Post-2016 Falcon News and Discussion.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by prydey

do you really think that is the extent of it?

did you go to one of the presentations they put on?? maybe you might have learned something. would have been nice to have one in every capital city.

So tell me where else they have advertised it.

I've never seen a newspaper or TV ad and never heard one on radio either. They are the 3 main forms of advertising and i've seen none.

All i've ever seen is the youtube vid and the banner on the V8SC's, most likely the same as most of the population since hardly anyone even knows it exists.

Can you point out any other forms of advertising they have done?

[prydey]

like i said, had you gone to one of their presentations....

[jpd80]

My last point on this subject:
Ford has been advertising Falcon for decades and most certainly have all the data and trends relation to return on Investment.
Now, over the past 10 years, Ford has seen the large car segment go from 25% to 5% and in that time they have done countless
ad campaigns covering $36,990 Falcons, so they know how much the ads cost and how much of a sales bump resulted and how
much success resulted in the cost of advertising discounted Falcons ...was it all a wasted effort?

So instead of blowing farts about how Ford should spend its money, people should realise the sums are in
and that the cost of advertising heavily discounted Falcons just doesn't add up, it's a waste of resources.
There is no point in adding empty sales, that type of manufacturing is unsustainable in a competitive market.

[flappist]

The topic of this thread is the 2016 Falcon not marketing of the current model.

Please stay on topic.

[Nikked]

Interesting to read in Drive today, a reader whom has had Falcons all his life, was looking to down size...


To an Aurion...


Show's the perspective of the consumers out there...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Interesting to read in Drive today, a reader whom has had Falcons all his life, was looking to down size...


To an Aurion...


Show's the perspective of the consumers out there...

whilst that is rather humerous, i think falcons size can be trimmed up a bit, as long as the interior dimensions, esp shoulder width, aren't impacted. this is still one of the big advantages of the large car. even some suv's you can't fit 3 baby seats across the back seat. the AU and FG aren't too different in size, but the FG is perceived to be bigger.

[jpd80]

With eyes towards what Ford is planning for 2014 and 2016, fans will be hoping Ford can build on the success of SZ Territory,
the only model you can get below $40K drive away is a discounted base model, a truly amazing turnaround for Territory.
So If Ford can find the right mix of large car size, features, economy and versatility, maybe the '14 and '16 cars will do better..

[prydey]

if they haven't already, they need to change the mix to favour territories, maybe 3 to 2.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Interesting to read in Drive today, a reader whom has had Falcons all his life, was looking to down size...


To an Aurion...


Show's the perspective of the consumers out there...

That's not hard to believe at all.
My uncle who has owned Falcons all his life (and who still has his first ever XK Falcon in his garage) recently traded in his BA for a Camry!

It's just a trend that is becoming more common... Tradition and brand loyalty are counting for less and less these days.

I do believe that the Falcon is too big these days. It needs to be trimmed back to the size of a Camry IMO.

[Polyal]

Hmm for once I tend to agree with prydey..I dont think the "size" of the Falcon is an issue at all.

Its just got a bad and incorrect (although not far off) reputation for a gas guzzler. I dont think everyone is buying Mazda 3's and Corolla's because of their size per se...they just have enough room, the right price (anyone who thinks the economy isnt tight at the moment is in lala land) and they are good on fuel (ish).

Ecoboost is a good gap bridger, LPi is fantastic to those who understand it (not many)..I cant help but think to ask the question if TDi is so popular with the Territory then why was it not pursued with the Falcon.

The fuel consumption savings would be the same, it would shed the "LPG is going to blow up" rubbish that LPi gets and squash the 4 pot issues with Ecoboost. And best of all the costs would be significantly less than the previous two as many parts would be shared between the Tez and Falcon (RWD Territory for example). There must be something political stopping that from going forward or being seriously looked at.

Imagine if the TDi in the Tez never got going...where would we be now?

IMO diesel is seen as something linked with EU cars, therefore "luxury"..tie in TDi with just the G series and see what happens..they could open up a new market to the Falcon with little investment.

[Brazen]

Fuel economy is less of an issue than purchase price, the reason why smaller cars are popular is because they are cheaper and decent. Ecoboost and LPG are for people who were already going to buy a Falcon anyway. Ecoboost and LPG will never attract a Corolla buyer unless they have a Corolla price.

[XR Martin]

People dont want large sedans anymore, most sales are still fleet and thats dwindling further and further. They either want SUVs, small runabouts, or Utes.

Personally I think Ford Oz either needs to build the Ranger (and the SUV version) or the next Mustang for the RHD markets.
RHD large SUV for local and export markets is an idea also. Maybe the next Explorer?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

People dont want large sedans.

to be fair, they are still selling 1000 falcons a month (give or take) and combined with commodore and aurion, there is still a market there. for sure, it isn't what it used to be, but there are lots of models out there that would love to be selling 1000+ a month.

[Nikked]

...take into account Australia's vast selection to models to choose from...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by prydey

to be fair, they are still selling 1000 falcons a month (give or take) and combined with commodore and aurion, there is still a market there. for sure, it isn't what it used to be, but there are lots of models out there that would love to be selling 1000+ a month.

This.

All the babble about "no one is buying Falcons anymore" is untrue. People are still clearly buying them, just in numbers that are a fraction of what they once were.

Another thing worth pointing out, is that even the chart-topping Hilux is still only selling about a third of what the Falcon did in its heyday at the top of the sales charts - demonstrating how diverse and fragmented the new car market is.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by prydey

like i said, had you gone to one of their presentations....

Nice way to avoid providing an answer, cause you can't.

Julia Gillard would be proud of that spin.

[prydey]

see post 274

time to build a bridge boss. the constant negativity is sooo old now.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by prydey

see post 274

time to build a bridge boss. the constant negativity is sooo old now.

There you go again, avoiding answering a question you have no answer for.

Your constant "ford can do no wrong and everything they do is 100% perfect" is getting pretty old too, so best just leave it at that.

If you were any more one eyed you'd be a cyclops.

Back on topic now.

If they intent to keep the Falcon running on the FG platform post 2016 they will need to fork out a lot of cash to get the engines Euro compliant, and the big one will be ditching the 2.7 TD for the 3 litre, which will have to happen eventually because it won't be in production for too much longer.

The I6 will just require cash, the EB4 will be a snack and the V8 shouldn't be too hard. They might have to get the VCT going on all cams to help reduce emissions. LPi is already emitting Euro 6 levels apparently, just needs to last the 160,000 kms are whatever Euro 5 or 6 requires.

[Polyal]

Which going on to what I was saying is ok....surely they could flatten out the costs if they installed it in the sedan and the ute.

Id imagine a TDi ute would be rather popular, actually I couldnt see anyone buying a I6 ute at all..have EB4 and TDi V6. EB4 for the people that have utes that generally run around town, and TDi if you need to tow and do a bit more work.

Im struggling to see the down side, good torque, consumption (therefore range)..good for rural people who probably use diesel more than PULP etc.

[naddis01]

Rural people, talking from a farmers perspective, aren't going to touch a diesel Falcon ute any more than they are now without an increase in ground clearance.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Which going on to what I was saying is ok....surely they could flatten out the costs if they installed it in the sedan and the ute.

Id imagine a TDi ute would be rather popular, actually I couldnt see anyone buying a I6 ute at all..have EB4 and TDi V6. EB4 for the people that have utes that generally run around town, and TDi if you need to tow and do a bit more work.

Im struggling to see the down side, good torque, consumption (therefore range)..good for rural people who probably use diesel more than PULP etc.

They aren't going to spend that sort of cash getting TD fitted to Falcon this late in the cycle. It wouldn't be out till 2014 at the earliest, which leaves no time to get a ROI.

Too late now.

Adapting it to the shorter height of the Falcon engine bay would require dollars too.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

They aren't going to spend that sort of cash getting TD fitted to Falcon this late in the cycle. It wouldn't be out till 2014 at the earliest, which leaves no time to get a ROI.

Too late now.

Adapting it to the shorter height of the Falcon engine bay would require dollars too.

I agree its perhaps to late now (mind you for the price of EB and LPi im sure it would have come in cheaper..surely LPi is only going to last until the I6 is put to rest), but how long will the 2.7 hang around? And as we are talking post 2016 you would hope they have enough smarts to be able to sort that issue out (designing for Falcon and Territory).

Is the difference between a RWD Territory and a Falcon XT really that much? I thought the front end was now pretty similar.

Regardless, a >2016 Falcon represents a chance to do it all at once. Personally if I had a choice between a PULP 6 and a TDi then there would be no way id get the PULP..why would you, the NA XR6 is hardly a performance car

[Bossxr8]

I can't get any info on when the 2.7 will go out of production, but with the 3 litre taking over in all but the base model Disco now, and replaced completely in Jags and Peugeots AFAIK, its just a matter of time till it goes.

The 3 litre would have to slot in at some point.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I can't get any info on when the 2.7 will go out of production, but with the 3 litre taking over in all but the base model Disco now, and replaced completely in Jags and Peugeots AFAIK, its just a matter of time till it goes.

The 3 litre would have to slot in at some point.

They'll probably buy a massive stockpile like they did with the Windsors.

[Luke Plaizier]

Does the 3Litre TDi in Territory then expose the Thailand exports to the increased registration 'don't call it a tariff' fee?


Lukeyson

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I can't get any info on when the 2.7 will go out of production, but with the 3 litre taking over in all but the base model Disco now, and replaced completely in Jags and Peugeots AFAIK, its just a matter of time till it goes.

The 3 litre would have to slot in at some point.

Depending on the model, Ford may not have to meet euro5 in Falcon or Territoy until 2016

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

They'll probably buy a massive stockpile like they did with the Windsors.

I doubt they would when they are making 70+ a day, depending on how long they would need supplies for, it would be a pretty massive stockpile.

It was easier to do with the Windsors because it was only 10 a day or so. But even that resulted in problems as a lot ended up with rusty bores AFAIK.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Depending on the model, Ford may not have to meet euro5 in Falcon or Territoy until 2016

I'm sure the 2.7 will be finished production by then, so thats irrelevant.

I'd love to get confirmation when its going out of production but i'd assume a lot earlier than 2016. Just can't find much info on it. With the 3 litre just about taking over in everything bar the base Discos and the 2.7 supposedly not Euro 5 compatible surely its just a matter of time?

As far as i'm aware the 2.7 isn't sold in Europe due to no Euro 5?

[Nikked]

Falcon Still Has a Future

One of Ford’s major parts suppliers believes there is still plenty of time for the company to weigh up the future of its Australian car-making operations.

Mark de Wit, the managing director of Australian-owned components maker Futuris, says he believes Ford still has about an 18-month window before it needs to start talking with suppliers about an all-new model that will replace the Falcon, due in 2017.

‘‘We’re a big supplier to Ford,’’ de Wit told Drive. ‘‘Like everyone we’re quite concerned with where [Ford’s manufacturing in Australia] is at at the moment.

‘‘I would say that they’ve made commitments to the end of 2016 is we all know.

Advertisement ‘‘In any motor vehicle cycle, anything beyond that - so 2017 manufacturing - it’s typical that the [components-making] community would be getting involved maybe three years in advance.

‘‘That’s the start of 2014 when we start to expect the engaging process for a new model,’’ he says.
de Wit says there is still ‘‘a lot of water under the bridge’’ before Australian components makers can factor in a future without Ford.

‘‘We’re a year and a half before we get to that point ... so from my perspective no decision has been fundamentally made,’’ he says.

‘‘I think it’s clearly tough that the vehicle [Falcon] is cycling towards the end of its life, but I would expect Ford is doing the due diligence on what the next model may be, and I expect that those decisions will be made somewhere over the next 18 months,’’ he says.

de Wit says media reports that components makers were starting to write Ford out of their future plans are ‘‘irresponsible’’

[SpoolMan]

I have a family member who works for Futuris, working a 3 day week at times and no more than 4 days they believe isn't a good future and the talk on the floor is when the next lot of packages come who is going to put there hand up.
Its good that there boss is sending an optimistic message, now all he needs is his workers to embrace the message.

A brief background on what Futuris do in the car industry.
http://www.futurisautomotive.com/pdf...underJun10.pdf