New Mondeo Diesel Wagon Headlines Revised Ford Model Range

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Are you suggesting the "previous to BA's" designers may have had somethng to do with the current mondeo??!! :monkes:

Agree though.. its a shocker and needs rescuing quickly.

Haha no... don't go there, please.

That was "Edge" gone wrong. This is "Kinetic" gone wrong.

Ugly twins from a parallel universe.

Okay, I'll stop now.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Haha no... don't go there, please.

That was "Edge" gone wrong. This is "Kinetic" gone wrong.

Ugly twins from a parallel universe.

Okay, I'll stop now.

Lol.. Yes, I think a lynch mob is forming as we speak...!

[barra240t]

I disagree that the Mondeo is ugly. Yeah sure the Mazda6 is a much more modern design but the Mondeo is still a good looking car? I think at the right price we can sell more Mondeo. It doesn't need a design change, yet.

We are selling more Escapes then ever using this process at the moment.

I am hoping Ford will continue marketing the Mondeo, it deserves it.

[Polyal]

There is nothing wrong with the styling of the Mondeo, its still contemporary. I dont think the name hurts it either, its more the fact that no one knows what it is.

And you cant say its any less refined than the 6 because its practically the same car.

As far as a family mover goes its much better than the falcon wagon it replaced.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

^^ haha good post Windsor



a) Neither does the Falcon.
b) Why would it need a V8 option?

I agree 103%.
In fact the Mondeo reminds me of Susan Boyle. She exceeded expectations with her magnificent voice, but, still, you don't see many men lining up to propose, do you.

I can't help but remember the unloved Avalon's frazzled look every time I see this Ford.
/there's no way Keelan will convince me otherwise.

And the Mazda 6? Pure pure class. It's one of the best new looks out there.

Yeah yeah youssef....i'm not even trying. I will point out though that while mondeo may have lacklustre sales compared to what is deserves on engineering/features/merit it is NOT because people think its ugly. I know this because of all the comments i've ever heard from 'joe blows' Re mondeo styling have been positive. Bar the one guy that pointed ou the rear lights (esp on sedan now gone) were 'wierd'.

If it were styling related explain how they sell mazda 6s. You say they are 'pure class', well numerous people i know (mazda fans at that, especially the ladies) have told me they dont' like mazda's new overblown 'smiley face' look. I would agree, not only will it date its way too overt for that segment. Styling is more often an 'excuse' for buying a car then a reason based on what i've found. Oh i got the honda instead of the mazda because it 'looked better'. Yeah too bad the same guy saying it is a honda fanboy of long standing. If you have brand loyalty don't hide it FFS!!! Besides, last time i checked given much greater market acceptance (via the preceding model) in that segment Mazda 6 wasn't selling all that higher than mondeo...and Honda certainly was not shifting many more Accord euros niether.

It's also telling that 90% of the mondeo bashers on this forum are Falcon lovers. Its not one or the other. If Falcon does go it will be Taurus type car that replaces it, not mondeo. Mondeo would likely stay alonside it or at worse get canned itself. Its not Mondeo Vs Falcon, its a swap in the product Ford is offering to market. It may not be as successful as ford wants, but it IS a quality car and it will (along with territory) offer a valid replacment for 80%+ of the existing falcon wagon customers.

[Polyal]

The problem at the moment is that IMO FoA are to worried about pushing the mondeo to hard because it will eat falcon sales to an extent. Hard to dismiss that with FoA themselves obviously see it that way with this announcement.

If we all knew the falcon was dead next year they would be flogging it, but thats not the case and FoA would rather be selling a decent amount of falcons and a few mondeo's than visa versa.

That IMO is the issue.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by barra240t

I disagree that the Mondeo is ugly. Yeah sure the Mazda6 is a much more modern design but the Mondeo is still a good looking car? I think at the right price we can sell more Mondeo. It doesn't need a design change, yet.

We are selling more Escapes then ever using this process at the moment.

I am hoping Ford will continue marketing the Mondeo, it deserves it.

Resistance is becoming futile my friend. The lynch mob (as uninformed as always ) are forming and they want blood. I'm not even going to continue the styling debate (youssef just wont' give up....and he knows i wont niether LOL) other than pointing out that the mondeo is effectively the same as the iosis concept car with 4 doors. Given that concept was the grandaddy of all kinetic design i'd like to hear where ford went so 'wrong' with its first ever production version??

Either way my point still stands. The suggestion styling kills cars outright is veyr misleading. You have to have a shocking car (i.e. way different to current trends) to pull that off. AU falcon comes closest in recent memory.

As for the 'update' there is one due soon taht will take on more of the new Focus look if you belive the stories. Not sure how extensive but it will come. I'd be shocked if it were enough of a change to satisfy the hunta but we shall see....

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Polyal

There is nothing wrong with the styling of the Mondeo, its still contemporary. I dont think the name hurts it either, its more the fact that no one knows what it is.

And you cant say its any less refined than the 6 because its practically the same car.

No it ain't, they're completely different platforms...
Mondeo is EUCD (European)
Mazda 6 is CD3 (Japanese)

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Either way my point still stands. The suggestion styling kills cars outright is veyr misleading. You have to have a shocking car (i.e. way different to current trends) to pull that off. AU falcon comes closest in recent memory.

completely disagree!! Styling is the NUMBER ONE & FIRST factor for me and new cars!! Design an ugly car & I dont care how good the other features are I'm not buying or even considering!! At least if it looks good, I'll give it a look..


IMO the dash kills the Mondeo..It is terrible I think!! Give me a commodore dash over a Mondeo dash.. Again a looks thing!!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by jpd80

No it ain't, they're completely different platforms...
Mondeo is EUCD (European)
Mazda 6 is CD3 (Japanese)

Ah well I stand corrected.

I thought Fordza's included:

6/mondeo/volvo s??

3/focus/volvo s40

I must be behind the times.

[4Vman]

Personally... and im as blue blood as anyone, the 6 is a far better looking car than the mondeo, ESPECIALLY in wagon form.
Its a personal thing but the sales contrast between the 6 and mondeo clearly shows something isn't connecting it with consumers.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Personally... and im as blue blood as anyone, the 6 is a far better looking car than the mondeo, ESPECIALLY in wagon form.
Its a personal thing but the sales contrast between the 6 and mondeo clearly shows something isn't connecting it with consumers.

No I agree, the 6 is a better looking car but the mondeo is far from ugly; maybe not as edgy.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Ah well I stand corrected.

I thought Fordza's included:

6/mondeo/volvo s40

3/focus/another volvo

I must be behind the times.

No, the US opted out of replacing Contour with anotherMondeo and went for Mazda 6 based Fusion
mainly because it was already V6 engineered and USA compliant.
Now they have to switch all that V6, Hybrid and AWd engineering over to the Mondeo platform
to make the new CD4 for conjoined Fusion/Mondeo and future (2014/2015) Taurus...

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by barra240t

I am hoping Ford will continue marketing the Mondeo, it deserves it.

Spot on. It just needs constant marketing so Australians know what it is, and by marketing I don't mean a TV ad every blue moon, proper advertising...

[Keepleft]

Wifie (a member here who insults Commodore ownership, and that car) is in line for a Titanium diesel (not wagon), kinda waiting for a couple of features to arrive, Sony's DAB+ radio system being one.

Like its Euro safety bits and styling, and don't mind the taillights either, plus economy were primary factors for her choice. Mazda 6 option was looked at, but no show, ditto CX7 of all things.

Someone posted pics of the due mid-year??? 2010-2011 Mondeo range with its 'improved diesel performance' etc,- highlighted in the thread starters post. The pics show the face-lifted car has LED DRL's, therefore a redesigned front-end that may or may not win favour, she likes the current-date non DRL design but is still not put off.

Nothing really 'wrong' with the current date diesel motor though??

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Personally... and im as blue blood as anyone, the 6 is a far better looking car than the mondeo, ESPECIALLY in wagon form.
Its a personal thing but the sales contrast between the 6 and mondeo clearly shows something isn't connecting it with consumers.

I agree on the sales situation. Ford has struggled (and its hardly the first time) to get the mondeo proposition to 'cut through' to consumers. Contrast this with fiesta which has worked quite well.

I just dont' think its due to the styling is all.....

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

completely disagree!! Styling is the NUMBER ONE & FIRST factor for me and new cars!! Design an ugly car & I dont care how good the other features are I'm not buying or even considering!! At least if it looks good, I'll give it a look..


IMO the dash kills the Mondeo..It is terrible I think!! Give me a commodore dash over a Mondeo dash.. Again a looks thing!!

It is funny this situation. It reminds of the whole 'ladies driving manuals' debate. Most of the marketplace favours autos these days. The perception has always been that manual buyers are those after sport models and mainly 'males'. But there are a group of female drivers that abhore autos and only drive manuals. Only a small % but very loyal.

Likewise, a certain % of the car market is very sytle driven. But i suspect that is largely either particualry style conscious invidivuals (i.e. style is important to them in their daily lives) and/or the car aficianados. These are guys that go after EL GTs because they love the EL look....rather than AU T series that are better cars but just dont look 'right'.

Most buyers i feel buy not on how a car looks, or even it's features/mechanicals etc. But mostly perception. Perception about safety. Perception about build quality. Perception about resale. And most importantly perception about the brand/image.

Most people dont' really care how a car looks day to day as long as it isnt majorly polarising. Who the hell buys a camry if looks were important (it doesnt have any....)? The highest selling cars are mostly the least adventurously styled. I'm convinced Mazda's current styling direction is going the wrong way not so much because i personall dislike it but because it is too out there and too heavy handed. VE 2 HSV is one thing, average family car is another....

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

It is funny this situation. It reminds of the whole 'ladies driving manuals' debate. Most of the marketplace favours autos these days. The perception has always been that manual buyers are those after sport models and mainly 'males'. But there are a group of female drivers that abhore autos and only drive manuals. Only a small % but very loyal.

Likewise, a certain % of the car market is very sytle driven. But i suspect that is largely either particualry style conscious invidivuals (i.e. style is important to them in their daily lives) and/or the car aficianados. These are guys that go after EL GTs because they love the EL look....rather than AU T series that are better cars but just dont look 'right'.

Most buyers i feel buy not on how a car looks, or even it's features/mechanicals etc. But mostly perception. Perception about safety. Perception about build quality. Perception about resale. And most importantly perception about the brand/image.

Most people dont' really care how a car looks day to day as long as it isnt majorly polarising. Who the hell buys a camry if looks were important (it doesnt have any....)? The highest selling cars are mostly the least adventurously styled. I'm convinced Mazda's current styling direction is going the wrong way not so much because i personall dislike it but because it is too out there and too heavy handed. VE 2 HSV is one thing, average family car is another....

Yep, pretty much sums up Toyota.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I agree on the sales situation. Ford has struggled (and its hardly the first time) to get the mondeo proposition to 'cut through' to consumers. Contrast this with fiesta which has worked quite well.

I just dont' think its due to the styling is all.....

Yet Mazda hardly advertise at all and seem to be dominating.

Ford advertised the bejesus out of the mondeo.
Advertising will only get you so far, if the product doesnt live upto expectations it still wont sell...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I agree on the sales situation. Ford has struggled (and its hardly the first time) to get the mondeo proposition to 'cut through' to consumers. Contrast this with fiesta which has worked quite well.

I just dont' think its due to the styling is all.....

The Fiesta sells becuase it looks good & is one of the best looking light cars on the market!!! Your down playing of looks is so far from the market.

[music189]

mazda,subaru and toyota have taken to the designs with the ugly stick lately IMO!!! I like th e look of the Mondeo but dont run out of deisel in one as it is a workshop job to get them going again!!!!!!!

[MethodX]

Well at least you see some Mondeo's about.
Cant remember the last time i saw an Epica, does Holden sell any??

[DanielXR8]

Exciting news for the couple of people who walk into a Ford dealership and notice it.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Telstar? that name still have some good vibes?

How come the Mazda 6 which is the same car really sells up a storm?

Mazda 6 is sold and supported by Mazda and its dealers, while the Mondeo is sold and serviced by Ford dealers and denied responsibility for anything else (particuarly if it should go wrong) by Ford Australia.

Most people have that figured out by now when it comes to buying a new car and buy accordingly.

Time for Ford (US) to fix the problem - Ford Aust and its dealer network, otherwise how good a particular Ford product might be is irrelevant to its sales results.

Meanwhile the diehard Ford fans make excuses about profit vs volume, while the brand slips down the charts each year on its way to import only status and a future like Nissan Australia.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

The Fiesta sells becuase it looks good & is one of the best looking light cars on the market!!! Your down playing of looks is so far from the market.

Perhaps so. But that would a departure from my theory purely BECAUSE that segment is so style conscious. Look who buys light cars....young ladies (generalistion of course). They wouldn't know nor care what engine it has, or even what an engine is as long as it looks funky and has ipod integration.... Definition of 'style conscious' demograpic.

Still, the light segment is pretty damn small so overall i'm sticking to my guns...

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Yet Mazda hardly advertise at all and seem to be dominating.

Ford advertised the bejesus out of the mondeo.
Advertising will only get you so far, if the product doesnt live upto expectations it still wont sell...

Not sure what TV you were watching but (albeit it has increased a bit lately) i bet my bacon mazda advertised at least as much as ford for their medium car competitor. Mondeo was the return of a (somewhat unloved) model....mazda had pre-existing recognition from the previous model and they still ran lots of ads based on what i've seen. Online, print and TV. THey have ads on right now for the 'update' mazda 6. Weren't there complaints from people on here and in the industry that upon Mondeo launch Ford didn't advertise enough??

Either way, its still perception. Even if mazda did advertise less it doesn't matter, its fashionable right now to have a mazda. Good for them, people obviously like zoom zoom. Doesn't mean the mondeo fails to sell because its a bad product. It isn't. Period. I'm not saying i like the fact it sells poorly, but it aint' a bad car.

[snappy]

Why do i get the feeling that fors are using the mondeo wagon as a testing ground for a fwd falcon.
I really hope it sells poorly . Because if it doesn't i can see them slotting taurus quite easily

[4.0i_SiX]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Why?? It is just starting to get a name here in Aust & you want to change it now??

Because anyone I talk to about it cringes as soon as I say the word Mondeo. Its the same with the Taurus. The last time both name plates were here in Australia they were an abomination that left a bitter taste in peoples mouths.

its obviously too late to change the name now, but I wonder how much better it would have sold if it were introduced under a different name

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by snappy

Why do i get the feeling that fors are using the mondeo wagon as a testing ground for a fwd falcon.
I really hope it sells poorly . Because if it doesn't i can see them slotting taurus quite easily

I can't see that happening just yet, Falcon is barley two years into its product cycle
and it would cost too much to tear up supplier contracts and employee reducrancies.

Think simple and it all makes sense.
Ford can't justify a new Falcon S/Wagon now that Mondeo is available.
Anything more than that is imagination running wild.....

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Personally... and im as blue blood as anyone, the 6 is a far better looking car than the mondeo, ESPECIALLY in wagon form.
Its a personal thing but the sales contrast between the 6 and mondeo clearly shows something isn't connecting it with consumers.

Mazda have a sales target of 680 Mazda 6's a month according to yesterdays Carsguide. Mondeo sales are getting up to 500 a month with the diesel wagon yet to come to attract fleets.

By those numbers the 6 is not the dominant sales force you think it is. Mondeo will outsell it if some fleets switch from Falcon wagon to Mondeo wagon.