![]() |
|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#61 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
|
First of all, I have never purchased a Ford. I've purchased 1 car in my life and it's a Mazda 6.
Now to my point. Opinions are like... How many people here that are saying FoA need an export program (Dick included) have actually seen or put together a business case for exporting the Falcon? I'd has it a guess none of us have. Therefore none of us can say with any certainty that an export program would in fact save Falcon. In the case of Holden and Pontiac, it LOST them $200m. Imagine FoA losing $200 million on top of the $290million they lost last year. When was the last time a 1/2 billion dollar loss saved any business? My bet is that in the years to come, when production at Broady does come to an end and Wheels rolls out a commemorative edition to say goodbye to the Falcon, we'll find out that in fact more than one business case was done and that if they had have gone with an export deal the factory would have been shuttered long before 2016 because of the ensuing losses. Ford have been far more ruthless in cutting loss making plants than GM have. My bet is that they would have had less hesitation shutting down Broady having lost $200million than GM obviously was after Holden lost that much. Of course, as with many of the comments so far, I have no evidence to back my theory up so take it with the proverbial grain of salt. In just the same way that we should take Dick's comments with a grain of salt, legend or not. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#62 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 22,909
|
Quote:
Platforms vs cars whatever, look at cars like Fiesta and Focus which are both sold across the world.... Every manufacturer is moving towards this, the Falcon will have to share a body with some other overseas model to make it viable, not just the platform, the 4.0 I6 will have to go! What other countries outside the US have unique cars??? Europe, Asia etc all share the same Fords now pretty much! Its not just about profitability either, its more about building a brand.
__________________
2022 RAM Laramie 5.7 2023.50 Ranger Wildtrak 3.0 V6 Premium Pack 2024 Everest Sport 3.0 V6 Touring Pack 2024.50 Mustang Darkhorse 6M Blue Ember + Appearance pack ETA Jan 25. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#63 | |||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,561
|
Quote:
Since this is an internet forum on fords and the internet itself is a great media tool for communications on various topics how about starting a campaign or petition on saving the falcon. Other organizations do this and you will be surprised how effective this is. Being a moderator on this forum you might be able to set a campaign page for this purpose.... just an idea.... |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#64 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,112
|
Quote:
Completely agree with this, and have been saying as much in other threads for a while now. It is just so painfully obvious I dont know whether to laugh or cry when people keep talking about the next Falcon ![]() |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#65 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
|
Quote:
Bring in stiff tariffs again? Be careful what you wish for...all that does is breed a lazy car industry that doesn't have any real incentive to build better cars. We've been there and done that before...cars where even the most basic modern conveniences were optional extras, if they were included at all...but hey, they're dinky-di Aussie cars mate! I honestly don't think we'd be seeing Falcons and Commodores with the standard equipment levels they have now if they didn't have to actively compete against sharply priced well-equipped foreign competition. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#66 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
|
The only reason car prices have remained fairly stable - flat for the last 10-15 years
is because of increased competition that comes from reductions in Tariffs. If the government had not reduced those tariffs, we would have had a Focus built here all right but be in no doubt that the base price would have been around $28,000 thanks to 25% import tariff... |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#67 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,848
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#68 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South Australia
Posts: 2,149
|
they would be better off saying no LCT on aussie made cars.
__________________
2015 Toyota Landcruiser 79 V8 SC |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#69 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
|
Quote:
Maybe start asking luxury brands why cars cost so much here but much cheaper in USA and Europe.. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#70 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: launceston TAS
Posts: 1,847
|
Watch youtube vids like XR6 turbos, SC FPVs and read the comments from the yanks~!!!!!!! They want em!
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#71 | ||
Oo\===/oO
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 11,348
|
Ford could export if the govment gave the 200+ million to cover losses...
__________________
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#72 | ||
F6 Dan
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Narre Warren South
Posts: 98
|
My f6 ute purchased brand new 6 weeks ago - loving it !!!
Ordered a brand new ltd edition xr6 turbo in kinetic for my now "petrol head wife" it took some arm bending to convince her to become a petrol head but she loves it. There u go there's my contribution to Ford and Fpv aust.
__________________
![]() Flash Tune 275rwkw - so far... |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#73 | ||
Giddy up.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kramerica Industries.
Posts: 15,633
|
I wonder if Ford Aus have it on the back of their mind to start head hunting people from other successful posistion's with in the Auto bussiness that have proven their worth.
Holden/Toyota and Mazda just to name a few might all be good places to start looking. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#74 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 322
|
I`ll go out on a limb and say if this was about jobs, they`d have killed Falcon a long time ago. If this was about jobs,(and it is now) the market would have dictated Ford shift from the Falcon to something fresh a new nameplate would be a start, theres alot of people that associate `Falcon` with `Kingswood` ie; very old fashioned.Just the other day,my father and I were driving past a huge recycling plant and he said`Plenty of Falcons in there mate`And unfortuneately its showing in the market,and people have lost their job. If FoA wasnt building these things, and were building dare I say, Fusion, Focus, Fiesta,or even Taurus would they be laying people off? Would there be Falcons languishing in yards across Oz? Dunno. Build something new, and maybe there might be a few more jobs to go around at FoA. Cry into the cornflakes over the Falcon. Just dont write off Ford to spite it.
__________________
XC GXL Warm 351c AOD ![]() 09 VE SV6 Sportwagon ![]() BA Fairmont Ghia ![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#75 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: ...in the shed
Posts: 3,386
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#76 | ||
Little Dog
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canberra
Posts: 101
|
At least Dick is on the attack, we need more thinking. Its idea time. What's your sales boost idea?
I was thinking also about Union membership. Its been going down too. Funny that. We lose loads of manuf jobs and the membership goes down. What about the ACTU negotiating a fleet price for members... on a fleet car, more or less the taxi/cop model? I seem to remember the ACTU ran a travel agency, Jetset. They can do unusual things.
__________________
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#77 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Victoria
Posts: 907
|
Quote:
In an unusual twist, the regular six-cylinder versions of the Toyota Aurion and Holden Commodore pass the NSW government's minimum "green car" standards because they have a better pollution score than the four-cylinder Falcon." http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...717-228j5.html LCA? |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#78 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
|
Quote:
I think the Falcon's problem is that it depreciates so fast that it makes sense to pick up a one or two year old XR6 really cheap. My Fiesta is a base model CL and the TDCI Focus is an LX, which is mid range. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#79 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
|
Quote:
How convenient. As soon as Graziano was sent here on his mission sales dropped off straight away. He's done his hack job so well he will be one of the top 3 or 4 executives within a few years, gauranteed. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#80 | ||
Boss 335
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,330
|
Why is it that 10 years ago, back in 2002, the BA Falcon was plastered all over the news. Media release shots were on the 6'o clock news. Everyone was talking about it. Did the media feel sudden pity for the Falcon after all those years of being the underdog? Did Ford hire a good marketing team? Or was the BA such a good car for its time that it got everybody talking? I don't think even the VE commodore with its billion dollar blimp had as much exposure as the BA falcon did. Before the end of 2002, I remember many shiney new BA's popping up all over the streets. The same couldn't be said of the FG Falcon throughout '08.
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#81 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
|
Quote:
something done under Burela's watch, trying to push them onto fleets and then onto DPs who knew that buyers wanted XR6 with high series interior and 19" rims. That's when the three day weeks unofficially started for around eight months until SZ Territory arrived.. I'm not going to revisit what happened with Burela and the dealers but his transfer was a promotion to replace a retiring senior official. We should be glad that we still have a Falcon on sale, sometimes we forget that the bulk of falcon sales are to fleets and advertising does precious little to improve that area and transferring funds from other areas because plan A to fleets failed is very hard..that's why advertising has been so lacking. Ford says EcoLPi is for fleet, it doesn't sell so they offer it to reatil but no advertising budget, similarly Ecoboost arrives just as the engines sell in record numbers out of valencia until US plants come on line. FoA does not ahve a huge stockpile of engines, they get them as available. I know lack of advertising is puzzling but funds are tight and monies already allocated elsewhere.. Last edited by jpd80; 19-07-2012 at 10:45 PM. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#82 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#83 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
|
Quote:
The gap without EcoLPI made things even worse as fleets didn't want base petrol XR6s, Burela pried to push them onto Dealerships, they revolted knowing they couldn't sell them without the wheels and screens people wanted.. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#84 | |||
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,701
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#85 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Victoria
Posts: 2,182
|
Quote:
On another thread he stated that any one that has an illegally modified vehicle is a nob and that (we forum members that have modified our vehicles in this way )are no better than those zip heads that drive like idiots in clapped out crap boxes You are right, the only thing that will save the falcon is local sales Ford marketing isn't great but increased sales in Australia is the short answer Holden's sales in the US are small. The auto builders union in the states frown on imports that compete directly with their local produced cars ie large rear wheel drive sedans I was at Holden when they exported the Monaro to the states. It wasn't easy and it was only available in limited numbers for that reason Let's hope the falcon survives |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#86 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 57
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#87 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Capricornia
Posts: 830
|
Quote:
![]() ![]() ![]() The vast majority of buyers are ordinary family folk on average wages. The reality is that the Falcon, and Commie are cheaper now (in terms of average annual income) than they have ever been. The problem is, so are the imports. Not only that, there is a greater choice of imported vehicles. A further problem is that the percentage of the disposable income that can be put into a new car is less because housing is astromically more expensive, and we also have a huge list of other items to purchace today, that did not exist even ten years ago (iphones, ipads, t-boxes, playstatons, computers etc, etc..) Yes, we, as consumers in Australia, have lead to the demise of Australian manufacturing. Who was the leading manufacturer of TV's in Australia in the 60's AWA. We can ask the same questions about all past Ausie products that have now gone and come up with the same answer. Why have they gone? We as consumers decided to purchase imports to save a dollar. Saving that dollar has cost us our jobs. The joke is now on us. ![]()
__________________
![]() |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#88 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,573
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#89 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
|
I love the assumption that a successful plant has to be at least 75,000 vehicles,
last time I looked it was due more to the contribution to bottom line that plant makes. Sometimes that's not obvious in the figures as lots of parts get sourced from elsewhere within Ford... |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#90 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
|
The dangerous ideas about how to increase cars sales always come from the car industry themselves. Suggestions like the ones that pop up every five years or so (last time I think it was Mazda that suggested it, I believe it might have been Ford before that back in the late nineties) that we ban "old cars" from the road, placing a limit of say five years on cars. Of course they always say it's for "safety reasons" and not to artificially create forced sales of cars...
That would not only create "safer roads" by everyone driving new cars (not entirely sure how low income earners are supposed to afford a brand new car every few years...), but it would also mean that manufacturers don't have to try so hard...I mean, the car only has to last five years...why build it to a standard that means it will last much longer than that? Would you even bother rustproofing one? Would you include anything at all made out of high quality steel? The biggest and totally unavoidable problem car makers in Australia have always faced is out size as a country. There's less people here than in a lot of large cities overseas. Chinas population grows by a larger number than our population every year. As Jeremy Clarkson has said, if you look at our car industry from an outsiders point of view, it's amazing that the big American parent companies let us have an industry at all producing unique Australian cars like the Falcon and Commodore...it would "be like building a special range of models just for a tiny country like Belgium...it just wouldn't happen". |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |