Why doesnt ford strike back with a bench seat!!

[RAPID_BA]

The falcon is a wide car. Why doesnt ford strike back with a bench seat in the front? A true six seater? Surely that would sink the Aurion/Camry and other pretend big cars?

Im sure VE would copy shortly after with their own true 6 seater.

Surely with the auto transmissions we can just have a button on the dash to engage drive and reverse. Or a manual, 6 on the tree!!

Dont laugh as it might be a sales edge to bring Falcon out of the cellar.

Consider all the benfits of a bench seat as opposed to a bucket seat?

[calais]

Apart from the inherent safety issues these days with a lack of front and centre airbag placement, and not many people asking for a bench seat falcon...... It'd be a novelty at best.

[flappist]

Because it would cost a fortune to get it certified and very few people bought them even when they were available.

Turning a 5 seat vehicle into a 5 seat is not just a case of adding a seat.

[OffRoadFalcon]

IMO it would be cool! But probably wouldn't actually help sales enough. I think the return of the Falcon wagons would prove more successful, if they did the job properly.

[Smoke Pursuit]

They still offer a 3 seat ute.... Don't see many opting for them either now.

[Brazen]

I got a column shift FGII ute. Much more practical than a two seater and it feels more roomy without the centre console.

I remember the AU wagons being quite popular in 6 seater form.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

They still offer a 3 seat ute.... Don't see many opting for them either now.

10 -15 years ago families used to buy the base Forte and XL Falcons so bench seat being in that model was fine, but now private buyers have moved on from the base model and now buy the XR versions, they really need to offer the bench seat for the family man in the XR utes. Only fleets or bozos like me order the XL and fleets arnt interested in the column shift.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Brazen

I got a column shift FGII ute. Much more practical than a two seater and it feels more roomy without the centre console.

I remember the AU wagons being quite popular in 6 seater form.

There were popular for families with 4 kids...

I dont think there would be a 4 door sedan in the world with 6 seats.

You got that right... If I would tick the option on an XR6 ute if it was available, even if I never used it, its still handy to have.

[csv8]

I remember when Ford had a bench seat that could become a bucket a seat as well.. XE ???

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Mr. Grinzy

IMO it would be cool! But probably wouldn't actually help sales enough. I think the return of the Falcon wagons would prove more successful, if they did the job properly.

There are two perfecly good large Ford wagons already. One has a Territory badge the other a Mondeo badge.

Between them they are available in 4 and 6 cylinder petrol and diesel with up to 7 seats, 5 star rating, RWD, AWD or FWD, luxury or basic fitout and even soft road capable.

[FPV GTHO]

But neither does the job of a panel van, which is what a lot of people really want when they want the Falcon wagon back.

[Franco Cozzo]

They had bench seat E series and AU wagons, if they where popular they would still be making them.

[Chopped]

And cover the seat in vinyl so that you can slide from one side to the other in the corners.

[|||]

bring back bonnet badges as well. they were sweet. really turned heads

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They had bench seat E series and AU wagons, if they where popular they would still be making them.

Doesnt quite work like that, often the option or bodystyle doesnt keep up with consumer preferences.

Bench seat has only been available in the base model.

Back in the E-series days, XRs were only 3% of sales, so no bench seat in that model made sense. 70% of Falcons were GLI so bench seat in that model was popular.

Fast forward 15 years, XRs are 45% of sales but the bench seat is still only availble in base model - that no one wants.

Same argument can be made for making a XR wagon later on in life as the market had shifted towards the XR variants and away from GLI, Forte and XT.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Chopped

And cover the seat in vinyl so that you can slide from one side to the other in the corners.

Hey... my XW has a bench seat covered in vinyl, I know what you mean.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

But neither does the job of a panel van, which is what a lot of people really want when they want the Falcon wagon back.

You could fit a refugee boat in the back of a Terry when you fold down the seats..its plenty practical.

I can imagine the commy guys laughing with this thread title.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by flappist

Turning a 5 seat vehicle into a 5 seat is not just a case of adding a seat.

yep, it'd be more a case of doing nothing at all really

[FreddyDUZ747]

My BA sedan came with a bench seat....hang on that was just the first owners drivers seat squashed by someones fat glutias maximus

As suggested,plenty of choice for rooom in fords line up.

[MRFGXR6]

Originally Posted by Chopped

And cover the seat in vinyl so that you can slide from one side to the other in the corners.

Ah the memories...................he he

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

yep, it'd be more a case of doing nothing at all really

No first you have to put the phone on DND so you do not get attacked by a dribbling idiot asking stupid questions halfway through whatever you are trying to do.....

[GasoLane]

Bench seats were dangerous!!!

It's extremely hard trying to get opposite lock with your left arm around your girlfriend!!

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by flappist

There are two perfecly good large Ford wagons already. One has a Territory badge the other a Mondeo badge.

Between them they are available in 4 and 6 cylinder petrol and diesel with up to 7 seats, 5 star rating, RWD, AWD or FWD, luxury or basic fitout and even soft road capable.

Yeh i think ill disagree with you there. Ill keep it breif.
Mondeo looks like bollocks and isnt as big as the Falcon wagon. On those two things alone i would not even consider it.
Territory, same sort of thing, the styling isnt crash hot with me and the boot space is yet again not what im after.

They may be perfectly good, but not for me. Buying me an A series next, got lots of touring on soon. With RTV suspension and maybe even an e locker, it will take me everywhere. Heck even the old family AUII went through alot stock. Current lifted BFII wagon has gone through plenty, right across the outback.

Lighter car and more space, even more clearance stock than a Tezza?

Sorry but some of us still need a REAL wagon. Not something a bit bigger than a sedan and not an SUV.
My parents will be running their BFII into the ground simply because there isnt anything else to upgrade to. Theres just no compramise.

[.FoMoCo.]

Maybe they could market the bench seat as part of a 'retro' pack;

Wall to wall vinyl
Push button AM only radio
Skinny steering wheel
6 on the tree
15 inch steel wheels
Rear drum brakes

Hmmm...

[4.0i OHC]

I'd love a bench seat, 6 on the tree, skinny steering wheel, and 15 inch steelies. Maybe that's just me, though.

[Kryton]

Id rather see the Panelvan return..........

[Jim Goose]

In the good old days people had larger families and having mum and dad in the front seat along with at least one child in the middle and 2 or 3 in the back was almost normal.

However since its now illegal to have kids under a certain age in the front seat of a car, its pretty pointless!

3 grown guys across the front seat knocking knees? Not unless your good mates....

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

But neither does the job of a panel van, which is what a lot of people really want when they want the Falcon wagon back.

that doesn't make sense...


Panel van is wagon?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

In the good old days people had larger families and having mum and dad in the front seat along with at least one child in the middle and 2 or 3 in the back was almost normal.

However since its now illegal to have kids under a certain age in the front seat of a car, its pretty pointless!

3 grown guys across the front seat knocking knees? Not unless your good mates....

why did i think wally mellish

[foxtrot3]

Hi. As much as I would like a six seat falcon wagon the big problem ford would have is a safe and suitable seat belt for the centre front seat. With a lap/sash belt now being the normal minimum requirement there is no top anchor point that works with a second row of seats. As for other cars in the ford range to carry 6 people the terry is a 5 + 2 little ones and with the back seat up not enough cargo space, We had the same amount of room in a camera wagon with a dickie seat as a 7 seat territory. The solution for us was a Kia carnival. Cheers MD