Philly Auto Show

[gimpgutter]

So...i went to the auto show today and ventured over to the Lincoln section expecting to see the Zephyr. Boy was i dissapointed to find none there. So i walk over to the booth desk and go to ask the young hot girl what happened to the Zephyr, and this middle aged salesman butts in and told me it wasnt there. So i was talking to him and the conversation continued like this:

Me: "So where is the Zephyr"
Him: "Unforunately it is not available right now but will be at the New York Show in March. What car do you drive?"
Me: "A lincoln...continental."
Him: "Was it an inheritance and what year?"
Me: "Yes, from my parents and 1996. I always wanted a mark viii, but this works fine"
Him: "How many miles?"
Me: "130,000. Suspension is ready to go."
Him "I see."
Me: "so march is when it will be shown at the NYC show. I will be going to that too, guess i'll have to wait to see it. So it's based off the Mazda 6, eh?"
Him: "Yes, that is correct. It has the Mazda chassis and is also used in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Montego(think thats what he said)models."
Me: "Ah i see. I am a little dissapointed in the styling. I mean, the front says Lincoln, but the back its just blah."
Him: "I think its a very stlish car with a beautiful interior.....but the back............says Honda"
Me: (chuckled) "What engine does it have?"
Him: "A 210 hp V6."

And here is the kicker


Me: "So why would anybody want to buy a Zephyr over...lets say a g35, an acura tl"
Him: "Well, its entry level luxury, not mid luxury. It should be priced under the v6 LS which is $33K. So somewhere in the upper $20K's. Lincoln will market it that way."
Me: "OK, how bout the CTS? Why wouldn't someone buy that which is more stylish, has more HP, and is the same price."

He pauses...i look up at his face and he extends his arm towards the brochure...and was stumped.

I don't remember what happened next, but he walked away for 2 seconds, i laughed my ass off with my friend and as we walked away he said "I'll see you in March."

Heh, i hope i see him again and REALLY hope that he gives me an answer justifying lincoln's outcome.

I ditched the brochure in some VW model that i sat in cuz i was disspaointed. I didnt even look through it. Lincoln has nothing really to offer anybody now cept a poorly built LS and the old but reliable Town Car. For the luxury sport market...they really dont have anything compared to Caddy's lineup. The CTS and CTSV, STS and STS V, and XLR just blow all of lincoln's cars away right now. I think if they dont get their act together, fords 2nd best luxury department will be nosediving. :( smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif :( :cool: smile.gif

[pro-five-oh]

quote:Originally posted by gimpgutter:
Me: "OK, how bout the CTS? Why wouldn't someone buy that which is more stylish, has more HP, and is the same price."

I expect the Zephyr will be a couple thousand less than a CTS and $3-5000 less than the imports. That being said, the only people who will wholeheartedly look at this car are people who currently own a Buick LeSabre, Chrysler 300, Sable, Montego, V6 LS, etc. The Zephyr will be hard pressed to find any love outside of the world of traditional American cars. And the fact that the same car (Mercury Milan) will be sitting right next to it for $5000 less...oh man!

Remember Ford is killing the V6 LS because it is much more expensive to make than the Zephyr, but it is/was a better idea in this class...

If the LS had a new front end, new rear end, and the Zephyr's interior...oh man! Woulda, coulda, shoulda. :(

Good story, thanks for sharing. The more people laugh at Lincoln for "believing their own hype" and making this car, the sooner they'll wake up and make class leading vehicles...or go out of business. ;)

[ February 15, 2005: Message edited by: pro-five-oh ]

[Nick]

I like the LS. More power never hurts, but it's a really good car and an even better Lincoln, the best in a long, long time. It'll be the best used Lincoln deal out there. :D

I don't know if I'd take the CTS based on styling. I'd take Ford has bumbled many a car intro. Add this to the heap.

[Silver Cobra]

The only thing American in the new Zephyr is it's name. I don't see this car meeting the sales numbers of the LS or CTS for that matter. Ford can't come up with a sugar-coated response for gene-splicing cars. I have lost all interest in new cars. I had hopes for Ford but they've dissappointed me triple time. My 98 looks better and better as the days go on.

[gimpgutter]

yep...my 96 continental is refined so much more than many cars i see today. just wish it was rear wheel drive and handled a tad bit better. o..and was worth more than 7.8% of its original value.

[CartierBear]

I think there reason for the zephyr is to hook the young buyers that cant afford a 45 thousand dollar town car and then as they get older hopefully stay with lincoln and go to the mopre expensive ones. According to one magazine i ready they liked the ford fusion over the mazda 6 said it was suprisingly more roomy even though its the same size and that ford has found a winner. the lincoln sholuldnt be much more different. I think lincoln needs more of a selection and wider variety to suit everyone. what i wanna know is What the #$#@# are they doing to the aviator GRRRRR