Comments on: Ford drastically cuts complex options packages for 2009 models

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:15:22 +0000

how about some a la carte?
Pezones: That box would make a lot of americans happy

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:37:41 +0000

Nobody orders cars anymore, they buy them as they sit on the lots. That being said, this is the reason Honda for one has no problem selling every vehicle they make without rebates and fleet sales/rental cars. Too many variations in ordering leads to bastard vehicles left on the lots at years end. For example..the current Ford Ranger has 700,000 ordering configurations. It had 1.2 million in 2005. They want to get it to 480,000 possibilities by 2009. So this is good. Less is better when it comes to bullshit stand alone options like back up sensors and heated seats. Just make them standard, and all will be fine.

By: bcjohnso99

bcjohnso99 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:25:18 +0000

Way to go Ford, follow the Jap’s stupid policies. Ever try to buy a Honda or Toyota with cruise control? They package in with totally unrelated crap I’d care not to pay for. It’s like they think it’s a luxury feature.

Only one problem Ford: Honda and Toyota’s followers are too f’in blind to question it. I dare say you might not be so fortunate.

By: autonut

autonut — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:53:10 +0000

The only one exec who was fired was Nasser. He openly admitted that Ford FOOBAR. It is easier in corporate world to agree with your master(s) and masturbate in a corner quietly. Hence 50,000 options. Do you need Harvard MBA to figure out that this is beyond wrong?

By: mujician

mujician — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:42:02 +0000

Ah, you know. Just been hangin low, waiting for the perfect time to strike…

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:28:09 +0000

Yes K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid)

Choose the basic vehicle three or four general trim levels. These include basics like the engine, tranny, drivetrain, and suspensions choices. You don’t get to pick and choose without paying a premium.

Then the equipment package… You can omit the superfluous nav system if you wish to save a couple grand. Only three or four levels here too.

Then the interior package… Pick your color. Go nuts. But keep the colors count limited to ten or less, two or three seat options (cloth, leather, combination)… and for pity’s sake the floor mats are standard equipment ALWAYS!

By: jayjc08

jayjc08 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:13:56 +0000

What would Vonage say?

“You’ve been bundled!”

By: davidg1977

davidg1977 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:22:43 +0000

my father worked for OTD (order to delivery) as a special project in 1996 and they were working on this… the Taurus at the time had more than the 50k LS’s that they cite in the article above.

This has been a popular topic inside the glass house for many years with funding to look into it but never any execution. This was the lead them to a more predictive model of “wants” and in turn, decrease the order-to-delivery timeframe thus making the customer happy by having on the lot what they will want.

Big on plans, low on execution… now need to execute on it. Maybe from the cradle with this intent, is the only way to do it…

By: planet_drive

planet_drive — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:47:13 +0000

Fords are just wrong every way you look at them lol

By: sunshine1810

sunshine1810 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:01:50 +0000

Here’s a great idea for Ford. Why don’t they sell their cars from Europe in America like the Mondeo.

By: mujician

mujician — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:58:20 +0000

I’m sure pw,pl,a/c, cruise, side airbags, cd. etc… will all be standard as they already are. I think it’s a good idea but yet again one of the last to do this even though they already do it on their lincoln line.

By: corvette

corvette — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:56:02 +0000

Pezones.
“People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black.”
- Henry Ford

By: corvette

corvette — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:54:51 +0000

just like usual ford still in the back of the pack.

By: pezones

pezones — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:54:26 +0000

“You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.” -henry ford

By: RicardoHead

RicardoHead — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:51:08 +0000

50,000 different combinations? Mullaly, does that marketing genius still have a job?

By: DrFill

DrFill — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:50:48 +0000

Sounds like Ford is stepping up into the 1980′s and using a real plan model option matrix.
Welcome aboard!
DrFill

By: cookie4me

cookie4me — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:38:53 +0000

Renaming the Verve to Fiesta, was the introduction of “The Way Back” plan. I don’t see this fitting into that plan.

By: pezones

pezones — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:15:12 +0000

wheres the option i can check off to get all the euro models

By: Fletch

Fletch — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:12:18 +0000

Once again, Ford last to implement this practice.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:08:00 +0000

That’s it, Mulally. Be the buyer…be the Buyer.

By: livelyjay

livelyjay — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:04:57 +0000

I can see this as benefiting Ford in the long run. Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai all offer limited options packages. The only problem with this is if the vehicle doesn’t come standard with AC, PW, and PL the customer will have to fork out a lot of an option package that might have MORE than they want.

By: casualobserver

casualobserver — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:45:15 +0000

oh, what the heck..FIRST!