"Aloha Milkyway" (alohamilkyway)
09/02/2014 at 11:03 • Filed to: None | 1 | 8 |
This car flopped so bad it barely broke 20,000 units in North America. For reasons unclear to me, the Scorpio was an interesting car for me. The idea of a "big" Euro Ford being sold in America was fascinating. They looked far less stodgy than their American counterparts too. Alas, high conversion costs killed the Scorpio's chances in the US market and eventually led to the death of Merkur. With a Ford badge, the Scorpio would end up being a far more successful car in Europe right up until Ford made a mess of the last generation.
My soft spot for big Euro Fords led me to the Scorpio, what's yours?
TotallyThatStupid
> Aloha Milkyway
09/02/2014 at 12:04 | 1 |
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/464652…
Funny enough, there's a Scorpio for sale right now in Minneapolis. And an uber-rare 5-speed, too!
Steve in Manhattan
> Aloha Milkyway
09/02/2014 at 12:07 | 1 |
Ignoring the obvious (Phaeton) I'd say the Subaru SVX. Nearly bought one in 1997 - brand new, sticker somewhat north of 36 grand. The dealer had 3 or 4 of them that had been sitting there for months. I told them I'd go 27 tax and tags, they declined. Checked in a month later, the cars were still sitting there, and they still wouldn't budge too far off the sticker. Bought a new SHO instead and never looked back.
Textured Soy Protein
> Aloha Milkyway
09/02/2014 at 12:11 | 1 |
I wonder what sold worse: the Scorpio, or the Sterling 827SLi?
Aloha Milkyway
> Textured Soy Protein
09/02/2014 at 12:34 | 0 |
The Rover, sorry, Sterling beat it by quite a margin. After all, it was in the market longer
ACESandEIGHTS
> Steve in Manhattan
09/03/2014 at 10:18 | 0 |
You made the right choice. The SHO will always be remembered for American greatness and could very well be on the road today. The SVX and its 4-speed automatic transmission... wtf? It will be remembered more for its quirky TV ad campaign than the car itself.
ACESandEIGHTS
> Aloha Milkyway
09/03/2014 at 10:28 | 0 |
The Scorpio always looked like a remolded Sable to me.
The XR4ti (Sierra Cosworth or whatever) was far more interesting I thought. I wish they'd continued to produce those in the US but not tried to make it a freakin' 4th Ford brand but instead just called it a Sierra GT or something.
My DC neighbor had a FIAT 131—-the only reason we remember these sorts of forays into domestic markets as flops is: the first model year always sucks. Then: parts become scarce as the manufacturer closes up shop in the US. Finally: your Ford/Peugeot/FIAT/Renault/etc looks like a rolling shitpile because it's as if the car never existed here and was only brought over clandestinely from Argentina to rust and die slowly in the US.
I wish Renault had made it here. And not foisted the awful Le Car/Alliance/Encore on us and then left. Imagine if we had 5 Turbos and Clios on the road? I would have a tough time deciding between the Golf and the Clio.
Aloha Milkyway
> ACESandEIGHTS
09/03/2014 at 10:44 | 0 |
A Clio Williams would have been a great addition in Renault's lineup if they stayed a little longer in the States. Speaking of the French, shame the 205 GTi never made it in America. Was the 405 the only Peugeot sold over there?
Steve in Manhattan
> ACESandEIGHTS
09/03/2014 at 10:45 | 1 |
The SHO was good car for long distances. I once drove it from DC to Wisconsin on a whim (to see a Frank Lloyd Wright house) - about 13 hours, one stop, and I got out feeling great. 100k when I sold it, and the only thing that ever broke was the CD changer in the trunk - 5 times - can't blame Ford for that. That car was more reliable than any other I've owned, including two Toyotas, a Honda, and a Mercedes. Nice power from the 3.4 liter V8, decent ride, cornered well.