US caranddriver magazine discovers Aussie Fords

**Raptor** · 05-05-2006, 09:11 AM

Hopefully not a repost (someone will tell me if it is)

Feature Article from US caranddriver magazine;

Fords That Could Save Ford Now

I for one hope they don't get their hand on our Falcon and Territory's.
Bad news for us IMHO, were doing fine well away from US influence.

Full Spectrum · 05-05-2006, 10:50 AM

It would be nice to say we are away from the American influence, But unfortunately they throw it down our necks in some shape or form:(

flappist · 05-05-2006, 12:22 PM

I wonder if they would actually sell in USA. The septics have a very different veiw on life to us as can be seen by the interior and exterior styling of some of their vehicles.

It would be nice to see LHD falcons helping to offset our trade imbalance but on the other hand if it went pear shaped then we might lose our marque forever....

The G6ET Spot · 05-05-2006, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

I wonder if they would actually sell in USA. The septics have a very different veiw on life to us as can be seen by the interior and exterior styling of some of their vehicles.

It would be nice to see LHD falcons helping to offset our trade imbalance but on the other hand if it went pear shaped then we might lose our marque forever....

I got bailed up by a couple of Americans late last year while fuelling my ute. They were out here on holidays and they were all over my car like you wouldn't believe.They were saying that in the US most people that have modified cars only drive them on weekends.When I told him that the ute was my everyday car and that it wasn't modified that much I thought he was going to have a heart attack.They reckon that if Ford Aust exported the utes and Sports models(as he put it)meaning the XR's and GT's to the US that they would sell like hot cakes. But he said the biggest hurdle would be get past the unions, as they are very protective of their own manufacturing over there.So after kicking my wife out of the passenger seat and taking both the men AND their wive's for a run,I think that I left them with no doubt in their minds as to which country makes the better cars. They reckon that if they could organise it that they wouldn't have any hessitation in buying one and shipping it back.Perhaps ford US should talk to some people on the street instead of listening to the bosses that just sit in the offices.Most of the time with their heads up their backside or so it seems.(sarcasim)

Redrum · 05-05-2006, 08:32 PM

With the US market going up a certain creek rapidly there is no way in hell the US auto unions will accept any new imports. Doesn't bother me where they sell our products, as long as they don't try to change them. In my humble opinion Ford Australia makes the best Fords in the world by a country mile :thebirds:

FPV8U · 06-05-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

They reckon that if Ford Aust exported the utes and Sports models(as he put it)meaning the XR's and GT's to the US that they would sell like hot cakes.

Had a very similar thing happen to me and the old man at a show and shine, a couple of fella's on Holidays from the USA came up to the Club display and loved the GT/GT-P said he thought they would do well in the US then walked down to our ute (Pursuit) and couldn't belive his eyes, said exactly the same thing that they would sell like hotcakes.

Basically the 5.4L V8 + Smaller size ute (Compared to the F-Series) = Them more jeolous of Australia then ever :king:

XRated · 05-05-2006, 12:24 PM

The article's more accurate than most Aussie editorials! It'd be good if they had the Typhoon and got to see the potential of the modded Falcon.

Quote:

Would you visit a Ford dealer if it sold a budget BMW that hosted five adults and their airport luggage, laid rubber with the rear tires and rode gently on all four, turned sharply into corners and drifted its tail coming out, gave you the choice of a six-speed manual or German-designed six-speed automatic, and came in all the colors of the rainbow and a few found only in a toxic dump?

Hmmm interesting..

Quote:

Melbourne’s highways, which have a 100km/h speed limit — or 62 mph — zealously enforced by speed cameras (our local guide complained of receiving a ticket for 106km/h, or 3.7 mph over)....

ImpulseTaco · 05-05-2006, 01:56 PM

I *think* I was the first to mention it in another thread, and somebody else posted a link, but I feel that the article deserves its own thread anyway.

I definately think the falcon would have lots of potential for sales over here. The Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger has been selling TONS, ever since they came out with it. That car alone proves there is still a strong market for a V8/RWD car over here. The Falcon (especially XR6T/XR8) models are at least as good, if not better. And you can get a manual in the Falcon, which is not avaliable in the Chrysler/Dodge.

While I personally like the styling of the Falcons (BA/BF especially) I'm not sure that everyone else here would be in agreement. Plus, the retro look is currently the "in" thing here. I think if Ford changed the sheetmetal and gave the Falcon a more retro look, they would have a definate winner. It would be nice to see it with the I6, too as I prefer an I6 over a v6 anyday.

jabba · 05-05-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImpulseTaco

It would be nice to see it with the I6, too as I prefer an I6 over a v6 anyday.

Your in luck... The Falcon 6 is only built as a 250 cubic inch I6...

XR_Strider_GuY · 05-05-2006, 11:23 PM

As a performance niche model (like the Monaro) some of our cooking model Falcons I believe will sell. I think the current large rear drive sedan you have over there from the Ford stable is the Lincoln LS and ofcourse the Lincoln Towncar which is essentially a Crown Victoria.
The Lincoln LS is powered by the same engine in the Thunderbird a 3.9L 32valve V8 making 280hp. Australia's offering would be the XR8 and it makes 350hp and comes in a manual. I actually think the Lincoln LS is a nice looking modern themed saloon but with a conservative easy on the eye shape much like the BA/BF.

The Lincoln Towncar by comparison is a car for people who like wearing golf trowsers, conservative, 5.47m long, room for 6, softly suspended and its shape dates back from the 1970's Towncar where its shape was drawn by someone who only had a ruler and a HB pencil.

ImpulseTaco · 06-05-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

As a performance niche model (like the Monaro) some of our cooking model Falcons I believe will sell. I think the current large rear drive sedan you have over there from the Ford stable is the Lincoln LS and ofcourse the Lincoln Towncar which is essentially a Crown Victoria.
The Lincoln LS is powered by the same engine in the Thunderbird a 3.9L 32valve V8 making 280hp. Australia's offering would be the XR8 and it makes 350hp and comes in a manual. I actually think the Lincoln LS is a nice looking modern themed saloon but with a conservative easy on the eye shape much like the BA/BF.

The Lincoln Towncar by comparison is a car for people who like wearing golf trowsers, conservative, 5.47m long, room for 6, softly suspended and its shape dates back from the 1970's Towncar where its shape was drawn by someone who only had a ruler and a HB pencil.

You're dead on. The Lincoln LS is the only thing Ford makes over here that even remotely comes close to the concept of a Falcon. Its a shame it doesn't have a more potent V8 and if I remember right, you can't get a manual with the v8 either, just the 6. The Crown Vic/Gran Marquis/Town Car are old people's cars, or else cop cars.

The Dodge/Chrysler is the only other thing made here that falls into the large performance RWD sedan category.

DanielXR8 · 06-05-2006, 12:51 PM

Have a read of the new thread I posted this morning about the 700million Ford Aus just got. There is no secret to it anymore, Falcon will become left and right hand drive compatible. Opens up great opportunities and some scary possibilities. For example I don't think everything done to the Monaro after it was adapted to the US market was a good thing for Aussie customers. The boot space for example.

Dan

Shonky · 05-05-2006, 02:01 PM

They like retro hey...

I know... We can send them all our AUs!

ImpulseTaco · 05-05-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young 'un

They like retro hey...

I know... We can send them all our AUs!

No thanks, you can keep those.

:

Well, I'd have a TE/TS50. Those are the only AU series that aren't hideous.

XRchic · 05-05-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImpulseTaco

No thanks, you can keep those.

:

Well, I'd have a TE/TS50. Those are the only AU series that aren't hideous.

Hahaha.

Hey, how do the Falcons compare pricewise to whatever would be the equivalent in the US? Do they represent good value for money for the average US buyer, if the price is based on what is the case here in Aus?

Cheers

Jac

[Tonko] · 05-05-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

.
the GT with its gaping chin scoop and virile hood bulge is pure bogan.

:

ImpulseTaco · 05-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRchic

Hahaha.

Hey, how do the Falcons compare pricewise to whatever would be the equivalent in the US? Do they represent good value for money for the average US buyer, if the price is based on what is the case here in Aus?

Cheers

Jac

From my looking (Ford Oz's Website, and a currency converter) Falcons (XR8 specificially) is 5-8k (US$) more than a comperable car. I would imagine if Ford was serious about mass producing the car for the US market, they could use cheaper labor, and take advantage of more volume, and reduce alot of the costs.

**ebxr8240** · 06-05-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImpulseTaco

From my looking (Ford Oz's Website, and a currency converter) Falcons (XR8 specificially) is 5-8k (US$) more than a comparable car. I would imagine if Ford was serious about mass producing the car for the US market, they could use cheaper labor, and take advantage of more volume, and reduce a lot of the costs.

You would have to consider all the tax's etc that are added on to our Aussie cars???? Compared to U.S ???
I liked this quote...
To borrow an Aussie phrase, we bet the Ford Falcon would stick out in America like dogs’ balls. And that’s a good thing.

**DJM83** · 07-05-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImpulseTaco

No thanks, you can keep those.

:

Well, I'd have a TE/TS50. Those are the only AU series that aren't hideous.

AU's are great and yes the T series cars are even better our AU is much better then some of the ugly hunks of crap thats sold in the US
LONG LIVE THE AU

Transit Truck · 07-05-2006, 02:23 PM

US Free trade agreement... USA has no taxes on Australian built cars or trucks...

http://www.fta.gov.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1065

LethalLeigh · 07-05-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akiklovich

US Free trade agreement... USA has no taxes on Australian built cars or trucks...

http://www.fta.gov.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1065

At the cost of limited import numbers. Holden were restricted to 18,000 units a year because of the trade unions in the states. They fear that Australian built units would cost American jobs. Funny thing is that they're losing jobs anyway.

fmc351 · 07-05-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akiklovich

US Free trade agreement... USA has no taxes on Australian built cars or trucks...

http://www.fta.gov.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1065

Baaaa, 17%. Remember the lamb.

Agreements mean nothing to the US, except when they want to enforce it anyway. Yeah yeah, its more complex, end result was the same though.

LethalLeigh · 05-05-2006, 02:04 PM

The problem is whether or not the hugely powerful American auto trade unions would allow us to import the models. We'd most likely have to 'sell' the design to FoMoCo.

ltd · 05-05-2006, 02:27 PM

At least sell the xr6 turbo and fpv. I've been to the states plenty of times and when you tell a local about our cars, they get really excited.

ImpulseTaco · 05-05-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

At least sell the xr6 turbo and fpv. I've been to the states plenty of times and when you tell a local about our cars, they get really excited.

Hell, I look at the fact that we got the Monaro as a big plus. Unfortunately it didn't sell all that well, which is probably discouraging to Ford. :(

Dr Smith · 05-05-2006, 02:41 PM

Ford Oz would make more money developing a car for the US and helping to amortise the costs in developing a new Falcon and LWB cars. Look at how Ford Oz developed the Indian Fiesta and some of the details of that car were taken into the latest European built Fiesta such was the great work undertaken locally. The only problem is if the situation turned sour as has the VE/US plans for Holden. Being so heavily linked into the US programs meant far more was spent on developng VE and now that things have gone a little sour in the US, Holden has been delayed in releasing the VE as they attempted to trim costs and switched to overseas component suppliers as a result.

**Polyal** · 05-05-2006, 02:48 PM

Yeap Ive and others have said it 1000's of times. Ford globally are dumb as$es for not using atleast our platform.

If we could share some of the technology it would cut costs massively, and then they could stick some better content in aswell!

fmc351 · 05-05-2006, 06:43 PM

If the market is there, Ford could make up lower ticket prices with volume. The US market is larger by a magnitude of, ....ummm well its big.

Iphido · 05-05-2006, 07:04 PM

I think US exports would only be in the form of limited sales as niche models. Highly profitable.

XR8 and maybe XR6T. Maybe 1000 units of each, maybe less.

fmc351 · 05-05-2006, 07:39 PM

In Aus a limited run was 500 in the HDT's etc during the earlier Bathurst days. The states has more than 10 x our population so a limited run there should easliy fill 10,000 units. (If they like it at all that is).

Considering the way the auto market is, they could be the next mainstream vehicle Ford runs in the states (one of anyway). Again, providing the public take to it. The market here was what, 60k+ units. Thats a lot of potential in the states.