car sales Feb 2019. Ford getting towards 2000 more than holden

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Buying a Ranger or Everest still supports local jobs considering they are designed and engineered here.

Cannot see how.It is only R&D left here now.Ranger is sold worldwide.Really do not think it is going to make one iota of difference.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by hackney

Cannot see how.It is only R&D left here now.Ranger is sold worldwide.Really do not think it is going to make one iota of difference.

It does make a difference, if Ford can sell the product well, establish a good user base and it performs quite well in after sales too then there is more confidence in the engineering effort by the local team. It adds to their reference list when bidding for future projects.

Anyone can build or design the car but to engineer it for various uses, climates, and terrains (global) is not something anyone can do.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Wretched

It does make a difference, if Ford can sell the product well, establish a good user base and it performs quite well in after sales too then there is more confidence in the engineering effort by the local team. It adds to their reference list when bidding for future projects.

Anyone can build or design the car but to engineer it for various uses, climates, and terrains (global) is not something anyone can do.

Well said. If it was a heap of junk that doesn't sell then it would seriously reduce the chances of further work going forward.

Just look at the Ecosport which was originally engineered in Brazil. It's a heap of junk that doesn't sell very well, and looks like the next one is being engineered in Europe going by recent articles.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Well said. If it was a heap of junk that doesn't sell then it would seriously reduce the chances of further work going forward.

Just look at the Ecosport which was originally engineered in Brazil. It's a heap of junk that doesn't sell very well, and looks like the next one is being engineered in Europe going by recent articles.

That Ecosport is an embarrassment.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

That Ecosport is an embarrassment.

They seriously misread the market. I believe they assumed cheap and cheerful was the direction the small SUV market was going to go, but as soon as cars like the CX-3 arrived that were a more premium product it made the Ecosport look like a complete turd. I'd expect the next Ecosport to go more upmarket to compete.

[au2000]

Part of the change that the whole company is going through is to move to modular architectures, and only 5 vehicle groups. What that means for Ford Australia is that the T6 platform will now be combined with the T3 platform and lead out of North America. Short term there are immediate powertrain job losses, but longer term after ford launch the next gen Ranger, it really doesn't look like there will be any more engineering work for us here.



The above is in part from another thread back in January.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see anyone loose their jobs, but in all honesty with condensing of models and the recent 300 job cuts I'm just not confident that buying a ranger or Everest will really matter to saving Aussie jobs for ford.

They have a plan, and if the bean counters believe the same engineering work can be done somewhere else for less money, it will be irrelevant if every man woman and child goes out tomorrow and buys a new ranger, nothing will stop ford moving more jobs overseas

At the end of the day ford is in business to make money, nothing wrong with that, and correct me if I'm wrong, just as the production of focus at broadmeadows was pulled as it did not financially stack up, keeping engineering and other teams in Australia will always come down to $$ in the end.

[au2000]

On a side note, seen a few new tritons today on the roads, much better in person than the pics and a recent comparison of the triton, ranger and hilux rated them in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

[janddbone]

Fiesta and Ecosport are the only current Ford product I think much of. Plus Mustang I suppose.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by janddbone

Fiesta and Ecosport are the only current Ford product I think much of. Plus Mustang I suppose.

If your driving an 06 Cerato I suppose the Ecosport would be appealing..

[janddbone]

We can't all love diesels and auto's all day mate...

[Vesper Martini]

If you drive lots, its an Auto Diesel all day mate.

But I see your point now

[janddbone]

Each to there own. I like my five speed and 2.0 zip along with economy... I also stretch the $45 oil change to 20,000km and don't care....

[Syndrome]

The Chinese brands are coming.

LDV 530
MG 510
Haval 89
Great Wall 68

1,197 from 84,274 = 1.4% of the Feb 19 market.

[jstanovic]

Originally Posted by janddbone

Each to there own. I like my five speed and 2.0 zip along with economy... I also stretch the $45 oil change to 20,000km and don't care....

Some people buy with their wallet, some buy with their heart. You sound like saving money is the main reason behind car choice. Many others hear would rather spend more cash and get the car they like the most.

Horses for courses.

Some of the new Chinese stuff actually look quite nice. No doubt they will eventually make a decent dent in the car sales.

[jpd80]

Looks like RAM 1500 is starting to gain sales

VFACTS February 2019 report: RAM sales on the rise
By Tristan Tancredi, 05 Mar 2019 News
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/vfa...ram-sales-rise

In February 2019, RAM shifted 172 units (81 1500 Express; 55 1500 Laramies; and 36 2500/3500 Laramies); providing a year-to-year increase of more than 1000 per cent. Due to this, RAM’s Melbourne factory churned out more than 200 units in February, a first for the brand.

“RAM remanufactured more trucks in a month than ever before in February, but we are still chasing demand from across Australia and New Zealand for the RAM range and, in particular, for the Hemi V8-powered RAM 1500,” General Manager of RAM Trucks Australia, Alex Stewart, said.

“Given that demand is running well ahead of supply and we are responding by continuing to ramp up production in our Melbourne factory, February will be just the first of record-busting production months this year.”

[janddbone]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Some people buy with their wallet, some buy with their heart. You sound like saving money is the main reason behind car choice. Many others hear would rather spend more cash and get the car they like the most.

Horses for courses.

Some of the new Chinese stuff actually look quite nice. No doubt they will eventually make a decent dent in the car sales.

Ha ha., Just for work commuting. Sometimes the two Rovers make you just want to sit in the shed stare them in the face and burn $50 notes in front of them.... My old ZL costs $150 to fill up every 600km... Then there are all the other toys that stay in the paddock or at the speedway.... I am not one for a depreciating asset when I could be lapping the speedway instead... Each to there own.

However Fiesta/Ecosport is a nice platform always has been.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

The Chinese brands are coming.

LDV 530
MG 510
Haval 89
Great Wall 68

1,197 from 84,274 = 1.4% of the Feb 19 market.

You forgot Volvo.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Buying a Ranger or Everest still supports local jobs considering they are designed and engineered here.

True. The problem being these vehicles are up to $20k more expensive here than their equivalent model in some asian countries. Ford has found its price point and is now realising its product is too expensive. Mitsubishi will do well against the Ranger, even given its lower spec engine, as its significantly cheaper than Ranger.

[Windsor220]

The high price point doesn't stop people buying Toyotas.

[jstanovic]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

The high price point doesn't stop people buying Toyotas.

Toyota have a great reputation for reliability (deserved or not) which “justifies” the high price. Ford does not.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Toyota have a great reputation for reliability (deserved or not) which “justifies” the high price. Ford does not.

But Ford have the better product, as has been proven by many different motoring publications when taken on comparisons against its rivals.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

The Chinese brands are coming.

LDV 530
MG 510
Haval 89
Great Wall 68

1,197 from 84,274 = 1.4% of the Feb 19 market.

There's just something in me that would reject the fundamental thought of buying a Chinese or Indian built vehicle just at the minute .

Maybe that'll change at some time in the future though . Never say never I suppose .

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

There's just something in me that would reject the fundamental thought of buying a Chinese or Indian built vehicle just at the minute .

Maybe that'll change at some time in the future though . Never say never I suppose .

Remember the 1970’s Roddy, when Australian’s called things made in Japan “Jap Crap” ?

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Toyota have a great reputation for reliability (deserved or not) which “justifies” the high price. Ford does not.

Reliability? Not with the latest D4D in the Hilux, they blow more smoke that a coal fired steam locomotive!

[jstanovic]

Better product means nothing if people think your brand is crap eg. Focus transmissions and the dealerships continue saying “that’s how they all are” when you have a problem.

Toyota have top sellers in many categories, they don’t necessarily have the best cars or best value in those categories. It’s taken decades to get to that stage, Ford can’t come in and say our Ranger is the best so we will charge top dollar in less than 10 years, as above they must get to a $$$ limit where people will start to question the value.

[jstanovic]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Reliability? Not with the latest D4D in the Hilux, they blow more smoke that a coal fired steam locomotive!

I did say deserved or not haha!!!! In the last 12 months I must have seen at least half a dozen hiluxes spewing out heaps of white/blue smoke!!!!

[au2000]

A telling sign is the lack of replies to posts on fords own fb page, every model announcement has someone commenting on focus transmission issues and lack of customer support and the lack of replies by ford to those comments is noticeable.

As for reviews on the ranger, last one I read ranked it second overall behind the new triton and although the review highly rated the driving dynamics of the ranger it gave to top vote to the triton based on all round performance, equipment comfort and value for money..

Even though the hilux came 3rd overall, I guess customer overall satisfaction with Toyota is where their strength lies

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Reliability? Not with the latest D4D in the Hilux, they blow more smoke that a coal fired steam locomotive!

Coal powered hilux

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by au2000

A telling sign is the lack of replies to posts on fords own fb page, every model announcement has someone commenting on focus transmission issues and lack of customer support and the lack of replies by ford to those comments is noticeable.

As for reviews on the ranger, last one I read ranked it second overall behind the new triton and although the review highly rated the driving dynamics of the ranger it gave to top vote to the triton based on all round performance, equipment comfort and value for money..

Even though the hilux came 3rd overall, I guess customer overall satisfaction with Toyota is where their strength lies

If you're referring to the comparison in the Herald-Sun
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/motorin...5cdce5364944cc

To be fair to the Ranger which is is the twilight of it's current platform it was only downgraded on value as the Triton offers more then anything else in the market. Just about every other parameter still favoured the older Ranger which is a credit to its original development.

I guess what I'm saying is value is something that can be altered very easily unlike actual vehicle changes to rectify a deficiency vs competitors. If Ford chose to do so they could easily alter the value proposition and may have to do so during this year and the final run of this model. This is obviously a very important consideration and will become more so as the economic climate seems to be heading downwards.

I often wonder in the debate on maintaining a higher profitability vs "moving metal" which is reflected in Ford's Ranger policy vs Mitsubishi's Triton policy. If Ford sold at Triton prices would it completely destroy the market for it's opposition as it offers the superior product?

It could sell a great deal more units, make up the same overall profit through higher volume, dealers would see far more sales but the overall result in the profit/loss statement might be no different. Which way do you go?

I see Ford as a good/great product, not a premium brand and thus it's limiting it's volume by asking top dollar vs competitors. If that is what Dearborn is happy with then it continues...if not..I don't think Ford Europe positions itself that way and I know Ford US doesn't either as it has another division like Lincoln to aim upmarket.

VERDICT
The HiLux has a loyal following, low running costs and rock solid resale value but it’s fallen off the pace as rivals have updated. The Ranger is the best ute to drive by a comfortable margin but we struggle to see the value compared to the Triton, which wins courtesy of impressive standard safety kit, generous warranty, cheap servicing costs and sharp drive-away pricing

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Romulus

they blow more smoke that a coal fired steam locomotive!

Well not in a Toyota