last Falcon Sedan starts its being built - Page 2

Smoke Pursuit · 06-10-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Clearly because they will be museum pieces. They don't need to be driven on road, and by doing this will make sure they won't end up that way.

Yes but then its like.. its not a real one!! (if you get what I mean??)

Now where can I buy an old unregistered sprint mule to park in my dining room.

MrZ · 06-10-2016, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Cortina was also assembled and Australian specc'd here until 1982 when Sierra (imported ) came along and Telstar soon after.....

Huh? The Sierra was never sold in Australia.

2011G6E · 06-10-2016, 05:55 PM

Bye, car that no one wanted anymore.

I remember the last Kingswood being built...it was the end of the world!!!!!!. But things moved on to the Commodore.
Something will replace the Falcon too...admittedly a car not built here (because it's not economical enough to do so), but one which people will want to buy in volume.

Sorry, but the harsh truth has to be faced. The Falcon was a car no one wanted anymore...not in enough numbers to justify keeping on building it. Tradition doesn't make for a healthy bottom line...we're not talking European exotica like Ferrari's here...and watching the buying publics trends and looking ahead is what sells cars, and people want small/medium SUV's, hatchbacks, and smaller sedans, not to mention the super-popular twin cab 4x4's.
No one cares about FWD/RWD any more either, or even what's under the bonnet. Literally. They couldn't care less.

The Falcon and the Commodore were yesterdays cars for yesterdays "daddy had one and his daddy had one so I simply must buy one too" buyers which simply don't exist anymore...once again, not in numbers to keep a car viable anyway. Buyers today are far more knowledgeable, well informed, and badge-blind than ever before. They have thousands of reviews and comparisons at their fingertips thanks to the internet, and don't feel they have to be loyal to one particular brand or model anymore. Couple that with the fact that whether you admit it or not, these days it's very hard to actually buy a bad car, and the range of potential for new buyers just gets wider and wider. They don't feel they have to be chained to one make from one maker.

Ford and Holden here in Australia didn't see which way the wind was blowing, and kept on foolishly thinking people would just buy "a badge" instead of "a car" to suit their needs. You can't force the public to buy a car they don't want or which doesn't suit their needs anymore.
Add to that the fact that the majority of people crying over the Falcon/Commodore are undoubtedly those who would never and could never afford a brand new car in the first place...they just like the idea of them being on sale...maybe to buy a second or third hand one in five years time. That doesn't count towards the bottom line for a company in such a tiny market as Australia. And this, sadly, leads me to enthusiasts. People like us who love one particular make of car don't sell volume, and basically aren't important to the makers. Most enthusiasts fall into the above descriptive of "people who will never buy a brand new one anyway", so don't count either.
Being a small percentage of car owners, enthusiasts can never buy enough cars to make a difference anyway, and as seen above in this very thread here and there, they can absolutely love one particular model (and sometimes then only one specification of that model) from their favourite maker, and laugh with derision at other vehicles made by that very same maker, like twin cabs and hatchbacks. Weird.

That leads into the next point...we're a tiny, tiny market. We should be thankful that the big American companies even allowed us to have anything like a locally-built specialised Australia-only model. Looking at it in the harsh light of pure economics, it should surprise everyone that we ever had anything at all except something like CKD kits of American cars being sold here.

So goodbye Falcon...something more suitable for the majority of the publics needs will replace you. Be thankful you had as long a run as you did.

Flame-proof suit on...

commodorenutt · 06-10-2016, 06:09 PM

I have never taken delivery of a new GMH product, but my last new car was my FG, and it will probably stay that way now.

I don't believe that you need to have purchased your Ford new to be classed as a passionate enthusiast. I know many people who have owned a string of local Fords, and were only too happy to jump into something Asian because it had more cup holders. But on the other had, I know a young guy who saved up for 5 years to buy a 2nd hand BA XR6T. Is he less passionate? No way!

People who buy cars at 2-3-4 years of age can actually be contributing to helping the sales of new vehicles. If there is enough demand for them, the resale value increases (basic supply & demand). When resale values are higher, leasing companies offer a higher residual, and lower monthly payments. For companies driven by cost cuts, fleet leasing can come down purely to $, not the choice of the best car for the task. Enough demand, and this can translate into a more attractive fleet purchase - creating volume sales. Unfortunately falcon values tanked, just like many other large cars, which had the opposite effect. Lease/fleet sales offer volume - and volume brings down manufacturing costs. But lease companies also operate on profits, and actively encourage deals that give them more profit. The falcon was bad news to them.
Monthly lease costs on significantly more expensive cars that hold their resale are often not much more than leasing a local sedan, and with so much badge snobbery in this country, it was always going to be doomed.

But at least the guys buying 2nd hand local cars still spent their money on a local product. They are no less worthy of being classed as a true enthusiast than a new Falcon buyer.

The other thing that grinds my gears is the red vs blue mentality, and how negative it can be.
I don't like when whole red vs blue thing goes beyond a bit of light hearted banter - it should have been stopped long ago, so Aussie car enthusiasts could have united, although it's unlikely we could have stopped the general public's shift away from Aussie cars, or the numerous successive govt policy issues, or the corporate dollar......

Red vs blue drove automotive development in this country. It drove innovation too - unlike the current 'all words, no action' over-use for that word by gov-co.

Red vs blue meant the opposing teams fought harder to improve their product. Most of all, it provided a pathway for talented people to do something memorable in their career, and at the same time, provide joy & happiness for others lucky enough to own some of the incredible vehicles that came from our local factories. Some of the people I hold in high regard are not seen in the media, and you wouldn't know their names, but they did their time in Geelong, and as part of a greater collective, brought to market many great vehicles.

They don't bask in the limelight, or on a podium. They are the quiet achievers in this country, and we're losing not only a great source of employment for all skill levels, but we're also losing a lot of that collective talent, and the fruits of their passion.

**Rallye Sport** · 06-10-2016, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

So really then, what you're trying to say is you're partly to blame for buying one new Falcon every 10 or so years?
If the enthusiasts aren't buying them, why should the general public?

Geez looks like its my fault the Falcons gone... apologies everyone
Sorry to disappoint again but I won't be buying a new ranger, everest or other new age Ford in the future, maybe I'll be the downfall of them too... hopefully...

roddy1960 · 06-10-2016, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrZ

Huh? The Sierra was never sold in Australia.

G'day , There had to have been on the premise it raced in the ATCC for a few years if memory serves correctly..Dick Johnson , Bondy, John Bowe and I think Allan Moffat ran them and one year they won at Bathurst but were disqualified for some reason . Pretty sure that at least 500 have to be sold to homologate them.. not unless that's a worldwide rule , not just in the country they race in.. If so I apologise for the mistake...Will check on that...Cheers Rod..

turbo4 · 06-10-2016, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roddy1960

G'day , There had to have been...It raced in the ATCC for a couple of years if memory serves correctly..Dick Johnson , John Bowe and I think Allan Moffat ran themand one year they ran at Bathurst but were disqualified for some reason . Pretty sure that at least 500 have to be sold to homologate them.. not unless there was a rule change especially for them.. If so I apologise for the mistake...Will check on that...Cheers Rod..

Nope, they where allowed to race it because it was group A, which where international rules. Didn't matter how many sold in Australia. DJ also ran a Mustang which wasn't sold in Australia.

.:4:. · 06-10-2016, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo4

Nope, they where allowed to race it because it was group A, which where international rules. Didn't matter how many sold in Australia. DJ also ran a Mustang which wasn't sold in Australia.

Dj also did a number of things to the windsor in the zakspeed built mustang that didnt perform anywhere close to what was claimed. Back then the rule was you could remove metal, but not replace it. His answers was cut the intake manifold in half, port it (remove any unnecessary metal) sicaflex it back together. Did the job, kind of falls into the category of the home made seats in greens tuff...

roddy1960 · 06-10-2016, 08:13 PM

G'day, You're right actually , Sierra never sold here but on checking some were assembled in New Zealand..We replaced the TF Cortina with the Telstar it seems.. Sierra Cosworth did race here though pretty successfully .. http://www.worldtimeattack.com/index...rth-in-action/
Cheers Rod..

MrEL · 06-10-2016, 08:14 PM

500 Sierras worldwide had to be sold.
Group A was international rules then.

Eaturbo · 06-10-2016, 08:27 PM

God dam it, why is this happening. So from now on we just get all the ccrraapp that nobody else in the world wants

malazn mafia · 06-10-2016, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

image

Half-built Falcon: Still more beautiful to me than any current 4-door sedan in the world. Farewell Falcon, thanks for the memories and most of all, thank you Ford Australia.

rancidpunx · 06-10-2016, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

Photos of the last Falcon Sedan getting built have popped up on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FansOfFalco...type=3&theater

https://m.facebook.com/FansOfFalcon/...pe=3&source=54

Its a Kinetic Blue XR8 sprint. This is it guys the last one ever.

Last one is a Standard XR6. Its the car you have linked to but not a sprint and not an 8. Later build photos now on FB show it with silver grill and standard fog light surrounds. Has a 6 bonnet and xr6 badge.

BluXR6T · 06-10-2016, 09:00 PM

I will give my FG GT one hard rev tomorrow in honour of the FORD factory and all its workers.

xr6-FTW · 06-10-2016, 09:17 PM

How sad are people here feeling generally, I was looking At an old add just now on the support falcon page on Facebook and it just makes me feel depressed on the inside, feels real heart breaking to know tomorrow the last car will roll off the production line forever. My grandfather who worked at ford for 33 years is still in denial thats its going to end, although nowadays hes not in great nick. Seeing pictures of the empty production line with no cares behind the last one is a real kick in the gut type of feeling, ive seen pics through friends there and its just real sad, its all winding down. I've Been told theres reversed spots for the media to be there tomorrow and that the last car will be finished off by the longest serving employs, with it to all be over by 10am.

Long live the falcon......

NX74205 · 06-10-2016, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Flame-proof suit on...

Everything you said in your post is spot-on. Well said, particularly this bit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

People like us who love one particular make of car don't sell volume, and basically aren't important to the makers. Most enthusiasts fall into the above descriptive of "people who will never buy a brand new one anyway", so don't count either.
Being a small percentage of car owners, enthusiasts can never buy enough cars to make a difference anyway, and as seen above in this very thread here and there, they can absolutely love one particular model (and sometimes then only one specification of that model) from their favourite maker, and laugh with derision at other vehicles made by that very same maker, like twin cabs and hatchbacks. Weird.

Quote:

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

I don't believe that you need to have purchased your Ford new to be classed as a passionate enthusiast. I know many people who have owned a string of local Fords, and were only too happy to jump into something Asian because it had more cup holders. But on the other had, I know a young guy who saved up for 5 years to buy a 2nd hand BA XR6T. Is he less passionate? No way!

I agree, but I don't think that's the point being made. It's not about who is a more "passionate enthusiast" over the other, it's about who is contributing to the business case for Ford to continue building Falcons here. The point is simply that those who cry the loudest for Falcon haven't bought a new one in years. If even the enthusiasts don't buy them new - thereby contributing to sales figures and Ford's bottom line - then why else should Ford build them anymore? Just to appease a tiny minority who will buy them second hand when they're 5 years old?

2011G6E · 06-10-2016, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

God dam it, why is this happening. So from now on we just get all the ccrraapp that nobody else in the world wants

I think you mean "Cars the same as the rest of the world gets"...which will open us up to some truly interesting vehicles that have never been "allowed" to be sold here because of protection of the local manufacturing industry.

How long could the manufacturers here keep on making cars that the public simply wasn't buying just to appeal to "tradition" or "because we have since the sixties"? This isn't the sixties, or the seventies or eighties for that matter, where the opposition was a bunch of small low powered junk.

Times change, always have, always will.

FalconXV · 07-10-2016, 12:34 AM

http://performancedrive.com.au/last-...tinction-0700/

I am actually starting to feel a wave of sadness. Very poignant moment in Australia's manufacturing history and my life as a car enthusiast. Falcons is such a big part of who I am. I hope they consider a revival some day, even though I know there is next to no chance.

xr6-FTW · 07-10-2016, 07:50 AM

I still think to myself, what a satisfying job it would be being a ford employee building falcons, you assemble and bring cars to life as a job. I feel gutted for these people who will walk off the job todsy and come mondsy will be out of a highly pride worthy job that you've been told.you are no longer required. Within a couple hours its all over chaps

SprintFg · 07-10-2016, 09:19 AM

More pics of the last falcon?

Im a little disappointed it was a regular xr6. ? Really i would have thought they would throw it all in for the last car.

Maybe a G6ET with the sprint6 motor and brakes, badge it as a fairmont ghia turbo. 1 made.

That would fetch a nice price at the auction. But a regular family man xr6? Did it at least get leather and premo sound?

Ford17 · 07-10-2016, 09:27 AM

There is something seriously wrong with this country.

We're the 2nd largest producer of iron ore in the world, yet we are content with simply selling off the raw materials to everyone else, who in turn sell us back finished goods made of steel.

Smarter thinking would ensure the whole value-adding process remains within, or is manged by, that country who owns the resources.

Overly simplistic I know, but throwing away the ability to design, engineer, and manufacture complex machinery has got to be a backwards step for any nation.

Falcon SXR8 · 07-10-2016, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford17

There is something seriously wrong with this country.

We're the 2nd largest producer of iron ore in the world, yet we are content with simply selling off the raw materials to everyone else, who in turn sell us back finished goods made of steel.

Smarter thinking would ensure the whole value-adding process remains within, or is manged by, that country who owns the resources.

Overly simplistic I know, but throwing away the ability to design, engineer, and manufacture complex machinery has got to be a backwards step for any nation.

Humans gunna be humans mate

**PepeLePew** · 07-10-2016, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Bye, car that no one wanted anymore.

I remember the last Kingswood being built...it was the end of the world!!!!!!. But things moved on to the Commodore.
Something will replace the Falcon too...admittedly a car not built here (because it's not economical enough to do so), but one which people will want to buy in volume.

Sorry, but the harsh truth has to be faced. The Falcon was a car no one wanted anymore...not in enough numbers to justify keeping on building it. Tradition doesn't make for a healthy bottom line...we're not talking European exotica like Ferrari's here...and watching the buying publics trends and looking ahead is what sells cars, and people want small/medium SUV's, hatchbacks, and smaller sedans, not to mention the super-popular twin cab 4x4's.
No one cares about FWD/RWD any more either, or even what's under the bonnet. Literally. They couldn't care less.

The Falcon and the Commodore were yesterdays cars for yesterdays "daddy had one and his daddy had one so I simply must buy one too" buyers which simply don't exist anymore...once again, not in numbers to keep a car viable anyway. Buyers today are far more knowledgeable, well informed, and badge-blind than ever before. They have thousands of reviews and comparisons at their fingertips thanks to the internet, and don't feel they have to be loyal to one particular brand or model anymore. Couple that with the fact that whether you admit it or not, these days it's very hard to actually buy a bad car, and the range of potential for new buyers just gets wider and wider. They don't feel they have to be chained to one make from one maker.

Ford and Holden here in Australia didn't see which way the wind was blowing, and kept on foolishly thinking people would just buy "a badge" instead of "a car" to suit their needs. You can't force the public to buy a car they don't want or which doesn't suit their needs anymore.
Add to that the fact that the majority of people crying over the Falcon/Commodore are undoubtedly those who would never and could never afford a brand new car in the first place...they just like the idea of them being on sale...maybe to buy a second or third hand one in five years time. That doesn't count towards the bottom line for a company in such a tiny market as Australia. And this, sadly, leads me to enthusiasts. People like us who love one particular make of car don't sell volume, and basically aren't important to the makers. Most enthusiasts fall into the above descriptive of "people who will never buy a brand new one anyway", so don't count either.
Being a small percentage of car owners, enthusiasts can never buy enough cars to make a difference anyway, and as seen above in this very thread here and there, they can absolutely love one particular model (and sometimes then only one specification of that model) from their favourite maker, and laugh with derision at other vehicles made by that very same maker, like twin cabs and hatchbacks. Weird.

That leads into the next point...we're a tiny, tiny market. We should be thankful that the big American companies even allowed us to have anything like a locally-built specialised Australia-only model. Looking at it in the harsh light of pure economics, it should surprise everyone that we ever had anything at all except something like CKD kits of American cars being sold here.

So goodbye Falcon...something more suitable for the majority of the publics needs will replace you. Be thankful you had as long a run as you did.

Flame-proof suit on...

All true, and well stated, and probably the best summary post to date. But....can't we have a single thread where we say goodbye to the last Falcon where it doesn't divert into why it died or why the manufacturing industry is screwed or....

Well no, we probably can't. But we should. For those that still give a crap.

**X-AHH** · 07-10-2016, 09:45 AM

"can't we have a single thread where we say goodbye to the last Falcon where it doesn't divert into why it died or why the manufacturing industry is screwed"

There's one running in The Pub right now, lets hope it stays for that purpose only.

Smoke Pursuit · 07-10-2016, 10:30 AM

GTLEGEND · 07-10-2016, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

image

Mr Giordano?

xr6-FTW · 07-10-2016, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

image

Thats just a grab the box of tissues moment, can't help but feel sad today knowing its all over, can't believe since it was announced 3 years ago its all over now and forever.

NX74205 · 07-10-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford17

Overly simplistic I know, but throwing away the ability to design, engineer, and manufacture complex machinery has got to be a backwards step for any nation.

We're still designing and engineering cars here for the world. I think it's a great showcase for our engineering talent that a global company chooses Australia as its APAC R&D Headquarters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

image

Is it just me, or are most of the lights out already

Bossxr8 · 07-10-2016, 02:33 PM

Such a sad day. I take pride in building the engines that powered them for 15 years, and continue in a job at the proving ground that would not be in existence without Falcon. Ford have provided a means to live for my family over 3 generations.

I'm just glad it's going out the way it was intended, with an I6 or V8 driving the rear wheels, and not being a badge slapped on some FWD V6 imported POS. RIP Falcon and Territory.

roddy1960 · 08-10-2016, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SprintFg

More pics of the last falcon?

Im a little disappointed it was a regular xr6. ? Really i would have thought they would throw it all in for the last car.

Maybe a G6ET with the sprint6 motor and brakes, badge it as a fairmont ghia turbo. 1 made.

That would fetch a nice price at the auction. But a regular family man xr6? Did it at least get leather and premo sound?

G'day Sprint Fg , I'm kind of glad in a way they chose a standard XR 6 to be honest..
The reason is this...The very first one was a Plain Jane six I believe , so as the regular XR 6 was the modern day Plain Jane ...kind with another 3.5 plus million of all sorts of Falcons in between...book end of Ford Australia's most popular Ford six cylinder I6 found in the vast majority of Falcons. The V8's , V8 Supercharged and Turbo I6 very special more exclusive cars understandably not built in as substantial numbers . Neither was the Ecoboost 4...Just seems right to me somehow..
Just another view to consider....Cheers Rod...