The Falcon is dead - Long live the Mondeo??

[200bhp]

So with the news that Ford is shutting its Aussie factories, the domestic models they make will soon be dead and burried.

Holden must be rubbing their hands with glee now they have the only Aussie Ute, but what will the Ford alternatives be? I've said in the past that I'm surprised the Mondeo doesnt sell more and I presume that will now change - But what other models do they make here? The Territory? The Escape?

I dont see Ford doing a RHD version of an vehicle just for the Aussie market so surely we'll get the UK line-up?

I did wonder if GM are introducing Opel as an exercise with similar plans in the pipeline.

[Bibbs]

I read ages ago it was to be the American Ford Taurus. Which is FWD, but I think they do a AWD option.

The Mondeo never really took off here (I think it's popular in NZ though).

Really they should just use the Mustang floorplan & drive train and stick a 4 door body on it.

[ezakimak]

i could see the mustang platform taking off.

they would need to make something rear wheel drive as i dont think id be buying a ford over a Subaru or Mazda at this stage givent the current line up.

[Bibbs]

Just to add, Ford have a "world car" strategy ..

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31229_7-57355662-257/...

So a "Fusion" with 1.6 or 2.0 engine.

I hate to think of a day when the only Ford/GM offerings available are what could be got in the UK. A group of small engined FWD hatchbacks. *Yawn*

[Hitch78]

GM will kill Holden soon too now that Ford have taken the heat. Not that I care; I'd take a Mondeo over any of the Aussie Ford or Holdens anyway and the new one looks a cracker.

[Pommygranite]

Have you actually driven an aussie Falcon or Holden?

Genuinely not putting this up due to bias but I have a G6E Turbo - why the fk would you want a FWD average euro box over 360bhp, 0-100 in 5.1, RWD, 6 speed ZF box that steers extremely well, refined enough to enjoy when relaxed and decent enough when having a drive. In what way does the Mondeo do anything better?

[SkinnyBoy]

Bad for the economy in Vic short term but better for the long term IMHO. Aussie built fords are a terrible car if you have a modicum of style and sophistication. I despise working on them and can't wait to see the back of them to be honest.

[thehawk]

Pommygranite said:

Have you actually driven an aussie Falcon or Holden?

Genuinely not putting this up due to bias but I have a G6E Turbo - why the fk would you want a FWD average euro box over 360bhp, 0-100 in 5.1, RWD, 6 speed ZF box that steers extremely well, refined enough to enjoy when relaxed and decent enough when having a drive. In what way does the Mondeo do anything better?

Not a Euro but the Ford Taurus I rented in the US recently was probably 5 years ahead in technology and a different class in terms of fit and finish. The Mondeo is probably a nicer cabin to be in too.

Bottom line is that these dinosaurs (Falcon and Commodore) are not what people want these days.

[motomk]

Pommygranite said:

Have you actually driven an aussie Falcon or Holden?

Genuinely not putting this up due to bias but I have a G6E Turbo - why the fk would you want a FWD average euro box over 360bhp, 0-100 in 5.1, RWD, 6 speed ZF box that steers extremely well, refined enough to enjoy when relaxed and decent enough when having a drive. In what way does the Mondeo do anything better?

I agree...I might be the fan-boy for the red team but they are both good cars for Aussie conditions.

Practical yes
Performance yes
Handle yes
Easy to upgrade yes
Servicing costs good compared to a lot of the Euro cars.
Fuel costs yes!
Build quality good enough. Yes the Asian stuff might be built better.

Do I want to drive a SUV? no! To buy a Euro car with the same size and performance would cost over $100k even over $150k
A SHO Taurus would do.
The Falcon was built to go overseas, I thought....pity they never let it go, especially the USA. The Aussie engineers made the same V8 in the FPV Falcons better than the engine in the Mustangs. It was a bit sad they changed the front on the FGII Falcon, the new face of the Fords is not to my liking.

Yes, it was being assisted by the government (no I don't agree with that) but tell me which countries are not subsidising their car makers in some way or another.

[thehawk]

Pommygranite said:

Have you actually driven an aussie Falcon or Holden?

Genuinely not putting this up due to bias but I have a G6E Turbo - why the fk would you want a FWD average euro box over 360bhp, 0-100 in 5.1, RWD, 6 speed ZF box that steers extremely well, refined enough to enjoy when relaxed and decent enough when having a drive. In what way does the Mondeo do anything better?

Not a Euro but the Ford Taurus I rented in the US recently was probably 5 years ahead in technology and a different class in terms of fit and finish. The Mondeo is probably a nicer cabin to be in too.

Bottom line is that these dinosaurs (Falcon and Commodore) are not what people want these days.

[Mattt]

I think the new Ford Ranger is one of the best Utes out there at the moment, and can actually be used properly unlike these silly car based Utes.

[Mattt]

Additionally, as much as I dislike the demise of any industry, surely the unions must be seeing that it's partially their fault?

Australian labour is just too expensive, hence why a lot of things are moving overseas.

[suthol]

Mattt said:

Additionally, as much as I dislike the demise of any industry, surely the unions must be seeing that it's partially their fault?

Australian labour is just too expensive, hence why a lot of things are moving overseas.

I guess that the unnatural wages paid to those in the mining industry would have nothing to do with inflating wages in most sectors across the country then would they.

I have two sons who live in Perth one a maintenance handyman and the other a gyprocker and they both earn similar to one of my other sons who works in the petroleum industry.

As an aside I heard an interview with Arthur Sinindonis on Friday afternoon and he said the changes an incoming LNP govt plan to make would have allowed Ford to survive.

Apart from Gina's $2 per hour ( she who is / was making $320K per minute ) how big would the changes have to be to turn Ford's current woes around by $250M per year to make them profitable and if it was going to make that much difference for Ford what would it do for the rest of the economy, manufacturers could become more competitive if they had a product that people wanted on a global scale but locals couldn't afford.

Ignoring the value of the Aus dollar which is hurting everyone except those buying from OS the way I see it we have too high a wage level which is required to have an average standard of living.

Drive the wages down and people won't have the option but to buy cheap imported stuff which roots the locals even more.

I'm sure I don't know the answer because for mine the horse was let out of the stable at least 10 years ago and the barn doors have fallen from their hinges.

Discuss

[Bibbs]

I've heard that the government subsidises each car by $7,000.

Couldn't see myself in a euro spec Ford or GM ever. Mondeo, Focus, etc. are boring.

The new HSV Gen F GTS on the other hand looks like an awesome, exciting car. If it had flappy paddles I'd be on the waiting list already.

Won't sell in the UK though where people want a poverty spec small diesel engined BMW 1 series instead.

Australia need to decide if its happy paying money in subsidies to have proper Aussie cars, or if its happy to go down the route of the UK and have locally made foreign cars (which will be minimal due to local costs vs Thailand).

[motomk]

Mattt said:

I think the new Ford Ranger is one of the best Utes out there at the moment, and can actually be used properly unlike these silly car based Utes.

Before I start I also like the new Ranger, easily the best looking of the big utes, but Look out again, I will show bias!
It depends on your definition of a Ute. Used properly is a bit subjective, yes I have a car based ute, it can be used as a car and also a ute, It can carry a motorbike in the back or half a ton of stuff, ok not as much as a Ranger or Hilux. Do I use it to carry stuff? Not all the time no, but it has visited Bunnings and the tip plenty of times and then it has also been up in the Hills too!
It is all horses for courses, most of the dual cab full size utes I see, are used as people carriers and pseudo SUVs !!
Conversely, the car based utes do make good 2 door sports cars, bit more practical than a Ferrari!
The first Ute in Oz was a car based Ute. Maybe the big stuff needs to be called a pick-up truck!

Maybe just put it down to me liking my ute and defending it.

[thehawk]

motomk said:

Conversely, the car based utes do make good 2 door sports cars, bit more practical than a Ferrari!
The first Ute in Oz was a car based Ute. Maybe the big stuff needs to be called a pick-up truck!

They are called trucks. I have a Ranger brochure and the word utility is not mentioned at all. Clearly marketed add a truck.

The Holden equivalent is also marketed as a truck according to billboards. .

I really like the Ranger. Australian designed and engineered apparently, but seemingly made with the better quality materials in Thailand.

[uk_vette]

Are there no RHD F150 Fords in Aus?

Gra.

[Mattt]

suthol said:

I guess that the unnatural wages paid to those in the mining industry would have nothing to do with inflating wages in most sectors across the country then would they.

Again, blame the Unions.

The EBAs that are being forced upon companies running FiFo projects are utterly ridiculous - there's no way cleaners should be on $100k+ for instance, but they are.

[Bibbs]

uk_vette said:

Are there no RHD F150 Fords in Aus?

Gra.

Few LHD ones in Perth. Usually driven by the vertically challenged. Never seem to be used as a ute or an offroader, just a status symbol.

[Hitch78]

Yes, I've driven the local offerings. They're just way off the pace and no longer what people want; it's a sad rerun of the death of the big Ford and Vauxhall in the UK twenty years ago.

Ranger looks good, but does it stack up next to a HiLux?