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27-10-2006, 01:41 AM | #61 | ||
Whoa, this is heavy!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern Melbourne
Posts: 466
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So the Force 8 is just a GT without a wing....pardon my ignorance, but isn't the HSV Senator very similar to a Clubsport?
Force 6 looks hot as, the Typhoon motor without the (almost silly) boy racer looks, seems pretty logical in my mind, and if there's a Force 6, you have to market a Force 8. Something for the high payed execs out there that dont want the 'look at me' image of the GT/GT-P. I'd give my left....no, hell with it, BOTH nuts for a Force 6.
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Liquid Silver 2002 AU III Fairmont wagon Le Mans Red 1990 SA Capri Turbo
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27-10-2006, 07:13 AM | #62 | ||
Regular Member
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on wednesday i drove a new auto HSVGTS i must say it was very refined and with that new suspension thing handled brilliantly it was silver and looked to my like it represented gentlemans horsepower if you know what i mean a bit like an M3 or M5 the dealer who is a friend of many years told me that . there target market is to lure over top end euro performance drivers as if to say that HSV feel they have moved on from GTS v GT battles .after having both of us giving the GTS a good bootfull i suggested we take my 2003 manual GT for a run round the same roads to me the GT surprised there was not that much in it in terms of grunt feei which old mate agreed he drove after me and repetedly told me how well it went and loved the engine noise .this was the first time JM had driven a GT and was impressed the GT may be not be quite as fast as the HSV but seat of the pants is was hard to pick it is still a car with plenty of mumbo and old school muscle car appeal something the HSV lacked so for all the FPV knockers try driving one before you comment
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27-10-2006, 09:29 AM | #63 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Queensland
Posts: 47
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[QUOTE=K_Man]So the Force 8 is just a GT without a wing....pardon my ignorance, but isn't the HSV Senator very similar to a Clubsport?
K-Man, where do we start? Some of the differences between Clubsport and Senator are; - different front bumper mouldings - different rear bumber mouldings / diffuser - different skirting colour - different fog light assembly - different grill - different wheels - rear spoiler - rain sensing wipers - front park assist - Nappa Leather Seats - 8 way electric & passenger seats with memory - overhead DVD player (standard) - a number of different exterior paint colours (exclusive to Senator & Grange) I'm sure there are other differences that I haven't mentioned, but place them next to each other and you can see the visible difference from every angle (front / side / rear). I think people's gripe with the Force models are not their individual looks. As an individual car on their own they look great. I think some people are disappointed that FPV have made what appears to be a lazy effort for a new model. A new Luxury model that didn't even warrant any bodykit changes or even a new individual set of wheels. Personally I don't blame the designers at FPV. I'm certain that they had a long wishlist for their new luxury model. I think they just currently have a lack of support from those controlling the purse strings. |
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27-10-2006, 09:57 AM | #64 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,584
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Hmm perhaps I came across harshly. I think the concept of the Force is good, and way over due, but I think the lack of effort in this cars is appauling. I have nothing against the mechanical package, or how it looks or goes, but Ford rant on how its based off a Ghia and it looks nothing like one. An FPV version of a BF2 Ghia would be hot! It would then be distinguishable from all other FPV's and XR's and have its own little spot as it should have when its meant to be the most expensive model you can get. Im not after bling, but what sucks is that whats stopping someone from getting a GT/F6, saying hold the rear spioiler and stipes and wala; you have a Force. That would **** me off if I was a Force owner, where is the incentive to buy the best Henry has to offer? I dont want to harp on to much about the manual thing, but just wait for the Wheels and Motor magazines to do a comparison. Its going to get mauled. Now, im pretty sure HSV dont offer a manual on the Senator, but so what, if Ford did then that would give those who want to change gears for themselves the option, and could sway someone into buying one. Remembering back to BFYB's or an award like that, the XR6T manual got in just because it is so much fun to drive, no other car had a manual and auto version in the same tests as seperate contestants.
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27-10-2006, 10:27 AM | #65 | |||
NOT A TOYOTA :/
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Location: Eastern Suburbs, Melb
Posts: 2,554
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Hear hear, too many people on here criticise cars they haven't really experienced other than reading articles from other peoples - and quite often biased opinions.
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06 Land Managed to remain in the v8 fraternity |
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27-10-2006, 10:37 AM | #66 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
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Some people here, which is fair enough as it is a Ford forums, are what I said before, blue noses. People who would sit behind Tom Gormans backside, let him dump on them and be thankful that his poo is blue; FoA can do no wrong.
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27-10-2006, 10:40 AM | #67 | ||
Luxojet
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,883
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i didnt realise this was a "lets all have a sook because its not the car that i want" post. for christs sake get over it. i reckon it looks the goods....
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27-10-2006, 10:55 AM | #68 | ||
NOT A TOYOTA :/
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Eastern Suburbs, Melb
Posts: 2,554
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Did I say your name Polyal?
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06 Land Managed to remain in the v8 fraternity |
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27-10-2006, 10:55 AM | #69 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Posts: 2,504
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can't please everyone.
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27-10-2006, 10:58 AM | #70 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
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Location: TAS
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Its just a forum thing, that I guess you dont know who people are, or what they know.
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27-10-2006, 10:59 AM | #71 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
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27-10-2006, 11:16 AM | #72 | |||
Mercury Silver T3
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T1 201 T2 199 T3 428 With regards to the force cars visually there is very little difference (rear wing, wheels) although i understand why the Force 6 interests you. You want an F6 with the ghia interior and the Force 6 gives you that but it is a small market to sell to. As far as the Force 8 goes purchase a GTP without stripes, remove the rear wing and pocket the 10k. I and many others on this forum are just trying to see the logic in Fpv's thinking releasing another model with such subtle differences and such a large make up in price over (imo) very similar cars.
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27-10-2006, 11:23 AM | #73 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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To the young enthusiast, it missed the mark, to the demographic they are aimed at, it might be just what they want. |
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27-10-2006, 11:29 AM | #74 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
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Location: TAS
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Does anyone have any figures for how many Senators they sell? Id be keen to know what kind of target FPV has. This is how I see it. FPV/Ford are struggling, they dont want to invest so they find the cheapest possible way to enter a market they are not in. Mission accomplished. I would have thought it would have been easier to make the Force an option pack. Why should you have to pay more for them taking content out? Actually, why cant an FPV customer have a choice of rears spoilers, rims etc etc? Whats stopping a GTP customer from ordering a lip spoiler? That would look rather hot actually, a GTP with stripes and a Force rear spoiler...hmm
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27-10-2006, 11:39 AM | #75 | ||
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 194
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Has anyone compared the torque spread on a 3 valve V8 to the Boss 290? Seems to me for the intended use of the car you'd be losing out most of the time with the Force 8 vs a regular Fairmont Ghia. Of course there is the street cred factor to consider but its a hell of a premium to pay for it.
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27-10-2006, 12:03 PM | #76 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Lay the chips down now... ok, i think it's a smart product that is HIGHLY profitable with probably close to zero expenditure to develop. It would be great if Ford/FPV could be such flexible operators, but they can't run their business like that becuase they need consistancy in production. They don't make cars to specific order, they do the research on what the market wants, work out how many sales that market wants per day, then they build them. That's the only way to utilise the production line and to make sure it's efficient. The pricing point though is interesting, i would have expected the same levels of price cuts that were applied to XR's and the GHIA. For me, the Force pricing is high. |
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27-10-2006, 12:28 PM | #77 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
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Its not like its anything structural. How many do they make a day? Couldn't be that many.
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27-10-2006, 12:36 PM | #78 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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27-10-2006, 03:31 PM | #79 | |||
7,753
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Tasmania..... Moderator: Tas FPV club
Posts: 5,128
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What were you thinking introducing facts into the discussion? The emphasis needing to be on the T1 and T2 models with regards to the Force cars. They were seen as a very good idea at the time. However in the end they were seen as over priced under performing cars by the market and were purchased at that rate that reflected that belief. Tickford played the only card they could and it was indeed better then doing nothing at all. The ideology was far greater then just sheet metal. Exclusivity in the dealership and treatment as well as the understated look offering a technological first for the segment. A great concept that unfortunately just didn't have the hardware to back it up. When Tickford reacted they threw the baby out with the bath water. Wild kit wild look but introduced credibility in the performance numbers. The market reacted. The lack of wings and big kits were never the problem. 200 and 220 kws at 70 and 80 k was and then the performance out of a 35k Executive LS1 220 was in most parts another nail. That’s a hard ask for the most loyal of Ford consumer to swallow but they found approx 400 people over two years. Not good but they had the XR brand to prop the number up. Fast forward to today and we have the same situation. Excluding anything with a T6 engine, the cars launched are over priced under specc’ed compared to the opposition and in essence too long in coming. Like T1 and T2, Force is the right idea at the wrong time. Both attempts at this car have come at the wrong time in the product cycle. A T1 with a T3 engine would have seen a vastly different result. It’s not the idea that was wrong but the package that underpinned it. It’s the same now or I suspect it will be. Yes lets applaud the return of the concept as its been a long time in coming but lets be honest. While its great to have the idea back it is again packaged and priced short of the mark with just a hint of confusion. Glairy red seats with chrome mirrors are hardly understated. Sak claimed BF2 would work on the strengths provided by Ford in as much that neither Prodrive nor FPV can impact on the product at this stage of its development. Two months ago that was the first clue of what was to follow. That’s exactly where FPV have been for the last two years. Supposedly they have a wish list in for approval. The issue with that is that to get close to some of the technical aspects of the competition approval of some engineering content had to have been granted about 3 years ago. We have now read where engineering of projects that don’t have approval have been completed. When you are in that stage of your business plan it doesn't leave much room to progress the product that’s in the market. Essentially that’s what we are faced with. We are all consumers. No one needs to drive or own the product to proffer an opinion on product direction or value. I think we are all able to offer that opinion as well as each other. The force product is up against it largely due to its timing. It will be the little details that bring it undone. “If” the idea is a luxury competitor and that the emphasis is indeed on the comfort aspects of performance not having a bespoke suspension tune or option will show the car to be short in engineering depth. If that proves to be the case and given its price structure the people with the money will reflect exactly what the great majority on this site already have. Nice idea, call me when there is substance behind the concept that backs its position with in the market. The competition is moving to reduce the performance / comfort compromise in this specific segment. What are you offering? If it’s a start, it needed to be sooner. If it fails, it’s not because there isn’t a market for the understated look. Value at some point always tempers reasoning.
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27-10-2006, 04:05 PM | #80 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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On the approvals side of things, Sak's comments are pretty close to the truth and is common automotive practise when it concerns future product and their approval. Engineering and development are always usually conducted well before approval. |
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27-10-2006, 05:10 PM | #81 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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My hotcakes comment was sarcasm....
The MAJOR reason why the T series were a sales failure was that they were only available from a very small number of dealers and had to be serviced by those dealers. They were also not advertised very well. In my case, the nearest dealer was 400km away and at the time within that 400km was at least 6 HSV dealers. They tried to make it exclusive and they succeeded because bugger all of them sold.... |
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27-10-2006, 06:18 PM | #82 | ||||||
Mercury Silver T3
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The price of Force models will most likely be the deciding factor, most purchasers looking at performance vehicles know what their buying. The market they are chasing is the slighty understated performance car like GM's VE Calais or HSV Senator. My bet is it will run the exact same suspension tune that is in the current FPV range which is probably too firm a ride compliance for the market they are trying to target.
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House of Tickford T3 TS50 No.156 AUIII XR8 220 2017 Magnetic Mustang What to hear a tuff T3? Click herehttp://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y30...ent=Movie2.mp4 Last edited by Noddy; 27-10-2006 at 06:33 PM. |
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27-10-2006, 06:31 PM | #83 | |||
Mercury Silver T3
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House of Tickford T3 TS50 No.156 AUIII XR8 220 2017 Magnetic Mustang What to hear a tuff T3? Click herehttp://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y30...ent=Movie2.mp4 |
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27-10-2006, 06:32 PM | #84 | ||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
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Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
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Sat in a few Force 6's today, pretty nice and comfortable. Felt strange getting into the hard seats of Persuit ute.
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27-10-2006, 06:59 PM | #85 | |||
Whoa, this is heavy!
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Location: Eastern Melbourne
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27-10-2006, 07:03 PM | #86 | ||
Tuned @ Pitlane Frankston
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Location: S.E Suburbs, Melbourne
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Here I was thinking the force 8 was really supercharged.
I seriously thought to myself, wow, FPV have done something right for a change.
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BA MKII XR6 Turbo, 6sp Manual - Vibe purple, Premium sound, Sports leather, BA XR8 wheels, Koni adjustable suspension, Nizpro v/springs, Walbro in-tank pump, Siemens 60lb injectors, Process West stage 1 intercooler, Mal Wood 11" Option 3 clutch, Tripod gauges, Custom Mainlube T56 gearbox oil, ETM turbo oil feed line, Typhoon intake, BMC Panel filter, Turbosmart BOV, Tuned by Pit Lane Performance - 300.4rwkw @ 12psi
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28-10-2006, 12:40 AM | #87 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 447
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force doesnt have to mean turbocharged or supercharged.....why not get over it and believe the fact that force just means...feeling the force of one of these cars..it is a good name but for that particular model it would have been better to call it f6 ghia or gt ghia...i was reading the carsguide in todays paper and i think it was tom gorman who said they are thinking of a terry to do up but has to wait for the all clear. anyway he said if he had to think of a perfect number of fpv's it would be 10...currently fpv have 8, with this terry it will be 9...what does that leave for 10? gt-ho? or probably a xr5 version for fpv? its all promising news and orion will be the breaking point...i think the force models look great and they deserve to cost more they are luxuary and have leather and auto standard, which is great.
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28-10-2006, 12:45 AM | #88 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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28-10-2006, 12:52 AM | #89 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: Australia
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There's always been a few sellers on ebay selling the chrome mirror scalps for the AU-BA (from the Fairlane Ghia's) for ~$105. It'll be interesting to see if they bump their prices up now and claim it's a FPV product! I'm still undecided on them, I think they're trying a bit hard to be Audi S- series. Still a good looking bunch of cars though.
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28-10-2006, 06:08 AM | #90 | |||
Banned
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