Vfacts september 2014

[bobthebilda]

Come on, the figures have been out for half a day, and no one has started the page (I cant insert or cut and paste from this device)

[Sprintey]

This site has a run down:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/312011/c...rs-and-losers/

[unkey]

I am waiting for figures ...

[Fordman1]

Fiesta numbers are a disgrace, 300 odd.

Renault Clio has almost caught it now !

[csv8]

One must wonder what Ford must do..Fiesta, Focus, Kuga, Mondeo not selling..If it wasn't for the Ranger, who would know Ford was in Australia!!!!

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by csv8

One must wonder what Ford must do..Fiesta, Focus, Kuga, Mondeo not selling..If it wasn't for the Ranger, who would know Ford was in Australia!!!!

Ford's Brand perception in Australia is low. Its not the product. The marketing and PR department are to blame. Most of what i have read so far about Ford wanting to change the way their dealer network approach their customers has some merit. however the broader issue is those that represent and promote the company at head office level. Been insipid for years and it wont change till they change.

[minheim]

I think a big issue for the imported fords is the DCT autos. Lots of complaints from current owners, Ford have extended the warranty to five years to address issues and also the boxes themselves behave differently to conventional/cvt autos. I updated to a lancer GSR recently as I wanted a larger hatchback to replace a sedan and wagon, if the Focus had a decent automatic I would have opted for it instead in sport or titanium guise; however as I plan to keep the car for many years I just didn't want the risk and hassles of a problematic car and expensive auto issues down the track.

[csv8]

minheim..if I was buying a Focus sized car it would be an i30 or a Cruze..because of issues with cvt's. The issues should have been fixed before putting the car on the market. VW have learnt the expensive way....
http://www.wtae.com/investigations/i...sions/24333878.
FFrom the above article : "He said Ford has improved the transmission in the last two years and it's issued technical service bulletins to help dealers make it shift more smoothly. But some drivers may never be satisfied.

“To them a fix means it's going to be just like the automatic transmission in my brother's Buick and it's not. And it's never going to be,” Visnic said."

[Windsor220]

Holden is the bigger news. Down to 4th in monthly sales.

[minheim]

[QUOTE=csv8;5227613]minheim..if I was buying a Focus sized car it would be an i30 or a Cruze..because of issues with cvt's. The issues should have been fixed before putting the car on the market. VW have learnt the expensive way....
Nothing wrong with the reliability of the lancer CVT. My daughter has had one since new and after 5 years and 93,000Km it has not had a single warranty or mechanical issue. The only real negative about the CJ lancer is it is getting a bit long in the tooth since introduction. Not sure a cruze would have matched the lancer for reliability and the 130 whilst a more modern design is a bit lacking in size and power to a 2.4 lancer hatchback; hence why I went the GSR.

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by csv8

minheim..if I was buying a Focus sized car it would be an i30 or a Cruze..because of issues with cvt's. The issues should have been fixed before putting the car on the market. VW have learnt the expensive way....
http://www.wtae.com/investigations/i...sions/24333878.
FFrom the above article : "He said Ford has improved the transmission in the last two years and it's issued technical service bulletins to help dealers make it shift more smoothly. But some drivers may never be satisfied.

“To them a fix means it's going to be just like the automatic transmission in my brother's Buick and it's not. And it's never going to be,” Visnic said."

Truth is Ford have 2 versions of the powershift transmission. 1 being a dry clutch fitted to petrol variants and 2nd being a wet clutch fitted to diesels. The wet clutch doesnt struggle from clutch wear like the petrols. Ford you do have an issue with the dry clutch. Fix it and make the complaints go away instead of making the same mistake like the territory ball joint issue where for years, Ford made consumers pay thousands for the ball joints to be repaired by dealers before finally fessing up and paying for it. Gives the company a bad name!

[ray38l]

How things have changed. The monthly sales thread used to have have 2 pages of discussion before any figures were released. Look at it now, 10 replys in a few days.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by ray38l

How things have changed. The monthly sales thread used to have have 2 pages of discussion before any figures were released. Look at it now, 10 replys in a few days.

I think you'll find that is because the regulars in these discussions are busy looking towards the future (ie FG X) and not the past.

Craig H

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Holden is the bigger news. Down to 4th in monthly sales.

Couple of big news items -

Holden Commodore sales slipped 8.8 per cent year-on-year last month to 2616, though it still managed to edge the Hyundai i30, which likewise fell 5.1 per cent to 2539. The Commodore remains a big success story for Holden in 2014, however, with sales up 26.5 per cent to the end of September.

September’s top three brands all posted year-on-year sales increases, with Toyota (17,880, up 2.2 per cent) leading the way from Mazda (9500, up 24.8 per cent – buoyed by the brand’s popular M-Day promotion) and Hyundai (8804, up a single vehicle).

Holden could manage only fourth, slipping 11.1 per cent to 8551, while Ford tumbled 17.0 per cent to 6227.


Read more at http://www.caradvice.com.au/312011/c...CTl28PjFmPm.99

[russellw]

Ford EcoSport 171
Ford Falcon 467
Ford Falcon Ute 235
Ford Fiesta 311
Ford Focus 961
Ford Kuga 460
Ford Mondeo 277
Ford Ranger 4X2 512
Ford Ranger 4X4 1,934
Ford Territory 776
Ford Transit Custom 82

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Fiesta numbers are a disgrace, 300 odd.

Renault Clio has almost caught it now !

When I bought mine in 2009 they were hard to get a hold of because every man and his dog was buying them, now no one is.

Wow we're not really selling much aside from the Ranger, I thought the Focus would be higher than 900 odd because its a new model.

Also only 82 Transits? They're the best van on the market ATM.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

When I bought mine in 2009 they were hard to get a hold of because every man and his dog was buying them, now no one is.



Wow we're not really selling much aside from the Ranger, I thought the Focus would be higher than 900 odd because its a new model.



Also only 82 Transits? They're the best van on the market ATM.

Manual only is a killer. And focus is about 3 years old and people blindly buy mazda 3's.

[Bossxr8]

How low can sales get before they do what is required and sack the whole sales and marketing team?

All aboard the failboat.

[Adamz Ghia]

How's supply these days...? I remember some Focus variants had wait times of months, Ranger was shocking also. If I'm ready to buy a car I'm not waiting months for it.

Maybe low sales are a consequence of this. Once someone has an opinion of a brand it's hard to change...

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

When I bought mine in 2009 they were hard to get a hold of because every man and his dog was buying them, now no one is.

Wow we're not really selling much aside from the Ranger, I thought the Focus would be higher than 900 odd because its a new model.

Also only 82 Transits? They're the best van on the market ATM.

best van on the market but with NO auto also able to compete in 40% of the segment. Ford Europe should be shot because any Vito/Transporter/Trafic/iLoad/HiAce all have auto's, as does the bigger Transit in the US....and you can have any colour here you want as long as it's silver or white. It needs the Rangers I5 with a six speed auto at minimum and a colour pallet to match Europe's selection.

[BP'93]

Any figures for Holden's vehicles?

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

How low can sales get before they do what is required and sack the whole sales and marketing team?

All aboard the failboat.

Afraid you wont see much on an improvement just with that, although I can't argue with the sentiment. You wold also have to do the same with the franchises. Both are to blame for the mess Ford is in and both lots need to go.

Ford Australia needs a fresh start and a fresher view of what customer service and retention is all about.

[XR Martin]

The problem is Ford's name is basically mud here. Now whether its got to do with marketing, the dealers or particular models from the past, is up for debate.
The keeping up with the Jones' mentality is also to blame, its especially prelavent today when all the houses in new suburbs look the same. The only thing that can define that you're better than your neighbour is what you drive.
If your neighbour has a BMW, a Falcon just isnt going to cut it.

[Chopped]

Ford Marketing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HObHJAZpAA8

[Mighty Reds]

I was at the local Toyota dealer on the weekend and outside of the GT86 and maybe the Kluger I wouldn't buy any of their vehicles if styling was a major factor in my purchase. The Rav 4 the new Yaris and the Prado are some of the ugliest cars I have seen in quite some time.

Still they sell like hotcakes so I guess I'm in the minority.

[TheSneakiness]

I actually saw a Ford TV advertisement last night.

I tell you what if I could afford a new car I'd grab me a Mustang, looked **** hot in that ad.

[russellw]

With apologies for the delay (it's been another hectic month), the graphical stats for September are now uploaded to the Tech Portal. The segment quarterly review will follow later today.

Cheers
Russ