[Empeg-general] Re: Pricing of the empeg

[Douglas Burnside]

>  Ford>Jaguar AGGGH what a shame. 

Wrong.

Perhaps you long for the "good old days" when Jaguar ranked just about equal with Yugo in terms of build quality, reliability, and number of problems repaired under warranty in the first month of ownership.

Do you remember Lucas electrical equipment?  Jaguars always have been delightful cars to look at and drive, but keeping them running has been an expensive nightmare for decades.

Now, under Ford's auspices, the quality surveys (such as JD Power) have shown enormous improvements in Jaguar reliability and user satisfaction.  And there has been no sign of the feared "dumbing down" of the marque.  The current lineup of Jaguar models is extraordinary -- there is no likelihood of confusing a Jaguar S-type with a Ford LTD, and look at cars like the XK8 or the XKR if you think Jaguar has lost its touch.

If Ford had not taken over Jaguar, then Jaguar would have gone the way of virtually all of the English marques.  Remember Rover?  MG?  Austin Healey?  Sunbeam?  Hillman? Triumph?  I'm sure that Rob or Hugo could add another dozen names to this funereal list.

Not only did Ford save Jaguar, they made them better than they've ever been.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"