Vignale, the new name for posh Fords
Discussion
Moley RUFC said:
"And a new Vignale smartphone app will allow users to interact with their car, find where they've parked it and track down fuel stations"
Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
I love my Fords and I quiet like the look of the Vignale but I've got to say, this post had me crying with laughter, especially the get pint of milk and bang it's gone bit, comedy gold fella!Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
Moley RUFC said:
"And a new Vignale smartphone app will allow users to interact with their car, find where they've parked it and track down fuel stations"
Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
I missed this Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
Uncle John said:
There are some real Ford nuts out there though and not just for the RS brand.
My father in law will not buy anything else and changes every 3 years or so. He's just bought a new Kuga at 28k so no doubt if these were around he may well have had a serious look.
In fairness, there are far worse automotive brands to 'stick with'.My father in law will not buy anything else and changes every 3 years or so. He's just bought a new Kuga at 28k so no doubt if these were around he may well have had a serious look.
Uncle John said:
There are some real Ford nuts out there though and not just for the RS brand.
My father in law will not buy anything else and changes every 3 years or so. He's just bought a new Kuga at 28k so no doubt if these were around he may well have had a serious look.
My father in law will not buy anything else and changes every 3 years or so. He's just bought a new Kuga at 28k so no doubt if these were around he may well have had a serious look.
My dad: Escort mk1 or 2, Hillman Avenger, Escort mk3, Escort mk4, Escort mk4, Escort mk5, Focus mk2, Fiesta. He would never have a Vauxhall, because he had to drive a Vauxhall Viva once many years ago, and it was terrible.I'm with him on the Vauxhalls, I had a Corsa courtesy car a few years ago and the self centerings indicator stalk did my head in. No idea if they are still like that, no intention to find out.
AmitG said:
No fleet sales to protect image and residuals.
I'd like to see how long that lasts when none of the main fleet companies will list them and they have run out of dealer principles to force them on to.The 'premium' brands seem to have no problem taking fleet money and keeping the residuals up. Some of them even, in fact all dump stock to daily rental fleets (shock horror) as well.
KTF said:
AmitG said:
No fleet sales to protect image and residuals.
I'd like to see how long that lasts when none of the main fleet companies will list them and they have run out of dealer principles to force them on to.The 'premium' brands seem to have no problem taking fleet money and keeping the residuals up. Some of them even, in fact all dump stock to daily rental fleets (shock horror) as well.
Troubleatmill said:
If only Ford had some premium brands in it's portfolio......
Ih wait.....
i think the problem was that Ford HQ in the States saw Jaguar and Volvo in the way that Mercury and Lincoln were seen in relation to the USDM Fords ... Ih wait.....
and therefore couldn;t understand the slating the type got for being a 'rebodied Mondeo' ... as Mercury are basically a a Wolsley /Riley to Ford's Austin / Morris ...
Howard- said:
Moley RUFC said:
"And a new Vignale smartphone app will allow users to interact with their car, find where they've parked it and track down fuel stations"
Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
I missed this Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greate...
Its probably worth considering what Ford actually expect to happen. I doubt they expect to suddenly be selling thousands of Vignales and Ford suddenly becoming the must have car brand of 2015. In mainstream terms I can't see a posh Mondeo having huge mass appeal, but I can imagine a few people who might buy one:
a) Ford die-hards who want something different.
b) People who want a fairly affordable car that they think is posh or unusual.
c) Faux-luxe types who imagine having a salesman with a less shiny suit, an exclusive range of colours to choose from, a separate service waiting room and a useless customer service hotline at their beck and call is a step closer to a footballer/WAG's lifestyle.
So they may well sell a few but I can't see it becoming a runaway success - but maybe that's the point.
To be fair, there's no mention of sales targets or expectations, and the cost of offering the option must be pretty trivial. So any that they do sell are likely to bring a decent profit. And if it helps incrementally enhance the image of the brand and break out of the commodity car cycle then they are achieving their goal. Good luck to them, I guess - this is the sort of car few PHers would buy new, but we'll be gaga about them in 5 years time when they can be picked up for £4k.
On the topic of handbags, awfully naff but what car manufacturer personal or fashion accessory isn't? We'd like to think no one with a dose of class or style, let alone ourselves, would wear Alfa Romeo sunglasses or a Volvo raincoat, or a Vignale handbag, but all the manufacturers promote such tat so they must make some cash on them.
a) Ford die-hards who want something different.
b) People who want a fairly affordable car that they think is posh or unusual.
c) Faux-luxe types who imagine having a salesman with a less shiny suit, an exclusive range of colours to choose from, a separate service waiting room and a useless customer service hotline at their beck and call is a step closer to a footballer/WAG's lifestyle.
So they may well sell a few but I can't see it becoming a runaway success - but maybe that's the point.
To be fair, there's no mention of sales targets or expectations, and the cost of offering the option must be pretty trivial. So any that they do sell are likely to bring a decent profit. And if it helps incrementally enhance the image of the brand and break out of the commodity car cycle then they are achieving their goal. Good luck to them, I guess - this is the sort of car few PHers would buy new, but we'll be gaga about them in 5 years time when they can be picked up for £4k.
On the topic of handbags, awfully naff but what car manufacturer personal or fashion accessory isn't? We'd like to think no one with a dose of class or style, let alone ourselves, would wear Alfa Romeo sunglasses or a Volvo raincoat, or a Vignale handbag, but all the manufacturers promote such tat so they must make some cash on them.
saaby93 said:
Is this working? I cant see it being anything other than a way of taking the AM brand down market.
When will we see Rolls or Bentley grilles and names appearing on VW and BMW?
Some people know how to strengthen a brand
sorry what has the relevance of FoMoCo taking yet another Carrozzeria name in vain got to do with AM ?When will we see Rolls or Bentley grilles and names appearing on VW and BMW?
Some people know how to strengthen a brand
Edited by mph1977 on Sunday 19th April 11:53
The appeal of cars like this has always been limited.
Ford hit a gold seam in the 70s and 80s with Ghia but that was because everyone had heard of Ghia already and it was a bit posh.
At the time, BMWs were quite expensive and a bit German and Audi were rebadged VWs until the Audi 100 CD but both were more expensive than a Ford.
BL tried it with Vanden Plas and Allegro and, to be honest, I think this concept would be better applied to smaller cars (like the AM Cygnet which was way too much).
Ford hit a gold seam in the 70s and 80s with Ghia but that was because everyone had heard of Ghia already and it was a bit posh.
At the time, BMWs were quite expensive and a bit German and Audi were rebadged VWs until the Audi 100 CD but both were more expensive than a Ford.
BL tried it with Vanden Plas and Allegro and, to be honest, I think this concept would be better applied to smaller cars (like the AM Cygnet which was way too much).
forzaminardi said:
To be fair, there's no mention of sales targets or expectations, and the cost of offering the option must be pretty trivial. So any that they do sell are likely to bring a decent profit. And if it helps incrementally enhance the image of the brand and break out of the commodity car cycle then they are achieving their goal.
This bit I can agree with, but whilst you'll probably think I'm being unfair with what I'm about to say, it strikes me as being along the lines of fiddling whilst Rome burns.If you agree with Marchionne's assessment as I described some pages back, and think that companies like Ford need an upmarket play, then this is about the feeblest way of going about it. It's basically a trim level masquerading as something significant.
Citroen have it about right, for a company in an unfortunate starting position. They're trying to distance "DS" from their traditional brands, with completely different cars, and it's sort of working, maybe.
This from Ford is just crap. Whether they sell any or even recoup the expenditure is, IMO, neither here or there. What it says to me is they actually do think that the sort of person that wants to buy a Volvo or a cheap Audi/BMW/Merc or a Jag is worth going after, and a viable target, but they have no brand, no product and no idea of how to do it, so they'll just do this, whatever it is, and ah well we tried. Or actually expected it to work, I'm not sure.
The look is ok, not my personal taste but ok. I think 20" wheels are a mistake as it will tramline quite easily and ride won't be the best. I understand they need an upper tier to market these as premium. But Ford has shown they have no bottle and the first slight wobble in sales figures and Vignale will be the new basic and all hail Vignale X!
Edited by Rincewind209 on Monday 20th April 08:59
Blakewater said:
Howard- said:
Moley RUFC said:
"And a new Vignale smartphone app will allow users to interact with their car, find where they've parked it and track down fuel stations"
Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
I missed this Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greate...
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