motor

Ford Capri 2.8i · 12-08-2005, 10:48 AM

Since Ford hasnt been able to gain profits with Jaguar, and the Ford Corporation is getting many economic and financial problems mostly due to the american ford reconversion. On the other hand, Renault is thinking of buying Jaguar since Renault doesnt have any luxurious brand in Europe and it seems that the expansion of Infinity in Europe could be a problem because there is much work to do in order to stablish Infinity in Europe...has any JW member heard of this statement?

RC45 · 12-08-2005, 10:50 AM

Surely it would just be cheaper and easier for Renault to stop building unreliable junk...

Ford Capri 2.8i · 12-08-2005, 11:00 AM

Go on...since in Spain we havent heard any unreliability problems for the renault models....except some typical youth problems as every brand has

nthfinity · 12-08-2005, 11:06 AM

i havent heard anything about Renault buying Jaguar

the closest rumor to any current Ford brand is Ford itself to Toyota... and not much is founded in that rumor.

in fact, Ford has a lot invested in joint ventures with Jaguar and cross-platforms... both engines/chassis development

RC45 · 12-08-2005, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas

I haven't heard anything about this

Originally Posted by RC45

Surely it would just be cheaper and easier for Renault to stop building unreliable junk...

My Clio has a stock engine... and after around 100 hours working between 5500 and 6500rpm... it's still in good shape

Your Clio is also maintained and kept in good shape by competant hands.

I grew up with people trying to keep Renault 5's and other econo-boxes alive and well in the 1980's - and they were rust prone, unreliable, pathetic death traps.

dannyroz · 12-08-2005, 02:20 PM

Im sorry but that is quite a silly rumor...

Like nthfinity said, Ford has too much money invested in Jaguar development wise.

Plus its almost 20 years into the venture and no profit has been made from all those years, why would Ford just sell them off now when they are selling the most Jags since they bought them?

THINK PEOPLE THINK!

nthfinity · 12-08-2005, 03:08 PM

As for the old R5... well - those cars are crap here and there... unless you keep them in good shape Same happens with the muscle cars I guess

depends on what years for muscle cars... the originals from the 60's-70's were recomnded to have a rebuild every 100,000 miles or so, if run at high engine speeds for long periods of time.... and as you said... regular oil changes/maintainence is the key to keeping the machine working. by the late 80's... the 5.0 mustang, and 5.7 small block in the F body are making nearly as much power/torque as they did new with 150,000 miles on them... and the newer models are even more reliable/long lasting... and being that ive driven various muscle cars with that kind of milage... i can definately tell you they feel just as good as the 'new' models (same engine/trans... just newer, and less milage)

ZfrkS62 · 12-08-2005, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by dannyroz

Im sorry but that is quite a silly rumor...

Like nthfinity said, Ford has too much money invested in Jaguar development wise.

Plus its almost 20 years into the venture and no profit has been made from all those years, why would Ford just sell them off now when they are selling the most Jags since they bought them?

THINK PEOPLE THINK!

Its called cutting your losses. Why invest more into a failing branch that is bringing down profit margins? Cut them off, and reinvest the money from the sale elsewhere.

nthfinity · 12-08-2005, 03:37 PM

FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co is mulling the sale of its historic Browns Lane plant near Coventry, central England, that was the home of its iconic Jaguar brand since 1928, Jaguar said Wednesday.

"The possible sale of Browns Lane is one of several options that is currently being studied," spokesman Don Hume said, confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal.

He would not confirm the paper's report that Ford (Research), the world's third-biggest carmaker, intended to cut Jaguar production by 6 to 7 percent in 2006 amid slack demand.

"It is too early to comment on production figures for 2006 as we are still in the process of finalizing our plans at this stage," Hume said.

Under pressure to curtail chronic losses at Jaguar, Ford last year cut 1,150 Jaguar jobs in England, scaled back production at the Browns Lane plant and shifted output to another factory near Birmingham.

Workers at Browns Lane now make wooden trim for Jaguar interiors or have administrative jobs. No cars are built there.

A person familiar with the situation said several parties, including a manufacturer, had approached Jaguar about buying the plant but that no decision had yet been made. Company officials informed workers about the talks last week.

Ford lost $284 million in the third quarter and its North American vehicle operations have lost more than $1.4 billion before taxes so far this year. It has promised to unveil a radical restructuring in North America early next year.

Ford bought Jaguar in 1989 for £1.6 billion ($2.76 billion) but has struggled to make money with the brand, characterized by its leaping big cat mascot. In September it dropped its forecast that Jaguar would break even by 2007.

Acknowledging that it was building too many cars, Jaguar last year lopped 15,000 units of planned output to help shore up pricing power in an increasingly competitive premium car market.

It also pulled out of the U.S. daily rental business this year as it adjusted production volume to meet demand.

Jaguar is one of the European luxury brands in Ford's Premier Automotive Group, which also includes Volvo, Land Rover and Aston Martin.

perhaps Renault is attempting to buy the old plant

gobs3z · 12-08-2005, 04:30 PM

I really do like what Jaguar is coming out with now, but the prices on them are horrible. I see 2003 XK's going for $15k on ebay. Thats worse depreciation than american cars. I really hope Aston is doing much better, but i think Jag makes a good car but everyone wants German, so i dunno what they can do.

nthfinity · 12-11-2005, 02:36 PM

The company also lacks an SUV, but that is being addressed by taking one that will be built in Korea

LMAO!

espen · 12-11-2005, 04:06 PM

Oh god, Renault will never survive this :roll:

TransAm · 01-07-2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas

As for the old R5... well - those cars are crap here and there...

Never trust a car with only 3 bolts holding the wheels on

Sir_GT · 01-07-2006, 10:13 PM

If Renault buys Jaguar, Ghosn will turn it into something akin to Porsche. Small, profitable, and with an established brand presence.

Hey, if a man can turn Nissan from dodgy to desirable in one generation, the biggest mistake anyone can make is to underestimate him.

AlienDB7 · 01-22-2006, 06:47 PM

Sunday, January 22, 2006 11:01 EST

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. number two automaker Ford Motor Co. has rejected an approach from France's Renault to buy ailing luxury-car maker Jaguar, the Sunday Times newspaper said.

The paper, citing senior auto industry sources, said Renault had expressed its interest in acquiring Jaguar to Ford last year, but Ford's chiefs, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Ford Jr., were understood to have rejected the French firm's overtures.

Neither company was immediately available for comment.