TO THE EDITOR:
"Ford: Separate stores are key for Lincoln" (autonews.com, Jan. 26) is timely and helpful. I live in San Francisco, which must be considered one of the most influential cities in the country for the customers Lincoln is trying to attract and maintain. There is zero presence for Lincoln, or Ford, in San Francisco. No dealer, no showroom. There hasn't been for several years. I see Continentals and older Town Cars in livery service, plus some new Navigators used for family ski trips, but that's it. Period. And this is too bad because the new Lincolns are competitive vehicles and certainly deserve comparison with others in their categories.
Friends of mine who wanted a new Continental acquired theirs from about 60 miles away, as the closer dealers basically had no inventory, interest in or knowledge of the car. The Continental itself they love and feel is a great replacement for their 15-year-old Town Car.
Might Lincoln consider a showroom a la Tesla? Maybe a small presence initially, but it might be a good initial effort to bring Lincoln to the minds of Northern Californians.
CHARLES SHIPLEY, San Francisco, The writer is a former dealership sales consultant and sales manager.
