is the falcon big enough to be a family car?

[RAPID_BA]

We have a b series falcon sedan. We have a young child as well. By the time you fit the pram, a few bags and pieces the car ends up feeling a little full. Going to Woolworths and there isn't much space to put stuff. A modern day falcon is bigger than older falcons which many used as family cars happily.

The Mrs is saying to sell it and grab a kluger or territory or cherokee. Maybe a commodore sportswagon.

Interior space would be about the same as falcon and sure the rear storage is more in the SUV but at an expense of $40k+

Are we still using falcons as family cars and coping or has everyone else moved to a suv?

What are you using as family car? How you coping?

[SSD-85]

Our AU Fairlane happily fits all those items with ease.

If you want more rear space, get a Falcon wagon & save yourself around 30 of that 40k....

[GK]

Originally Posted by Eagleheart

Our AU Fairlane happily fits all those items with ease.

If you want more rear space, get a Falcon wagon & save yourself around 30 of that 40k....

+1

Our AU wagon is 14 years old and has been going strong for the 10 years we've had it.

Bought it when we found out we were pregnant with the 1st in 2003. We now have two and the wagon has always carried what we needed.

We are now at the stage where our kids are older and we carry less stuff on our interstate trips. I usually get a clear view out the rear screen now. For a number of years though, it was always stacked to the roof.

We've pondered a Territory but I think we'll end up with another Futura Wagon, a 2007 BFII or so. There's plenty of BF MkIII's around but they're only in XT spec. You could grab one of those cheap and upspec it a bit/lot.

LPG makes these cars cheap to run too.

GK

[jpd80]

You'll be stunned by what you can get into a Focus hatch that you can't in a Falcon,
try a Dryer or a Washing machine, a set of cabinets or even a Gang Box.

[jmack]

try leaving the kitchen sink home,parents nowadays have to pack the house everytime they leave .use to get around in a te cortina when younger with no probs,its not the vehicles its the parents

[SSVPom]

Originally Posted by GK

+1

Our AU wagon is 14 years old and has been going strong for the 10 years we've had it.

Bought it when we found out we were pregnant with the 1st in 2003. We now have two and the wagon has always carried what we needed.

We are now at the stage where our kids are older and we carry less stuff on our interstate trips. I usually get a clear view out the rear screen now. For a number of years though, it was always stacked to the roof.

We've pondered a Territory but I think we'll end up with another Futura Wagon, a 2007 BFII or so. There's plenty of BF MkIII's around but they're only in XT spec. You could grab one of those cheap and upspec it a bit/lot.

LPG makes these cars cheap to run too.

GK

Hey George,

Try and find a BF3 petrol XT (with stability control) with the factory optioned side airbags, alloys, rear electric windows, Bluetooth, metallic paint, rear sensors and towbar... Then colour code the outside to make it look Futura like !

[theboxmike]

Sounds like she wants the soccer mum image.

[335POWER]

really, it all depends on how big your family is and how young the kid/s are.

Your kid is still obviously pram age, need to take stuff incase you need to change him/her.

If you boot has nothing but the pram and shopping, while the change accessories can be in the back seat with the kid.

[RAPID_BA]

We have a monster pram which takes up most the boot. Change accessories in back seat already. Its a bit awkward to get pram in and out of boot. Sort of got to manoeuvre it in. She is worried her back is going to cop it

We cope but the test will be a short trip we intend to take and stay for a week. Add some luggage for both of us and some increased baby gear and the falcon feels small.

[ryeman]

Never underrated the addiction people develop for the high riding position, visibility, ease of access bolting bubs in and for creaky bones etc.
Terri or Kuga!

[graham7773]

Whatever you do don't get a jeep. My son has a cherokee and has just been quoted $6500 for miscellaneous work, not including engine or gearbox replacement. $800 a side for steering knuckles plus fitting (over $2000 all up) among other things.
jpd80, Dryer or a Washing machine, a set of cabinets or even a Gang Box. Does that include 3 kids? Prams/strollers?

[PridenJoy]

And a sportswagon has LESS space than a sedan I reckon. Second vote for an old school wagon, reliability of a falcon, economy of LPG and HEAPS of room. Pity most women dont like to drive them as they ain't keeping up with the joneses in their (insert whatever SUV).

[blackf6]

The problem you have is the huge pram. Ditch the pram and use a stroller, don't ditch the Falcon! I have 3 kids in my falcon aged- Newborn, 2, and 5. With strollers it is easy.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by teak81

The problem you have is the huge pram. Ditch the pram and use a stroller, don't ditch the Falcon! I have 3 kids in my falcon aged- Newborn, 2, and 5. With strollers it is easy.

+1 exactly the same.

As a matter of fact I found it much harder putting the child in the middle seat with the X Trail than I did the Falcon, I can step right into the back of the Falcon were with the X Trail I had to lift and stretch for all of it.

The only reason I would go a Tez over a Falcon is for the AWD..thats it.

[P6LTD351]

It's plenty big enough. The Falcon just can't win with people. Apparently it's too big and that's why it's not selling. Now it's not big enough?

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

It's plenty big enough. The Falcon just can't win with people. Apparently it's too big and that's why it's not selling. Now it's not big enough?

The problem with Falcon (sized sedans) is that the interior space just isn't as accessible as it is in a station wagon, crossover or even a humble hatchback. For the amount of space it takes up it just isn't versatile enough.

[P6LTD351]

And my woman doesn't need to keep up with the Joneses. She enjoys driving the XR8. I'm lucky. She's also lucky...'cos she knows we aren't buying an SUV anytime soon.

[deesun]

Does a Terry or Kluger really have that much more rear space than a Falcon boot?

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by deesun

Does a Terry or Kluger really have that much more rear space than a Falcon boot?

YES I own a Territory and a FG and without a doubt the extra useable boot space in territory is significant. The rear parcel shelf in a falcon actually means less useable space and much harder to load


I have 3 kids 10 and under and Ford is the only car on the market that has a full 3 seats across the back. The commodore is much narrower in the middle seat and every thing else is worse. Friends had an X5 and it was shocking with 3 kids

This is the part of the push to smaller euro cars that I dont get, even the big euros are not made for seating 5 on a long journey

[Polyal]

I will tell you what peoples problem is these days...the stupid size of prams people buy.

We have a McLaren double (side by side) and it folds down nicely and fits just fine in our Falcon, there is plenty of room left for shopping and if not use your noggin and dont go mass-shopping with the kids.

The Falcon is fine, we recently hired a X-Trail (CVT) and its a POS..seriously, sure there is a bit more vertical boot space but thats it. Front row is not as big, the second row is pathetic once we put the same car seats in...it sucked balls to be honest.

[naddis01]

My wife won't even consider a falcon because of the sedan boot opening. She is short and she has trouble lifting a pram or large item up and through a sedan boot. If it had a hatch style opening (but could still be a sedan shape) where the boot hinged at the top of the rear window instead of the bottom it would be a different story. We have a Mazda 6 wagon that was bought because it is easier to put things in rather than a bigger boot. We very rarely take out the (very clever) cargo cover.

I don't know why people like SUV's or 4x4's for family cars. I have a new Ranger and we both find it much easier to put the kids in the Mazda than the Ranger. The Mazda is a pleasure to drive where the Ranger feels like you are driving on a bar stool.

[Stefan]

Cheaper to buy a smaller pram.

My missus was the same, we need a smaller car (sell XR6 buy Outback). We need a bigger car (7 seats, never use them!) (sell outback buy Territory). Both within 12 months. 90% of the time we used her Focus because we would not be ****ed changing baby seats from that to the "Family Car"

Would have been cheaper to just keep what we had in the first place.

Not the mention that the Territory is the biggest hunk of **** I've owned. Crap build quality, crap engineering, gutless and thirsty.

Keep the Falcon change the wife, if her back is going you probably need a younger model.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by naddis01

My wife won't even consider a falcon because of the sedan boot opening. She is short and she has trouble lifting a pram or large item up and through a sedan boot. If it had a hatch style opening (but could still be a sedan shape) where the boot hinged at the top of the rear window instead of the bottom it would be a different story. We have a Mazda 6 wagon that was bought because it is easier to put things in rather than a bigger boot. We very rarely take out the (very clever) cargo cover.

my mother has the same issue with her falcon AU. i had to put a handle on the boot lid so she could reach it to pull it down.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

my mother has the same issue with her falcon AU. i had to put a handle on the boot lid so she could reach it to pull it down.

The issue isn't reaching the bootlid. It is being able to fit a large item through a sedan boot opening as opposed to a hatch. I am talking about a sedan shape with a hatch opening much like the Holden SSX concept Commodore from the 2002 Sydney Motor Show or the Mondeo hatch or Mazda 6 hatch.

V8 AWD hatch. Perfect family car! Although it would be better with a conventional hatch instead of a drop down tailgate.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by naddis01

The issue isn't reaching the bootlid. It is being able to fit a large item through a sedan boot opening as opposed to a hatch. I am talking about a sedan shape with a hatch opening much like the Holden SSX concept Commodore from the 2002 Sydney Motor Show

Now there is a great idea, I don't really follow new concepts so I've never seen this before.

Why does the "dark side" keep coming up with this sort of stuff?

I remember trying to move an out-door setting with my EL XR6 a few years back. Couldn't fit jack in the "big" car, so I went and got the GF's SX Celica and fitted the table and 4 chairs no problem, the boot was similar to that Commodore concept.

[JG34JA]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Why does the "dark side" keep coming up with this sort of stuff?

You can thank Peter Hannenberger for a lot of it that made it into production, back about 10 years+ ago their policy was to get multiple variants of the VT-Z platform; hence 1 tonner AWD ute, Crewman, Adventra, AWD Crewman, Monaro, the AWD Monaro Coupe - all came off the same platform.

Must admit a soft spot for LX6-LX8 Adventras.

Ford took their Falcon platform and continued LWB but after a great deal of correct market research, managed to engineer a car that outlasted every single one of the General's efforts at this time, the Territory.

[mik]

falcon has been fine for us, can get the stroller in the boot plus groceries, was a bit more effort in getting a large dryer with packing home in/on the falcon boot last year , but tying the boot lid down over it did the job no worries.

[IceValk85]

+1 for commodore sportwagon.

grab a 2010/2011 series 1 sv6 for next to nothing, nice big rear cargo bay.

plenty of pull from 3.6 sidi motor too, 3.27 diff gears get up and move nicely.

interiors a bit dated, but grab a series 2 if that is important to you.

Ice

[Bushbasher]

+1 more for the wagon. Same here as for GK, started the family in 04 now got 1 of each and the wagon has always done the job, even with the spare wheel in the back because of the gas and like GK I've only just been able to see out of the back window again in the last couple of years, but only just, because we take all our bedding and a cooler bag with our food so we don't have to buy take away on the road, and a 12v travel oven, and picnic bag with cutlery, utensils, plates, condiments, napkins etc. along with our clothes. Then there's the emergency tool kit & box plus the trolley jack and 12v rattle gun, oh, and the water, usually a 10L box and on extended trips there's also kids toys.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's going to last because you are going to keep it till the kids are old enough to not trash it, so at least 10 years, ours we've had for 8 years and 300k, because you WILL give them whatever it takes to shut them up on the road and this will include food, drinks, lollies, any piece of $2 crap they take a fancy to in Go Lo or the Reject Shop that'll keep them entertained for an hour and they will trash the back of the car whether you like it or not so get used to the idea.

A couple of items that are a must these days for travelling with kids old enough to say "Are we there yet!":
- A stable table
- Coloured pencils and a colouring/activity book
- Headrest DVD player
- Spill proof lids on the drink bottles because they WILL spill anything you give them even if it has a pop top

I'm sure there are more that others will suggest but that'll give you a heads up of what to expect. Welcome to the world of parenthood.:yelr otflm


Bushbasher

[Dave R]

Having had a couple of current model Falcons and a Territory, I can confidently say the Territory is simply a better car when practicality is considered. It outshines the Falcon everywhere. Make no mistake the cabin is definitely bigger than a Falcon's and you feel it, the cargo area is enormous, the driving position is better, storage compartments are more plentiful (although it's a shame they deleted the storage bin on top of the ICC in the new model) and the ride is obviously better. As a family car, you cannot beat a Territory.

I'd also like to point out that we're living in a day and age where a Mazda3 is being referred to as a family car - personally I think it's crazy but if you can squeeze the kids and luggage into the back of that thing whilst saving $7 on fuel then you deserve that 7 bucks.