info2x Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 Yeah. I like the new Lucern with the V8 northstar engine in it. I got pulled over in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACBarnett Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 I still cross my fingers and pray that GM wisens up and builds a buick riviera based off of the new camaro. With the build quality that the enclave has they could make a great GT car in the 35-40k pricerange and it would do wonders to change the brand image.Ok my real reason I want them to do it is so that they'll have a body with which to bring back the grand national. A turbocharged LS-engine or northstar derivative making ~500 hp would be the absolute balls. Make it so it's not quite as fast as the Z06, but a stage 1 or 2 ECU flash away from being damn near undriveable. Now that would be hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMyS60 Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 All the new posts will be: "How can a squeeze a few more MPG out of my I4?"You people make me laugh. First, Volvo probably won't be sold. Ford has publicly put Aston Martin (already sold) and Jag/Rover on the block. If they were interested in selling Volvo, why wouldn't they have done the same? All there ever has been was RUMOR that Volvo would be sold. Furthermore, last year Volvo and Rover made a profit. Right now Ford needs all the profit it can find. They're probably digging thru the sofas in the corporate lobbies. Rover has to be sold, profit or not, because Jag is losing more money than Rover is making and Jag and Rover share production facilities. They have to be sold as a pair. Volvo, on the other hand, is more closely integrated with Ford than any of the other Premier brands are. (For those that don't know, S40 shares the Mazda3 platform, the new S80 is built on a Ford platform, etc). If Volvo is, indeed profitable, Ford has no reason to sell until they reach a serious cash crunch. Despite their recent fortunes, I read somewhere that Ford still has about $20bn in the bank. Second, even if Volvo is sold, such a transaction would take a year or so to execute (Chrysler is still part of Daimler despite being sold 3 months ago). And even after the new company takes ownership, do you have any idea how long it would take to actually affect the product pipeline? Cars have lead times of 4, 5, 6 years. Third, when talking about suitors, it's asinine to speculate. When Ford bough Volvo it was bidding against VW and Fiat. I've also heard BMW and Renault being tossed around this time, as well as Huyndai. And the notion that if BMW bought it, it will somehow increase the value of the brand (magically) but if Hyundai bought it it would somehow decrease it? That doesn't make much sense if you ask me. I also see it as: What would BMW do with a near-luxury Volvo brand (which could never get TOO good that it would take from the flagship marquee) VS. what would Hyundai do to solidify what would become their flagship marquee? Check out their new "Genesis" platform: http://images.motortrend.com/features/auto...+front_view.jpg ....it really is impressive. I get the feeling that Volvo would be the "red headed stepchild" of a premium German brand, but it would be the crown jewel of a company not yet known for its luxury offerings. If anybody doubts Hyundai's ability to crack into the Lux market, all they need to do is take a long hard look at the history of Acura, Infiniti, and, of course, Lexus. And these are home-grown offerings. To put it another way... Imagine contacting "Corporate" to complain of a problem with your new Volvo. If you call BMW, you're calling about one of their lesser products. You're not even GERMAN. You're not even at MINI level. Volvo would be to BMW what GEO was to GM. Now, if you call Hyundai to complain about a problem with your new Volvo, this is their ultra brand. This is going to get the most attention, resources, etc, from Corporate. Volvo is to Hyundai what Cadillac is to GM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMyS60 Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 What's funny is that Ford went on a spending spree a while back and acquired all of these other motor companies... formed PAG. Now they're cash poor (short sighted bastages), so they're hurting, and they might have to sell their only really profitable company.I kind of wish that Ford had bought a minority interest in Volvo, like they did with Mazda. Mazda keeps its separation from Ford, Ford doesn't muck around in the cars that Mazda wants to produce, and there's some decent platform and powertrain sharing happening.Ford is many things but cash poor is NOT one of them. They've got, what, $20bn in the bank right now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c70turbo5 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 (edited) Ford is many things but cash poor is NOT one of them. They've got, what, $20bn in the bank right now?Yes and noFord Automotive group had 278,554,000 in total assets at the end of 2006 and also had 282,019,000 in total liabilities..... you don't have to be a CFO to realize whats going on... it's like having a $1000 credit card payment when you only make $800 a month. hence selling Volvo would get thier assets above liabilities once againFor furter review look Here Edited August 1, 2007 by c70turbo5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scootdiggity Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Ford is many things but cash poor is NOT one of them. They've got, what, $20bn in the bank right now?The reason people want Ford to sell Volvo for the most part is because Ford only used Volvo for their safety innovations and have not done anything to help the brand in a positive manner. They said they would let Volvo do their own thing but now they are even sharing platforms among other things. They cancelled the R Trim Level now, so what will be next, can only be bad for Volvo. What do you think hyundai would do for Volvo except take their safety innovations and improve their own brand, like Ford has done. That is why a private sale would be the best thing. I also have no respect for the Ford brand being as I have owned them in the past with nothing but problems. I have over 320,000 on my Volvo 850T with orignal motor and turbo, and still running strong and solid. I have yet to see a domestic or japanese car that can do the same without feeling that it is going to fall apart when you are riding it. I personally wouldnt buy a 99+ Volvo because Ford has ruined their quality. Its pretty bad when the Taurus name has to come back out again just to sell the Ford Five Hundreds, I have never seen any automaker bring back a model name just to gain customers back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael V70T5 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Yes I stated that they were "sharing" platforms but realistically they are taking the Volvo platforms and using them within Ford. So as someone pointed out to me at least they are not incorporating FORD parts into VOLVOS.So ultimately not a bad thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c70turbo5 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Yes I stated that they were "sharing" platforms but realistically they are taking the Volvo platforms and using them within Ford. So as someone pointed out to me at least they are not incorporating FORD parts into VOLVOS.So ultimately not a bad thing?Ford blue was too much lol............. budgets and design are still must go through ford i am sure. dunno about actual parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theForgottenone Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 If anybody doubts Hyundai's ability to crack into the Lux market, all they need to do is take a long hard look at the history of Acura, Infiniti, and, of course, Lexus. And these are home-grown offerings.Except Hyundai is not Japanese company compare to those you have mention above and it is not near advance in technology as them nor the market influence and reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxLover Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 (edited) :o Edited August 6, 2007 by BoxLover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PharmD Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Hmm..still arguing I see I'll check back later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbormonkey Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 I just saw the crash results for 2007 bmw's and their safety was about as good as a car that was half the price the report stated. I bet that is why bmw wanted them in the first place to improve their safety aspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlson Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 eh, so who bought it?I tried to read 8 pages, but still don't see clear answer. hopefully not bmw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
park Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 i agree that ford has done nothing good to volvo. Ford makes cheap cars and so they are trying to make volvo a cheap car. So iam glad to hear that they were sold so they can live up to their name once again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyturbo2002 Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 I read a few pages...skipped ahead and still the verdict is out to who has purchased Volvo, right? I don't know if anyone has thought about it but Volkswagen Group, I think, would be a pretty good parent company. They seem to let the companies continue on with the majority of their own stuff and I don't feel that VOlvo would suffer at all, on the contrary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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