"Lincoln Zephyr Sales Surpass Targets, Win Back Import Buyers"

[AZLincolnMercury]

http://www.fusionunleashed.com/index.php?categoryid=9&p2_articleid=91

:) :) :)

[Sysanalyst]

Sure glad somebody is buying them.

[megaforcer]

Hmm, I have only seen a couple on the street. Maybe they sell better up north.

[Sysanalyst]

Hmm, I have only seen a couple on the street. Maybe they sell better up north.

The article is a "Dearborn" article by a Dearborn Michigan writer writing about sales in Dearborn where ever other person is a Ford employee and gets the Zephyr for the same price as a Fusion. I'd like to hear how sales are doing in LA, Miami, New Jersey, and Chicago. I test drove one and was highly unimpressed. The article above mentions that the vehicle is sporty...? I mashed the pedal to the floor and waited... waited.... still waiting for the sporty excitement to hit. Perhaps when the new 3.5 Liter V6 engine hits streets it will be a bit better, still, the styling is not appealing to me either.

[megaforcer]

The article is a "Dearborn" article by a Dearborn Michigan writer writing about sales in Dearborn where ever other person is a Ford employee and gets the Zephyr for the same price as a Fusion. I'd like to hear how sales are doing in LA, Miami, New Jersey, and Chicago. I test drove one and was highly unimpressed. The article above mentions that the vehicle is sporty...? I mashed the pedal to the floor and waited... waited.... still waiting for the sporty excitement to hit. Perhaps when the new 3.5 Liter V6 engine hits streets it will be a bit better, still, the styling is not appealing to me either.

Very true. I think Ford wants that kind of press circulating around so that people would think that if the car is selling that fast that means its good. I personally think that Ford Confusion looks better.

[pro-five-oh]

I don't know if FCN (Ford Communications Network) is the best source of unbiased information about Fords. Ask Lincoln Mercury dealers in California and they'll sing a different tune. New American cars always sell well in the Midwest, not to mention a lot of people lease cars every 2-3 years up there. Way more than down in Texas.

Local dealer here says that returning leasees who have the LS are re-leasing the last remaining LSs, avoiding the Zephyr like the plague.

Its all in who you ask, people. :)

[Vitas]

Its all in who you ask, people. :)

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

ZEPHYR sales up 72% over February sales.

HIGHEST SALES YET FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S NEW MID-SIZE SEDANS

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22986&make_id=trust

[GorgeZeph]

Again, I feel sorry for you Zephyr detractors. You fail to see the appeal of an awesome luxury car for that same price as a Kia..... I'll take my Zephyr any day over the ho-hum look alike HondaAcuraToyotaKiaLexus........... The look is timeless class, not boring... If I wanted a "sport compact", I'd have bought one. No, you all just don't get it. I'm soooooooo glad that Lincoln doesn't just build cars for one sort of driver!!!!!

[AZLincolnMercury]

You fail to see the appeal of an awesome luxury car for that same price as a Kia.....
I agree. I bet at first the CTS was not well received to Cadillac purists and look where it is now.

[pro-five-oh]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

ZEPHYR sales up 72% over February sales.
Yup, its pretty funny. That margin-killing lease introduced in late February does indeed help sales. Not as good as Townie sales still, which is disappointing.

The Zephyr and Milan are better in almost every way than the Montego, and are obviously filling in the entry level to premium needs of Lincoln Mercury customers. Love the Zephyr or hate it, one thing's for sure, that Montego has gotta go. :)

[megaforcer]

I agree. I bet at first the CTS was not well received to Cadillac purists and look where it is now.

Where is it? I dont see it anywhere.

[AZLincolnMercury]

Where is it? I dont see it anywhere.
What the CTS? In my area you see them everywhere....and to date I have only seen two zephyrs on the road.
http://www.gmcanada.com/images/vehicles/2005/cadillac/ctsv/cadi_ctsv_over_main.jpg

[Vitas]

Yup, its pretty funny. That margin-killing lease introduced in late February does indeed help sales.

You mean Ford is giving free money away? You will have to prove that theory with actual figures. Cars are always discounted in one way or another; a lease payment does not have to be made, but interest accrues regardless.

Not as good as Townie sales still, which is disappointing.

Do you have any idea how poorly 1982-1987 Contis sold compared to the Town Car?

AND YOU ARE DRIVING ONE! -g-

[pro-five-oh]

You mean Ford is giving free money away? You will have to prove that theory with actual figures. Cars are always discounted in one way or another; a lease payment does not have to be made, but interest accrues regardless.
Ford has been taking a bath on their lease cars for over 5 years, about 2 years ago they finally stopped inflating residuals on slow sellers. The 99 Conti we leased was worth about $3000 less than its residual after 2 years. Every Conti that went back to Ford was a huge financial burden. Now we see a sweetheart deal on the Zephyr after TWO MONTHS of production, granted the residuals aren't inflated but this is NOT a good sign in my book. How's that for expressing my disappointment?

I don't know any Jag salesmen to know the exact details, but X-type's leases are a modern example of Ford shooting itself in the foot just to move product.

Of course my Conti didn't sell well, it was similar to the Zephyr in many ways. By the time I'm done modifying mine, it will be the car it should have been in the first place.

[Vitas]

Ford has been taking a bath on their lease cars for over 5 years, about 2 years ago they finally stopped inflating residuals on slow sellers. The 99 Conti we leased was worth about $3000 less than its residual after 2 years. Every Conti that went back to Ford was a huge financial burden. Now we see a sweetheart deal on the Zephyr after TWO MONTHS of production, granted the residuals aren't inflated but this is NOT a good sign in my book. How's that for expressing my disappointment?

I don't know any Jag salesmen to know the exact details, but X-type's leases are a modern example of Ford shooting itself in the foot just to move product.

Of course my Conti didn't sell well, it was similar to the Zephyr in many ways. By the time I'm done modifying mine, it will be the car it should have been in the first place.

Give us cold, hard figures to prove your theory. Otherwise you are giving us rag talk. -g-

So what is the Conti going to do after you modify it? Why not just buy "the real" car that you claim Ford cannot build? http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

[pro-five-oh]

Give us cold, hard figures to prove your theory. Otherwise you are giving us rag talk. -g-

So what is the Conti going to do after you modify it? Why not just buy "the real" car that you claim Ford cannot build? http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif
The proof is in the puddling, Ford is half dead and it isn't because they made a lot of money selling cars. You want the figures, go lease a Jaguar X-type and see how much cash they'll throw on the hood just to get you to drive off in it. Then try that at a Lexus dealer. :)

The Conti was a mini-Town Car. Pointless venture. It should have been a maxi-Mustang or a 4-door LSC, and that's what it'll be when I'm done with it.

Ok, I'll shut up now, rejoice!

[Vitas]

Ok, I'll shut up now, rejoice!

Whew! -gg-

"In response to the Depression, Edsel Ford followed the classic "K" line of Lincolns with the less-expensive Zephyr, named after the wildly popular streamlined train run by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad....

the Zephyr was a good-looking vehicle that offered the right amount of luxury at a price that was less than half what Lincoln charged for its essentially dead-in-the-water model K....

The Zephyr was successfully launched, and it was even able to win the grudging acceptance of the European press and automotive establishment, at least for its leading edge bodywork....

Gregorie is said to have come up with the lines of the Continental convertible in about a hour by putting a piece of tracing paper of a blueprint of the Zephyr and then sketching in changes."

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?p=500236#post500236

Get on the Lincoln renaissance train, friend, before you get left at the station. -g-

[GorgeZeph]

I want to see the Zephyr/MKZ convertible!!! How about some suicide doors! Oh, that was the '63........

[Vitas]

I want to see the Zephyr/MKZ convertible!!! How about some suicide doors! Oh, that was the '63........

Well, here is the Volvo "C70" retractable convertible. You know what they say, if it has a Volvo platform, it will be a Lincoln.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/30/208879.1-lg.jpg

The "C" stands for Continental.

[cason1]

Where is it? I dont see it anywhere.

The only CTS's I've seen were at the Caddy dealership. I have seen 2 Zephyrs on the roads. That is what led to my post about realizing what was wrong with me and why I wasn't fond of the Zephyr. I'm not real fond of the FWD conti's either but I don't totally hate on them so I have done the same for the Zeph, helping out when and where I can and looking for the better points in them. Like I said in my other post, I think once it loses the Zephyr name I will be better able to like it for what it is, a lower cost Lincoln.

[AZLincolnMercury]

The only CTS's I've seen were at the Caddy dealership.
Huh…kind of nice hearing Cadillac isn’t doing as well in other parts of the country:) . Cadillac is very successful in my area. Can’t leave the house without seeing countless CTS, STS, SRX and of course Escalades. Navigators are quite popular around here as well but not as much as the Escalades. I see many Town Cars too but I’d say 80% are limos seeing that they are black and have a chauffeur behind the wheel (or maybe just a well dressed member of the mafia) ;) .

[pro-five-oh]

CTSs are everywhere down here. The Caddies are selling well from what I've seen, with minimal rebates or tempting lease deals. I've only seen one Zephyr on the road and my route to school even passes a L-M dealership! Seen about 4 Montegos and 20 Five Hundreds, these new Fords just don't sell in Houston.

Hence my doubt of the original article on this thread. Must be a Houston thing. :)

[Vitas]

Hence my doubt of the original article on this thread. Must be a Houston thing. :)

The original article:

"Lincoln Zephyr Sales Surpass Targets, Win Back Import Buyers"

This is getting really funny.