Vehicle Name Legacy

[BobbyP]

Ford announced that they're renaming the Five Hundred sedan the Taurus. This car never really caught on to the public. The Taurus has twice the name recognition. Ford only sold 3526 of the Five Hundreds last month, Toyota sold 9 times the number of Camry's.

Saturn was wise for carrying over the VUE name for 2008. We all feel feel the 2008 needs to earn it's stripes. Time will tell.

[GR898SL2]

At first I had hoped GM would rename the VUE "Antara" because in many ways it's a departure from the '02-'07 models, but lately I think the '08 VUE will be just fine. The Opel-esque look is starting to grow on me and I prefer it to the new CR-V and Rav4 refreshes.

:flag:

[Gerry Proctor]

No one younger than 50 would have any connection, branding wise, to the Ford 500 name. It was a poor name choice for the demographic. Amercian auto manufacturers could do better by just listening to the sage advice of a bunch of drunk frat boys. All they'd have to do is buy them pizza and more beer. They certainly couldn't do any worse.

[SkyVue]

It took Ford how long and how much money to figure that out? Seriously I was kinda hoping that Saturn would have brought over the European spec Chevy Capitiva insted of the Antara. GM/Daewoo designed both. The Capitva is better looking on both the inside and outside. Holden imports both! The Chevrolet version is called the Captiva Maxx! Maybe this could be the replacement for the Equinox/ Torrent? Anyways enough of my rant. Like many, the New Vue look is growing on me the more I look at pictures of it. Sad puppy dog headlights and all.

[lordkosc]

At first I had hoped GM would rename the VUE "Antara" because in many ways it's a departure from the '02-'07 models, but lately I think the '08 VUE will be just fine. The Opel-esque look is starting to grow on me and I prefer it to the new CR-V and Rav4 refreshes.

:flag:

haha me 2 :yes:

On the ford issue, I hate the Tarus name, prolly because the car was so bad for so long... but then again 500 was not named any better...

oh and them puppy dog headlights on the 08 red line vue , sold me!

[nakman]

To add to Ford's blunder, they changed the name of the Taurus to the 500/Freestyle so, they could list a higher sticker. And try to tell everyone they are more upscale and larger cars! The ended up being bigger and much heavier with underpowered (Re: same engine as the Taurus) engines and capped it off by being just as boring in styling and execution.

It's going to take a lot more than switching the name back to Taurus. They need to revamp the line up. Ford didn't even give North America the updated Focus platform but, gave the old one a little cosmetics work instead. They have a lot of work to do.

......Ah....I think I got lost in a Ford forum....opps!!! :dazed:

Saturn can update names to reflect the changes/new models and it really woundn't make much of a diff.

.....what they really need to be careful of is how they service their customers. With GM looking for ways to cut costs and regain market share, they can't lose sight of abandoning their existing customer base at the expense of aquiring new customers. :whoa:

[spencerb]

I thought the Fusion was more of a direct replacement for the Taurus. And I had no idea the 500 was a recycled name.

Changing the name of a car is a big deal. Think about the S-series/ION. Many people here want the S-series back. But if they didn't change the name, it would be a totally different perception. The ION is viewed as a totally different model instead of a continuation of an existing model. In reality, it is a totally different model, but no more so than total redesign of the generations of other cars like the Civic.

In Saturn's case I think it was wise to move to a name over letter designations.

The VUE isn't my favorite name, but it is best to keep it. The VUE name doesn't have much negative baggage associated with it. And when the VUE was being developed, I don't think GM has firmly decided to make Saturn the American Opel.

[Nuke-Em]

Yeah, because changing the name of the 500 to the Taurus is going to sell LOADS more cars :rolleyes:

Ford just doesn't get it.

Matt

[GR898SL2]

Imagine how the Chic-Fill-A guy feels thinking he bought the last Taurus to roll off the Atlanta assembly line, only to see the name revived!

I agree, Nuke-Em, making the big Fords competitive will help them sell, not a name change.

:flag:

[lordkosc]

Imagine how the Chic-Fill-A guy feels thinking he bought the last Taurus to roll off the Atlanta assembly line, only to see the name revived!

I agree, Nuke-Em, making the big Fords competitive will help them sell, not a name change.

:flag:

Imagine him actually realizing he bought a TAURUS!!! after all the excitement ended... I'd cry knowing I own one, lol.... :tounge:

[cdp326]

Yeah, because changing the name of the 500 to the Taurus is going to sell LOADS more cars :rolleyes:

Ford just doesn't get it.

Matt
The other upgrades to the 500/Taurus should improve sales more. It's a great car, it deserves to sell better.

Another benefit to not having the Antara name is that we won't have to worry about a third model with the initials "SA." If Saturn tried to move to all their models like that, it'd be sickening.

[BobbyP]

It took Ford how long and how much money to figure that out? Seriously I was kinda hoping that Saturn would have brought over the European spec Chevy Capitiva insted of the Antara. GM/Daewoo designed both. The Capitva is better looking on both the inside and outside. Holden imports both! The Chevrolet version is called the Captiva Maxx! Maybe this could be the replacement for the Equinox/ Torrent? Anyways enough of my rant. Like many, the New Vue look is growing on me the more I look at pictures of it. Sad puppy dog headlights and all.

I like the exterior of the Captiva better than the new VUE. The 17" six spoke version of the curent VUE Red line rim looks good. It seems like GM didn't do a whole lot to the Theta chassis, other than add a lot more weight. I hope the new 2008 VUE doesn't get a reputation of handling like the Queen Mary...