- Aug 25, 2006
- 4,436
Well; after many months of interesting comments from most folks on this board with what came to be a series of common issues;
1. Apparent lack of dealership connection to the GT’s Ford’s aka “The One”
2. Apparent lack of genuine concern for those that bought in Ford’s dream
3. Apparent lack of concern for lingering issues such as the half shaft bolts
I too received the letter.
If I had received the letter a couple months ago I would have likely considered it little more than a CSI (a means to keep their Customer Satisfaction Index high) style promotional letter however when I take a few minutes and reflect back over the last several months my feelings became much different.
My gut tells me that (as most suspect) that Ford does in fact monitor this Forum’s activity and someone within Ford final said “WTF” are we doing? We have a niche group that bought into the belief that these gals were our aka Ford’s statement piece for the “World” and yet we have simply moved them out of our inventory and then left the customers to swim through the un-chartered waters on their own. I also suspect that after reading for months how most truly appreciate the fact that Ford was willing to present such an awesome gal to market and that they have no regrets with the purchase decision but rather are simply disappointed, some would say disgusted with Ford’s after the purchase commitment to excellence that they are finally considering a new approach..
It is because of this belief that I have that I not only appreciate the letter but also expect that as time goes by the niche group of GT owners will not be forgotten but even more importantly will be even more appreciated for our blindly buying into a relationship that Ford presented on paper however had yet to create an infrastructure to support.
My gut tells me that Ford as with most automotive manufacturers simply projected the production and secondary support module cost of the GT by integrating it as little more than a new model into the existing consumer support programs; i.e. Dealer network, phone support, etc. having truly no idea what it would require to implement and maintain viable secondary programs exclusively for the GT. The proverbial bean counters have strange ways when it comes to financial justification and rationalization and to far too many it would not matter if a GT or a pick-up truck it is simply another vehicle in the line up. I also believe that at the end of the run the bean counters all said “thumbs up” expecting that the project was a wrap. Now in retrospect I also feel that “if” Ford had truly extrapolated cost associated with the GT and exclusive secondary support services such as special dealer training etc. the likelihood these gals would not have been produced because the true cost to enter into the “Exotic” car arena is extreme and when you only have 4000 gals to migrate those cost through the numbers would and frankly will become staggering.
What Ford did for the fortunate few was create a production dream car however in doing so Ford also created a potential long term marketing “Night-Mare”.
In the 60’s Ford for many reasons, some of which are openly known decided to toss down the gauntlet and not simply participate but rather compete in an extreme motor sport arena deciding before they began that the “only” acceptable result would be to win otherwise it would have allowed the likes of Ferrari to smirk as they walked past. The program that was put into place was (as I refer to it) as results oriented rather than financially constrained as such the results were stellar to say the least.
Now 40 years later Ford decided to market off the back of that period in time however instead of going head to head on the track it was now head to head into the “Exotic” car arena that once again has Ferrari near the top of the list. Now from my perspective this is where it gets interesting; Ferrari and Lamborghini (particularly with the successful launch of the Gallardo) are the players in the $175-$225K arena, an arena that by some standards is quickly becoming saturated so Ford had to look at the cost to produce and then bring the GT to market, they had to feel that all of the gals could be sold quickly and at a price close to the asking price, and even more important (in my opinion) had to decide before the first gal was build what the long term marketing value of these gals would be for Ford meaning a value per unit and then artificially look upon and rationalize to the bean counters the value of the program. I would say this was likely done in much the same way as one might present a multi million dollar ad campaign being run during the Super Bowl.
I state this because I feel that Ford sold the gals for a price artificially low so as to chomp at the toes of Ferrari and Lamborghini (akin to winning the races many years ago) with there being nothing they could do and by keeping the price significantly under the competition and the predetermined production numbers low all that Ferrari and Lamborghini could do is watch and allow the bloodletting until such time that all of the cars were sold knowing that Ford would then quietly retreat from the arena or Ferrari and Lamborghini would find the weak point thus allowing either or both of the competitors to say “the GT could have been a nice car however Ford delved into an arena that they simply did not understand”.
I feel that the later statement speaks volumes about why Ford is revisiting the funds allocated to the GT program and are slowly recognizing and accepting the fact that secondary systems need to be implemented exclusively for the niche group of GT owners.
Mechanically and design wise these gals are fricken awesome. I feel strongly that the team responsible for designing, creating, and bringing these gals to market did a marvelous job. To a person we have a production race car that was homogenized ever so slightly (IMO) so as to be acceptable by the powers to be to have a license plate placed upon her. When I look at her I say “damn” how did they push these through DOT much less TUV with all the constraints placed upon production vehicles of today and then I smile and say “it is not for me to ask how but rather to once again say “Thank You””. I dare say that the largest cost cutting came as the result of programs that many probably shared would be needed (secondary support services) and yet the same group likely acquiesced to the bean counters when presented with the fact that if the GT could not be designed, built, and marketed for a given figure it would simply not happen. Emotions drove this program with what I feel were likely a very tight hold on the allocated funds to complete it. So I say again that the program was a mechanical success and the team under what were without a doubt, clearly defined financial walls produced a phenomenal gal. Now this team has moved on and the need to support the program was then placed within the traditional Ford services divisions a responsibility that no one expected to be an issue. Now with the letter I feel a change of the tide and a recommitment to the program.
So for me after all of this rambling I must say again that I have no regrets and now have the belief that as the years unfold Ford will remain receptive and appreciative that to a person we backed their successful marketing program. Now all we need is the assurance that rat-holing bits and pieces (as several have shared they are doing) will not become necessary in order to maintain these gals. Also that Ford is realizing that designing, building, and the selling of the gals was Phase 1 with Phase 2 being their commitment to excellence supported by the assurance that all of the parts will remain available for many many years to come.
Thanks again Ford for making these gals a part of your legacy and my life
All the best
Shadowman
1. Apparent lack of dealership connection to the GT’s Ford’s aka “The One”
2. Apparent lack of genuine concern for those that bought in Ford’s dream
3. Apparent lack of concern for lingering issues such as the half shaft bolts
I too received the letter.
If I had received the letter a couple months ago I would have likely considered it little more than a CSI (a means to keep their Customer Satisfaction Index high) style promotional letter however when I take a few minutes and reflect back over the last several months my feelings became much different.
My gut tells me that (as most suspect) that Ford does in fact monitor this Forum’s activity and someone within Ford final said “WTF” are we doing? We have a niche group that bought into the belief that these gals were our aka Ford’s statement piece for the “World” and yet we have simply moved them out of our inventory and then left the customers to swim through the un-chartered waters on their own. I also suspect that after reading for months how most truly appreciate the fact that Ford was willing to present such an awesome gal to market and that they have no regrets with the purchase decision but rather are simply disappointed, some would say disgusted with Ford’s after the purchase commitment to excellence that they are finally considering a new approach..
It is because of this belief that I have that I not only appreciate the letter but also expect that as time goes by the niche group of GT owners will not be forgotten but even more importantly will be even more appreciated for our blindly buying into a relationship that Ford presented on paper however had yet to create an infrastructure to support.
My gut tells me that Ford as with most automotive manufacturers simply projected the production and secondary support module cost of the GT by integrating it as little more than a new model into the existing consumer support programs; i.e. Dealer network, phone support, etc. having truly no idea what it would require to implement and maintain viable secondary programs exclusively for the GT. The proverbial bean counters have strange ways when it comes to financial justification and rationalization and to far too many it would not matter if a GT or a pick-up truck it is simply another vehicle in the line up. I also believe that at the end of the run the bean counters all said “thumbs up” expecting that the project was a wrap. Now in retrospect I also feel that “if” Ford had truly extrapolated cost associated with the GT and exclusive secondary support services such as special dealer training etc. the likelihood these gals would not have been produced because the true cost to enter into the “Exotic” car arena is extreme and when you only have 4000 gals to migrate those cost through the numbers would and frankly will become staggering.
What Ford did for the fortunate few was create a production dream car however in doing so Ford also created a potential long term marketing “Night-Mare”.
In the 60’s Ford for many reasons, some of which are openly known decided to toss down the gauntlet and not simply participate but rather compete in an extreme motor sport arena deciding before they began that the “only” acceptable result would be to win otherwise it would have allowed the likes of Ferrari to smirk as they walked past. The program that was put into place was (as I refer to it) as results oriented rather than financially constrained as such the results were stellar to say the least.
Now 40 years later Ford decided to market off the back of that period in time however instead of going head to head on the track it was now head to head into the “Exotic” car arena that once again has Ferrari near the top of the list. Now from my perspective this is where it gets interesting; Ferrari and Lamborghini (particularly with the successful launch of the Gallardo) are the players in the $175-$225K arena, an arena that by some standards is quickly becoming saturated so Ford had to look at the cost to produce and then bring the GT to market, they had to feel that all of the gals could be sold quickly and at a price close to the asking price, and even more important (in my opinion) had to decide before the first gal was build what the long term marketing value of these gals would be for Ford meaning a value per unit and then artificially look upon and rationalize to the bean counters the value of the program. I would say this was likely done in much the same way as one might present a multi million dollar ad campaign being run during the Super Bowl.
I state this because I feel that Ford sold the gals for a price artificially low so as to chomp at the toes of Ferrari and Lamborghini (akin to winning the races many years ago) with there being nothing they could do and by keeping the price significantly under the competition and the predetermined production numbers low all that Ferrari and Lamborghini could do is watch and allow the bloodletting until such time that all of the cars were sold knowing that Ford would then quietly retreat from the arena or Ferrari and Lamborghini would find the weak point thus allowing either or both of the competitors to say “the GT could have been a nice car however Ford delved into an arena that they simply did not understand”.
I feel that the later statement speaks volumes about why Ford is revisiting the funds allocated to the GT program and are slowly recognizing and accepting the fact that secondary systems need to be implemented exclusively for the niche group of GT owners.
Mechanically and design wise these gals are fricken awesome. I feel strongly that the team responsible for designing, creating, and bringing these gals to market did a marvelous job. To a person we have a production race car that was homogenized ever so slightly (IMO) so as to be acceptable by the powers to be to have a license plate placed upon her. When I look at her I say “damn” how did they push these through DOT much less TUV with all the constraints placed upon production vehicles of today and then I smile and say “it is not for me to ask how but rather to once again say “Thank You””. I dare say that the largest cost cutting came as the result of programs that many probably shared would be needed (secondary support services) and yet the same group likely acquiesced to the bean counters when presented with the fact that if the GT could not be designed, built, and marketed for a given figure it would simply not happen. Emotions drove this program with what I feel were likely a very tight hold on the allocated funds to complete it. So I say again that the program was a mechanical success and the team under what were without a doubt, clearly defined financial walls produced a phenomenal gal. Now this team has moved on and the need to support the program was then placed within the traditional Ford services divisions a responsibility that no one expected to be an issue. Now with the letter I feel a change of the tide and a recommitment to the program.
So for me after all of this rambling I must say again that I have no regrets and now have the belief that as the years unfold Ford will remain receptive and appreciative that to a person we backed their successful marketing program. Now all we need is the assurance that rat-holing bits and pieces (as several have shared they are doing) will not become necessary in order to maintain these gals. Also that Ford is realizing that designing, building, and the selling of the gals was Phase 1 with Phase 2 being their commitment to excellence supported by the assurance that all of the parts will remain available for many many years to come.
Thanks again Ford for making these gals a part of your legacy and my life
All the best
Shadowman
