Could The GT-HO save Ford?

[Serial_Fool]

Remember back to the 90's when Tickford made small amounts of GTs in 1992 and 1998 to keep the GT enthusiasts and investors on their toes and which eventually lead to the formation of the GT as a continuous model in 2003 that provided a extra shot in the arm to the release of the BA Falcon.

The GT-HO could be used similarly like the GT nameplate to boost the awareness of the Falcon brand. It worked with the BA GT (which originally basically was a 302/351 Fairmont) and the BA went on to become a resounding success. The GT-HO is the only nameplate Ford Australia has up its sleeve to bring back a influx of sales all across the board.

So it begs the question, if GTHO was bought back to a regular model run would it reinvigorate the FALCON nameplate in general?

[4Vman]

I doubt if there could be a worse time for Ford to release a model like that....
99.9% of consumers have no interest in such a product..

[Serial_Fool]

I don't think that is true. Look at the abortion HSV just released and all the media attention it got.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

I don't think that is true. Look at the abortion HSV just released and all the media attention it got.

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

[Jeeepers]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

They did.

[TurboUteris]

A complete rethink of the marketing strategy for the Ford brand is the only thing that will save Ford,here in Australia.
Similar to what they have done in the UK.
For some reason anything Australian at the moment carries a "bogan" tag.WTF is going on.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

They just did and called it the W427

Originally Posted by TS 50

Do we have 351 people out there that would pay $90k-$100k for a FALCON?

When you tick all extra boxes except for the Brembos for the FG GT you are looking at over $80,000 drive away. I know I had to pick myself up off the floor today when they told me :nutsycuck

[AC]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

Reminds me of this, just switch the badging

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I doubt if there could be a worse time for Ford to release a model like that....
99.9% of consumers have no interest in such a product..

Agree. Won't result in extra sales. News ? yes, sales ? No.

[twr7cx]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Agree. Won't result in extra sales. News ? yes, sales ? No.

You reckon? Look at the recently released HSV W427 - it's a $155,500 Commodore (the most expensive Australian car ever produced) and it's already sold out (ref http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=55262).
Why couldn't Ford do likewise with a GT-HO to compete against that? Because Ford marketing is up to crap.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by twr7cx

You reckon? Look at the recently released HSV W427 - it's a $155,500 Commodore (the most expensive Australian car ever produced) and it's already sold out (ref http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=55262).
Why couldn't Ford do likewise with a GT-HO to compete against that? Because Ford marketing is up to crap.

I reckon SourBastard sums it up.

It wouldn't SAVE Ford Australia.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I doubt if there could be a worse time for Ford to release a model like that....
99.9% of consumers have no interest in such a product..

Possibly not, from what I hear, V8 drivers aren't fussed regarding additional fuel costs.

But then again I haven't talked to every V8 driver in Australia and you yourself seem to have a decent knowledge of V8's.

What I'm trying to say is it won't save Ford, but surely there would be a reasonable market for it (possibly enough to make the model worthwhile)?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Possibly not, from what I hear, V8 drivers aren't fussed regarding additional fuel costs.

But then again I haven't talked to every V8 driver in Australia and you yourself seem to have a decent knowledge of V8's.

What I'm trying to say is it won't save Ford, but surely there would be a reasonable market for it (possibly enough to make the model worthwhile)?

Your right in that regard, why would you be looking for a V8 if you were worried about fuel prices.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Possibly not, from what I hear, V8 drivers aren't fussed regarding additional fuel costs.

But then again I haven't talked to every V8 driver in Australia and you yourself seem to have a decent knowledge of V8's.

What I'm trying to say is it won't save Ford, but surely there would be a reasonable market for it (possibly enough to make the model worthwhile)?

The flaw in that point is that V8 drivers only form a tiny part of consumers. As 4VMan said, 99.9% of consumers. He wasn't looking at V8 drivers as an isolated market.

Most consumers are after four cylinders nowadays, with six cylinders still doing okay.

The only people after the HO would be V8 enthusiasts, and given the recent release of the Cobra, F6 R-Spec and GT-40, it wouldn't be strategically good to release a HO as well now.

Even then, many people who once were looking at V8s would have sold theirs due to costs, and new buyers would be fewer than previously.

[T3man]

OK then ... maybe it's only 99.8%.

I'd love to see a GTHO. With no less than 351kW. And I think we will, as a last hurrah for the BOSS before we get the new engine range. But I don't think it will "save" the Falcon as Ford have already committed to downsizing to Mondeo as their mainstream model. It will simply be a marketing "centrepiece" as you have suggested with possibly 351 being built. And all that depends on whether Ford can actually afford to build them - with the current trend they are losing money hand over fist on large cars. And they will not be a money earner because the cost to produce them will be extreme. So it all comes back to how "flush" Ford are in 18 months and whether they will see it prudent to spend a few million on a limited run car.

[Auslandau]

But will it help Ford to sell there bread and butter or be just be a shot in the arm for FPV with an extra 200 odd sales in the first year and 1/2 that the following? How much will the W427 effect the profitabilty and help the sales race overall? Considering that sales of about 3500 Falcons per month at the moment, how much is 16 or so HO's a month going to help the coffers?

BUT, I want one anyways ..... if they dont do it, I will still buy an FPV of some description so either way they still have a sale.



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[Rock ape]

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

They did.

[Whitey-AMG]

A GTHO may only serve FPV in their fight for survival against the HSV juggernaut. It will do nothing for Falcon sales in general.

If better fuel economy than the previous model, a more intuitive HMI better road dynamics and a 5 star safety rating can't shift em of the floor fast enough........then how the hell will an overpriced gas guzzling bespoilered road missile with no commercial advertising do any good ?????????

[Serial_Fool]

Maybe its to do with brand image. Holden has been doing it for more than a decade, that is, promoting its performance to get away from the Poverty Pack fleet car image and recently have been talking about hybirds, diesel and future fuel savings by stripping weight to increase its "green" image. Thats why the Commodore has maintained its sales lead over the Falcon even if the Falcon was a superior machine (remember the final days of the VZ Commodore and it still was outselling the BF?).

What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GTHO? They bought a GT. What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GT? They bought a Fairmont/ GS.

The same priciple applies to most sales in Australia today, even if many of the Japanese cars are clouding it abit.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

Maybe its to do with brand image. Holden has been doing it for more than a decade, that is, promoting its performance to get away from the Poverty Pack fleet car image and recently have been talking about hybirds, diesel and future fuel savings by stripping weight to increase its "green" image. Thats why the Commodore has maintained its sales lead over the Falcon even if the Falcon was a superior machine (remember the final days of the VZ Commodore and it still was outselling the BF?).

What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GTHO? They bought a GT. What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GT? They bought a Fairmont/ GS.

The same priciple applies to most sales in Australia today, even if many of the Japanese cars are clouding it abit.

Nah........I can't see how that is relevant in todays market with so much competition and so much more choice. The average buyer was so much more limited back in the 70's than they are today. The average Falc and Commodore was everyone's bread and butter transport............today you have 10 fold the choice.

Brand image today has more to do with what the car actually offers, dealer service and aftersales service warranty reputation. RESALE and general desirability / practicality. The Falcon no longer has the monopoly on any of those criteria.

How will a GTHO release solve the numerous after sales dealer issues, Rust in the boot of new cars, Poor resale and petrol thirst of the average Falc.......??

IMHO..........a companys reputation should be based on its bread and butter product NOT on the remote premise of selling a dozen HiPo cars that are screwed together by one of its smaller divisions.

The next time you have a major issue with your Falc and you get the bum's rush from your dealer..........I wonder if it will warm your heart to know that it really doesnt matter because at least they build a HO ???????????

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

Maybe its to do with brand image. Holden has been doing it for more than a decade, that is, promoting its performance to get away from the Poverty Pack fleet car image and recently have been talking about hybirds, diesel and future fuel savings by stripping weight to increase its "green" image. Thats why the Commodore has maintained its sales lead over the Falcon even if the Falcon was a superior machine (remember the final days of the VZ Commodore and it still was outselling the BF?).

What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GTHO? They bought a GT. What did the people in the 70's do when they couldn't buy a GT? They bought a Fairmont/ GS.

The same priciple applies to most sales in Australia today, even if many of the Japanese cars are clouding it abit.

You're making the assumption that everyone is a performance car enthusiast, which is not the case... in fact the vast majority of new car buyers are not, so it could be argued that an "obscure" expensive low production niche market performance product would be seen as a waste of R+D money in the recent climate....
I doubt HSV would undertake the W427 project today, we're just lucky its been done a while ago, allot has changed in the past 3-6 months.....

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by BAGTp001

HSV could release a polished t*rd and it would still get media attention.

They did.

Geez you're a one eyed moron aren't you. HSV have done something that no other australian car maker has had the ability (or balls) to do by building W427 yet idiots like you still bag it because of the badge it wears. If it had an FPV badge on it you would call it the greatest thing since sliced white.

Getting back to the original questio, could the GTHO save Ford - well unless Im missing something, I dont think Ford needs saving? Yeah sure sales are down but they are across the board and I dont think we're in inherant danger of the blue oval shutting the doors and heading back to Dearborn.

As for your point about it "reinvigorating the Falcon nameplate" - do a quick poll of current FPV owners and ask them if they think their car is based on, or like it being referred to - as a Falcon. Then ask the T3 guys and you'll soon see your error in words.

GTHO has to be special, it must have a bazillion KW bla bla bla - see the funny thing is HSV have already built a car exactly like that - and look at the bagging it is getting on here. You can bet your lefty that if GTHO ever materialises it will cop the same for everything it could/should have been - not for what it is.

[T3man]

Yes exactly, probably about 99.8 or 99.9% of them in fact. LOL.

[ED Classic]

As much as I want a HO....NO..... A Diesel Terri is whats been needed for ages. Falcon sales are almost reasonable but Terri's have dropped of....A Diesel will probly add 800-1000 pm

As for some of Falcon models they are dealing directly with their opposite Holden number discounting to rack up more sales just to sell cars and help keep jobs flowing through the tuff time and atleast keeping their dealerships busy with cars for servicing. Wouldnt hurt Ford to have a hard thought strategy through hard times.

[bathurst77]

Falcon already has a (Undeserved) public image as big thirsty fast and a bit of a dinosaur. Bringing in a limited edition expensive, big fast thirsty V8 with aname linked back to the 1960s isnt gunna help one bit.

THey have to make it seem modern and economical. It has to make sense in the 21st Century

[Tickford Kid]

Do we have 351 people out there that would pay $90k-$100k for a FALCON?

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by TS 50

Do we have 351 people out there that would pay $90k-$100k for a FALCON?

Yeah, they bought BF Cobras... a fully optioned GT-P is near on $90K on the road anyway.

[Tickford Kid]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Yeah, they bought BF Cobras... a fully optioned GT-P is near on $90K on the road anyway.

Maybe the pricing for a GTHO should be more like 110k-120k then if they a truely the jewel in the Ford Australia crown.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by TS 50

Maybe the pricing for a GTHO should be more like 110k-120k then if they a truely the jewel in the Ford Australia crown.

Id say more like $150-160K like the W427.....

[Plugg3r]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Id say more like $150-160K like the W427.....

Though the W427 would be a lot more powerful the a GTHO buy the results atm.
The 427 is putting out over 400rwkw stock in yankland.