Can someone tell me the history of the Laser v Focus?

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by CoupeXB

Laser continued to be sold in asia up to 2005. The 02-05 update looked like a mini BA.
2005 Laser Lynx RS
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I never knew they continued on, they do resemable the BA front end.

[DFB FGXR6]

Did for Australia/Asia Pacific style that BA style Laser? Those headlaps look very close to the Falcons.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Zedjay

not as stupid as changing the name of the fairmont and ghia

Yeah, how could Ford be so stupid to bring out a name plate that smashed the previous one in terms of % of total Falcon sales.

Futura, Fairmont and Ghia accounted for 20% of total BF Falcon sales, G6, G6E and G6E Turbo accounted for 40% of FG sales.

So effectively they doubled the % of Falcon sales with the new name plates, which they considered a highly successful move, yet the keyboard warriors on here know better than Ford right.

No wonder Ford are in such trouble, even when they do something right the knockers still put them down.

[Zedjay]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yeah, how could Ford be so stupid to bring out a name plate that smashed the previous one in terms of % of total Falcon sales.

Futura, Fairmont and Ghia accounted for 20% of total BF Falcon sales, G6, G6E and G6E Turbo accounted for 40% of FG sales.

So effectively they doubled the % of Falcon sales with the new name plates, which they considered a highly successful move, yet the keyboard warriors on here know better than Ford right.

No wonder Ford are in such trouble, even when they do something right the knockers still put them down.

keyboard warrior wtf

i can have an opinion ....also there were no fairmont ghia turbo's so what are the numbers if you take the G6ET out??

FG Fairmont Ghia Turbo sound better to me than FG G6ET
it that makes me a keyboard warrior i can live with that

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Zedjay

keyboard warrior wtf

i can have an opinion ....also there were no fairmont ghia turbo's so what are the numbers if you take the G6ET out??

FG Fairmont Ghia Turbo sound better to me than FG G6ET
it that makes me a keyboard warrior i can live with that

Opinions are one thing, but having an opinion that goes against the facts is another.

If you had of said you would have preferred to have kept the old nameplates thats fine, but to call Ford stupid for doing it when it was a successful move is wrong.

FG may have had the turbo model but BF also had the option of a V8 which the FG didn't. G6E Turbo only makes up a small % of those sales anyway, G6E is the volume seller of the G series range.

[barra240t]

There was the SR2 in the last of the Lasers, a nice little 2.0L, same car as the Mada 323 SP20

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2569FD000E8BD8

How is the pricing! It sort of shows the bargins we get with cars these days.

[BFZ Wagon]

I loved the Laser (even though it was FWD ) My 1994 KHII Laser Horizon was the best car I've ever owned and it was extremely reliable and never let me down. The only other one I always wanted to have was a TX3 Turbo 4x4 but that has never eventuated. I just loved the look of the KH model.
I guess the Focus name was the start of the 'Ford Global name thing' by Ford. All Focus', Fiesta's and Mondeo's around the world are called exactly that (I don't know about the US market, as they're always a bit 'special')

It would be interesting to know if the Laser name had been kept whether the sales would have done better than it being called Focus.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[Neale]

I think it all has to do with Australia getting Mazda based small Fords.

Like what has been said. The Lazer & Mazda 323 shared alot of parts. In the same way that the LS/LT/LV model Focus shares aot of parts with the Mazda 3.

The Focus name came around when Ford in England replaced the Escort in the late 90's.

Its all part of Fords plan for a global car. To save on developing multiple variations of the same type of car.

[T-Pak Addict]

We bought the daughter a 1994 KH Laser S... It has been a brilliant car over the last 3 years that she was driving it. (Even got stolen once) She recently bought herself a new Holden Barina and was going to trade the laser in but we told her we would keep it as a backup car.

Friend recently needed a car to use so he chucked some rego on it and is using it at the moment and wants to buy it... Not for sale.... Its the only manual in the household and just so much fun to drive... I still prefer my Falcon but jumping in the Laser every now and again is good. Whats not to like about a 1.8 EFI 5 Speed with 4 wheel disc brakes that drives like a go kart...

[Mechan1k]

Exactly T-Pak ... the 5-speed in these actually shift nicely from memory as well.
The 1.8L SOHC went OK for what it was.

[Chippa666]

I bought my KF TX3 off eBay sight unseen about 4 years ago and still own it. I used to race it in sprints and did pretty well with it. Now that I've got my XR6T I'm turning it into a proper track hack for some fun. Great reliable car a great fun to drive. Cheap on parts and fuel too. Don't think I'll ever sell it.

[last fairlane]

Well say what you like about keyboard warriers
maybe just maybe if Ford had stayed with the Laser and used
the Mazda 3 as a base they would be number one in OZ now
as far as I recall the Ford Laser outsold
the Mazda 323 by about two to one
back in the eighties
what would that have done to the bottom line
thanks John

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yeah, how could Ford be so stupid to bring out a name plate that smashed the previous one in terms of % of total Falcon sales.

Futura, Fairmont and Ghia accounted for 20% of total BF Falcon sales, G6, G6E and G6E Turbo accounted for 40% of FG sales.

So effectively they doubled the % of Falcon sales with the new name plates, which they considered a highly successful move, yet the keyboard warriors on here know better than Ford right.

No wonder Ford are in such trouble, even when they do something right the knockers still put them down.

The 6 year old VE Commodore doubles Falcon sales. G series has been a raging success. The first thing people think of is 'G series' when they are shopping for 50 grand sedans.

Calais? Never heard of it.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Brazen

The 6 year old VE Commodore doubles Falcon sales. G series has been a raging success. The first thing people think of is 'G series' when they are shopping for 50 grand sedans.

Calais? Never heard of it.

Falcon sedan numbers are pretty close to VE, has even outsold VE sedan on a number of occasions. Its lack of a Sportswagon competitor that accounts for most of the difference, and lack of a V8.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Well say what you like about keyboard warriers
maybe just maybe if Ford had stayed with the Laser and used
the Mazda 3 as a base they would be number one in OZ now
as far as I recall the Ford Laser outsold
the Mazda 323 by about two to one
back in the eighties
what would that have done to the bottom line
thanks John

Focus and Mazda 3 are both on the same platform and share a hell of a lot of parts, just like Laser and 323. Nothings changed except the names.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Focus and Mazda 3 are both on the same platform and share a hell of a lot of parts, just like Laser and 323. Nothings changed except the names.

Ford would have saved themselves a bucket by just using the Laser "Name" on the Focus. Maybe then Focus would have been top seller last year.

[Bossxr8]

Well Focus was the international name they were going with, and maybe Laser would have been a better choice, but we'll never know.

[DJM83]

I'd rather drive my Focus then a Laser