VFACTS July 2023

[DFB FGXR6]

Ranger number 1 for the month, Ford up 60% and in number 3 for July.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...urns-to-normal

Top 10 Brands -
Toyota 19,191 Down 1.9%
Mazda 8307 Up 5.4%
Ford 7109 Up 60.1%
Hyundai 6521 Down 4.0%
Kia 6150 Down 8.4%
MG 5347 Up 77.2%
Mitsubishi 4143 Down 26.2%
Tesla 3934 Up >999%
Subaru 3553 Up 25.9%
Isuzu Ute 3340 Up 21.5%

Top 10 Models -
Ford Ranger: 5143
Toyota HiLux: 4670
MG ZS: 3852
Tesla Model Y: 3330
Toyota RAV4: 2750
Toyota Corolla: 2145
Isuzu D-Max: 2070
Hyundai i30: 1865
Toyota Prado: 1836
Mitsubishi Outlander: 1778

[DFB FGXR6]

Ford Numbers

Ford Escape – 303
Ford Everest – 1288
Ford Fiesta – 5
Ford Focus – 0
Ford Mustang – 120
Ford Puma – 123
Ford Ranger 4x2 – 315
Ford Ranger 4x4 – 4828
Ford Transit Bus – 0
Ford Transit Custom – 117
Ford Transit Heavy – 10
Ford Total – 7109

[Franco Cozzo]

Look at MG up on the sales charts - this is because everyone else abandoned the cheap segment to them and now prices are going up and up and up.

Ford Puma numbers laughable as always, 4x2 Ranger is back down in numbers when it was doing 400-500 month.

Ford Puma is a problem, they pump the advertising but the market isn't interested - they sell nearly as many Transits and Mustangs as their entry level market proposition.

There's that many Gen Y/Gen Z women that the Puma should be flying off the shelves for but its not converting into sales.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Look at MG up on the sales charts - this is because everyone else abandoned the cheap segment to them and now prices are going up and up and up.

Ford Puma numbers laughable as always, 4x2 Ranger is back down in numbers when it was doing 400-500 month.

Ford Puma is a problem, they pump the advertising but the market isn't interested - they sell nearly as many Transits and Mustangs as their entry level market proposition.

There's that many Gen Y/Gen Z women that the Puma should be flying off the shelves for but its not converting into sales.

That will never happen if the Puma costs $10K more...is the MG3 the main competitor? I don't know much about this segment although have had Puma's as loan vehicles during service time and they are a fabulous drive.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Look at MG up on the sales charts - this is because everyone else abandoned the cheap segment to them and now prices are going up and up and up.

Ford Puma numbers laughable as always, 4x2 Ranger is back down in numbers when it was doing 400-500 month.

Ford Puma is a problem, they pump the advertising but the market isn't interested - they sell nearly as many Transits and Mustangs as their entry level market proposition.

There's that many Gen Y/Gen Z women that the Puma should be flying off the shelves for but its not converting into sales.

Ford Puma awful car. When my FG X was at the dealer last year having the diff bushes and center bearing replaced, they gave me loan car which was a Puma. As soon as I took off I thought "Wow what a rough engine. Is it a diesel"? I'd almost take the MG ZS I was loaned earlier this year over the Puma.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Ford Puma awful car. When my FG X was at the dealer last year having the diff bushes and center bearing replaced, they gave me loan car which was a Puma. As soon as I took off I thought "Wow what a rough engine. Is it a diesel"? I'd almost take the MG ZS I was loaned earlier this year over the Puma.

Having just had time with a ZS, and having driven a Puma, the ZS isn’t in the same league. MG’s are truly budget cars, but with not so budget prices.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Having just had time with a ZS, and having driven a Puma, the ZS isn’t in the same league. MG’s are truly budget cars, but with not so budget prices.

My wife has a Puma ST-Line in that nice bright Blue, it’s a lovely little car. It drives well (it’s good for a squirt down the street with that punchy little engine), it handles really well for a “Fat Fiesta”.

It’s a great little car, it looks really nice, I wish we had the glass roof.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

My wife has a Puma ST-Line in that nice bright Blue, it’s a lovely little car. It drives well (it’s good for a squirt down the street with that punchy little engine), it handles really well for a “Fat Fiesta”.

It’s a great little car, it looks really nice, I wish we had the glass roof.

I've driven Puma's a few times now and liked them far more than I was expecting. The drive so nice and the engine has some character to it.

But...........I think those who do manage to get a test drive might be put off by the gruff sounding engine. I like it because it's got some character to it, even if it has no top end power. For a torquey run around, its feels very nippy without having to deal with diesel issues or the expense of a hybrid.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Look at MG up on the sales charts - this is because everyone else abandoned the cheap segment to them and now prices are going up and up and up.

Ford Puma numbers laughable as always, 4x2 Ranger is back down in numbers when it was doing 400-500 month.

Ford Puma is a problem, they pump the advertising but the market isn't interested - they sell nearly as many Transits and Mustangs as their entry level market proposition.

There's that many Gen Y/Gen Z women that the Puma should be flying off the shelves for but its not converting into sales.

Originally Posted by marrkuss

Guess I need to kinda stick here and read. Really wanna quit, I'm still young.

There’s no stock of Puma.
Check dealers !

Obviously Ford Ute can’t get them from FOE.

If Ford had stock they should sell 1500 month

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kevino

There’s no stock of Puma.
Check dealers !

Obviously Ford Ute can’t get them from FOE.

If Ford had stock they should sell 1500 month

Yet they seem to be able to get their hands on Ranger and Everest, I think all the effort is going into those two rather than standing up to FoE where they just throw their hands up in the air and gone 'oh well, Ford Europe won't give us any cars'.

You can see where all the effort goes, if suddenly Ford Australia got cut off from Ranger and Everest, I bet they'd put on a real big song and dance to keep those coming in

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Yet they seem to be able to get their hands on Ranger and Everest, I think all the effort is going into those two rather than standing up to FoE where they just throw their hands up in the air and gone 'oh well, Ford Europe won't give us any cars'.

You can see where all the effort goes, if suddenly Ford Australia got cut off from Ranger and Everest, I bet they'd put on a real big song and dance to keep those coming in

I asked our Ford Dealer about the lead time on a Puma order, the answer was at least 8 months.

I wonder how many sales are lost at those enquiries at dealerships ?

What’s the wait on an MG in that class ? 15 minutes ?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

I asked our Ford Dealer about the lead time on a Puma order, the answer was at least 8 months.

I wonder how many sales are lost at those enquiries at dealerships ?

What’s the wait on an MG in that class ? 15 minutes ?

We got a new i30N sedan, in manual in about 2 months and they had like 10 on the yard if you wanted second hand ones too + a couple demos.

So there's new cars about without ridiculous wait times like 8 months.

Availability is a huge part of selling any product, I wouldn't wait 8 months for a car thats for sure.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

I asked our Ford Dealer about the lead time on a Puma order, the answer was at least 8 months.

I wonder how many sales are lost at those enquiries at dealerships ?

What’s the wait on an MG in that class ? 15 minutes ?

Not long enough!

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by kevino

There’s no stock of Puma.
Check dealers !

Obviously Ford Ute can’t get them from FOE.

If Ford had stock they should sell 1500 month

Add to that any vans. On collecting our Custom for a quick repair, I asked the sales manager when can I order a new one...he just shook his head..there is a basic dealer bulletin on the next new model, no real time-line on when they are available and no pricing or specs so you can order with "price and spec clauses to cancel if not willing to proceed" once all the details come through.

The showroom had 7 or 8 Rangers inside all with sold signs on the windscreen and awaiting handover, not one was below Wildtrak spec...and I have to say the Ranger Platinum in Equinox looked incredible.

[MITCHAY]

It's daylight between Toyota and the next best which are fairly close.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

It's daylight between Toyota and the next best which are fairly close.

It's because of Toyota's range, they've just got more chips down on the roulette table so they're going to scoop up more sales because they offer more products.

They've got circa 20 options to choose from on their website.

[prydey]

With no local factory to support I can't see why a manufacturer would care if they aren't competing in every segment, or even about vfacts figures. Apart from a handful of people of AFF, who else actually cares about sales figures of cars?

Ford Rangers and Everest start at about $60k and they sold around 6000 of them. They're probably making more coin now than when they sold 10000 falcons a month.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by prydey

With no local factory to support I can't see why a manufacturer would care if they aren't competing in every segment, or even about vfacts figures. Apart from a handful of people of AFF, who else actually cares about sales figures of cars?

Ford Rangers and Everest start at about $60k and they sold around 6000 of them. They're probably making more coin now than when they sold 10000 falcons a month.

These threads are the same every month. Its not about caring about car sales thats for sure.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by prydey

With no local factory to support I can't see why a manufacturer would care if they aren't competing in every segment, or even about vfacts figures. Apart from a handful of people of AFF, who else actually cares about sales figures of cars?

Ford Rangers and Everest start at about $60k and they sold around 6000 of them. They're probably making more coin now than when they sold 10000 falcons a month.

More than that, just about every vehicle that comes off a boat is already sold.
Why would Ford even bother bringing in dealer stock on the hope of a maybe sale?
Every place booked on a boat is precious, so I can’t see Ford reserving more places
for European build cars when there’s at least eight months wait for vehicles like Puma.

It’s sad because some of the vehicles Ford no longer builds (Fiesta & Focus?) could
possibly be built in places like Thailand or South Africa for our RHD region without
disrupting the rest of the Ford world, but yeah I know that business case is a pipe dream….

[kevino]

Originally Posted by jpd80

More than that, just about every vehicle that comes off a boat is already sold.
Why would Ford even bother bringing in dealer stock on the hope of a maybe sale?
Every place booked on a boat is precious, so I can’t see Ford reserving more places
for European build cars when there’s at least eight months wait for vehicles like Puma.

It’s sad because some of the vehicles Ford no longer builds (Fiesta & Focus?) could
possibly be built in places like Thailand or South Africa for our RHD region without
disrupting the rest of the Ford world, but yeah I know that business case is a pipe dream….

No doubt its actually more profitable for FOE to sell its cars in EUR than sell them to Ford Ute Aus.

[MITCHAY]

It's about the trends in the market. I couldn't give a **** either really when I drive a 20yr old car but would probably **** whip most of those in the top 10

[UTXR8]

took a Puma for a test drive last week, and it was nice....however, the missus didnt like the look of it....so we have decided on a Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo instead....she loves it...

[kevino]

Originally Posted by UTXR8

took a Puma for a test drive last week, and it was nice....however, the missus didnt like the look of it....so we have decided on a Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo instead....she loves it...

Yeah two good cars.
I was going to get a Kamiq but Puma won with price.

Kamiq is a great rig.

[PG2]

I know, off topic - but...

With all of this speak about seat height, I wonder how the seat height of a current SUV would compare to a HQ Kingswood / XA Falcon or a VN Commodore / EA Falcon.

Speaking of which, same with ground clearances.

I am only asking as since about 2002, sedans/wagons became more European like and became lower and lower. Was this in hindsight a mistake for Australia's market?

If seating positions had remained static over the years with seat heights etc in sedans/wagons would the sedan or wagon still be popular?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by PG2

I know, off topic - but...

With all of this speak about seat height, I wonder how the seat height of a current SUV would compare to a HQ Kingswood / XA Falcon or a VN Commodore / EA Falcon.

Speaking of which, same with ground clearances.

I am only asking as since about 2002, sedans/wagons became more European like and became lower and lower. Was this in hindsight a mistake for Australia's market?

If seating positions had remained static over the years with seat heights etc in sedans/wagons would the sedan or wagon still be popular?

Interesting point, curious about the difference between the Fiesta and Puma as well.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Interesting point, curious about the difference between the Fiesta and Puma as well.

Ok
I ve just measured puma seat from the very front ( towards bonnet) top of the seat base cushion to the ground set for my 1.83 frame

It 0.730

Measure your st fiesta and post back

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kevino

Ok
I ve just measured puma seat from the very front ( towards bonnet) top of the seat base cushion to the ground set for my 1.83 frame

It 0.730

Measure your st fiesta and post back

450mm to lowest point where my *** would sit
565mm to the highest point where my thigh would be

Measuring off the side bolster of the seat on the right hand side.

Seating position is in its lowest spot, can rest my elbow on the top of the door trim and drive with two fingers in the 3 o'clock position of the wheel

That puts the Puma seating position around 165mm higher than the WZ Fiesta ST at its highest point.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

450mm to lowest point where my *** would sit

What was it new...

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Interesting point, curious about the difference between the Fiesta and Puma as well.

While not a Fiesta, our daughter's SA Focus is being serviced tomorrow and her loan vehicle is a Puma so I'll measure them up...however I already know I don't enjoy getting into the Focus, and I'm only average height, driving it is another story...

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by PG2

I know, off topic - but...

With all of this speak about seat height, I wonder how the seat height of a current SUV would compare to a HQ Kingswood / XA Falcon or a VN Commodore / EA Falcon.

Speaking of which, same with ground clearances.

I am only asking as since about 2002, sedans/wagons became more European like and became lower and lower. Was this in hindsight a mistake for Australia's market?

If seating positions had remained static over the years with seat heights etc in sedans/wagons would the sedan or wagon still be popular?

This is a good observation.

In the 2000s handling ruled supreme, top gear was in fashion, seats got hard, suspension got hard - the more luxury and expensive the model, the harder the seats. And suspension went lower. A big mistake - SUVs took off and overtook 'sedan' type cars.

By the mid 2010's, the Aussie sedans were all but gone. Looking at a VF, the cheapest variant rode the nicest... On the last VF they had a higher 'country pack suspension' option, too.

As for heights, cars like the HG, HQ, XY all had to have clearance as they were used in the wheatbelts and the bush to an extent. If you go to a Territory's clearance, it would be similar I reckon.

Subys do really well in the country, I think they have about that 200mm to 220mm, as do the new Cruisers.

The medium SUV in stance and height is probably not far off the 1960 FB/EK Holden... and dual cab utes, too, probably ride pretty close to an EK ute.