And so it begins.....Ford stripping everything out.

[XR6_power]

Originally Posted by OzriderXR8

Ultimately our market is still too small, even if we doubled the price of imports we still couldn't sustain manufacturing in the OZ car market. We are an expensive country for manufacturing.

If we went the US path of making the big manufacturers set up factories in Oz they would probably walk away or as we've seen in the past, demand huge government subsidies.

How much would you be prepared to pay for a car just so it was Australian made?

In Australia workers have more rights than in most countries. Our wages are higher yes, because our factory workers enjoy some semblance of a comfortable life here, and that has been the case for a long time now. And I don't think we should change all that now and kick our working class into the gutter.

The imported cars were always going to be cheaper because the workers that bolt these cars together are paid much less. In fact if you do the research, you'll find that the countries where most of the new car plants operate employ workers that live well below what we would call "the poverty line". The car industry here was always small, but survived for a long time because-

1- The cars we built here suited Australian conditions and people's needs.
2- import tariffs on Imported cars were once 40%, this offered protection for our industry with its higher costs. This tariff is now 5%.
3- governments had policy where government and government department fleets had to consist of Australian built cars.
4-our car industry workers, were highly skilled. They designed, engineered and built cars they were proud of. This was evident in any media coverage I saw of the Ford closure.
5- the car market is now very fragmented, as in there are more brands and choices.
6- the buying public wants when buying a car have changed. Now, many buy
for fuel efficiency and not for things like- longevity, reliability, comfort, ease of servicing, flexibility and practicality. All These things were hallmarks of the Ford Falcon.

Just a quick last word on car industry government funding. We weren't the only country to tax payer fund the industry. If you research it, you'll find that countries like the US and Germany assist their car industry by up to 5 times more than Australia assists its car industry.

[FairmontGS]

10 years supply of parts from date ceased required in Australia.

[OzriderXR8]

Originally Posted by XR6_power

In Australia workers have more rights than in most countries. Our wages are higher yes, because our factory workers enjoy some semblance of a comfortable life here, and that has been the case for a long time now. And I don't think we should change all that now and kick our working class into the gutter.

The imported cars were always going to be cheaper because the workers that bolt these cars together are paid much less. In fact if you do the research, you'll find that the countries where most of the new car plants operate employ workers that live well below what we would call "the poverty line". The car industry here was always small, but survived for a long time because-

1- The cars we built here suited Australian conditions and people's needs.
2- import tariffs on Imported cars were once 40%, this offered protection for our industry with its higher costs. This tariff is now 5%.
3- governments had policy where government and government department fleets had to consist of Australian built cars.
4-our car industry workers, were highly skilled. They designed, engineered and built cars they were proud of. This was evident in any media coverage I saw of the Ford closure.
5- the car market is now very fragmented, as in there are more brands and choices.
6- the buying public wants when buying a car have changed. Now, many buy
for fuel efficiency and not for things like- longevity, reliability, comfort, ease of servicing, flexibility and practicality. All These things were hallmarks of the Ford Falcon.

Just a quick last word on car industry government funding. We weren't the only country to tax payer fund the industry. If you research it, you'll find that countries like the US and Germany assist their car industry by up to 5 times more than Australia assists its car industry.

You've pretty much nailed it, unfortunately Ford and Holden are both owned by overseas companies with shareholders who don't really care where they are made, just how cheap they can make them.

[GTLEGEND]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

10 years supply of parts from date ceased required in Australia.

Only on items that are essential to keep the car running, cosmetic and trim items are not included. You would know that items such as door trims, seat trims etc are not available for much longer after that model is produced as has always been the case!

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by XR6_power

In about mid 2014, a few months after purchasing my new FG 2 XR6, I received a letter from Bob Graziano, that stated that Ford Australia will continue to offer parts and service backup till 2026....so I guess either Ford intend to continue manufacturing parts, and/or they will keep some suppliers going....

They stamped panels, made things like water pumps etc and have them all in storage now. All that stuff has been done over the last 3 years. Ford are no longer making anything, they did all they needed to already.

Not sure about suppliers though, they may still be making some bits and pieces.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by XR6_power

We may not even need a war in the South China Sea. It seems our politicians are hellbent on modelling themselves on Donald Trump, and he wants to bring back protectionism for US manufacturing. If the same policy for protectionism came into being here, it would be "hello" to manufacturing here again....

No way in hell would the Libs do that, they stood by and watched them all leave ,then patted themselves on the back that they don't have to give them funding anymore.

Just don't mention that it payed for itself many times over in terms of taxes they received from the car makers etc.

[pursuit57]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

No way in hell would the Libs do that, they stood by and watched them all leave ,then patted themselves on the back that they don't have to give them funding anymore.
Just don't mention that it payed for itself many times over in terms of taxes they received from the car makers etc.

In an earlier post of yours, you seemed to agree with another member's quote re thread was "yet more carry on about nothing".
It would seem that the "about nothing" has evolved into some true and interesting points by members which I'm enjoying to read - appears you are too now ?

[Bossxr8]

Sorry if you got butthurt, but the OP was hardly groundbreaking stuff. Of course the machines were going to be removed, it was no secret.

[XR6_power]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

No way in hell would the Libs do that, they stood by and watched them all leave ,then patted themselves on the back that they don't have to give them funding anymore.

Just don't mention that it payed for itself many times over in terms of taxes they received from the car makers etc.

Yeh I know it could be wishful thinking. When the Libs are still championing "free" trade, and Labor aren't jumping out of their skins to protect our industry either..Trump says he wants to protect the US industry tho, and we tend to copy some stuff they do in regards to the economy, who knows what's in store for us...

[pursuit57]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Sorry if you got butthurt, but the OP was hardly groundbreaking stuff. Of course the machines were going to be removed, it was no secret.

haha, no problem - all good, just having a crappy day....and ironically having drama's with Ford Aust at moment, so taking it out on the keyboard

[QIKESP]

It's amazing how quickly the site has been transformed, especially once production started ramping down.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Not sure about suppliers though, they may still be making some bits and pieces.

I think all the suppliers made up all the parts that were projected for the required aervice time. Were Ford are storing it will be interesting.

[commodorenutt]

People like to blame the Libs for it, but just remember that Rudd was still in the PM seat when Ford pulled the plug - and still sat in the seat for another 3 months after. Holden & Toyota's announcements were shortly after Abbott defeated Rudd in 2013. People try to blame abbott's right hand man Hockey for that, but the writing was on the wall long before.

But the union propaganda conveniently ignores the timeline and blame the Libs for the 'trifecta' which was shared over & over on Farcebook by brain-dead fools who believe everything on Farcebook is true.....

[SpoolMan]

Every thread aligned to the Falcon ends up the same way, its a why and who is to blame for the Falcon going.

No sales = No production..