O/T. We need your help !!!!

As some may know, Ford recently shelved the upcoming Generation 3 Lightning. This was not a SVT decision, but a Ford beancounter decision. Remember that the next Lightning was to use a version of the Ford GT engine, and was supposed to be quite a monster.

Even if you are not a fan of this truck, we still need your help. The Lightning Community has launched a grass roots letter, fax, e-mail campaign to get our truck back. As has been proven in the past, with the Mustang, this can work at Ford.

Enthusiasts as a whole are a small part of the auto buying community. If automakers see that they can just throw away popular halo vehicles like the Lightning, based on "bad math," with no repercussions, then what is their incentive to keep improving the breed. Or, with no outcry, to produce half baked "performance" products like the Monte Carlo and Impala SS. This is why we must all band together to help save an incredibly popular vehicle. Ford has to be made to understand that this is a bad business decision......... and that they will be held accountable.

Please take 5 minutes out of your day to help our cause.

I will thank everyone in advance.

Here are the ways to contact them:

SVT Phone # is 1-800-367-3788
SVT fax # is: 1-313-621-2500

John Coletti's email is: jcoletti@ford.com
Tom Scarpello's email is : tscarpel@ford.com

SVT snail mail:
Ford SVT
PO Box 490
Dearborn, MI 48121

Update !!!!

It looks like SVT as a whole is in danger. While this may be rumor........ it may not be.

Please help !!!!

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17520

The untold story here is that SVT buyers also buy other Ford products. SVT products cause people who would never consider a Ford, to buy a Ford. Passion in SVT can turn a "Chevy guy" into a "Ford guy."

These are qualities that cannot be realized on paper alone. If you think I am "full of it," that is certainly your perogative............. however, my husband is living proof. Consumate Chevy guy until he met me............. and my '94 Lightning. Now he is the consumate Ford enthusiast, and badmouths most of what Chevy does.

A cause is never hopeless. If we sit on our a*ses and whine "oh woe is me," then we deserve whatever we get. We have the most powerful pursuasive arguement on our sides............ our wallets.

If Ford knows that they can ***** all over us, and we will just come back so they can do it again............ then nothing will change. However, if they know that it will impact them in the pocketbook......... now we have pursuasive power. My $150,000 in purchases in the next couple of years may be a pittance.......... but multiply that by 10,000 buyers. Now we have a number that can raise some eyebrows. Also, through word of mouth, I have sold more Ford product than you can imagine (I have a big mouth........ I know........ big surprise). However, negative word of mouth is much more powerful than positive. Do they really want to go there???

In other words, Ford needs to look at the big picture. They need to look further than the end of their noses. This has ramifications far beyond what they are thinking of. A pissed off public is a VERY powerful voice.

While many may be willing to accept the crap that the manufacturers throw out, in place of their beloved products............ many of us are NOT.

I have been in retail, and sales of one type or another for 24 years. It takes a long time to garner good will and a loyal customer.............. however, it is much easier to lose said customer. Also, while a happy customer may only tell 1 or 2 people about their good experience........... a pissed off customer may tell hundreds.

In other words, even the most thick headed retail establishment knows that it is alot cheaper to keep a customer than to try to draw one in.

Also, SVT customers buy alot more than just SVT products. Ford would be wise to remember that.