Will Jaguar Survive?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Wounded Jaguar looks like it's hanging on
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/AUTO02/603220305/1148/AUTO01

Quote:

CHIPPING CAMPDEN, England -- Jaguar has slid perilously close to the financial precipice again but thanks to another bailout from Ford, has managed to avert disaster, for now............................Jaguar's current output of around 80,000 is very close to Porsche's, the world's most profitable car maker.

dd74 · 03-24-2006, 11:38 AM

Huh? Porsche is the world's most profitable carmaker? I thought Toyota was?

I always liked older (60s and 70s) Jags. Sadly, the new ones are ugly overrated Tauruses, and the two-doors are completely uninspiring.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Porsche just purchased 25% of VW, guess they had the cash on hand.

I found this posted at another form with the title:

Note to Jaguar -> Work with Lotus
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/FREE/60320010/1024/LATESTNEWS
Lotus looking to build niche vehicles for other automakers, expand engineering business

Quote:

Group Lotus is talking to several manufacturers about making niche vehicles at its plant in Hethel, England.

dd74 · 03-24-2006, 11:42 AM

Oh, man. If I were Lotus, I wouldn't get anywhere near Jaguar. Talk about apples and oranges.

Decolliber · 03-24-2006, 11:56 AM

Stories on the auto industry web sites a few weeks ago that Ford might be trying to persuade Renault to buy Jaguar. The ultimate English joke on the French.

dd74 · 03-24-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Decolliber
The ultimate English joke on the French.

Or is it the other way around?

HardDrive · 03-24-2006, 12:12 PM

Funny this came up.

I was on a dealer lot looking at used S-types 4.0s yesterday. I personally think they look great. But why does the instrumenation look EXACTLY like a Ford?!?!!? Its outrageous.

Joeaksa · 03-24-2006, 12:15 PM

HD,

I just drove my 4.0 S-Type from Phoenix to Vegas this morning. Averaged about 25 mpg while running 85 the whole way up.

Have owned the car for 2.5 years now and love it. No problems what so ever and intend on keeping it for a while. The early models had issues with the tranny, so get one that has over 70k on it. They seem to fail before this time and if they make it this long they are fine.

PM or email me for more info.

Joe A

Deschodt · 03-24-2006, 12:17 PM

Jag's hopes are pinned on the new XK, the one that everyone thinks looks like a Taurus from the front... So I'd have to say NO...

It looks more like a taurus than an Aston to me !

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Huh? Porsche is the world's most profitable carmaker? I thought Toyota was?

In an absolute sense, Toyota probably makes the most overall profit in the industry. On a per-car basis, Porsche is the most profitable. Porsche, on average, makes about $7800 profit on every car that goes out the door.

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

IMO this new XK is going to be something special. The last generation of Jags have looked unbalanced, funky. This new ride is lean, clean, and sexy. I think its going to do really really well.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by s_wilwerding
In an absolute sense, Toyota probably makes the most overall profit in the industry. On a per-car basis, Porsche is the most profitable. Porsche, on average, makes about $7800 profit on every car that goes out the door.

I'd imagine Ferrari does a LOT better then that.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Tervuren
I'd imagine Ferrari does a LOT better then that.

It's gotta be a ratio of some sort then.

aap1966 · aap1966's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Huh? Porsche is the world's most profitable carmaker? I thought Toyota was?

On a per vehicle sold basis, I think it's Morgan.

HardDrive · 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s_wilwerding
Porsche, on average, makes about $7800 profit on every car that goes out the door.

Thats what happens when you sell morons 'aluminum look' plastic seat backs that have been painted silver. I kid you not, its a Cayman option.

EDIT: Forget to mention that this option cost $1495. I also forgot to mention the $880 aluminum shift know option.

HardDrive · 03-24-2006, 05:31 PM

Interesting quote from the article:

"Couchman does give Jaguar credit for some achievements. Quality has been turned around - last year Jaguar topped the J.D.Power Sales Satisfaction Index in the U.S. for the second year in a row, edging out second-place Lexus, and Buick and Porsche in joint third."

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Funny this came up.

I was on a dealer lot looking at used S-types 4.0s yesterday. I personally think they look great. But why does the instrumenation look EXACTLY like a Ford?!?!!? Its outrageous.

um, because it is a rebadged Taurus? They have not made a great car since the XKE, and they stopped making those before they stopped making 914's

Joeaksa · 03-24-2006, 06:04 PM

HD,

Here is a photo of the car sitting in the parking lot in Vegas this afternoon.

coloradoporsche · 03-24-2006, 06:57 PM

Yea, here's mine, parked at the mall in Jerkwater USA......

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

I think the Porsche profitability not only has to do with selling cars, but also some sort of financial investing they had done. Something to do with securing a set price for a dollar-to-euro conversion a couple years back, and then exercising the option to purchase euro's at a very favorable exchange rate. I recall reading that (maybe in WSJ?) last year. It was THAT move which made Porsche a bundle of money.

Oh yeah, and having driven a 4.0 S-type (albeit only for my honeymoon night), and Taurus rental cars, I'd have to say the S-type is WAY NICER than any Taurus I've ever been in.