Are we car enthusiasts being weeded out?

[TheSneakiness]

Hulk and stevz, the last of a dying breed of one eyed bigots. Come from the mantra of "nothing is better than a Falcon or Commodore".

If that was the case then everyone would be buying them and they would still probably shutdown to various worldly financial issues.

Sadly you two cannot see outside the red lion and blue oval glasses you wear. ALOT of cars on sale are better than the Falcon and Commodore, and ALOT of these cars exist in the same marque. Not everyone needs a huge car with a huge engine. Alot of cars offer the same space and are far more frugal with fuel. This is what people want.

I mentioned on here that I test drove an i30 recently (which would be much to stevz' disgust cause it is a gutless FWD buzzbox from Korea) and it was none of that. Sure torque may have been down for me coming from a diesel bus but nothing to say it cannot do all the things and more than the bus. Drive felt more direct and I could actually get it to steer how I wanted, hell it handled MUCH better than my AUII and BA XR6s that I had.

Dare the both of you to test the latest offerings and tell me a Falcon or Commodore is better, I know you both won't because the answer will be its not.

[HULK_I6T]

the normal commuters and fleet companies wont be bothered with no falcodore. They are already buying Mazda3 and camry now.

Its us enthusiasts who debate with ourselves whether to update our e series to a new FG. Maybe even keep the e series out of respect.

What will the enthusiasts do when their falcons genuinely needs to be updated?

As I said earlier we are not turncoat enthusiasts... I think rather than adopt another brand/model we will evolve into "normal commuters" and buy cars to get from A to B.

So in effect we are being weeded out and thrown out with the bath water.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by f6_benito

the normal commuters and fleet companies wont be bothered with no falcodore. They are already buying Mazda3 and camry now.

Its us enthusiasts who debate with ourselves whether to update our e series to a new FG. Maybe even keep the e series out of respect.

What will the enthusiasts do when their falcons genuinely needs to be updated?

As I said earlier we are not turncoat enthusiasts... I think rather than adopt another brand/model we will evolve into "normal commuters" and buy cars to get from A to B.

So in effect we are being weeded out and thrown out with the bath water.

updated???

i backdated my daily driver from a 2003 to a 1983 model

makes you feel alive

[homegrown]

Car enthusiasts dont use their cars to get from A to B. Ive never cared what my daily drive is. Even had a commodore, as long as I have the freedom to own the beast that i love than thats the most important thing

[stevz]

Originally Posted by UberKnee

That's all your opinion, but doesn't reflect every enthusiast. Those 4 cylinders are actually pretty quick, in the States they are getting very impressive numbers out of these Ultima's.

Well I'm sorry but you may as well be posting up pictures of naked men, because I can NEVER get excited by a Hyundai or Kia or most fwd cars in general. Just as you wouldn't ask a person to flick a switch and change their sexuality, you cannot ask me to change my taste in cars. Why is this so difficult for some to understand?

[stevz]

Originally Posted by Nikked

They are enthusiasts being enthusiasts, stop being a boring negative judgmental freak.

Who are you to dictate what my opinion will be?

Originally Posted by pottery beige

stevz is good value around here, maybe too much for some..

he can have an opinion, i can have an opinion, you can have an opinion

so there

Exactly, and I don't see why I should need to be justifying myself or my opinions to anybody.

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

Hulk and stevz, the last of a dying breed of one eyed bigots. Come from the mantra of "nothing is better than a Falcon or Commodore".

Couldn't be further from the truth. I would love a new AMG or M5 or whatever other high end Euro car in my driveway, but sadly they are out of reach for the average person, and the closest thing we have to offering all the attributes of these cars at an attainable price are our locally made Falcons and Commodores.
When you start talking about Asian fwd buzz boxes, they are a completely different class of car to me - They are just cheap and nasty, basic, soulless and characterless transport without any sort of passion evoking attributes or heritage behind them. Their purpose in this world is to serve as A to B transport and be thrown away after a few years, nothing more.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by stevz

Well I'm sorry but you may as well be posting up pictures of naked men, because I can NEVER get excited by a Hyundai or Kia or most fwd cars in general. Just as you wouldn't ask a person to flick a switch and change their sexuality, you cannot ask me to change my taste in cars. Why is this so difficult for some to understand?

that's about the fourth time you've brought suggestions of homosexuality into the conversation, all completely unprovoked i might add. Something you're not telling us?

Either way i'm still waiting for an answer to my question. How many new Falcons have you bought in your lifetime and what were they, and which dealers did you buy them from? Pics would be nice. I've seen you go silent in another thread when the same question was asked.

The floor is yours.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

that's about the fourth time you've brought suggestions of homosexuality into the conversation, all completely unprovoked i might add. Something you're not telling us?

Either way i'm still waiting for an answer to my question. How many new Falcons have you bought in your lifetime and what were they, and which dealers did you buy them from? Pics would be nice. I've seen you go silent in another thread when the same question was asked.

The floor is yours.

As I stated above:

Exactly, and I don't see why I should need to be justifying myself or my opinions to anybody.

It's none of your business.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by stevz

Sorry I've never purchased a new Falcon, just this soap box I have here

oh ok, no probs buddy, thanks for the clarification

[stevz]

As has been said a million times before, I don't see purchasing a new Ford as a prerequisite for having an opinion and I'm sure the majority of the forum would agree.

[Dash_XR]

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by stevz

As has been said a million times before, I don't see purchasing a new Ford as a prerequisite for having an opinion and I'm sure the majority of the forum would agree.

Which effectively removes your right to criticise those that don't buy a new Ford as well......

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by stevz

As has been said a million times before, I don't see purchasing a new Ford as a prerequisite for having an opinion and I'm sure the majority of the forum would agree.

No but it goes a long way to give credibility to your "Buy Australian Made" ramblings.
Basically you're a hypocrite, you constantly put others down for their justified purchases of which you don't agree but you yourself have not made the purchase that you're preaching to everyone to do.

Any credibility you had has been shot and just proves that you're nothing but a troll that must live a very sad life under that bridge where you reside.

[Professor Farnsworth]

well stevz, i've bought three new, and ten second hand. And i whole-heartedly support the desire of anyone in this country to buy what they want, with their money. Your argument is now invalid.

moving right along.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by Wretched

No but it goes a long way to give credibility to your "Buy Australian Made" ramblings.
Basically you're a hypocrite, you constantly put others down for their justified purchases of which you don't agree but you yourself have not made the purchase that you're preaching to everyone to do.

Any credibility you had has been shot and just proves that you're nothing but a troll that must live a very sad life under that bridge where you reside.

Actually I have purchased a number of new Australian made Holdens, so my Australian made 'ramblings' are justified and your logic is flawed.
That's all I have to say in the matter and im finished arguing with people like you who are just trying to score points.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by homegrown

Car enthusiasts dont use their cars to get from A to B. Ive never cared what my daily drive is. Even had a commodore, as long as I have the freedom to own the beast that i love than thats the most important thing

Sorry, but thats rubbish. Not everyone can afford, or have the space for 2 cars.

Im one if many who's daily driver doubles life as my center of enthusisim. All mine have, I get a kick out of driving my car to work everyday. I get a kick out if polishing it, modifying it and taking happy snaps of it.


And I don't see the falcon dieing changing that...in fact, it helps reinforce the passion for the badge.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by stevz

It's none of your business.

And neither is it yours to judge who people are because of what they drive.

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Wretched

No but it goes a long way to giving credibility to your "Buy Australian Made" ramblings.
Basically you're a hypocrite, you constantly put others down for their justified purchases of which you don't agree but you yourself have not made the purchase that you're preaching to everyone to do.

Any credibility you had has been shot and just proves that you're nothing but a troll that must live a very sad life under that bridge that you reside.

I have to disagree here. I have never been in a position where I needed to buy a new car, ever since I bought my ZD as a family car over 20 years ago. Sold my 1988 FJ 1200 when my first was born :(
But anyway if I was ever in a position where I wanted to buy a new car, it would be a Falcon or Territory. So there, I have never bought a new car but I can see the sense in buying local manufacture.

On another point, my wife's rumblings about buying a new SUV are gathering momentum. She does not like the Territory and I won't buy a foreign one... I don't even like SUVs!!! I'll let you all know how that goes if I survive...

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by superyob

I have to disagree here. I have never been in a position where I needed to buy a new car, ever since I bought my ZD as a family car over 20 years ago. Sold my 1988 FJ 1200 when my first was born :(
But anyway if I was ever in a position where I wanted to buy a new car, it would be a Falcon or Territory. So there, I have never bought a new car but I can see the sense in buying local manufacture.

On another point, my wife's rumblings about buying a new SUV are gathering momentum. She does not like the Territory and I won't buy a foreign one... I don't even like SUVs!!! I'll let you all know how that goes if I survive...

I understand what you are trying to say but I am not seeing you going around degrading others for not buying a Falcon or Commodore. There is no harm in supporting the local industry and I support people doing that but the line is drawn as personal attacks based on car purchases.

Goodluck with your negotiations for the new car.

Back on topic, the car modding scene is still going strong, people have just expanded their palette. You only have to look at Motor's Tuner edition to see the range of cars that tuners are accommodating. Audis, BMWs, Mercs, VW, Ford, Holden, Subaru, etc.

Car enthusiasts don't always modify their car. I am a car enthusiast and rarely modify mine (no time, energy or care for it yet).

[MAD]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Sorry, but thats rubbish. Not everyone can afford, or have the space for 2 cars.

Im one if many who's daily driver doubles life as my center of enthusisim. All mine have, I get a kick out of driving my car to work everyday. I get a kick out if polishing it, modifying it and taking happy snaps of it.

Agreed.
I only have the one car now, but no matter how many I have, you can bet every single one of them will have personal touches added to them.

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

image

The only time a Subaru can keep up with an Evo (along with the same view an Subaru driver gets of an EVO). I would throw in a joke about the Subaru's drivers sexual preference, but I don't want to be accused of being homophobic, or a closet homersexual (my wife wouldn't understand, she's a mean angry woman looking for an excuse to yell at me about something, anything, normally no reason required.).

[MAD]

Originally Posted by superyob

I have to disagree here. I have never been in a position where I needed to buy a new car, ever since I bought my ZD as a family car over 20 years ago. Sold my 1988 FJ 1200 when my first was born :(
But anyway if I was ever in a position where I wanted to buy a new car, it would be a Falcon or Territory. So there, I have never bought a new car but I can see the sense in buying local manufacture.

On another point, my wife's rumblings about buying a new SUV are gathering momentum. She does not like the Territory and I won't buy a foreign one... I don't even like SUVs!!! I'll let you all know how that goes if I survive...

It's fine to say that, and feel that way. But it's a different story when you actually go to hand over the hard earned.

RE the wife... good luck.
I hate SUV's with a passion too and really hope all of my constant rambling has affected my wife's view of them too.

[Dash_XR]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

The only time a Subaru can keep up with an Evo (along with the same view an Subaru driver gets of an EVO). I would throw in a joke about the Subaru's drivers sexual preference, but I don't want to be accused of being homophobic, or a closet homersexual (my wife wouldn't understand, she's a mean angry woman looking for an excuse to yell at me about something, anything, normally no reason required.).

I like em both, evo's for looks and handling and love the sound of the boxer.

[PG2]

Now that Stevez is gone....back on topic (Just kidding Stevez - I love reading your posts).

Does anyone think that the car enthusiasts are diminishing simply because generally people now take cars for granted? Bare with me while I explain. The car has only become affordable to the average Australian family for the last 3 or so generations.

I remember my Grandfather telling me when they bought a car they would pull into the street and kids would come out from everywhere and essentially follow it all the way down the street into their driveway where the adults would then come out have look at and sometime the men would have a drink socialising around the car.

I would remember when my Dad would buy a new car and we would actually go out for lunch on the way home to celebrate. However we would get home and park it in the driveway and maybe would get a comment from the neighbour, "New car, eh - gee you must be doing alright for yourself."

I now buy a car and my wife and go for a drive in it then bring it home and that is about it.

Another thing is maintenance. You certainly do not have to maintain a modern car as much as you used to have to. I remember as a kid Dad would check the oil and water every Saturday (normally needing to top everything up) and then wash it. Mind you there would be at least half of the neighbours doing the same thing and they would get together and start talking about their cars. I am lucky to lift the bonnet once a month and I consider that I look after my cars quite well (though I still wash it once a week).

There are other things that I think have changed in terms of taking the car for granted but this post is getting too long!!!

Just have a think about it.

[TRAU BLAU]

The government seems keen to get older drivers off the road by bringing in medical tests & driving tests.Ok some older drivers would be dodgy but so are some younger drivers.People who have been driving for 6 decades would be the safest; but either it's revenue raising again or it's cutting down on road congestion.Can't live with 'em can't live without them.Was it a Carlos Santana line "how come none o' this don't last"!

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Express

Car enthusiasts are not just confined to Ford and Holden or modifications.

End of story.



.

That's the first thing I thought..."assuming car enthusiasts only drive Commodores of Falcons...ha".

I don't have a Commodore of Falcon...I have an old Kingswood ute, and they haven't been made for nearly thirty years, yet I have no problem buying literally anything you could name for it, standard, modified, aftermarket, hell, even from dealerships sometimes for certain bits.
Same with our other "enthusiast car"...it's not a Commodore or Falcon either, it's an '82 Celica, and again, I can get nearly everything for it aftermarket, or, surprisingly, from Toyota themselves for even obscure bits and pieces.

There was much wailing and nashing of teeth when the Kingswood name disappeared, I can assure you...probably just as much if not more than we are seeing now regarding the Commodore/Falcon. But the world didn't end, people started driving different cars and wondered what all the fuss had been about...and they promptly started working out how to modify those cars as soon as they were out of warranty.

It'll happen again, sure as night follows day.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

There was much wailing and nashing of teeth when the Kingswood name disappeared, I can assure you...probably just as much if not more than we are seeing now regarding the Commodore/Falcon. But the world didn't end, people started driving different cars and wondered what all the fuss had been about...and they promptly started working out how to modify those cars as soon as they were out of warranty.

It'll happen again, sure as night follows day.

That doesn't wash with me, it's a completely different story now. When the Commodore replaced the Kingswood it was essentially a new but slightly smaller locally made 6/8 cyl rwd sedan replacing an older locally made 6/8 cylinder rwd sedan.
Now we have the factory closing completely and our replacement is a Chinese made 4 cylinder fwd sedan. The difference here is like night and day and your comparison is a long bow to draw.

[MAD]

Originally Posted by stevz

That doesn't wash with me, it's a completely different story now. When the Commodore replaced the Kingswood it was essentially a new but slightly smaller locally made 6/8 cyl rwd sedan replacing an older locally made 6/8 cylinder rwd sedan.
Now we have the factory closing completely and our replacement is a Chinese made 4 cylinder fwd sedan. The difference here is like night and day and your comparison is a long bow to draw.

From a consumer's view there is no difference. A name, and an icon, both disappeared.

Cruze is built here (for now), and in Korea. Not China.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by MAD

From a consumer's view there is no difference. A name, and an icon, both disappeared.

Cruze is built here (for now), and in Korea. Not China.

I was referring to the supposed Commodore replacement, not the Cruze.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11410151

[Gadgetman]

only thing I am not totally wrapped in with new cars is the lack of feel from electronic steering.