Hi, Guest
For every RS they didn't bring over, there's a hot import hatch, a SRT-4 or anything else that's NOT a Focus RS being sold right now. The Saturn Ion RedLine and Cobalt SS come to mind.
Two guys I know personally own Cobalt SSes (one being one of my cousins). I showed my cousin a pic of the Focus RS and a pic of the new ST overseas. I asked him if he would have bought either car instead (and even paid a premium). The answer? Yup!
Ford could have sold untold numbers of a true "hot hatch", sedan owners be damned. The fact alone Chevy has the new small V8 in the Impala and the Monte Carlo (a car I'd never thought I'd see a V8 in ever again. EVER.) tells us that if you're going to pay to play, at least you'll come out swinging. With Ford, the best we can hope for is some sort of Focus rebirth or a sporting Fusion.
And as for the economic "hard times"... suck it up. Ford's labour costs are astronomical vs. any import manufacturer, and even ahead of DaimlerChrysler if memory serves. When you have line workers making almost 6 figures if not 6 figures for assembling vehicles (plus the benefits and extras)... what else do you expect? They can't possibly be expected to revamp entire lineups AND support an overbearing workforce.
This'll get deleted, but I've spoken my mind.
Two guys I know personally own Cobalt SSes (one being one of my cousins). I showed my cousin a pic of the Focus RS and a pic of the new ST overseas. I asked him if he would have bought either car instead (and even paid a premium). The answer? Yup!
Ford could have sold untold numbers of a true "hot hatch", sedan owners be damned. The fact alone Chevy has the new small V8 in the Impala and the Monte Carlo (a car I'd never thought I'd see a V8 in ever again. EVER.) tells us that if you're going to pay to play, at least you'll come out swinging. With Ford, the best we can hope for is some sort of Focus rebirth or a sporting Fusion.
And as for the economic "hard times"... suck it up. Ford's labour costs are astronomical vs. any import manufacturer, and even ahead of DaimlerChrysler if memory serves. When you have line workers making almost 6 figures if not 6 figures for assembling vehicles (plus the benefits and extras)... what else do you expect? They can't possibly be expected to revamp entire lineups AND support an overbearing workforce.
This'll get deleted, but I've spoken my mind.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.