Whats stopping people from buying the Falcon?

[onfire]

The Mazda 6 tops the list as the most sold vehicle in the country. The Holden Commodore comes in at number 2. While our very own Ford Falcon drops to 9th place overall for 2011.

Whats going on?

With the Mazda 6 taking the honors, it suggests what a lot of us will deny - that Australian consumers are moving towards small sedans with 4 Cylinders while remaining practical.

The 2nd placing for the Commodore tells us, there's still hope for the big 6 cylinder sedan in today's world. Could the green marketing push behind the SIDI engine have inspired some to stick to a larger car?

[Ford_The_Win]

I think plenty of people are still buying Falcons - they're just buying second hand ones. There are heaps of families in suburbia with a second hand Falcon or Commodore in the driveway.

[onfire]

What's stopping people from buying a new one?

[DJM83]

I was faced with this option when i bought my XR5.
I went in looking for a manual FG XR6T ute but bought the 5 instead.
The Focus does everything my old AU TE50 did (Noise aside)
Now this is my opinion so dont get anyones knickers in a knot but IMO my focus is a lot better finished then the falcons i drove ie quality only thing i didnt like was the lack of features but the ute didnt have many more.
Looking back im glad i chose what i did, i love my focus and i was unsure if i would but i do.

[FreddyDUZ747]

Resale value?

[cortinagt]

Fear (created by the media) that they will stop building them soon. It seems like Mitsubishi all over again. Too many people believe what they hear on Today Tonight.

What they don't say is Ford Aus has one of the most highly respected design teams in the world and the next Commodore is likely to be designed overseas.

[Windsor220]

Its Mazda 3 not the 6.

What you need to think about is what benefit will there be in buying a Falcon over one of the smaller cars like a 3?

The small car has the same tech maybe more, better fuel economy, easier to drive around, quick enough for the street, can hold 5 people at a squeeze and is much cheaper to buy. The only reason you would buy a Falcon is maybe for towing or if you were regularly travelling with 5 people which wouldnt be often. Then in those cases you have the competition from a number of SUVs/4WDS/people movers.

Large sedans just dont have a purpose anymore. As everything keeps going up in cost they will probably disappear. Commodore may of finished 2nd but they are no where near the number of sales they used to make and they only have the Falcon and Aurion as competition in their segment.

[vztrt]

Most Falcons are bought by Fleets so the Falcon didn't really have much for them until the end of the year.

Just remember the Terri ended up being the best selling SUV in Australia. Many more private sales.....guess were the market has been moving in the last 10 years.

[Kryton]

And those "small cars" arent so small any more either.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Most Falcons are bought by Fleets so the Falcon didn't really have much for them until the end of the year.

Just remember the Terri ended up being the best selling SUV in Australia. Many more private sales.....guess were the market has been moving in the last 10 years.

Spot on. People want more versatility from their vehicles. The Terri is what gives them that from the Falcon platform.

I've been saying it awhile, but having a Falcon hatch as opposed to the sedan would be terrific.

[mrniceguy]

Was talking to my old man about this today and he was saying the mazda 3 is close to 1700 kg, about 8inches wider than a vb commodore, and about 4 inches shorter. I think our definition of a small car is changing, rather than people actually wanting smaller cars.

[XR Martin]

Your old man is wrong, very wrong

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by mrniceguy

Was talking to my old man about this today and he was saying the mazda 3 is close to 1700 kg, about 8inches wider than a vb commodore, and about 4 inches shorter. I think our definition of a small car is changing, rather than people actually wanting smaller cars.

Its 1435kg not 1700.

[Brazen]

The most successful car company for the last decade and the one with the most powerful marketing machine could only sell just over 8000 Aurion sedans last year. Large sedans are dead. Falcon is doing well under the circumstances.

As for Commodore, truth is Commodore was tracking that fast downward in 2008. Sportwagon saved Commodore's @rse.

[K10wN]

Small/Medium cars have caught up in power, options, finish, and most of all reliability. With all the same quality for less money, the question should be why would you buy a Falcon. I could only see that it would be bought by those who buy it just for the name and it's heritage.

I wouldn't buy one. In fact, Ford hasn't made a car I would consider buying in the last 10 years. Even then I didn't want a FWD car, but you buy it because there's nothing else unless you go for an older car.

Last Falcon I owned was an XF S-Pack, an XE S-pack before that, a Sundowner XC panelvan before that. I got my licence in an XA GT Coupe, and had an XW 302 Fairmont on my learners.

In the 60's, 70's, 80's and the beginning of the 90's the big Fords/Holdens were the best, most reliable vehicle on the road in Austalia, and for the same money for an import you got less car, that wasn't overly reliable and expensive on parts. It made sense then to buy a Falcon.

All this before you even consider the reduction in protection to the local manufacturers in trade policy in recent times.

If I look at what's on the market today I'd be looking at a BMW. But then I look at the type of people driving them and come to my senses.

[martyk54]

Originally Posted by K10wN

Small/Medium cars have caught up in power, options, finish, and most of all reliability. With all the same quality for less money, the question should be why would you buy a Falcon. I could only see that it would be bought by those who buy it just for the name and it's heritage.

I wouldn't buy one. In fact, Ford hasn't made a car I would consider buying in the last 10 years. Even then I didn't want a FWD car, but you buy it because there's nothing else unless you go for an older car.

A Cougar??

Originally Posted by K10wN

Last Falcon I owned was an XF S-Pack, an XE S-pack before that, a Sundowner XC panelvan before that. I got my licence in an XA GT Coupe, and had an XW 302 Fairmont on my learners.

In the 60's, 70's, 80's and the beginning of the 90's the big Fords/Holdens were the best, most reliable vehicle on the road in Austalia, and for the same money for an import you got less car, that wasn't overly reliable and expensive on parts. It made sense then to buy a Falcon.

All this before you even consider the reduction in protection to the local manufacturers in trade policy.

If I look at what's on the market today I'd be looking at a BMW. But then I look at the type of people driving them and come to my senses.

I don't think your point makes any sense, plus your last comment is ridiculous. It seems you're purchasing decisions are clouded by public opinion and stereotypes. The Falcon is still a world class car, which is easily comparable to similar spec Euro models, while having a much lower cost to purchase and maintain. Find a Euro sedan, which performs as well as the XR6T for even double the price. Euros are still performing worse in new car complaint surveys too. Ironic you say Falcon was once reliable, yet no more? Then say you'd go for a BMW, FAR from a known reliable brand.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Brazen

The most successful car company for the last decade and the one with the most powerful marketing machine could only sell just over 8000 Aurion sedans last year. Large sedans are dead. Falcon is doing well under the circumstances.

As for Commodore, truth is Commodore was tracking that fast downward in 2008. Sportwagon saved Commodore's @rse.

I didn't agree at the time. I actually felt that they spent alot of money just to substitute a wagon sale for a sedan sale. Although I did agree it provided an alternative come lease renewal time.

But, for the last year and a bit, I would have to wholeheartedly agree. Sportwagon stopped what was a very downward sales trajectory of the Commodore because at that time, Falcon had already pretty much stabilised (at a lower level).

I love the look, comfort and the way our FG XR6 drives and appreciate it's practicality and boot size. But, if it were a hatch or sportwagon it would be even better and more versatile.

Right now if we were to buy new it would be a TS TDCi Territory for practicality or an FG2 XR6T Falcon for performance. But, the Territory would get the nod.

[K10wN]

Originally Posted by martyk54

A Cougar??

What other choices from Ford in medium size 2 door coupe are there? What Capri? My Cougar has been faultless since purchase. It's new price was a joke however (more than a Falcon), hence why I didn't buy it new at first release.

I don't think your point makes any sense, plus your last comment is ridiculous. It seems you're purchasing decisions are clouded by public opinion and stereotypes. The Falcon is still a world class car, which is easily comparable to similar spec Euro models, while having a much lower cost to purchase and maintain. Find a Euro sedan, which performs as well as the XR6T for even double the price. Euros are still performing worse in new car complaint surveys too. Ironic you say Falcon was once reliable, yet no more? Then say you'd go for a BMW, FAR from a known reliable brand.

Not my stereotype. It's the same as the very well expressed stereotype on the AFF about VN commodore drivers.

No where did I say Falcon is no longer reliable. What I did say is imported cars which were not known to be so reliable in past years now are of equal standard to cope with harsh Aussie conditions.

Why BMW? What else is there in a medium sized 2 door coupe that is rear wheel drive (135i)?

[mik]

it easy to buy a good second hand fleet henry with low k`s, market has heaps of them, i was tempted myself a few weeks ago, fg less than 100,000 kilometers, if you wanted to save a buk why would you buy new? less than 20k drive away.

[Joe5619]

Do poeple really buy cars based on stero types? There must be ALLOT of dumb people out there!! I guess things like price, safetly, cost & features mean nothing..

[BA-XT]

Originally Posted by K10wN

In the 60's, 70's, 80's and the beginning of the 90's the big Fords/Holdens were the best, most reliable vehicle on the road in Austalia, and for the same money for an import you got less car, that wasn't overly reliable and expensive on parts. It made sense then to buy a Falcon.

All this before you even consider the reduction in protection to the local manufacturers in trade policy in recent times.

If I look at what's on the market today I'd be looking at a BMW. But then I look at the type of people driving them and come to my senses.

Disagree. I love my Ford BA and will defend it to the hilt, but through the 60's to at the very earliest late 90's the most reliable car wasn't the Ford or Holden. Toyota had that taken care off easily (I owned 2 vintage Land Cruisers). The VN was so sad it was almost laughable. I can't believe people bought them.

[TheInterceptor]

Whats stopping me?

Lack of funds.



But there's no wagon anyway..

[K10wN]

I certainly won't argue about the reliability of the Tojo Landcruiser. My father is still driving Landcruisers and has had many of them over the last 40 years.

But we are talking about cars and similar cars to the Falcon, not offroaders/4x4's.

[Bossxr8]

Small cars cost half of what large cars do. Is it a simple case that now small cars can offer good interior space, better economy and equipment levels comparable to large cars that's its a no brainer people are choosing them over much more expensive large cars?

Large cars used to offer much more than what small cars used to, they were poorly equipped, cramped, gutless and tinny. Now that they aren't I really don't know why so many people are surprised small cars outsell large. Its a simple equation that if 2 products can do the same thing then the one that costs half as much will sell in much higher numbers.

SUV's have also become highly available, and aren't like big trucks to drive anymore like the old Cruisers and Patrols used to be.

People have much more alternatives than they used to.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by K10wN

I certainly won't argue about the reliability of the Tojo Landcruiser. My father is still driving Landcruisers and has had many of them over the last 40 years.

But we are talking about cars and similar cars to the Falcon, not offroaders/4x4's.

So why are you bringing 2 door coupes into the discussion then?

[Brazen]

I still think a Falcon is one of the most reliable cars you can buy off the showroom floor... I dont think reliability is ever been a Falcon problem at all.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Brazen

I still think a Falcon is one of the most reliable cars you can buy off the showroom floor... I dont think reliability is ever been a Falcon problem at all.

Agreed

[K10wN]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

So why are you bringing 2 door coupes into the discussion then?

Whats stopping people from buying the Falcon?
As the Falcon has not been available as a 2 door since the XC, that should make it pretty obvious why I'm not interested in newer Falcons.

A 2 door BA->FG I'd probably look twice at and consider it very closely.

I test drove the Mustang and the BA was a much nicer drive with a better driving position. The LHD to RHD conversion on the Mustang was a shocker.

[RAPID_BA]

If people dont start buying new ones then there wont be many used falcons available in the future.

I think most people are more astute with their money these days, buying what they need rather than overspending.

Lets face it, a mazda 3 or camry do a good job for a people mover for a family. Why spend the extra $5000-$10000 to get into a falcon. Do families really need 400nm torque for a family car?

People are usually mortgaged to the tilt or struggling to pay their rent. Have a few kids etc etc. now do they say I need a car with 400nm torque or save $5000-10000 and get something to do the job, with the money saved a tv and a holiday. All competing for that dollar.

Not all of us are car enthusiasts, probably a dying breed, I reckon most people out there wont even know to change the oil of a car.

As for commodore continuing to sell I think the looks of the commodore are more well received. For instance a mate of mine just bought a holden ss new. I asked him did you consider a xr6t or fpv gs? He flat out said no didnt even consider it.

Im a falcon man as we all are. Ill buy a new fpv gs or gt in the short to medium future because im an enthusiast not because it fits my needs better than a mazda 3.

To sell falcons to the mainstream, ford have to attack on price, too many cheaper alternatives that meet a families minimum criteria. (falcon offers more but at a price)

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Ill buy a new fpv gs or gt in the short to medium future because im an enthusiast not because it fits my needs better than a mazda 3.

thats it, they are quickly becoming a niche market, more something that is bought because someone wants a big boofy sedan with a bit of grunt, not because they wanna tow their caravan, or transport their 12 kids, of tow their 300t horsefloat...