Territory - Falcon's Friend??? or Foe???

[wulos]

I realise that this topic may become somewhat heated between opposing parties - so let's keep these discussion purely objective & see how things go.
Unquestionably the Territory has been a revolutionary design that has taken FoA into previously uncharted waters, and has been heralded by many as being the best thing Ford has released in Aus since the Falcon. It has also gone some ways to addressing the issues of FoA being viewed as, to quote Tom Gorman himself "The Falcon Car Company". But HAS this success been at the expense of the Falcon, and could this ultimately lead to further production cutbacks?
The Territory is looked at by many(read salesmen & the family based consumer) as an attractive alternative to the LWB Falcon wagon offering. For the salesmen / tradesmen the current wagon platform is quickly becoming less of a real choice due to changes in the design - compromises in workload carrying capacities in the wagon / lack of roofracks / lack of internal shelving options.
With the recent demise of Fairlane from FoA's lineup, and this lessening of demand for the wagon, I wonder how long it will be before the LWB production line ceases production entirely - resulting in no more Falcon station wagons, and the closure of another Ford Production facility in Australia.
This brings me to the main point of this thread.
Are the Falcon wagon & the Territory happily coexisting in FoA's lineup? or would they be better off putting all their eggs in the one basket by removing the Falcon wagon from the lineup & directing salesmen / light duties Tradies to the Territory??

[Polyal]

Hmm why cant people who need a wagon use the ute, with a canopy or something? The plant will not shut as long as the territory and then falcon are selling in some way or another, who cares what the mix is.

FoA would probably be making more money off Territory's anyway, I assume its mainly fleets buying wagons?

In the grand scheme of things the LWB and wagon markets are pretty small. But apparently the wagon sells well enough for it to live on.

IMO it would be a mistake to downgrade the Territory to do the wagons duties.

[stang65]

I read somewhere that the falcon station wagon was still very much in demand (business I beleive) as well as some people may not want an suv for whatever reason. It would also be more economical than the terry for servicing.

[Grunter]

I know we chose to go with the Territory for our fleet when it was released at the expense of the Falcon wagon. It has suited our sales team perfectly.

[Bossxr8]

Considering the highest selling model of the Territory range is the Ghia, and sold mostly to private buyers, its a big cash cow for Ford with an excellent profit margin.

I think they compliment each other nicely, as if ones down the other can suppliment for it, and brings in a different type of buyer who wouldn't otherwise buy Ford. Also being able to share technologies across 2 vehicles is smart. I'd hate to see how much of a hole Ford would be in if there was no Territory.

By the way, the wagon still sells quite well to fleets, hence Fords decision to continue with it. Territory didn't kill the wagon like everyone thought.

[Conrad]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Hmm why cant people who need a wagon use the ute, with a canopy or something?

Some people want 5 seats.

[Gobes32]

If you ask people in the know, they swear black and blue that Territory saved FoA's backside. If there was no territory then falcon sales alone wouldn't keep ford's australian manufacturing operations financially viable.

[LeadFoot81]

As said before, the Terry is more of a cash cow for Ford, and lures a different type of buyer. I think comparing Terry to Falcon Wagon is like comparing Falcon Ute to the Ford Courier/Ranger, similar concept but different (if only slightly at either end of the scale) buyers.

[Tles]

Territory has allowed development of technologies which would never have been able to justify at HO otherwise. Some of these like the steering system are likely to make it into Orion.
It has also taken the Ford more upmarket where shoppers now compare with quality Euro product not just Toyota or the Red Lion.
The Falcon wagon is a very handy product, especially in Egas form, it will be destined to be a workhorse family truckster from now on though. It definately has a place alongside ute and hopefully panelvan oneday. This should be especially true now VE ute will be a box only sedan based el camino and sportswagon instead of real wagon.

This would remain true even if Ford released a Territory based dual cab ute.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by TTonka

This would remain true even if Ford released a Territory based dual cab ute.

Territory Dual Cab : :eclipsee_

[Tles]

Originally Posted by acosta32

Territory Dual Cab : :eclipsee_

I was trawling through Autoblog this morning, last night for most of you (3.am) and there was alot of speculation on the future of Ranger in the US. They were putting together ideas like a Edge ute or a Explorer single cab ute. They feel the Ranger is too small for them and all it's competitors seem to have moved up a size too - Tundra, Ridgeline and so on. They have no idea of what is in the wind for the Ford Ranger.

Made some of my thoughts about Ford Au's T6 Product Development program seem more likely than I had expected. Then again it wouldn't be the first time they have missed out on golden opportunities.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/05/ford-ranger-on-the-ropes/

[Nashy86]

Territory was supposed to replace the wagon, its mainly fleets that are keeping the wagon alive.

As Polyal said if wagon does go it means very little in terms of production, just change the mix of models being built and keep going

[brodfloyd]

i doubt they would get rid of the wagon, they both have 2 very very different markets as has been discussed before.

also, if they get rid of the wagon, what are we going to build hearses out of? (95% of the funeral industry use falcon wagons)

what will telstra ppl drive???

what will the department of defense drive?

what wil TRU energy drive???

[Nikked]

Good question...

...here is one more...

...Will the Turbo 6 be the end of the V8?


But yeah, wagon and softroader are different things.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Territory is great, ive had both Falcons and Territories, and gone back to a Falcon ute this time, next time who knows, probarly another Holden for me sadly due to a lack of commitment from Ford / FPV with regard to build quality.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Territory is great, ive had both Falcons and Territories, and gone back to a Falcon ute this time, next time who knows, probarly another Holden for me sadly due to a lack of commitment from Ford / FPV with regard to build quality.

So we will see you back in a Ford after that. I would hold off and wait for the new offering before switching camps. VE is marginally better than a BF.

[sleekism]

We just got a tonne of LPG Falcon wagons at work so there is still a market

[Mark^^]

In 2004 I was initially going to buy a Ford XR6T Ute, to replace my 1993 model Ute. I saw an Mandarin coloured Territory (apologies to anyone with one) and though my god what an amazing looking car and how ugly. . I had momentarily considered a station wagon type vehicle, but the Ute won hands down. While speaking to the lady that sells you lots of nice products (nice for the stealer) I looked and looked and then said I wanted a test drive, and off I went and the Ute contract was torn up.

Originally Posted by wulos

The Territory is looked at by many (read salesmen & the family based consumer) as an attractive alternative to the LWB Falcon wagon offering.

I am neither a salesman, nor a family man, and the back seat and front passenger seat have had very little occupancy. Being used to a Ute the Territory has done everything I have wanted and more.

[Falcon Freak]

The concern is that now the Fairlane/LTD is dead then there is a serious doubt about the future of the wagon model as it shares the same wheelbase as the LWD models. The septics in the parent company may not approve funding for both a Territory and Falcon wagon model saying the former replaces the later.

FF

[andrewts]

I say keep them both. As a tradesmen (if I were one, that is) I wouldn't want to spend all the nice money on a nice big car to ruin it by putting paint buckets and stuff in the back of it. I'd rather buy a cheaper, faster, possibly roomier (as far as sticking stuff in the back goes) and more fuel efficient Wagon.

By the same token, as a family man (if I were one, that is) I would prefer the space, luxury and safety of a Territory for my family.

The Wagon is definitely an essential tool for any worker, whereas I don't think big, more expensive and overly nice soft-roaders fit the criteria. I think they are more suited to big families, or small families with lots of junk they like to carry with them. The Wagon can fill this niche, but the Territory does it a lot better.

[AussieJason]

Keep them both. They are both great cars that compliment each other nicely, and can continue to use each others technology as new models are developed.

As long as it is getting customers behind the wheel of a blue oval, then I am happy as the Falcon will continue as long as there is a Territory.

[dan.76]

i bought a territory instead of a wagon , because it had more clearance and handled better on dirt roads.

[BPXR6T]

I don't really like the looks of the territory but still if I were in the market for a wagon I'd go for the territory in a heart beat.

[Nickxb]

Keep the terry, if it sells then there is obviously a market for it. Keep the wagon as well, again if there is the market for it why would ford stop making it.

[4Vman]

2 totally different vehicles with some similarities and allot of differences in terms of versitility and use.. both are pretty much mutually exclusive...

[JPFS1]

I would certainly keep both. Both cars have unique qualities that would make side by side production viable (at the moment anyway).

The importance of high volumes of Falcon and Territory are also becoming less important to Ford AUS's long term future now, which is great!

[S3SR]

id be happy for the wagon to leave for a few models if its not making ford money
but dont cull it all together, the territory is a different car, different purpose different intended use.

soft roader/people mover and bigger family car are different

the terri looks better though id love one

[4Vman]

I dont believe sales would transfer over to the Territory if the wagon was axed, the Teri load space isnt as big for starters, the wagon is the mainstay of reps for most bigger companies, id say 95% of them would end up in holden wagons as a result if the Falcon wagon no longer existed..

[T2TL50]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I dont believe sales would transfer over to the Territory if the wagon was axed, the Teri load space isnt as big for starters, the wagon is the mainstay of reps for most bigger companies, id say 95% of them would end up in holden wagons as a result if the Falcon wagon no longer existed..

Holden aint making a wagon either, so where would everyone go then? MAGNA?

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by T2TL50

Holden aint making a wagon either, so where would everyone go then? MAGNA?

No they are.

LS1 has pictures of the side assembly taken outside the plant at Elisabeth.

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthre...=68050&page=11

See post 159.

Rumour has it release is Qtr 1 2008.