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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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05-06-2020, 11:11 AM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,307
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"Ford’s only Focus wagon and other trim level hatches have been culled.
Ford has dropped four of its seven Focus trims just 18 months after launching the small car in Australia. Notable removals include top-spec Titanium hatchback and the ST-Line wagon – the only wagon in the range. The revised lineup leaves just three hatchback models to choose from: ST-Line, Active, and the new ST hot hatch. As we reported earlier this year, Ford was already assessing the viability of the Focus range not long after its introduction." https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car...no-more-wagon/
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05-06-2020, 01:14 PM | #2 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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ST-Line gets IRS instead of the beam axle now.
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05-06-2020, 04:59 PM | #3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,593
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Af Fordable small Fords are now no longer available.
No Fiesta (except expensive ST) No Focus Trend. So cheapest entry to Ford range is 32/33 k on road. Un a Ford able. |
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05-06-2020, 06:07 PM | #4 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 480
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With so little promotion any hope of bigger sales was always going to be hard; especially with a 3 cylinder engine that would need some explaining to most consumers notwithstanding what a great engine it is. Ford need to do better with marketing and that has been a weak point for years.
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05-06-2020, 06:22 PM | #5 | ||
Barra Turbo > V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,916
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As long as they don't drop the ST.
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05-06-2020, 08:03 PM | #6 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,393
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Its a bit lame they're focusing (lol, I'm here for autographs all day) on SUVs.
They're driving me away from the brand, entry level is now the Fiesta ST. |
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06-06-2020, 08:43 AM | #7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 898
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During the last few years of its existence, Holden introduced new cars to their range, very quietly, then gradually dropped them as they didn't sell, Epica, Malibu, the ones with recognisable names, Barina & Astra also quietly disappeared as the company tried to convince customers to buy the sort of car that GMH thought they should buy rather than what they wanted.
Ford is starting to smell a bit like Holden's corpse. You want a Ranger or Everest ….. no worries. Oh, you want something else ? Ummmmmm …………..did some-one say KFC. |
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06-06-2020, 11:52 AM | #9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,324
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The fact that FOA makes little or no profit from mostly $50k-$60k vehicles sold here beggers belief,
no way they're not heavily price transferring profit back to Thailand. |
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06-06-2020, 12:10 PM | #10 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
The ranger, everests and mustangs are cash cows. |
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06-06-2020, 02:20 PM | #11 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 898
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06-06-2020, 02:36 PM | #12 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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GM thinking is bringing in huge numbers based on insane sales predictions, then having to make massive price cuts just to sell them. And then axe it cause they are losing money on every sale.
So not really the same thing. Ford are very conservative and just see how it goes, and make decisions from there. If they can’t make money on it they won’t sell it. When the aussie dollar was 60 c, where it was until about a week ago, it would have been putting pressure on profit margins for sure. Manufacturers are starting to increase rrp’s to compensate. Although the dollar is creeping up again due to the chaos going on in the us. |
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06-06-2020, 02:49 PM | #13 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,324
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Quote:
it's rolled into Ford Asia as is China which is stinking up the books big time. The contribution of FOA's +$3 billion revenue is being totally obscured. Aside from sales of Ranger, Everest and Mustang, buyers are simply not interested in Ford's other offerings and that's a damning indictment on Ford's marketing, it's already overpriced Euro based offerings are just not desirable to enough buyers. That is entirely Ford's fault, they think we like the same vehicles as the British but clearly, we prefer different things. Last edited by jpd80; 06-06-2020 at 03:05 PM. |
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06-06-2020, 04:07 PM | #14 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 898
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Quote:
But, personally, I don't give a rats about either Ford or GM anymore since they shut up shop. It will only be a matter of time before Ford Aus R&D follows GM Holden out the door. Ryan Walkinshaw must be having sleepless nights thinking about any future for GMSV. |
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06-06-2020, 06:56 PM | #15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 924
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06-06-2020, 10:59 PM | #16 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 81
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It's easy to delete models from your lineup when you don't put any effort into marketing them. Saying … well people just aren't buying them …. is a cheap shot. Of course people aren't buying them, if they don't know about them. Again marketing. Saying … those market segments we're playing in are declining and so we've removed those models … but Ford are also playing in the most popular segments of the market and apart from Ranger and Mustang, they still can't get it right, Ecosport gone, Puma won't be too far behind it, Escape and Endura under performing …….
I never understood why they would and continue to market the hell out of the Ranger and Everest when everyone knows about them and then not give the rest of their lineup the same consideration and thought. So of course people aren't going to buy your Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, etc, when the general population don't know about them and then to blame low sales for their demise, is a cheap shot. Ford once had the most popular lineup of passenger cars in the market and today, nothing. Volkswagen sell plenty of Polo's and Golf's, more than Ford and Kia and Hyundai sell more Picanto's, Rio's, Cerato's, i30's, Elantra's, etc, again more than Ford. If Ford are just left with Ranger, Everest and Mustang, then so be it. Not capable of anything else. |
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07-06-2020, 01:02 AM | #17 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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07-06-2020, 08:21 AM | #18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Posts: 3,593
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Quote:
We still have the 2012 Fiesta and the LZ Trend. Now there is nothing in my price range at a Ford dealer. |
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07-06-2020, 08:51 AM | #19 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 898
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Quote:
Similarly, while the Holden Sportwagon was selling heaps with model variations, all you could get from Ford at the time was a plain-burger Falcon wagon, no onions, tomatoes or sauce, ( or even a side order of fries with it ). Choice of models and equipment level is possibly the main reason Hyundai and Kia are doing so well currently. I don't think Ford design, engineering and reliability are credible selling points anymore. |
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07-06-2020, 05:07 PM | #20 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
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07-06-2020, 05:15 PM | #21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,324
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Edit,
New Escape should add fresh legs to FOA's sales and from what I see, it's a good car like vehicle, it might be just the right mix for our market Fingers crossed. Last edited by jpd80; 07-06-2020 at 05:38 PM. |
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07-06-2020, 05:46 PM | #22 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,324
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Quote:
Now, should they have just kept Explorer going and fully funded Falcon and its derivatives? Possibly but, would a fully fresh Fairlane and Falcon station wagon added to Falcon and ute would all of that been enough eighteen years ago to lift local sales enough to again fund FG in 2008? Man, that's a big call to make but I think it would have ended the same as Holden, don't you? |
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07-06-2020, 06:27 PM | #23 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 898
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Quote:
The difference is that in the early '00s, Holden had the exports, and the GM RWD markets supposedly sewn up with the release of the VE. Ford seemed to be apologetic that they still had the Falcon based range. But, as most of us here realise, both GM and Ford HQ both wanted the Australian manufacturing operations shut down for the last 40 years. The GFC, GM bankruptcy, and Ford profit seeking in the USA were convenient and timely excuses. Falcon just faded away, and Holden were crash tackled over the sideline. The fact that Ford is still selling imported cars, (and Holden isn't) does not make them any more attractive to buyers than any other mainstream brand. |
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07-06-2020, 07:52 PM | #24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 924
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Quote:
I don't know the economics of selling new cars, but obviously they thought losing a couple customers buying a 20k Focus was worth it. Last time I was car shopping I saw Mirages being sold for around 12k, which was about as much as I was looking to spend. It wasn't even remotely enticing, all i could think was how awful it must be. |
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07-06-2020, 08:40 PM | #25 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Qld
Posts: 403
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Currently the Ranger and Mustang are keeping FOA alive I guess?
Ive not seen many of their other offerings out and about on the road but I dont live in a capital city so maybe the other offerings are more abundant I guess. The people I know that have falcons want to hold onto them as in their minds their is no real replacement....they will get driven into the ground I guess or kept as a 2nd car to use for long trips etc..
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2015 FGX XR6T Ute - Aero Blue - Leather Trim - 6 Speed Manual 1966 Mustang Convertible - Wimbledon White - 289ci Windsor - C4 Auto - Power Hydraulic Roof / Factory AC Previous Fords: - 2012 FGII XR6 Manual Ute - Kinetic - 1984 XF Fairmont Ghia - Olympic Gold - 1987 XF S Pak - White- 1994 ED Falcon Classic V8 - Polynesian Green - 1999 AU1 Falcon S - Hot Chilli Red - 2009 LV Focus Zetec 5sp Manual - Black Sapphire |
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07-06-2020, 09:41 PM | #26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,324
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Quote:
that I believe would have been a better counterpoint to Everest diesel range. No matter, new Escape is fractionally smaller but much better value. |
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07-06-2020, 10:06 PM | #27 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Like I said, Ford are already in those existing growing markets and they still can't get it right. OK, the Ecosport is a poor example and the current Escape is in runout mode, but what about the Endura? Yes, the name stinks and the fact it's an overpriced 5 seater diesel wagon ….. that no one wants! We'll see if anything changes come the new Puma and new Escape. Just don't hold you're breath. |
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07-06-2020, 10:23 PM | #28 | |||
Regular Member
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08-06-2020, 08:30 AM | #29 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,593
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Quote:
The cheapest Fords will be at least 32.5k. The new incoming Puma small SUV with a 1 litre 92kw 3 cylinder motor will be 33k odd on road. But you can go to Kia Hyundai Mazda Toyota Skoda VW to name a few and buy sub 25k cars. There is no affordable entry level Ford. |
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08-06-2020, 01:24 PM | #30 | ||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,977
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i get the "hunting bigger profits" comment that keeps getting flung about but given the amount of new rangers & mustangs sitting in the ford employee carpark i have to wonder how many are really being sold at full price, I do agree though that it would be nice to have a intro level model that's more at the affordable end especially atm when money is tight & people are cautious re spending where they need too,
Price & reputation must be having a impact on the new focus
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Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
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