A few positives

[Bossxr8]

Few interesting things I heard during the week.

FG's TGW (things gone wrong) ratings are the best in class, even better than the Camry/Aurion. It rating numbers are considered world class.

Public perception of Ford is up in every category, covering such areas such as percieved quality, desire to own one, economy, environmentally friendly, fun to drive etc. This is done by an idependent company, and is a big improvement over last years results.

January orders are full and February is already a week or 2 full up already.

Falcon sedan has outsold Commodore sedan for the past 2 months.

A lot of this needs to be contributed to Marin, apparently he lit a fire under the sales and marketing teams bums and they have finally started to get it together, and the results are starting to show. 2010 looks like its already off to a strong start and should be a good year for FoA.

[b2tf]

Great to hear. Haven't heard much abot Marin but what I have heard sounds positive. Its good to hear someone is sticking it to the marketing idiots - that area has been straggling for a long time.

[galaxy xr8]

That is fantastic to hear, It's about time we start seeing some positive thread's about FoA and their marketing, as all we ever hear about is the negative.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Great to hear. Haven't heard much abot Marin but what I have heard sounds positive. Its good to hear someone is sticking it to the marketing idiots - that area has been straggling for a long time.

He's a good bloke to boot, I met him this week for the first time and he went out of his way to thank the workers for the great effort put in this year. He's a total opposite of the Yank presidents, who would tour the plant with huge entourages of people who would probably wipe the presidents bum if they went to the toilet, and would try to avoid associating with the riff raff in the plant, like they were too good for the place. Marin would walk around by himself with just the plant manager. No BS, and who does a better job.

No wonder the place went so downhill with the yanks incharge, their own self importance was a higher priority than keeping the place going profitably. How Tom Gorman was offered the CEO job at Brambles is beyond me.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

He's a good bloke to boot, I met him this week for the first time and he went out of his way to thank the workers for the great effort put in this year. He's a total opposite of the Yank presidents, who would tour the plant with huge entourages of people who would probably wipe the presidents bum if they went to the toilet, and would try to avoid associating with the riff raff in the plant, like they were too good for the place. Marin would walk around by himself with just the plant manager. No BS, and who does a better job.

No wonder the place went so downhill with the yanks incharge, their own self importance was a higher priority than keeping the place going profitably. How Tom Gorman was offered the CEO job at Brambles is beyond me.

Well, Mullaly has often said there is no room for egos at Ford anymore. Sounds like they got a great guy and President in Marin.

He is passionate, energetic and motivating. Great hiring to get him back to Australia after he developed the new Fiesta. Which is as he puts it (Fiesta), his baby.

I love the fact that when he hears total crap, he goes to the source, whether it's the media or whatever.

Well done.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Few interesting things I heard during the week.

FG's TGW (things gone wrong) ratings are the best in class, even better than the Camry/Aurion. It rating numbers are considered world class.

So, it'd would be blitzing VE Commodore (electrics/interiors) for quality then. Which i already thought anyway. I've heard of almost zero issues. For a new generation vehicle, that is terrific. Are Ford likely to release these results like they do in the US?

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Public perception of Ford is up in every category, covering such areas such as percieved quality, desire to own one, economy, environmentally friendly, fun to drive etc. This is done by an idependent company, and is a big improvement over last years results.

Amazing what some great cars for the past few years and good advertising will do. I've actually noticed something of a shift towards Ford recently by various people I know that weren't previously interested.

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

January orders are full and February is already a week or 2 full up already.

This is great stuff. January is typically a very poor month for sales. Bossxr8, with a number of down days from yesterday, until January 11th, how many orders would this equate to?

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Falcon sedan has outsold Commodore sedan for the past 2 months.

Didn't see that coming at the beginning of this year, although, i certainly felt that it was more than deserved.

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

A lot of this needs to be contributed to Marin, apparently he lit a fire under the sales and marketing teams bums and they have finally started to get it together, and the results are starting to show. 2010 looks like its already off to a strong start and should be a good year for FoA.

If it wasn't for Marin, that Bathurst 6cyl economy would've just been a missed opportunity. Instead, it helped to stifle the new VE launch. Well done.

With that order bank, 2010 does indeed look to be a good year!

[AUXRVIII]

FG is still suffering some quality issues, one thing which is really disappointing it the fact they still haven't fixed the diff bush durability. A/C seems to be a weak point as some are not able to deliver the cooling in the QLD climate, whether it's TX valve related, HIM module or heater case is anyones guess at the moment. Also driveline refinement hasn't really made a step forward from BF either.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by AUXRVIII

FG is still suffering some quality issues, one thing which is really disappointing it the fact they still haven't fixed the diff bush durability. A/C seems to be a weak point as some are not able to deliver the cooling in the QLD climate, whether it's TX valve related, HIM module or heater case is anyones guess at the moment. Also driveline refinement hasn't really made a step forward from BF either.

You are correct but there are other threads for this - this isn't the right one.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by phillyc

So, it'd would be blitzing VE Commodore (electrics/interiors) for quality then. Which i already thought anyway. I've heard of almost zero issues. For a new generation vehicle, that is terrific. Are Ford likely to release these results like they do in the US?
Amazing what some great cars for the past few years and good advertising will do. I've actually noticed something of a shift towards Ford recently by various people I know that weren't previously interested.
This is great stuff. January is typically a very poor month for sales. Bossxr8, with a number of down days from yesterday, until January 11th, how many orders would this equate to?

AFAIK, all the manufacturers have an independent company measure the TGW's, and the results are shared between them, but for this to happen they have to agree not to use the results against each other, so they won't be used to attack Toyota or Holden.

Work on roughly 270 a day x 14? days. Rough guess. Australia day etc in Jan.

[Ohio XB]

It's nice to hear this news, and also nice to see the "new" Ford culture is taking roots in other parts of the globe as well.


Steve

[TUF_302]

Ill drink to that!!, 2010 is going to be our best year ever! :

[1TUFFUTE]

lets just hope this awesome news and good fortune translates itself to the track aswell this year. We may need a little more help then ussual this year...

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

He's a good bloke to boot, I met him this week for the first time and he went out of his way to thank the workers for the great effort put in this year. He's a total opposite of the Yank presidents, who would tour the plant with huge entourages of people who would probably wipe the presidents bum if they went to the toilet, and would try to avoid associating with the riff raff in the plant, like they were too good for the place. Marin would walk around by himself with just the plant manager. No BS, and who does a better job.

No wonder the place went so downhill with the yanks incharge, their own self importance was a higher priority than keeping the place going profitably. How Tom Gorman was offered the CEO job at Brambles is beyond me.

It's taken Marin over a year to make an appearance to the PD Engineers. I wonder why he's now making the effort... I think I know why, and wasn't to say Merry Christmas.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

. How Tom Gorman was offered the CEO job at Brambles is beyond me.

Off topic,

Tom got promoted/demoted back to Australia recently.

Why no one cancelled his visa when the bum left is beyond me.

[mrbaxr6t]

it is about time Ford strikes back when the opposition makes claims - the fuel consumption one from holden for example, it is about time that Ford smacked back in this regard instead of just sleepily talking slander and allowing untrue claims to roll by - lets hope that Ford keeps holden honest and bites back when untrue claims are made, if Ford continue to do this and the opposition continue to state untrue facts, well that says it all really.

Also the G series cars are the goods much nicer than what the opposition are currently offering and the sales are reflecting this go Ford

[Raptor]

I've seen this cycle of few times now.

When an Aussie is in charge FoA does well :

How hard is that for Ford (US parent company) to realise :

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

It's taken Marin over a year to make an appearance to the PD Engineers. I wonder why he's now making the effort... I think I know why, and wasn't to say Merry Christmas.

Why don't you drop us a hint.

[Falc'man]

Awesome news.

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Why don't you drop us a hint.

I'm guessing diff bolts, and crappy ute cv joint.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Awesome news.

I'm guessing diff bolts, and crappy ute cv joint.

Hope so, good to see he is doing the dirty work.

[JPFS1]

No, something more sinister than that... it's to do with NO resolutions on a certain matter.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

No, something more sinister than that... it's to do with NO resolutions on a certain matter.

hmmm...so cryptic LOL!

resolutions?? Not sure what you mean by that one.....

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

hmmm...so cryptic LOL!

resolutions?? Not sure what you mean by that one.....

could that be resolving a future product decision?

[JPFS1]

No guys, prodcut related... I'm talking about EBA.

[JutroXR8]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

No guys, prodcut related... I'm talking about EBA.

Always a difficult negotiation. Considering employees wanting more (which is usually justified) but given the recent GFC, rising interest rates, below par sales (relative to 10 years ago), another slow down in the Aust economy and potential recession, etc, it puts FoA in a very difficult position......

Interesting times.

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by JutroXR8

Always a difficult negotiation. Considering employees wanting more (which is usually justified) but given the recent GFC, rising interest rates, below par sales (relative to 10 years ago), another slow down in the Aust economy and potential recession, etc, it puts FoA in a very difficult position......

Interesting times.

They are valid points Jutro. I will add that not all Ford AUS employees are affected or have the same outcomes (no outcomes) by the negotiations.

It's a bitter pill for those affected when they see Ford Oz will be pretty much the only Ford arm to not provide decent outcomes, while Ford US (US economy affected by GFC much more than us) will be providing welcomed outcomes, the economies are recovering, sales are increasing etc.

Even in our local market, Ford are arguably in a better financial position than Holden, yet even they are going to provide solid outcomes to all the workforce.

Certain Ford AUS staff are really going to get burnt here.

[RATT]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Few interesting things I heard during the week.

FG's TGW (things gone wrong) ratings are the best in class, even better than the Camry/Aurion. It rating numbers are considered world class.

Thanks for that. Just curious, who did these ratings?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by RATT

Thanks for that. Just curious, who did these ratings?

I don't know. Its apparently done indedendently with all the manufacturers providing info and funds in a type of syndicate.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

No guys, prodcut related... I'm talking about EBA.

Why are they any different from the rest of us that it needs Marins personal intervention?

The whole things a mess regardless of which area it is, we still have to stay under the closure agreement even though the plant is no longer closing, which makes very little sense to me.