Should Ford do another Durability Run

[XRFutura]

Just watched a video showing the Falcon Durability run back in 1965. It was amazing to see how tough and reliable the falcon was.
Ford Falcon 70,000 mile durability run pt 1
Ford Falcon 70,000 mile durability run Pt 2

The question is, should Ford do it again with the current Falcon. But this time have the three different Falcon engines doing it. So have 2 Ecoboost, 2 sixes, 2 EcoLPI and 2 XR6Ts.

But instead of just being a full out speed test, also have an economy run mixed into as well to show the Australian public how durable and economical the current Falcon is.

[Jim Goose]

The old Hardie 1000/ Bathurst was a good durability test.. when REAL FACTORY cars were actually driven on it without much in the way of modifications in the 60s and 70s...

We as Ford fans already know how good the cars are.. its up to marketing dept to tell the rest of the public how good it is.

[XRFutura]

But thats the point, us ford guys already know this. But if they re-did this and were successful, it show the rest of Australia again how good these cars are and how economical the falcon is as well.

[Windsor220]

I was thinking of this the other day. The only problem is if something did go wrong then it would probably kill off the falcon instantly.

[pottery beige]

its not about durability anymore.. its about out doing your big flat screen trendy neighbours in the school carpark..

[flappist]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

its not about durability anymore.. its about out doing your big flat screen trendy neighbours in the school carpark..

So true.

Remember a few years ago when Craig Lowndes drove around Australia in a LPG BF to show how cheap it was to run and how LPG is now available outside the inner suburbs of Melbourne.

Sales of LPG cars just skyrocketed after that, well skyrocketed may not be an appropriate metaphor unless the skyrocket was a bit damp.....

[Joe5619]

It would be very gusty... If something went wrong??

I'm surprised they did it back then..

[Bearman]

I reckon a durability test is a great idea!! OK, there is a risk of Ford looking like a goose if something goes pear shaped. Maybe just do it behind closed doors (gates??) and then, as long as it goes well, publicize it for all it's worth!!

[gtxb67]

even if it was a 100% success
for every positive report, there will be 5 conspiracy theories on why it never really happened
and no one will really care anyway. people are either set in their ways as to which car they want or they are just into outdoing their neighbours with gadgets - and no durability test is needed for that


but if it failed . . . . . .

[The Yeti]

I'd love to say yes

And throw economy in to the test

I for one would find in interesting

Would the general mum and dad vehicle buying public? I really don't know as some one said earlier I suspect the mum n dad buyers care more about incar entertainment that reliability

Just like the buyers don't care to see racing that's based on these cars any more and prefer the purpose built things we see in V8SC

[Ford_The_Win]

Durability and longevity was relevant in the 1960s when the original durability run was conducted, but these days cars are much more maintenance free and reliable than cars from back then. Cars from the 1950s and 1960s were usually dead by the time 100,000 miles came around (didn't a lot of cars back then only have 5 digit odometers? That says it all.) Most new cars have excellent quality (especially the Asian imports) and most new cars on the market come with great warranties on the off chance something does go wrong, so it's not relevant anymore. It would be a waste of time.

[tranquilized]

No.

When most Korean cars come with a 5 year warranty, who even gives a passing thought to durability anymore? Its a given.

[Stazza_Brendan]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

No.

When most Korean cars come with a 5 year warranty, who even gives a passing thought to durability anymore? Its a given.

This..
Me and gf bought a new Hyundai earlier this year. A territory would have been nice. But 5 year warranty was a massive selling point.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Stazza_Brendan

This..
Me and gf bought a new Hyundai earlier this year. A territory would have been nice. But 5 year warranty was a massive selling point.

They told me my car has a 3 year warranty, unless you take it to Sunbury Ford then its limited to pressure wash of the engine bay.

[The Yeti]

But I think that's the point Korean & Asian cars have excellent build quality, the focus of a durability challange would be to see the buyers of these Korean / Asian cars sit up and take notice of what's being made in our own back yard by our own people

We ***** that ford has punted a couple of hundred but we don't buy the cars these people produce,

[xisled]

In this day and age of throw away everything, there is no need for the test. Most people who buy new cars, trade or sell them after 5 years. Once a car is out of warranty, Ford do not care about these cars.

This test is suited for the second hand market, most dealers do not sell cars over 5 years, the trade in's are all shipped off the wholesaler, if over 5 years.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by XRFutura

Just watched a video showing the Falcon Durability run back in 1965. It was amazing to see how tough and reliable the falcon was.
Ford Falcon 70,000 mile durability run pt 1
Ford Falcon 70,000 mile durability run Pt 2

The question is, should Ford do it again with the current Falcon. But this time have the three different Falcon engines doing it. So have 2 Ecoboost, 2 sixes, 2 EcoLPI and 2 XR6Ts.

But instead of just being a full out speed test, also have an economy run mixed into as well to show the Australian public how durable and economical the current Falcon is.

That was just awesome to watch... they should just play this video on telly.

[Falcman0o7]

Do what holden would do, Mod them to the max! make sure they would'nt fail! Then go for it! Pull the wool over australias eyes! Holden does!

[mik]

it could`nt hurt, but it seems though the vast majority of people seem to be less involved/passionate with the motor car these days, except for important stuff like whether my ipod /phone connects up and how cheap it is to buy and service,
a friend of ours is buying hy undies number 3, which has been fairly reliable mechanically(nearly as reliable as my AU), for an extremely mediocre motor car and driving experience, having driven all of her cars over the years , it has me at a loss as to why she is buying another, the only thing i can put it down to is,
"it is cheap",
on that basis you could build a local car that is fun drive, would do the Baja 1000, followed by bathurst, then lemans and last 300,000 miles after that and people would still buy the crappy korean box as long as it`s 5 k cheaper to buy.

[4.0i_SiX]

As above, nobody really cares about durability in this throw away world. My sister in law is a perfect example. She owned a Toyota Corolla but then had a kid and bought a Hyundai Tucson, she then had another kid and has now bought a Hyundai Sante fe. She said she doesnt care if theyre built in Korea etc, they have a 5 year warranty and will get rid of it well before then.

Although in her defense, they hired a Holden Craptiva and absolutely despised it.

[Trevor 57]

No, Ford should not do another Durability Run

[aussie muscle]

i don't think Ford need to prove Falcon's durability. perhaps a round Australia trip to show how good it's economy is in the long run.

[Rodge]

If they want to sell more Ford's and believe they're durable they need to match the Korean 5 Year warranty. The fact that they only offer the minimum possible statutory warranty is currently saying something to consumers who are drawing their own conclusions.

Holden, Toyota, Kia e.t.c. are all currently offerring 5 year worry free manufacturer warranties in N.Z and interestingly Mitsubishi are still running their 10 year warranty on this side of the Tasman despite cancelling it in Australia, go figure ??....anyway surprise, surprise, all these brands are selling well !!

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Rodge

If they want to sell more Ford's and believe they're durable they need to match the Korean 5 Year warranty. The fact that they only offer the minimum possible statutory warranty is currently saying something to consumers who are drawing their own conclusions.

Holden, Toyota, Kia e.t.c. are all currently offerring 5 year worry free manufacturer warranties in N.Z and interestingly Mitsubishi are still running their 10 year warranty on this side of the Tasman despite cancelling it in Australia, go figure ??....anyway surprise, surprise, all these brands are selling well !!

Hmm..I bought a FG2 6 months ago with 5 years/200,000km warranty.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by flappist

Hmm..I bought a FG2 6 months ago with 5 years/200,000km warranty.

I assume that was a special promo running at the time ?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Rodge

I assume that was a special promo running at the time ?

Might have been. I just wandered in and bought the ute. I had no idea it was 5 years until it was delivered.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by flappist

Might have been. I just wandered in and bought the ute. I had no idea it was 5 years until it was delivered.

They must like you
Standard warranty is 3 years 100,000 km's and has been for years
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/BlobS...lob&blobkey=id

AFAIK that's the minimum warranty any new vehicle is legally able to be sold with in Australia or New Zealand.

If Ford want to give customers more confidence the warranty they supplied you with, as a normal matter of right spread right across the range would be a good move IMO. My $0.02.

[Road_Warrior]

There's no such thing as a "statutory warranty" in Australia unless you're a dealer selling a second hand car.

Also, while the durability run would be awesome to see and great in concept, in practice it would be different. There are too many fragile electronic (and other) systems in modern cars to throw a spanner in the works.

[Nikked]

They should give kochie a run in an EcoBoost...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Nikked

They should run over kochie in an EcoBoost...

Fixed.