Soccer moms lament: Ford axes minivans
You knew this was coming. Ever since Ford confirmed that the full-size Fairlane crossover (pictured) was going into production, the writing has been on the wall for Ford's big box minivans, and Friday the other shoe finally dropped, with The Detroit News reporting that Ford's minivans are dead.
It turns out this week marked the end of production for the Mercury Monterey, and the last Ford Freestar is rumored to roll off the line next spring. As a result, Ford will go down in history as the first U.S. automaker to stop selling traditional three-row minivans. Whether or not this marks the beginning of the end for the minivan, or just signals Ford's inability to compete with the big dogs in the segment (DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Honda), only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Ford is hoping that it will be more successful competing on a fresh playing field with its new crossover, which debuts in 2008.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Steve 2:20PM (9/03/2006)
As a '00 Honda Odyssey owner, I don't think this marks the end of the minivan.
After seeing Ford's 0% offer, I acutally considered a Ford Freestar. However, my Honda has more power and more features, i.e. factory Navi, from SIX years ago.
Bottom line, it appears Ford never did care about the minivan, going back to letting Lee Iaccoca take the designs to Chrysler and coming up with the Edsel of minivans, the Aerostar.
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Kodyboy 10:22AM (9/02/2006)
What idiots. The one vehicle that we have from Ford is a Mercury Monteray and we really like it. When we learned that they were not making a minivan anymore we started looking elsewhere for when our lease is up. It is amazing, with all those employees that Ford could not come up with a profitable minivan. Way forward....I think not.
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Ben 10:28AM (9/02/2006)
HORRAY!!!
There IS a GOD after all!
Death to all Minivans!
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Joe Condon 10:27AM (9/02/2006)
Square or not, many would all the Fairlane a minivan.
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ron 10:51AM (9/02/2006)
I think the whole minivan/SUV thing is stale. For some time the only action has been in the continuing refinement (and copying of each other's designs and features). Some fresh ideas need to be introduced into the marketplace. Granted, there are only so many basic ways to design a vehicle, but that's a limitation you have to work with. The Failane is a fresh approach to a people/cargo mover, and I'm looking forward to see how this one shakes out. I just hope it doesn't turn out like the Freestyle did, a downsized wannabe Explorer SUV clone.
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Richard Warren 11:06AM (9/02/2006)
Ford's new slogan: We are lost--------
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Mal Fuller 11:17AM (9/02/2006)
Ford never did figure out the "essence" of a minivan. Few minivan nay-sayers ever owned a Caravan, Voyager or Town & Country from Chrysler.
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Shawn 11:20AM (9/02/2006)
Who da heck are these people that are getting upset over the death of the mini van? JFC! Why are you in an automotive forum? Isn't there a Starbucks or Gap you should be at right now?
My rant aside, even most soccer moms are moving away from mini vans. This is actually the few smart things Ford has done recently.
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richard elsbree 11:36AM (9/02/2006)
It's the macho thing to knock the minivan, sorta like hating automatic transmissions. Fact is, few vehicles have ever been more cleverly designed
than the original minivan. If you actually want something to take you from point A to point B they are an intelligent choice. If you want something to prove
your manhood, look elsewhere.
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Dave-in-PA 11:48AM (9/02/2006)
Mal, you're right. For those who never owned a minivan, or those without the need, the beauty of the beast is lost. I had a Caravan for 8 years. Was it classy, sexy or sleek? Of course not. But it moved 7 people when I needed to and it was capable of hauling 4x8 sheets of building materials, appliances, furniture and more, it got decent gas milage and was fantasic for driving vacations allowing us to take as much stuff along as we wanted. I replaced that minivan with crossover type vehicle and I miss the utiity of that van almost every week. So much so I'm thinking of going back to the minivan next year. When you have the need, there's no other vehicle as well suited. This story is an example of how when you can't get it right after 10 years there's no point in continuing. When you've lost your market for that long, you'll never get it back. Chrysler, Toyota and Honda win on this one simply because they were better. Isn't that interesting?
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lavardera 12:03PM (9/02/2006)
Ford Europe has two great compact minivans in the Focus and galaxey models, more akin to the Mazda5. They ought to get a jump on this new segment. Honda and toyata have vans this size at home, and since they seem to be able to certify their cars at the drop of a hat this segment may become jambed before you know it.
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lavardera 12:03PM (9/02/2006)
Ford Europe has two great compact minivans in the Focus and galaxey models, more akin to the Mazda5. They ought to get a jump on this new segment. Honda and toyata have vans this size at home, and since they seem to be able to certify their cars at the drop of a hat this segment may become jambed before you know it.
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Bruce Lee 12:06PM (9/02/2006)
Though I am not a minivan owner, noe do I even like them, but the minivan is a practical vehicle in design. It can do all types of jobs, but this is obviouse. But Ford never caught on to designing or building a minivan that appealed to the American public like Chrysler did. The Aerostar was their best effort, but damn was it ugly! and unreliable just like all the rest of their attempts. As long as Ford keeps designing and building vehicles like the 500 and the Fusion they will keep the rental and leasing fleets happy, but as far as most people are concerned cars like this lack personallity and style, like Fords attempts at minivans. Maybe this is Ford's bold move to accept the truth, they build junk and people are finally starting to realize this.
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Jack Harris 1:25PM (9/02/2006)
What is the difference between the Fairlane and the now cancelled Freestyle. Another gas guzzler nail in Ford's coffin. Where are the good small cars? We need a Ford competitor to the Honda Fit - Toyota Yaris, and its not a seven year old Focus.
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Clarence 1:36PM (9/02/2006)
I am not sure that Ford's competition was all that much better than Ford's minivan, but Ford was certainly outmarketed. Can you remember a single ad for the Windstar, Freestar, Loststar?
Ford needs some marketing help more than anything else right now.
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Drew 1:52PM (9/02/2006)
Call me crazy, but to me - competition means that you put forth the EFFORT, the RESOURCES, and the WILLINGNESS to present a product that represents the best engineering and know-how you have to offer. The Ford Whatever-star and the Mercury "lost in the fog" Monterrey are so pathetic that I seriously question whether Ford has really given a crap about minivans in the last six years at all. Give me a break. Oh yeah, and the Fairlane looks like a sure winner - B9 Tribeca anyone?
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Jake B 1:55PM (9/02/2006)
Ford is attempting to do what needs to be done. Like many companies ford has a hard time competing head to head with the major Japanese manufacturers. Not to say that they can't, the fusion was a great example of Americas ability to throw punches at the Japanese car segments. What ford is doing is offering something that is out of the box, although it looks like a box. They will offer the fairlane with all the amenities of a mini van, although, it doesnt have that morbid "I am a soccer mom look." Is it a gamble? Definitely, but if it pays off, ford will start to swing hard in the new car segment (Ford Reflex anyone?).
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captsnuffy 2:07PM (9/02/2006)
SUV's are soccer Mom mobiles too
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Leroy 2:23PM (9/02/2006)
I don't think anyone ( well very few people ) will miss Ford's minivans... they never really "got it" like Chrysler, Toyota and Honda. The market's pretty much wrapped up with those three.... Ford and the General would do best to not bother.
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serpico 2:39PM (9/02/2006)
I think there may be another factor in play, and that's my generation (I'm 35) are having children later in life. I have only one couple out of the many married family and friends we have that have children, and they only have 2. Does anyone need a minivan with 2 kids? Maybe, but I don't think the market is big enough for all these models of minivans to succeed.
I won't be caught dead in a minivan when I have kids. I'm not planning to have a soccer team, maybe 1 or 2 kids. So a car, suv or crossover is enough for me. I think many people my age or younger are slowly moving away from the minivan as the only option when you have kids.
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