http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/ Autoblog Comments for http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/
Very much digging this. Now get the Mondeo over here as a premium midsize. Sure it would compete against its Fusion brother, but Mondeo buyers may consider a smaller / less expensive Ford as a second car to compliment it in the drive way.

Hatchbacks are awesome, but you American's don't buy them (in any kind of volume to support having them). I say you American's because Canadian sales of hatchbacks are always very good. Focus sales have dropped off the map since they killed the Wagon and Hatch here.]]>Jan 13th 2008 1:37PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/
I hope they don't restrict sales to the Verve sedan alone. The Echo absolutely sucked when it was sedan only; sales of the Echo/Yaris _quadrupled_ when Toyota Canada brought the hatch over.

From what I can see, hatches are outselling sedans in this segment. The only sedans I see with any regularity are Yarises; I've seen the occasional Aveo and Versa, and I can't even remember seeing an Accent or Rio sedan, other than on dealer lots.

I mean, really, trunks in cars this size are pretty much pointless. They may rate the same in terms of volume, but they're so short (and the opening so small) as to be essentially useless. ]]>Jan 13th 2008 2:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/
In recent years Ford Canada has gone to such lengths to alienate its clientele that I know of lifelong Ford owners -- and we're talking about people in small towns who know their local Ford dealers as personal friends and have for decades -- who've recently switched to Japanese cars.

Seriously Ford, WTF? There aren't enough people in Canada looking to buy trucks and SUVs that catering to them exclusively can be considered a viable business model.]]>Jan 13th 2008 2:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/Jan 13th 2008 3:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-drops-literally-in-d-town/
I live in a Domestic-friendly city, and the new Focus' sit on the lot while Calibers and Civics roam around all over the place. My local Ford dealers say the same thing - one stopped stocking more than 1 or 2 at a time because they don't move... and when people do come looking, the first thing they ask is ''Can I still get a 3door or Wagon?'']]>Jan 13th 2008 3:25PM