Dealer VIP night

[minheim]

Got an invite to my dealers's VIP night by mail and lastly a phone call. Advised the caller that I wouldn't be attending as I'm not interested as the current Ford range as it has nothing that suits and I'm not interested in a ute based platform or a transit van. (Also I don't want to buy at present).

He asked if the Everest might appeal given my previous purchase was an Escape. I advised it was too big and also ute based. He then suggested the Mustang EV and I replied it was outside my price range. He commented that quite a few customers had voiced similar remarks on the lack of range. I said it was a pity Ford Europe had not produced ongoing quantity to support continued sales and marketing of passenger vehicles. Closing I noted that I was happy however with the servicing that the dealer provides on my car.

I wonder when Ford Australia will realise that they are losing past customers and the next generation. While utes night be profitable now eventually the opposition will catch up to the ranger and what then. Long term I think they have missed the boat by not emulating Mazda with a good spread of vehicles and I blame Ford of Europe for that and also the Focus/Fiesta DCT fiasco. There i s nothing I could recommend to my daughter at a Ford dealer these days.

I bought my escape titanium because of its 2 litre turbo, conventional torque auto and AWD, because Mrs M wanted an SUV (ease of enty and exit). If I had to buy a new SUV today a CX5 looks a good option. Otherwise in a couple of years I would probably go electric (or hybrid) escape size or smaller in a SUV.

[DFB FGXR6]

The way I see it, Ford in Australia are not interested in fighting for product, as in getting sufficient volume from overseas factories, no matter which country of origin. Why bother investing in a model that they can't even sell because of volume constraints. And in that I mean investing in product training, marketing, parts supply and inventory, and government certification. That's why Escape bombed, Puma, Endura, Mondeo...........................

The alternative is easy work for Ford, selling ladder frame pickups and SUV's. They have healthy demand and healthy supply from a factory relatively close to Australia. In other words, they don't have to do anything. Frankly, I'm surprised Mustang is still here considering the distraction it is to selling said ladder-frame crap.