Has Ford abandoned luxury cars?

[sleekism]

I am a big fan of Fairmonts.

My dad had a 1968 Fairmont with a 302 Windsor and he currently has a XE Fairmont Ghia.

I took the plunge and bought a AU Fairmont Ghia and I simply love the unique styling, unique engine and all the features that make it special as has always been the case.(apparently heaters never used to be standard in cars back in the 60's lol)

Anyway having a look at the current BF Fairmont Ghia I have to say I am quite disappointed. From the outside it looks like a base model XT and on the inside the only thing seperating it from a regular Falcon is a friggin clock.

Engine wise all you get is a base model six or a base model V8 ( I know the 3V is good but it's the same one as in a XT)

FPV has recognised this in releasing the Force series but it simply looks like a tame version of a typhoon or GT.

Ford needs to make the Fairmont better hopefully the next one gets the XR6 Turbo motor standard and the same V8 as the XR8 and some better interior work.

What happened to the Ghia rims?

[Nashy86]

I really like the current mkII ghias, externally and internally i dont see them as very XT

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by RustyEB1

I really like the current mkII ghias, externally and internally i dont see them as very XT

I'm with you there. BF Mk1s did look very XT inside but MKII looks great inside and out

[sleekism]

Maybe I'm talkin about BF1.

What are the changes?

[banarcus]

ford.com.au

[Smoke Pursuit]

Cant see how you can say a AU Fairmont is that much different to an AU Forte, the BFII Fairmont Ghia is further differentiated to the XT then the AU was.. the AU never had side airbags, power drivers seat (98 Fairmont ghia?), driver program settings for seats coded to the keys, a 6 speed auto, foglamps, ESP, body kit, sports steering wheel, dual zone climate control, reverse parking sensors etc.

[LUXO_8]

BF2 Fairmont Ghia Turbo please ford...

[Smoke Pursuit]

Orion has a Turbo 6 Option on Ghia, but i believe there will be no V8 option.

[Iphido]

The BFII lifts the game over the BFI, new dash, new interior colours, new external looks. IMHO the XR skirts on the Ghia look totally horn. It needs 18" wheels tho. Not a huge fan of the BFII lights tho.

Looking at getting a BA Fairmont Ghia and upgrading it to BF spec.
-BF taillights (2nd hand)
-BF II Dash because its totally awesome, best B-series dash ever, might change the lighting tho
-BF shifter (2nd hand)
-BF front bar and fogs
-BF steering wheel.
-BF chrome side strips.

While the BFII does look different it should. Now the XT comes with 17", 6 speed, esp, sports suspension.

[TBO240]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

BF2 Fairmont Ghia Turbo please ford...

force 6

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Iphido

The BFII lifts the game over the BFI, new dash, new interior colours, new external looks. IMHO the XR skirts on the Ghia look totally horn. It needs 18" wheels tho. Not a huge fan of the BFII lights tho.

Looking at getting a BA Fairmont Ghia and upgrading it to BF spec.
-BF taillights (2nd hand)
-BF II Dash because its totally awesome, best B-series dash ever, might change the lighting tho
-BF shifter (2nd hand)
-BF front bar and fogs
-BF steering wheel.
-BF chrome side strips.

While the BFII does look different it should. Now the XT comes with 17", 6 speed, esp, sports suspension.

XT doesnt come with 17s etc standard, that was a Special Pack which you cannot get anymore, you can get the ES pack but its a little dearer.

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

[IMG]

Cant see how you can say a AU Fairmont is that much different to an AU Forte, the BFII Fairmont Ghia is further differentiated to the XT then the AU was.. the AU never had side airbags, power drivers seat (98 Fairmont ghia?), driver program settings for seats coded to the keys, a 6 speed auto, foglamps, ESP, body kit, sports steering wheel, dual zone climate control, reverse parking sensors etc.

?????

AU Fairmont no but Fairmont Ghia yes!

I have electric seat, a better looking dash than the BF, a Tickford motor found in the XR6 VCT, leather, computer thing with a million features. I am told shite down to WHICH door is left open even the BF XR6 Turbo doesn't do that.

All your reply did was prove my point the interior STILL looks ordinary and on the outside it STILL looks like an XT.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Lol...

If you think an AU Dash is better then a BFII Ghia then your seriously playing with yourself.

Even an XT has all the trip fucntions you speak of, so the BFII Fairmont Ghia has that, and leather, and yes it tells you which door is open, even my FPV ute does that

[exrtnz]

Definitely the XR8, its a better looking car allround, but still forced induction for me!

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by TBO240

force 6

the problem with that is the fact that its just a typhoon minus the rear wing.... i actually prefer the Fairmont Ghia looks wise, just it should have a turbo and be priced under the national debt
how are ya btw mate?......long time no see

[MITCHAY]

I reckon the new Ghia looks pretty good.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by sleekism

All your reply did was prove my point the interior STILL looks ordinary and on the outside it STILL looks like an XT.

Here it is with the china beige leather that further seperates it from the XT. The grey interior in LSTerritoryGhia's post doesn't look as classy as the china beige.

[sleekism]

????

Last time I checked I'm pretty sure the BF XT doesn't do all the things my AU does and the BF XR6 Turbo is down a few specs too.

What they have gained is annoying buzzes (i no ive got me freakin seatbelt off I was about to put it on!!!)

[Smoke Pursuit]

Why should it, its a lower spec FLEET model. Are you talking about the Trip computer? The BA / BF XT has more trip functions then your Fairmont champ, it even has a TRIP A and TRIP B, last time checked AU's did not have this.

Do you expect Ford to build the XT with Leather standard??

[Smoke Pursuit]

[TBO240]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

the problem with that is the fact that its just a typhoon minus the rear wing.... i actually prefer the Fairmont Ghia looks wise, just it should have a turbo and be priced under the national debt
how are ya btw mate?......long time no see

good wayne and your right about the national debt

[SpoolMan]

I hear Fairmont will be a turbo option next year and there may be a turbo factory LPG option.

[The Monty]

I agree with sleekism. The amount of differences you got between a Forte and a Fairmont in the AU's was quite substantial, these days, I cant say I think they are that much better than the plain XT, except the MKII ghia, its damn nice. But BA and MKI BF's are wayyy to plain for me.

[ltd]

Sleekism, the AU fairmont and the forte looked basically the same externally anyway, especially when ford put the fairmont bonnet on the AU2.
I agree that the interior of the fairmont upward was markedly different from the base model forte, but conversely the difference between the Fairmont Ghia and the XT interiors is as wide as Paris Hilton's you know what.

However, not to detract from your point and speaking from experience, the AU2 LTD interior kills the BA LTD interior, BA2 LTD and to some degree BF interior. The B series LTD's had minimal money spent on them and therefore ended up with a falcon dash and some faux wood to make you feel better.

The AU2 on the other hand has an ALL leather interior; the whole seat cover is leather and not vinyl like on the BA plus, the doors have rouched leather, the centre console is leather, the console extension around the shifter is leather, and then there's the woodgrain. Woodgrain switches, steering wheel, woodgrain cupholders, rear vents, window switches; even the light switch is woodgrain - all in all, it is such a nice and special place to be.
BA forward LTD interiors were far too clinical IMO.

[Nashy86]

Personally I can't see the attraction to those AU Bubble interiors, but either interior on the BFII is great imo, especially the china beige interior!

[ltd]

The china beige is nice, but it still has miles of black plastic. We have 2 BF LTD's in china beige and it is still dogged by the miles of black and grey plastic that plagued the BA. Also, the rear seat in the LWB B series is still very flat and quite firm compared to its older stable mates.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by ltd

The AU2 on the other hand has an ALL leather interior; the whole seat cover is leather and not vinyl like on the BA plus, the doors have rouched leather, the centre console is leather, the console extension around the shifter is leather, and then there's the woodgrain. Woodgrain switches, steering wheel, woodgrain cupholders, rear vents, window switches; even the light switch is woodgrain - all in all, it is such a nice and special place to be.
BA forward LTD interiors were far too clinical IMO.

I must say, that does look very nice inside

[Ghiadude]

im a big fan of the BF series II Ghia. Id have one if it werent for the fact i couldnt afford it... LOL. I cant say i liked the AU interiors at all. Id rather have an EL Ghia(i do) than an AU The AU was a great car but its styling was seriously flawed and reaked of american influence. (taurus)

[zigzagnt]

Originally Posted by tx3dude

im a big fan of the BF series II Ghia. Id have one if it werent for the fact i couldnt afford it... LOL. I cant say i liked the AU interiors at all. Id rather have an EL Ghia(i do) than an AU The AU was a great car but its styling was seriously flawed and reaked of american influence. (taurus)

I agree
i can only speak of base models but having had an EL base model(whatever it was called) been in an AU forte and now have an BA XT the BA's have the best interiors of the lot.

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

I must say, that does look very nice inside

i like it
now why didnt you add the fairlane in the luxury car poll
thats the one id get with the 3valve 8 n auto