Why does the Falcon struggle to sell?

[Hally]

I have read this thread with interest and there are a number of valid points made. Here are some of the reasons why I think the Falcon (and other large Australian made cars are not selling in the numbers they used to).

- Women. Not being sexist here, but in my experience with gf's, wife, female friends etc, they are just not into large cars that have what they perceive as poor visibility of the 'extremities' of the car. Put then in a high riding SUV that they can see the corners to and they feel a lot more comfortable with and they are happy. Lets be honest fellas, when purchasing a car with the significant other in our life, she generally has a say in what you buy, especially more when kids are involved.
- Rear wheel drive is not relevant anymore. I am 40, and grew up with small cars that had rear wheel drive (Datto's, Gemini's, Escorts, Toyota's etc) but smaller FWD cars where starting to make inroads (Laser, 323, Corolla) so guys a few years younger than me were buying these second hand when getting there licence. The result? No hang-ups in driving FWD cars and no perceived downside.
- The TAXI syndrome. I work in a corporate environment where a high proportion of people drive to work and salary sacrifice a car (instead of the old days of being given a company car) and they simply will not purchase a Falcon due to it being perceived as a car that is first choice for taxi operators. Whilst they concede that the virtues the Falcon has to make it that first choice, they see the car they buy as a status/fashion tool and they will turn it over in three years anyway so they don't need a car that will last for hundreds of thousand km's etc.
- User choose system. What I mean is that people these days get a car allowance instead of a company car and get to chose their own car. I really wish that figures where available to see how many cars, say over $35,000 (and not commercial type vehicles) are purchased using some sort of novated leasing. In 2011 we have a much broader range of cars to chose from than we did on 2000.

Just a couple of my thoughts on the subject.