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#31 | ||||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Enroute
Posts: 4,050
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Quote:
![]() That was the idea sweetheart. It's all part of Ford AU's Kinetic design. Problem is people like her never adjust to the time zone with international travel. She's 3 time zones behind her own ***. The FG was designed to look like the fiesta, focus, mondeo then Falcon. As for the progressive bit, this coming from a country which thinks leaf springs are sporty, thinks cheese is a food group and gave us such plonkers as "reality TV" where everything is but reality. No offence, but the seppo's really are an insecure lot with very little intelligence.
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#32 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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I take the opinion of Ford's head of marketing and the great grand-daughter of Henry Ford himself very seriously... oh and the small fact that she is American and is commenting on American tastes... but hey what would she know? Of course FG is not progressive, its so predictable its not funny. Look at XF to EA, then EL to AU then BFII to BF..sorry FG... Ford went way too mainstream on this 'all new' model. The FG should of been the Ford version of the Jaguar XF. Modern, contemporary, attractive, and distinctive. Instead we got some BF/Kia/Toyota from the 90s hybrid. Ford AU is very risk averse, and is getting slaughtered in the marketplace. For goodness sake, the biggest buyers of Falcons are churn-and-burn rental fleets and they will buy anything. |
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#33 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,112
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Great post, unfortunately completely true. Ford Australia - once bitten twice shy. We're still paying for the AU Falcon experiment I reckon. Ford put their neck out with a progressive design which was almost universally hated by its conservative market, so its not surprising they've taken the safe road with subsequent models. |
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#34 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Actually I suspect part of the problem IS that we have the Falcon here.
There are a large number of people who have no interest in Falcon (or Commodore) whatsoever and see them as inferior "taxis". The little Fords are competing directly against the Japanese, Korean, German, Italian and French vehicles and while they are quite up to the task for some if not many they are tarred with the "little falcon" brush. It really is our own fault as we have been pushing FORD FALCON for 50 years and everything else has lived in its shadow. I suspect Holden have a somewhat similar problem with Commodore. I cannot readily think of an example where a particular model has had such dominance over an entire marque. Possibly this is what they are trying to resolve. |
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#35 | ||
Meep Meep
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southside
Posts: 1,513
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Not progressive enough?
Ben Franklin thought the Crown Vic is old hat. Not to mention they still use the styling of the 98 Focus on the US version.
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Thundering on.... |
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#36 | ||||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Enroute
Posts: 4,050
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Coincidentally around this time what was the profitability of Ford USA compared to Ford Australia? Sure, she's entitled to her opinion on American tastes which is fine, but conversely American tastes don't work here as proved by the Taurus. My objection is with her rubbishing our designs for being similar to the mondeo etc. What works in our country won't work in hers. Then again, it's easy to talk about how to improve from a position of strength; her brother William Clay Ford Jnr as President of Ford USA certainly floundered and punched out crap cars - it wasn't until Ford got Alan Mulally that they turned the tide of loss making. Without him, Ford would be another GM whereby the government would own it, and it too would be turning out cars that nobody wants. Wonder why she was so silent then? We are an outpost in the globe here in Australia. Frankly, I'd be mortified if Ford Aus continued to make designs that polarised opinion which translates to a threat to the livelihoods of all their employees.
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If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to power an ants go-cart a half a lap around a Cheerio - Ron Shirley Quote:
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#37 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
Posts: 956
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![]() How can you go "way too mainstream" on an Australian family sedan? You expect massive sales numbers in Australia with a design resembling the Jaguar XF? The point of the FG's design is to be as mainstream as possible, they can't afford to polarise people on their designs right now. Tell me, if somebody handed you 500 million dollars and you had to pick between a horse with running odds at 5-1 or another at 50-1 which would you go for? Ford already picked the latter once (with a larger sum of money) with the AU and we all know how well that worked. Exactly how does the FG look like a "BF/Kia/Toyota from the 90s hybrid"? If you think the FG looks like a car from the 90s (let alone a Kia?!) you definitely need to see an optometrist.
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#38 | ||
Powered by Marshall
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,138
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I dont think its any coincidence that the new head of Ford Oz was an ex head of marketing within Ford US (from memory)
I think they may feel they finally have to get every aspect of the business model firing on all cylinders
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#39 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 459
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#40 | ||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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I DIDNT REALISE THIS THREAD WAS ABOUT THE FALCON !!!!! i thought it was more about lack of Focus and Fiesta sales .
and those of you who agree blindly with what a female yankee says about australian cars , good for you . i'll buy and love my FG and park it in my aussie garage , without even thinking about some place called Detroyt ( rhymes with coit ) . |
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#41 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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#42 | ||||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
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If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to power an ants go-cart a half a lap around a Cheerio - Ron Shirley Quote:
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#43 | ||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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Guy's, she's talking about styling when mentioning progressive, not engineering. I agree. FG is dead pan boring in the looks department. Whilst not ugly, its just too bland.
Ford Oz need to get over their experience with AU. Seems they are too scared to make a statement with styling. Look at the cars penned since AU - they have all sported cardigan looks. Even todays Camry is more contemporary.
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer |
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#44 | ||||||||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,266
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And for the record, she wan't rubbishing Falcon's design, mererly pointing out that it overlaps the same product space occupied by the Fusion/Mondeo in the USA, that's why a current Falcon would not work there. Quote:
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It is also the reason why the Falcon will stay under the microscope and be constantly evaluated against existing and new Ford FWD/AWD products Quote:
Falcon sedan sales are now down around 2000-2500 sales per month so looking to 2015, what car should Ford be developing now to replace this one? And what do they do in the meantime if sales continue to fall? Evereyone is saying just wait until LILPG and Ecoboost comes but what if they don't sell so well? Last edited by jpd80; 20-11-2010 at 10:23 AM. |
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#45 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,266
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A very vocal minority of fanatics that may ot may not buy new Falcons continue insisting that the Falcon must never change from standard norms, Ford listens to these people does as they ask and yet sales don't follow... It actually says a lot about Australian culture that Ford is held hostage by the long standing Falcon heritage, the only way Ford is ever going to change its image and diversify its sales is to kill the Falcon's current image. Sacrilege on this board I know but without a change of image, I fear Ford will ebb away... . |
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#46 | |||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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#47 | |||
Geelong FC 07, 09 & 2011
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne Vic
Posts: 1,552
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New and exciting technology should see it's way into the falcon to further differentiate it from it's image as a fleet car. Most people dont care about what wheels drive what or what engine does the work as long as it is cheap, well equipt with gadgets and looks good. The Mondeo and fiesta need to be given a kick up the backside marketing wise because they are far to good a car to fail. Ford does need to move away from the falcon company image but it shouldn't be at the expense of an already world class car.
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2023 Audi A5 45 TFSI |
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#48 | |||
_Oo===oO_
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,305
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I think many members have gotten their backs up at the comments re: Falcon; to me they're level headed and accurate, to them they're brutal and ridiculous. There are too many factors that too many people will disagree on re: why the Falcon is not progressive enough to tackle the US/World markets. However I think the Falcon's integration into the One Ford world should help it overcome the problems it currently has. |
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#49 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
Posts: 956
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2007 BF MKII XR6 CONQUER |
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#50 | ||
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Foothills of the Macedon Ranges
Posts: 18,526
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I dont think it matters what car Ford sell here, whether its a Mondeo, Fiesta or a Falcon that looks like a modern sleek Merc.
Its the general publics perception of Ford, lousy quality, aftermarket service and things continually going wrong with the car, with customers left with no or little support from the manufacturer. Unfortunately this affects car sales, many would tend to go and see the Mazda dealer rather than the Ford dealer when they start looking for a new car. Personally I have had no problem with my Ford dealership whatsoever when it has come to customer support, in fact I have had excellent support, even better than other manufacturer dealerships I have had dealings with, which have supposed excellent reputations. Unfortunately bad experiences tend to spread around, also through the media. Ford are trying to correct this problem, unfortunately the word is not going around as well as it should. And my new XR50? Haven't found one problem yet after about 6 weeks since delivery, and I'm pretty fussy. Quality is excellent, just a couple of very minor design issues that could have been better. Far better car than the new VW Polo delivered a few years ago. |
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#51 | ||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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ford australia did kill the current image of the falcon once . and introduced a new concept called new edge design , more inline with world markets like toyota , and american appeals , similar to the ever popular american taurus , anyone older than 15 would know this . im surprised the theme of this thread seems to be going back along the lines of the late 90s . i suspect though , ford australia , will be smarter , and not listen to the crap coming out in this forum that could point to a repeat of an AU release, just as mrs geat granddaughter henry ford suggests .
alas . i am confident that ford australia with the falcon gets it right , when they dont listen to yankees , and people who call the falcon boring on AFF . |
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#52 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,266
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The problem is FG sales are pretty poor in this 50th anniversary year and if Ford can't manage to sell the socks off the Falcon in this of all years, I doubt they will do much better in coming years. We all have short memories because it wasn't long ago that FG was getting stalled off due to lack of funding, FoA found a way to make it happen and Falcon lived for another cycle. It's a great car, all we need is for big brother to help support its continued production by helping Australia make it affordable and if that means sharing with another vehicle like the Mustang, then so be it but changes might be needed to draw in more buyers.. Last edited by jpd80; 20-11-2010 at 11:26 PM. |
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#53 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 48,986
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Now people think being associated with Taxi means reliability, but it doesn't to most people, it means run down heap of crap, what Taxi's have you been in that aren't making weird noises, have bald tyres and accident damage? I remember when I told Dad about the EB I4 Ford is going to put in the Falcon, and first thing he mentioned was how crappy the 4 Cylinder Commodore was, first thing off the bat. |
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#54 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,266
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as the last of the Falcon station wagon taxis are retired.... |
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#55 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
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#56 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,266
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Without LPG, the Falcon taxi would have disappeared years ago, will LILPG keep that stigma alive... ![]() |
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#57 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,442
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Mazda 2 outsells Fiesta by a mile yet its kilowats and torque from the 1.5 ltr motor are puny. Fiesta is a much better car. Mazda 3 outsells Focus yet they are basically the same car. The 3 at this stage is probably a better car than Focus but not by the ratio it outsells Focus by. Neither Fiesta or Focus even make the top 20. Ford are going down to slip down the sales tables unless they find a solution. Falcon is a whole different story-if you want a large vehicle most would now buy some sort of SUV and again Mazda CX7 outsells Territory.
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#58 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,881
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Those Americans who don’t think we’re “somewhere south of Germany” think that we all ride Kangaroos and Hunt Crocodiles. In reference to FOA’s marketing of the Focus and Mondeo, I have to agree. They used to have a very catching rally-based ad for the Focus, but I haven’t seen anything for years (or at least nothing I remember.) The ST (XR5) has been winning “Hot Hatch” awards since it’s inception, but I don’t recall ever seeing it advertised. As for the Mondeo, well it has voice-control that can apparently be activated by a random noise such as a dog-barking. Great Ad! I happen to think it is a very nice car, and should appeal to those wanting a roomy car without the power and thirst of a Falcon. Had I kept my work 4wd, I was seriously considering getting her indoors a TD wagon. But it has been appallingly marketed by FOA. I’ve heard a lot of guff about not wanting to compete with the Falcon, but that doesn’t make sense. It competes against the Camry et al, not against the Falcon or Commode.
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#59 | ||
Falcon Fan!
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 61
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Here in NZ, Holden is advertised on TV pretty much 4-5 times every day (after 6pm) with ads showing all their models (Commodore Series II and Barina Spark at the mo, they advertised teh hell out of the Cruze when it was launched).
Ford, nothing other than the new Fiesta and even then, you'd be lucky to see a Ford ad every day. Ford need to get this type of advertising out there and this will turn into sales. You can just 'hope' people will buy their cars. Compare Holden to Ford, the Ford stable is a lot better than the Holden and many new car buyers are missing out because they are unaware of what Ford sell... |
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#60 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,312
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My ride: 2007 Falcon Ute BF XR8 Orange, MTO. |
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