I’ll buy.Where did I put all those stacks of Million $$ bills…

I wonder if Aston Martin is making Ford a handsome return? I use to work at a company which got into cash problems and started selling it’s money-making divisions. I always thought that it was a dumb way to make money; sell off your cash cows. On the other hand, you can’t sell duds either. The alternative of course, is to get rid of your duds, and keep your cash cows.

Here’s hoping Ford sells Aston Martin to Mercedes, and in return Mercedes can give them Chrysler.

That would be smart, at the same time maybe package the deal with Jaguar. They are both luxury performance divisions. Therefore you can sell two of your duds (going off of what Toy Yoda said).
Currently Aston Martin is making profit, and it’s been the first time in a while since it’s made profit.
I would think that Chrysler is worth more than Aston Martin, Toy Yoda.

I thought Aston was doing well… I don’t think they share any platforms w/ other Ford products, though, so it does make somewhat, kind of sense. I guess I thought that Jaguar would be the first to go.

Read in between the line Jay and Yoda… A/M is seperate, with its own engines, suppliers, etc… where as Jag and Land Rover are tied at the hip.

Nobody wants to buy a company, then spend billions putting your engines/powertrains into it. Ford spent a pretty penny getting the BMW powertrain and wire harnesses outta LRs and replaced them with the units from Jag’s suppliers. Theywill sell Jag and LR as a unit later, if needed.

Aston does share some componets with Jag for the V8 Vantage but that is basicly it. I am sure some of the electornic components and interior bits like nav system and HVAC controls are shared with other vehicles but other then that Aston is seperate.

Guess we won’t be seeing a V12 powered Range Rover anytime soon.

But who’s gonna buy Aston? Private equity? A hedge fund? Who? You can bet your ass that there are a slew of British bankers looking to get Aston back into British hands.

That’s the right move Ford. Sell the profitable but small division in your group and make money off it while it’s still hot and never have to worry about the hassle of maintaining that small pretty jewel. Play volume, it saves you the headache.

Johnny you are right about that. There are actually a number of British Range Rover owners who were at one point generating capital to buy Land Rover. I know they have put those plans on hold for now but I can bet that another group would be looking to by Aston as well.

….making a profit and making money are two different animals. It all depends on what it costs you – and how you fold the numbers. Besides, most companies that have never made a profit – like Saab – typically have some old debt they’re still hung with.

j i m

Here’s hoping Ford sells Aston Martin to Mercedes, and in return Mercedes can give them Chrysler.

Comment by Toy Yoda, posted on August31 at 10:19 am
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Damn! That’s a Great Plan!!!

Guess we won’t be seeing a V12 powered Range Rover anytime soon.
Comment by BritishRover, posted on August31 at 10:31 am
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AGAIN, i agree with this person!

Sounds to me FOrd is just looking for short term cash. Aston is making money, as is Volvo. I guess they are wanting fast infusions of immediate cash, however they will continue to lose because Ford’s Cars and Trucks are the ones on the huge downward spiral. Aston and Land Rover and Volvo can show a profit with new models. Ford has no really great new models coming out anytime soon. This sounds idiotic to me for them to sell it, then again it will benefit whoever buys this marque….Aston is hot right now and with the Rapide in development, only gonna get hotter….so maybe Ford won’t drag it down with it.

There is more in Astons from the other PAG brands then the people above mention. Those spiffy V8s are all from Jag, the Satnav and certain switches in the V8 Vantage come from Volvo.
And after all wouldn’t the sale of Aston just be a drop in a huge bucket anyway?

Maybe BMW would be interested. Where VW owns Lambo,BMW has nothing on the high end. Aston ceo Dr. Ulrich Bez,used to work for BMW so there are some ties and this division is now profitable unlike when they bought LAND ROVER IN THE 90s. Just trying to think what the Vantage would be like with a nasty V-10 in it!

no matter what bill ford does….he will blow it

Thanks for the insightful comment, Anonymous…

I see a ‘lean & mean’ Ford as a 3-tiered lineup, as follows:

Ford ($12k – $30k)–> Volvo($30k – $50k)–> Jaguar($50k-$100k +)

They should leave Mazda as-is, and perhaps even increase their holdings once the group returns to profitability…

I think Ford should sell Ford and keep AM and Volvo, along with its stake in Mazda. This way, they will be profitable again.

Jon.

Actually Jon, I think Ford should keep Ford Europe and just pull out of the North Amercian market. Then they’d be profitable!

That could work too.

Jon.

Mazda is reluctent to sell just like the other japanese companies. The only reason they have got far as they have done is becuase Mazda was in financial trouble.

Not A Californian- where did I say anything about Aston Martin sharing parts with Ford?
I was not pairing the two because they share parts (they do share a few parts, but not many) I was pairing them because they are both luxury-performance brands.
Good idea Jon but who is going to buy Ford? GMs already in the pits, and so is DCX and I would rather not see it sold to the chinese or whoever… oh well. They should sell Ford cars in Europe and stay here, just get your product line straight. And sell Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercury, and Lincoln. That way you will make a profit besides for Ford, and then just get Ford to sell the F series truck, Mustang and an every day sedan. Forget about the rest of your pathetic models.

i will guess either VW or Mercede will be interested. Maybe Porsche? turn A/M into a strickly luxury/sports car company. They could also take away some compition from the 911 and up coming Panarama.

ss- isn’t that what Aston Martin is? A luxury/sports (GT) car company?

to continue…it would be like Ferrari/Maserati. You have the pure bred sports cars and then the Fast Luxury cars.

Jay- True, but i think the current batch of A/M have some serious sporting intent. I think they may even have the best looking line-up out there totally based on visual presence. I saw a DB the other day and i literarily stop in my tracks. Im just thinking that if Porsche would buy them there would be a defined line between the companies. Not to many would cross shop them. You want a sports car, buy a Porsche. Want a comfortable car, buy the A/M. Porsche has a pretty well established dealer network also. (I cant believe im gonna say this) Ford did a really good job with the turnaround and I would hate to see someone send A/M right back into the hole

also…i dont think BMW would be the right company. The general public does not see BMW as a sports car company. They are known for luxury sedans. I just dont think they can sell a serious sports car for serious money. Once you get above 65k your customers arent dentist trying to show off at the country club anymore. Ford got away with it because they tried not to tell anyone that A/M had ties back to FoMoCo. M/B might be good for the job, but the 1st Dr. Z commercial that claims the Chrysler Town and Country has parts from the Vanquish and im going over to there HQ and hanging Dr.Z up by his mustache

I wish mb could sell chrysler but apparently they merged; making daimler chrysler. I personally think BMW will acquire AM.

pd, doesn’t BMW own Rolls Royce? Correct me if i’m wrong, but that is about as high-end as it gets…

Chrysler is a better company now then it has ever been in its whole entire life. The LX’s are good cars, they have deep pockets now and are by far in the best shape of all the american companies.

Don’t believe me – Check you share market. GM and Ford are junk status while dailerchrysler is being considered to be upgraded to “recommended buying shares”. Don’t think Chrysler would have been like this had it not been for Mercedes

My likely list of buyers for Aston Martin:

Honda, Renault & BMW

My likely list of buyers for Aston Martin.
- Comment by Jae
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My Comment,

Honda would never think out side of the box to purchase AM. Renault has to much going on with Nissan and maybe GM. BMW would be a great candidate, but they sold LR to Ford which made it profitable with BMW Designs. So I don’t Know if BMW would hold on long enough to turn a profit or just sell it.

Why the F^&*^&???

Well, so much for Finishing and Deportment Classes..

Seriously, I have come to the point with Ford that I just “wait and see”. It is amazing how big a hole they have dug for theselves, but not surprising……yet another case of a car company that did not actively listen to the buying public. The examples of management ineptitude and failures are too numberous to list…. As far as raising money, I think it will bea case of “good money after bad”. What good is selling off assets to raise capital if you have the same management making the same bad judgement calls and pushing the same mediocre product?

If nothing else, it will make for good theater. I predict that not only will Aston be sold, but Jaguar and Land Rover will be on the chopping block. And after the Lincoln MKS hits the market with a “THUD” and people stay away from Ford by virtue of all the bad press, I think it’s days will be numbered also.

I surely hope I’m wrong, but things don’t look good for the Blue Oval…

A new GTE using a 2 L fuel injected model was also introduced, and early models of these featured an all electronic dash with digital speedometer.

COME ON AUDI… BUY THEM!!!

Why Audi especially when they have Lamborgini and Porsche as a holding company in Volkswagen group which also own Bugatti. Plus Daimlerchrysler have Mclaren which only leaves BMW from the Germans

watch some one come out from left feild and buy them…like Kia or something. i can see it now…a 9,000 Rio in the same show room as a Vanquish hahaha i bet one Vanquish is worth more then any lot of Kias in the US right now haha

What a shame. AM has really made a nice comeback under Ford and has produced some really terrific vehicles.

I fear on their own they will fall back into their former state.

if anything, this sale won’t take place until the new 007 movie comes out and unviels the DBS and that will bring ever more attention to AM and drive the price further up.

“Mercedes has McLaren”, yeah, but in Mercedes lineup, there’s room for AM. McLaren is an exotic super car, and Aston Martin would fit in between the highend Merc Models and the exotic super car. However, I thought BMW would be a good fit too, but I hate BMW owners, and I am one of them.

nobody needs aston martin, why sell em if nobody will buy em? there not that great. ford, just kill em.

Yeah, Aston Martin sucks.

Wow you people that say Aston Marin sucks must have been hit in the head with a whole coconut tree.

Have you ever been in an Aston?

Most of these people are 12-year-olds who haven’t driven their mom’s Accord much less an Aston Martin.

Well… I can ask the same thing can’t I? Have you ever been in an Aston Martin british rover or mblommel? I have, though I have not driven or owned one.

I sell high end vehicle so yes I have been in a driven a Vanquish, a Ferrari 575M, Bentely Arnage T, Maserati Quatroporte, Bentely Continental GT, Old gen XKR Coupe and XJR, old and new M5, M6 and M3.

I actually have a 2004 M3 we just took in trade sitting outside my office that I will drive home tonight.

Good then we have people that have actually driven it. I’ve been in an Aston Martin, but have never driven one.

I have not driven an AM, but have ridden in 2. They are very, very nice cars. My former job brought me in contact with a lot of expensive cars; some of which I had the priviledge to drive, others just ride or maybe sit in.

The Vanquish I drove had the old style F1 tranny and it was very stupid. The Quatroporte also had the older style F1 tranny although it had been updated with new software and was better then before. Both the M5 and M6 has the F1 tranny and I really didn’t like either one. I haven’t driven a newer Quatroporte but the F1 tranny in those is supposed to be one of the best.

Don’t forget, Aston’s V12s are two Ford V6 engines joined together, so they kind of share some stuff.