Could The GT-HO save Ford?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by MOTORE

When I was growing up as a kid in the seventies, Ford was it... they just had so much going for them and everyone loved the Ford GT's and wanted one. I think Ford put a nail in their coffin when they dumped the V8. For a number of years you just couldn't get a Ford Falcon with a V8.

During this time Holden was marketing their HSV range and all the kids of that time just became Holden fans. Holden did a great job marketing their product and when Ford finally decided to get their act together a release a new V8 in the EB, Holden already had a huge headstart.

It's only be the last few years that Ford is making a comeback but I'm not sure it's going to be enough to become king of the hill like they once were.

Top post and IMO 100% true

[BIGJB]

Originally Posted by MOTORE

When I was growing up as a kid in the seventies, Ford was it... they just had so much going for them and everyone loved the Ford GT's and wanted one. I think Ford put a nail in their coffin when they dumped the V8. For a number of years you just couldn't get a Ford Falcon with a V8.

During this time Holden was marketing their HSV range and all the kids of that time just became Holden fans. Holden did a great job marketing their product and when Ford finally decided to get their act together a release a new V8 in the EB, Holden already had a huge headstart.

It's only be the last few years that Ford is making a comeback but I'm not sure it's going to be enough to become king of the hill like they once were.

Hit the nail square on the head.

[MONSOON]

I don't think a HO will reinvigorate the falcon, but it would probably improve FPV's image to its target market, If it were up to me, I'd put a version of the ford GT/GT500 engine in it, then they would only need to configure the rest of the driveline, design a unique, more attractive front instead of the smiley racoon, upgrade the interior and fit some new design wheels, 9's on the back, (some of those appearance things the current FPV's could really do with)

[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

[cuz]

Ho Ho Ho ... once and only. Don't wreck a legend by comparing it to todays plastic.

long live the HO...

[F6 R-Spec]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

They can spend all the money in the world on marketing but at the end of the day if Ford don't have the products consumers want it wont mean squat.

Ford Falcon has been a robust fairdinkum car all these years, a GTHO alone wont fix this.
As many people have said it is MARKETING MARKETING MARKETING and lately fuel prices and the trend to move away from large famaly sedan cars.

Have a look at the TAXI industry, (self explanatory) 80% are Falcons.
Not because there cheep.
I dont see many SO called bullet proof TOYOTA's, why because the generall public are sheep, it is an IMAGE.

I have done my time as a motor mech( on cabs) and can say the falcons are tuff as nails, they do have there probs but so do the rest, no magnas, commodores, camry's, avalons, aurions are close to being as good as a Falcon.

They have the product but are very arrogant, a ford dealer a couple of weeks ago told me that new cars sell themselves. :togo:

Great attitude! i recon.


Thats just my opinion.
Cheers regards Mick.

[sprinter]

Like it or not, FORD is stuffed in Aust due to changing market trends and fuel prices.
I went to the local dealer today to get an FPV brochure and the guy there tells me they cost them $15 bucks each and every order for one has to be signed off by the dealer principal.
Even the big boss has seen the writing on the wall, he sacks 350 then says sorry boys I,ve had enough of this and resigns to return to Canada to pursue his dream job.
As one sacked Ford worker said there ain't gonna be any local production in 5 years time.
Dont get me wrong, I would never buy a Holden but Ford in Aust just aint going anywhere.
Too many models in the lineup and a HO is just fantasy stuff as it will never get past the bean counters.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by PURSUIT-250

Ford Falcon has been a robust fairdinkum car all these years, a GTHO alone wont fix this.
As many people have said it is MARKETING MARKETING MARKETING and lately fuel prices and the trend to move away from large famaly sedan cars.

Have a look at the TAXI industry, (self explanatory) 80% are Falcons.
Not because there cheep.
I dont see many SO called bullet proof TOYOTA's, why because the generall public are sheep, it is an IMAGE.

I have done my time as a motor mech and can say the falcons are tuff as nails, they do have there probs but so do the rest, no magnas, commodores, camry's, avalons, aurions are close to being as good as a Falcon.

They have the product but are very arrogant, a ford dealer a couple of weeks ago told me that new cars sell themselves. :togo:

Great attitude! i recon.


Thats just my opinion.
Cheers regards Mick.

I have (holden) people at work that say that at least holden don't make taxi's.

With my reply being that is because they are not capable of making a car that will last for 1 million kilometres. Then they go quiet and walk away

[F6 R-Spec]

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

I have (holden) people at work that say that at least holden don't make taxi's.

With my reply being that is because they are not capable of making a car that will last for 1 million kilometres. Then they go quiet and walk away

I know what you mean.

I used to be ashamed of falcons being cabs, but when you work on them and see how good they are compared to anything else you feel proud.

Then you educate silly sheep,
There coments OHHHHHHHHHHHH :togo:

Sorry guy's this is a touchy subject for me.

Cheers Mick.

[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.

[forbsy]

the gtho is a legend and was the fastest four door car in production in aus so it'd have to be able to move on from this statement not go backwards i'd think

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by sprinter

Like it or not, FORD is stuffed in Aust due to changing market trends and fuel prices.

Hmm so if Ford is stuffed why isnt Holden and Toyota, who also make bigger family cars?

went to the local dealer today to get an FPV brochure and the guy there tells me they cost them $15 bucks each and every order for one has to be signed off by the dealer principal.

Bs from a dealer who probably didnt want to serve you and had no interest in selling you a car.

Even the big boss has seen the writing on the wall, he sacks 350 then says sorry boys I,ve had enough of this and resigns to return to Canada to pursue his dream job.

Crap. Bill Osborne took a job that came up at the right time - leaving barstool theorists like you to sit back and cry wolf.

As one sacked Ford worker said there ain't gonna be any local production in 5 years time.

Yes and I'll bet said Ford worker has access to all the company's financial documents, and he would most certainly not be suffering (albeit understandably) from sour grapes cos he just lost his job would he?

Dont get me wrong, I would never buy a Holden but Ford in Aust just aint going anywhere.

Not with idiots like you sitting back and getting ready to put the nail in the coffin they aren't. Spose you think athletes who lose at the Olympics ought to give up too?

Too many models in the lineup and a HO is just fantasy stuff as it will never get past the bean counters.

Ahhh yes, the bean counters - the very people whose job it is to stop your prophecy of crap coming true. You've never heard of model diversity and catering to the market have you - you're right, lets just scrap all the other cars and make Falcons. Then we can have our mega famous hamburger-with-the-lot-but-then-heaps-ripped-out-cos-it-should-do-10's 48,000kW nuclear powered GTHO.

[jmack]

well after seeing a gte today it would have to be a lot better than that.didnt look much different to a g6 with a bonnet bulge.it just didnt shout the price tag that it carries,very dissapointing.its not so much the cars ,its the marketing department and especialy dealers that let them down.after mine and family members experince with buying new cars from ford never again.atleast at the red dealers they would bend over backwards to get a sale free tint,mats etc,ford flat out getting a seat to sit on while you sign the contract .this after having bought numerous gtps,ltds,xr8,and explorers.there are certain dealers in melb who think they are doing you a favor by selling you a car .the old saying is live by the sword die by the sword and i think it has been sharpened since back in 82.i will always be a ford man(4 at the moment)but they make being loyal to them hard.

[Cappy_Hamper]

Doesn't anyone remember why the HO was originally built here in AU? Win a race on Sunday Sell a car on Monday... The V8 "supercars" are to blame for global warming and moral decay! They used to drive to Bathurst and race for 500 miles and then drive home. The HO's were for homologation purposes, they had to sell a certain amount of the type of cars they were racing.
If motor racing today reflected closer the kinds of cars on the market re-releasing the HO would have some merit, but in todays climate.

[Yellow_Festiva]

If a GTHO were to be made, I would prefer to see it sold starting when the new engines come in. Getting a reliable 351kw out of the Boss is a tall order unless we walk the forced induction route.

Would be good if they were a 351ci / 351kw donk as well. But one of those 2 would be enough to pay homage to the magic number.

Make 351 of them, like a limited edition run etc etc, priced at a 20% premium above the best that FPV has at that time and I think they will sell well. Mostly to cashed up baby boomers and hardcore ford enthusiasts.

Will it 'save' ford? Of course not. Ford OZ need to brush up on producing, marketing and selling small / medium safe and efficient cars that the masses want.

Ford left it too late, and should have been doing what the Japanese and Koreans were and still are doing, making and selling cars that can be easily adapted across several countries and to satisfy all the needs and wants those countries require.

[menil]

jmack you must be going to the wrong dealer I just bought a new Pursuit from Central Ford in Kilmore .I was treated extremely well ,the car was a little slow with delivery but the dealer service was A1 ,Maybee you need to get out of Melbourne into the real world

[ieatsports_cars]

personaly i think it would not save ford because it would be extra cost for ford to create the gt ho to go into development and to be in a limited number possibly i could not see how that would save ford in the long term although iam for the gtho but against the gtho if it doesnt work for ford which will mean more short cuts or job losses becasue we need workers to keep the encomy going

if it means that i would not preferr them to bring the gtho

which would you preffer them not to bring out the gtho or not to have any more falcons in the future

i know what i would preffer, it would be a shame to loose an aussie icon keep those aussie familys going and keep buying ford

[Spanrz]

Love the idea, but that's old skool now.

Everyone (pollies and business) is talking green. Green does not equal GTHO.
Case in point, V8 Supercars going to Ethanol next season.

Unfortunately, it's the mindset now that Green is good. That's what is dictating the movement away from V8's and large 6's.

I think I heard a strong rumour a while ago, that the US was trying to implement a regulation about any Diesel engine made before 2000, had to be scrapped.
That's a huge revolution, bigger than any one car marker today.
It was not only going to suffer road transport vehicles, even farmers too, every farmer has an old tractor running in the yard somewhere. By this rule, machine is scrap.

So it's the concept now (you know, the vibe - mabo thing), Green is god. As said above though, the odd investor will love it, but Ford ain't going to build for that niche market, just to sell a small amount of cars, that it hoped would boost confidence.

The concept might work in China though, as everyone is moving there. They say "who cares to the smog factor" lol.

[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

[sprinter]

My My BTF we are touchy aren't we.
Holden is stuffed too and only thing saving Toyota is the Corolla.
Brochures are like gold, he saw the TS sitting out the front and still no chance.
Weak effort by Osborne, why bother coming in the first place and will now get a nice payout when Ford can least afford it.
Don't need to see the books to know Ford is a basket case with red everywhere.
Think I know a bit about Fords, owning two Tickfords and the old man stangs nimrod(if you want to start with the names)
And the GTE is just not a proposition, XR8 a bit lost, XR6 Turbo V G6E Turbo. I'm just not sure.

[snappy]

Ford need to go back to basics .
Improve the foundations have more control on there dealers to ensure great service. Back there product better some times to get some thing fixed on warranty is like getting blood out of a stone in my expierence. This should not be the case
An advertise not there products the company tell the people they are improving these things.

Also i think the falcon is too big now .
Mondeo = falcon
Falcon = fairlane /ltd
I don't mean just change the badges either

The ford company in aus will be around for ever .They are the 3rd biggest seller in aus
They can fall further than they can rise. Going green is just a fad/fashonable .Fashions change every season and the gtho is out of season.

[NIK516]

ford stuffed them selves up from the very beginning by not calling the company a different name and leaving it and American associated name.

Australian buyers never truly believed or even had a chance to delude them selves that ford was Australian.

holden can always play the Australian theme, thats why ford are now trying to make there car more European rather then Australian.

But to answer the question , NO the gt-ho will have no bearing on anything, the market is moving away from large cars and it will not come back to it until a good replacement is made.

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by NIK516

ford stuffed them selves up from the very beginning by not calling the company a different name and leaving it and American associated name.

Australian buyers never truly believed or even had a chance to delude them selves that ford was Australian.

holden can always play the Australian theme, thats why ford are now trying to make there car more European rather then Australian.

But to answer the question , NO the gt-ho will have no bearing on anything, the market is moving away from large cars and it will not come back to it until a good replacement is made.

+1 the introduction of a Hoe would have no bearing on the aussie production of Ford cars. The Falcon may well be doomed in the next few years.

[Spanrz]

Originally Posted by snappy84

They can fall further than they can rise. Going green is just a fad/fashonable .Fashions change every season and the gtho is out of season.

Green unfortunately my friend is a global thing now, it's also "mindset" in everyone.
So it's here stay, not a fad or just fashion. Industries and pollies are taking hold of it. And it ain't going away.

Originally Posted by Burnedout

+1 the introduction of a Hoe would have no bearing on the aussie production of Ford cars. The Falcon may well be doomed in the next few years.

Hmmm sad to say it, but will either die or be rebadged / resized to get rid of the big car stigma in the coming years. I think the Ford Focus will probably be the fore runner now.
It's just the mindset of fuel prices and large cars. If the fuel price was still around $1.00, I think there would be Falcons for everyone.

Originally Posted by NIK516

But to answer the question , NO the gt-ho will have no bearing on anything, the market is moving away from large cars and it will not come back to it until a good replacement is made.

+1 As I said above.


Do I sense another series of V8 Supercars being infiltrated by Turbo Ford Seirra's? LOLZ
Wouldn't that upset things. Maybe the Seirra's were just 20 years to early.

[Falcon Coupe]

Whilst i agree a HO would not have much of a sales impact (if any), the brand image would receive a boost especially in the eyes of young enthusiasts who will be the new car buyers of the future.

In times of need we can use a Hero for inspiration, even if most of us will never own it.

[jmack]

hi there menil,im glad it went ok for you a guy from work just bought from there as well said they were ok.but that is the problem shouldnt have to chase half way around the country to find a decent dealer.im not just the only one on here that has had the same exp,seems to a common prob right across the country.had dealings with 4 dealers in melb and one of them after the family spending about 240k in 18 months said they were doing a super deal on a car pity it was the same price we got off the ford site.i wont name them but i will say had a good exp with a salesman at bayfod ,an old school guy not pushy and new what he was talking about,most of the salesman couldnt tell the difference between a car and fridge .that deal didnt go though for various reasons but its exp like that leave an impression

[Falcon Coupe]

I think you have the wrong thread ^^

[GTP290]

I own a 03 GTP an 07 Focus and an EB 5 Litre on LPG. I can tell you the GTP hardly sees the road, it was more of an emotional decision to purchase this vehicle because I loved the look of the BA GTP, with 290kws and brembos all round, I promised myself I would get one. If Ford brought out a GTHO I would definately want one, but I prob wouldnt be in a posistion to afford one, but Im sure they would sell, but Ford would have to make it quicker than the W427 and cheaper. They prob wouldnt make any money on it, so they wouldnt waste all there resources and energy on such a vehicle at this stage.

[Spanrz]

Without trying to get too far off left field here,
This is showing what can be done as "green is the go".
Now this is where i'll be hedging my bets in to make a squillion dollars.

But it's the Petrol compaines and Pollies that stop or restrict you to put it in production.
It's showing that even though a lot of these inventors get done by so called investors that buy them out and shut it down, some people have the gumption to make it.

Now I know, that an XY GTHO will never be the same with this engine in it, you want the grumble and groan, me too.
But the technology is there, it's just Petrol companies don't want it to be in full production just yet, they want the slow approach of Hybrids to crossover, so we don't have 10 billion people out of work.

Just imagine what it can do in a few years! Who need's turbo's, when 100% torque can be applied at the start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPBREn3ibgI

The problem is it's the "engine" stigma (V8) fuel guzzler. Ford, GMH and all are loosing to the V8.
I shouldn't have to tell you as you know.
But it frustrates me in seeing this tech there and it shut down.
But with time, I can see this concept owning a Petrol V8 car anyday.

Nothing like the real thing tho.

What Holden did to the 427 Monaro, that's what I want to see in the HO. Pure ownage at "MT.Panorama".
The only way Ford would adopt the idea of a HO, I think if we all pay for it (I.e Car enthusist's)
Who's going to bank roll the first 500 million ?

Speaking of which, Tander drove a 427 and slightly scuffed it. LOLZ! Teach him to drive a GMH.! Can't handle the power, silly boy, go back to your toy!

[TUF_302]

If ford did make another GT-HO it would wanna be something very special indeed!!!, we dont want it to be a half assed attempt at brining back the Phase 3!, if they are to do it, they have to make it perfect!