September 2013 Sales - Page 2

TheSneakiness · 04-10-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury 8

Only if you option the tech pack.Plenty of Kuga in stock but some dealers don't seem to want to sell them.

I'd be one of those buyers who wouldnt want to buy one either.

XtRmn8 · 04-10-2013, 02:56 PM

Yes Kuga should be selling a lot more then what it is, but its another case of great car backed by very poor marketing.

We spent 3 months looking at the top 5 selling medium SUVs and picked up our new Kuga last week. In my opinion the Kuga is better built and drives better then any of the top 5 selling medium SUVs.

Fords marketing campaign for this car just did not work and they have to try harder to get buyers to even look at them. I bet many buyers are not even walking into Ford dealers to look at them.

Also there is plenty of stock around, dealer we bought ours from has about 15 of them in stock. Carsales seems to suggest that there are around 1400 new/demo Kuga's in stock around the country.

Just another near best in class car that is not getting a look-in by potential buyers.

Smoke Pursuit · 04-10-2013, 03:04 PM

Its not just the marketing... Alot of it is brand perception. Mazda for example have been working tirelessly for the last 10 years on ensuring that customers are happy. Its just the little things they do that make you appreciate them. My dad just got his BT-50 serviced and as a thank you Mazda head office posted him a free chamois!! Ever seen Ford give you something for free or send you personalized marketing like Mazda do? The best Ford can do is send an email occasionally. Mazda's customer retention is huge. Cars like the Mazda 3 have built them!

Ford really need to re-evaluated how they sell cars and how they interact with customers, the figures don't lie and when you have class leading products it leaves little left to be questioned.

Kieron · 04-10-2013, 04:06 PM

Good post Dash. But it's got to be Ford Australia only as in other major markets Ford are on top.

It's got to be mostly brand perception and to me, it stems around the Falcon large car/taxi/company car image. I'm sure Ford AU recognise this and it's exactly why you don't see much Falcon marketing nowadays, it will take them many years to shed this image just like it took others such as Mazda and the likes of Hyundai/Kia etc. to shrug off there el-cheapo image.

Syndrome · 04-10-2013, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Its not just the marketing... Alot of it is brand perception.

Bingo. Ford brand has become toxic in Australia.

olds · 04-10-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

What's that got to do with anything.

Especially with the half billion dollar investment. Not to mention the huge price cuts. Which in reality mean those 2900 odd cars or so they sold are really only of an equivalent value to maybe 2500 VE's?

I think most people know you have to invest to maintain your market share . If you don't you just wither and die .

Franco Cozzo · 04-10-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ute83

Indicator stalk is on the wrong side.

Lol as if that would stop you from buying a car, out of my 4 cars, 2 have the indicator stalk on the left and its not that hard to remember.

Unless that post was sarcasm, lol.

Peter B · 04-10-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Sales are up but Ford must be disapointed with sales of Kuga. Weren't Ford expecting better sales with Kuga ??

Don't think I've seen their sales expectations.

We are very keen to get into a Kuga, and will likely do so in next 6 months. Might wait until 2014 then get a 2013 demo Titanium.
We have to go this way to get a proper camera and interior mirror.

No rear camera on Trend, no auto tailgate option on lower models, poor colour range (since improved), high price for tech pack (others are much lower in cost.)

Poor advertising in WA. The only model in newspaper ads is the Ambiente, and often it's the previous model by mistake.
I think also, from my experience, the sales people aren't enthusiastic about the Kuga, and I tend to know more than they do. Says a lot.

It astounds me that the various car company sales staff aren't either require or bothered to drive competitor's cars. They would gain more valid selling points if they were able to speak from experience. I get blank looks when I ask about a competing SUV in relation to the one I'm looking at, and they don't seem to even know what is out there.

Smoke Pursuit · 04-10-2013, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter B

Don't think I've seen their sales expectations.

We are very keen to get into a Kuga, and will likely do so in next 6 months. Might wait until 2014 then get a 2013 demo Titanium.
We have to go this way to get a proper camera and interior mirror.

No rear camera on Trend, no auto tailgate option on lower models, poor colour range (since improved), high price for tech pack (others are much lower in cost.)

Poor advertising in WA. The only model in newspaper ads is the Ambiente, and often it's the previous model by mistake.
I think also, from my experience, the sales people aren't enthusiastic about the Kuga, and I tend to know more than they do. Says a lot.

It astounds me that the various car company sales staff aren't either require or bothered to drive competitor's cars. They would gain more valid selling points if they were able to speak from experience. I get blank looks when I ask about a competing SUV in relation to the one I'm looking at, and they don't seem to even know what is out there.

Ford has to sell everything it imports. There's a business case for every product they sell and they only get numbers if they can back them. For them to be competitive with other markets they need to sell what they are given otherwise Ford head office will reduce supply and send it where it will sell, or increase wholesale price which means things like $19,990 price points don't exist or can't be achieved.

Kuga was let down by the fact they brought the old version here first. That was a big mistake as the small SUV category is fuel economy driven. It was not economical and for anyone who owned a smaller Ford it felt dated parked next to Focus in the showrooms (it was based on the LV Focus!). I guess it put a bad taste in peoples mouths when they were cross shopping it with the likes of CX5 at the time.

I don't think the brand is completely toxic, it has a strong following in some sections of the market, it is just that things like Falcon are now holding the company back locally as they still have to spend money marketing something the public does not want. While they don't market Falcon heavy there is still a lot of print media and online advertising for it, then the dealers are burdened with stocking them and huge write backs when they can't move them.

I think all in all Ford needs to put a lot more into customer service / satisfaction / retention. Currently they are trying to fix that with certain things but its not something you can do and fix over night. As I said in my last post Mazda has been aware of this for years and have put a lot of time into making sure they reach out to the customer. My local Mazda dealer gives you a free breakfast each service, neither of the Ford dealers close to me have the facilities for you to buy something, let alone give it to you for free.

**DJM83** · 04-10-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ute83

Indicator stalk is on the wrong side.

wow, heard it all now.

unkey · 04-10-2013, 07:10 PM

Wretched,could you please possably share the Honda figures with us ?

Many thanks in anticipation,
Regards

naddis01 · 04-10-2013, 07:14 PM

Did anyone else get email from Ford advertising an xr6 for $33990 driveaway with 3 years free servicing?

Smoke Pursuit · 04-10-2013, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ute83

Indicator stalk is on the wrong side.

Thats only on Titaniums with the extra safety pack.

Smoke Pursuit · 04-10-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naddis01

Did anyone else get email from Ford advertising an xr6 for $33990 driveaway with 3 years free servicing?

Nope but apparently utes get first 15,000 kms service free, 5 year 200,000 km warranty and 2 years free roadside assist.

bigwil · 04-10-2013, 08:02 PM

According to Carsguide HSV are on track to sell 3000 cars this year including 500 paid deposits on the GTS, but im more interested in knowing how many FPVs have sold so far plus a break up of the models sold.

Smoke Pursuit · 04-10-2013, 08:42 PM

Fpv will be lucky to do 500 I reckon.

Brazen · 04-10-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Fpv will be lucky to do 500 I reckon.

At the moment HSV production is 8:1 GTS to the rest of the range, some dealers are now getting 105 grand if they have a GTS in stock.

I cant help but think FPV should of saved the Supercharged engine for a premium version rather than have it across the range including GS. Maybe having the Hi PO version across the range dilutes the specialness. Or really the GS should have been a Ford.

GAFA · 04-10-2013, 09:21 PM

Ford Australia have targeted the wrong demographic for the Kuga. Their adds thus far ave been focused at those in their 20's and have only shown the hands free tailgate and voice activated music selection and none of the safety features.

They should follow Subaru's lead when they introduced their Eyesight system earlier this year to the new Forrester and show the safety features of the Kuga. By doing this a greater demographic (ie families) would take an interest in the Kuga.

Bossxr8 · 04-10-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds

I think most people know you have to invest to maintain your market share . If you don't you just wither and die .

That's right but Commodore sales are still down 20% over the same time last year. Ford are convinced the large car market is dead and gone and are happy to not even compete in it when Falcon is gone. That does not bode well for Commodore in the future.

P6LTD351 · 04-10-2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

That's right but Commodore sales are still down 20% over the same time last year. Ford are convinced the large car market is dead and gone and are happy to not even compete in it when Falcon is gone. That does not bode well for Commodore in the future.

Holden and Commodore are in the poo too. Game. Over.

Mercury 8 · 05-10-2013, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ute83

Indicator stalk is on the wrong side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

I'd be one of those buyers who wouldnt want to buy one either.

Really? Having a closed mind can sometimes see you missing out on some good things in life.

**DJM83** · 05-10-2013, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury 8

Really? Having a closed mind can sometimes see you missing out on some good things in life.

Tell ya what, when i had my ST in for its POM inspection i sat in a Titanium Kuga then a Territory of the same spec, IMO the Kuga is so much nicer inside the Territory just feels old.
Each to their own though but if it were my money a Kuga it would be.

Anyway back to the sales topic.

BDA074 · 05-10-2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds

I think most people know you have to invest to maintain your market share . If you don't you just wither and die .

This ^^^ Read the Daily Telegraph on my iPad this morning. Not one ad for Ford of any kind in Carsguide or even the entire paper.

jpd80 · 05-10-2013, 10:50 AM

Holden Volt - 4

Why would you even bother.....

MrZ · 05-10-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Holden Volt - 4

Why would you even bother.....

Hmm, considering it's $60k+ that's not bad. The Nissan Leaf is under $40k and is a much better option.

jpd80 · 05-10-2013, 12:52 PM

An interesting post from the dark side:

Quote:

Originally Posted by gminsidenews.com

The figures reported in VFACTS are not actual sales, but vehicle registrations, as most of you would know. From time to time some manufacturers will push dealers to licence cars in order to inflate or deflate their numbers for the month.

I can tell you that Holden ran a number of programs last month whereby certain models had to be picked up from plant stock (some of them have been there since 2012) and then licenced them in order to qualify for an extra bonus! Last month was also the last month to claim MY13 Cruze liquidation bonuses, so the Cruze numbers will be inflated somewhat.

I believe the factory has been focussing strongly on VF production and as such, there is very little stock around, especially of the Equipe. CDX stock there is plenty and SRi and SRi-V are doing okay. There has been a massive shortage of hatch build for at least 3 months. This problem won't be corrected this year, so expect Cruze to perform circa 2,000 units a month for the rest of the year.

Colorado numbers were down because we're running out of stock. The Thai factory basically went idle for about month during the changeover. The MY14 update model is due in about 2 weeks time.

olds · 05-10-2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

That's right but Commodore sales are still down 20% over the same time last year. Ford are convinced the large car market is dead and gone and are happy to not even compete in it when Falcon is gone. That does not bode well for Commodore in the future.

This is what gripes me . Falcon couldn't compete so Ford just gave up !

jpd80 · 05-10-2013, 04:34 PM

More from the darkside, VF International was planned but the timing stinks:

Quote:

Originally Posted by timandhayley @ gminsidenews

The International is just desperation to keep the numbers up for the rest of the year, but at nearly $42,000 drive away for the sedan and $44,000 for the wagon, good luck! It's so close in price to Calais, that it's going to struggle.

This model has been planned since day dot along with SV6 and SS Storm special editions. They haven't done these, because there's so much SS Stock laying around that they don't want to be seen to be discounting them, which they will have to do shortly, because no one is buying them and dealers have so much stock it's not funny!

The VF is really struggling. The numbers look good only because of Avis and Police deliveries that have occurred over the last couple of months, but retail and small business sales have basically ground to a complete halt. There is next to no interest in the car whatsoever and no one in Holden HQ is listening to what the dealers are telling them!

It's the right car, but at the wrong time. Large Passenger cars are basically dead in Australia.....

MrZ · 05-10-2013, 04:42 PM

Retail sales are only 25% of total Commodore sales. That's about 7500 out of 30000. Even if retail sales were cut in half, that would only represent a drop of 3750 sales. I don't think Holden would be too concerned.

jpd80 · 05-10-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrZ

Retail sales are only 25% of total Commodore sales. That's about 7500 out of 30000. Even if retail sales were cut in half, that would only represent a drop of 3750 sales. I don't think Holden would be too concerned.

Ah but laddy, they have been building SS like there's no tomorrow and dealerships are full of them.
The fleet sales you talk of also consist of a big chunk of user chooser novated leases that haven't returned..

I thought they were going great guns until a few Holden contacts put me right, there's some big issues
being swept under the carpet and the Holden brass just doesn't want to hear it....