for my purist taste. Give me a back seat to look at or use for groceries, small baggage, my tennis bags, something! My 11 year old son feels the back seat of my Mark is his personal space, it nicely contains (which is what one wants to do rather than have him pushing ALL the buttons up front
him and a few toys on a trip and gives him room to sleep in. A true two seater loses ALL of that. Granted, I am over six feet, and I couldn't comfortably fit there, but it wouldn't seem a Mark WITHOUT the space. To change that changes too much for me.
Secondly, the IX seems like a progression of things from VII to VIII, and on more than the X does to me. Similar, but different. Oh well, to each his or her own, I guess.
Next point: I think you are DEAD ON about FMC positioning Jaguar's cars where Lincoln is/was. I just don't think it will work. Mainly because of pricing. The extra $15,000 or more for Jaguar's name is not worth it. A $40,000 Lincoln would become a probable $60,000 Jag. If you say they develop the next line of Lincolns (Marks, Continentals, or whatever)in a $30,000 - $50,000 (top end range), can you imagine what the pricing will be at Jaguar? I think they would lose their clientele fast to Cadillac, or possibly Chrysler in the luxury, luxury/sport/performance arena. I just don't think buyers are so attached to Jaguar in that way as they (need I say we?
are brand loyal to Lincoln and its' heritage. I for one, will keep my Mark, and with an angry shrug, go looking elsewhere if they don't offer a product I could want to own. Chrysler is soon to be offering a two door souped up version of its' new Charger within a year, if they let things like that go unanswered, they will lose market share faster than a bowling ball dropped off a tall building IMHO! Then they will have to come in the door somewhere else, if they can.
Finally, I think the'd better come up with something fast! The gas prices are slowing SUV sales, and since a lot of people own more than one vehicle (especially families!) it is usually going to wind up an SUV/van/truck and something else. And if your reason for owning one of those vehicles is cargo space, larger family, or work, guess what a lot of people are going to be looking for in that other vehicle --- FUN!! And where do you get fun except in something luxurious or sporty or both! If you own an SUV, do you really want to get another as your other vehicle? Are you gonna give up your Mark to haul work stuff or get another vehicle? And when you aren't driving your Mark LT, what would you want to drive? Wake up FMC, don't abandon the market or the brand.! Give me your thoughts. Happy driving.!
