| Heritage model only meets DOT standards (impact, lighting, bumper height, side impact, could be a dozen things) through the 2004 model year.
New F150 was ready in '04 so they sold it, plus the Heritage decontented. Smart.
Chevy did the same thing with the Malibu... sell the new one as soon as available, sell the old one through fleets until it no longer meets standards.
Gen 2 Lightning couldn't have survived another model year "As Is".
Did *ANY* 2004 L's sell with fewer than three one-thousand dollar bills stapled to the window sticker in the form of rebates and dealer cash? And it took FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS in rebates/dealer cash to move some of them?
It would have only been worse this year. |