According to Drive Ranger XL and XLS are not selling?

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

You are both onto something there.

Over the decades, Ford US management, either posted here in Australia or based at head office in the US, insisted on certain directions in relation to model choice, powertrain engineering, styling ect. Almost always, these people had absolutely no knowledge of the Australian market, forcing the local management team to prove their side of the story. In other words, Ford US told the local team what Australian customers wanted rather than listening to the local team about what customers actually wanted.

Example - 1997 Taurus.

Ford AUS - "We need funds to further develop the Falcon platform for a new generation."

Ford USA - "Why develop another Falcon when we already have a large sedan that you could simply start manufacturing without an extensive engineering campaign or tooling."

Ford AUS - "That model is too narrow for Australian tastes, is front wheel drive which is perceived negatively by customers and compromises towing ability. The powertrain also lacks torque for towing and general Australian driving."

Ford USA - "The Taurus is an already developed model and would require less investment. Customers will adapt to the perceived drawbacks".

Ford AUS - "We loose customers to a key rival with that model, we can develop a new generation Falcon and put it into production for half the price it would be to tool up for an existing model in our plants."

Ford USA - "Prove it! In the meantime, we will send you Taurus sedans to sell alongside the Falcon to prove our point."

Ford AUS - "No problem.........."

The end result? Australia got a new generation Falcon, developed at a fraction of the cost of a Taurus. Meanwhile, the Taurus bombed and sold two fifths of fu.k all.

I can name a number of other similar instances, XK Falcon, AU Falcon styling, V6 engines...........you get the point. So much internal self-sabotage and we-know-better mentality ends up costing Ford more than it saves.

Lol, you just summed up my attitude towards the company and things I've said many times over the years.
They just dont rate us which is kind of insulting when you consider we delivered some of the best cars the brand has seen worldwide when left to our own devices.

Problem is there's an awful lot of apologists, that in being so, have convinced the masses that near enough is good enough or that the top office knows best.