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Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
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| The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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05-05-2006, 09:11 AM
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^^^^^^^^
  
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: online - duh
Posts: 9,642
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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.
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05-05-2006, 10:50 AM
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Only a matter of time.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,127
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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:(
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"SOUNDS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT" |
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05-05-2006, 12:22 PM
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#3 | ||
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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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.... |
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05-05-2006, 12:24 PM
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Shoot.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,909
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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:
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20V Turbo |
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05-05-2006, 01:56 PM
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 162
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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.
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Jordon '03 Tacoma 4x4 |
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05-05-2006, 02:01 PM
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#6 | |||
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my other ride is the bus.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Under a rock.
Posts: 1,367
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They like retro hey...
I know... We can send them all our AUs!
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1994 ED Fairmont Ghia (Retired to the shed...) 1999 AU Futura + Lots of Land Rovers Quote:
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05-05-2006, 02:04 PM
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Get in the van!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Adelaide, SA
Posts: 1,110
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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.
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The Dad Bus (TM): 2004 BA XT Wagon, soon to be set up as a camper and tourer. |
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05-05-2006, 02:16 PM
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 162
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Quote:
 :Well, I'd have a TE/TS50. Those are the only AU series that aren't hideous.
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Jordon '03 Tacoma 4x4 |
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05-05-2006, 02:27 PM
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#9 | |||
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Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Enroute
Posts: 4,050
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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.
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If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to power an ants go-cart a half a lap around a Cheerio - Ron Shirley Quote:
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05-05-2006, 02:32 PM
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#10 | |||
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 162
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Quote:
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Jordon '03 Tacoma 4x4 |
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05-05-2006, 02:41 PM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melb.
Posts: 4,467
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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.
Last edited by Dr Smith; 05-05-2006 at 02:52 PM. |
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05-05-2006, 02:48 PM
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The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,588
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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!
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05-05-2006, 02:56 PM
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Hello
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Mt Barker, SA
Posts: 4,300
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Quote:
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
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05-05-2006, 04:27 PM
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What's green is gold
![[Tonko]'s Avatar](image.php?s=74e9285a013b365a9debed311e907870&u=14157&dateline=1232530551)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Shepparton
Posts: 3,079
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Quote:
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05-05-2006, 04:48 PM
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#15 | |||
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 162
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Quote:
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Jordon '03 Tacoma 4x4 |
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05-05-2006, 06:43 PM
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let it burn
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: QUEENSLANDER!!!!!
Posts: 2,866
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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.
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05-05-2006, 07:04 PM
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Guy that posts stuff
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 553
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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. |
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05-05-2006, 07:39 PM
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#18 | ||
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let it burn
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: QUEENSLANDER!!!!!
Posts: 2,866
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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. |
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05-05-2006, 08:16 PM
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#19 | |||
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,412
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05-05-2006, 08:32 PM
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#20 | ||
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Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Victoria
Posts: 5,556
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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:
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05-05-2006, 08:57 PM
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#21 | |||
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Is that your face, or did you neck throw up
Posts: 3,041
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05-05-2006, 09:02 PM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven
Posts: 3,161
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How ironic considering the Falcon came from America originally (a LHD design)!
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Officially Fordless 
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05-05-2006, 09:13 PM
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Cobblers!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Shire, NSW
Posts: 4,489
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Quote:
I go ahead a step, and say how ironic it is that Ford USA tried to get the Aussie Falcon morphed into an American Taurus, of which the AU was the stepping stone. I also find it ironic that the very car that the USA had, and ruined (in their home market) could be the very thing that saves them. It will be Orion (at the earliest) that brings forth any real insight into how the LHD Falcon will behave, but hopefully, the I6 goes wherever the Falcon does, and that the car isn't influenced by any real Yank input. Ford Australia have a large design clinic for a reason.
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05-05-2006, 09:17 PM
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#24 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,954
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I am a bit like Raptor, i would sell my BA if yanks started to import them.. i cant handle them!
I say, leave the big old ugly fords over there, leave our good looking fords here, and i will be happy. It would be shocking to see a gtp with wood grain GT stripes down the side... :hihi: |
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05-05-2006, 09:27 PM
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#25 | ||
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Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 502
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Can you fit a gun rack in a BA/BF ute ?
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05-05-2006, 09:33 PM
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#26 | ||
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Formally Kia Chaser
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 2,493
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I can't see Ford exporting the Falcon lineup to America... I can see Ford SVT adopting the FPV range style of vehicles, maybe in the Mustang range or cobra range.... means that the mustang will still come in a 6 and an 8 and producing loads of power like it should!
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05-05-2006, 10:25 PM
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Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Victoria
Posts: 5,556
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Quote:
 out:
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2021 Focus ST-3 Mountune Enhanced |
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05-05-2006, 11:23 PM
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Boss for Go, L98 for Show
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Victorialand
Posts: 780
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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.
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Quote: Jeremy Clarkson "The fact of the matter is this, from just about any angle this is an impossibly pretty car" 
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06-05-2006, 01:59 AM
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Only a matter of time.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,127
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There is one thing to consider about the U.S car public, they are very different to us, they moaned until they got a RWD V8 and them moaned it wasn't tuff enough when there, they have such different taste to us and no matter how good the car is if the looks aren't there it's worthless to them, It needs to be all show then they worry about the go.
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"SOUNDS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT" |
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06-05-2006, 02:32 AM
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burn out king
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: a.c.t
Posts: 341
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i liked it was a good read . but as holden have proven theres realy no point exporting falcons to the yanks. there unions are as strong as ours wish thay could be . and theres no way it would stay the same as nature intended it. it would have a pus box v6 slaped in complete with y head gaskets and then turned in to a front drive vn commie that. whats with those chrysler things with the grill like its out of there f250 style trucks but in a falcon sized car. if thay think that will sell here
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US caranddriver magazine discovers Aussie Fords
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