Ford Falcon FG 2008-09 rated safest used car in Australia

[Grunter]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/n...-1226101881622

THE Ford Falcon FG has been rated the safest used car in the country and the 1996 Daihatsu Mira the worst.

Analysis of more than 4 million crashed cars by Monash University's Accident Research Centre found the 2008-09 Falcon FG offered the best protection to occupants and other road users.

In contrast, the risk of injury or death in the 1996 Mira was 8.2 times higher than in the Falcon.

The RACQ's vehicle technologies manager Steve Spalding said 19 used vehicles were rated as "safe picks" including a number of small cars.

These included the Honda Civic 2006-2009, Peugeot 307 2001-2009, Volvo S40/V40 1997-2004, Volkswagen Golf/Bora 1999-2004 and Volkswagen Golf/Jetta 2004-2009.

"One of the benefits of choosing a smaller but safe vehicle is the ability to save on fuel costs without compromising safety," Mr Spalding said.

"The Volkswagen Golf is a good example of a Safe Pick that is also economical to run."

Of the medium cars, the Mazda 6 2002-07 and the Honda Accord 2003-07 were among the safest, while the Toyota Camry 206-09 also earned a five-star rating.

The results showed vehicle safety has greatly improved since 1996, with the average risk of death or serious injury to the driver of a 2009 car being about 30 per cent less than for the driver of a 1996 vehicle.

[EgoFalcon]

That is awesome for Ford! Use this as proof for buyers looking at 2nd hand cars.

[GQ_Smooth]

If only they made a wagon, would make a good family car for the mrs.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by EgoFalcon

That is awesome for Ford! Use this as proof for buyers looking at 2nd hand cars.

Stuff advertising for 2nd hand buyers. The FG 08-09 is the same car as FG 2011, use it to advertise for new cars. Would also help to shut a few media people up that keep going on about curtain air bags!!


I'm glad I'm driving the safe car on the road!! Well done Ford..

[Bossxr8]

I'm sure Drive will twist it around by saying it would be safer if the side airbags were standard, and buyers should buy a VE instead cause they are standard.

[Bobman]

Just saw this on the news.

#1 Ford Falcon (Large Cars).

Love it!

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I'm sure Drive will twist it around by saying it would be safer if the side airbags were standard, and buyers should buy a VE instead cause they are standard.

Annoying, but likely... Despite the VE with curtain airbags still scores less than FG without.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Just saw this on the news.

#1 Ford Falcon (Large Cars).

Love it!

Great to see it on the news. IF only Ford would use it and capitalise on it.

It's an incredibly good result considering all the different cars out there on the roads.

It's very reassuring, knowing that my wife and kids are in an FG XR6 which is the safest car out there.

Well done Ford Australia!

[Silver Ghia]

Well the FG Falcon did get 34.61 points out of 37 in tha ancap testing, the VE only 33.45 points. And that was the Dec 2008 test for the VE, which failed to get the 5 stars in the earlier ancap testing. Holden had to play 'catchup' and introduce seat belt reminders etc. get its five stars after the FG got its five stars, even then it isnt as safe in a collision as the Falcon.

[vztrt]

More great stuff about the FG.

[falconnut]

Makes me feel proud to drive a ford

[DJM83]

Well done FoA

[jpd80]

Well done Ford, now get the message out there.......

[2011G6E]

"Mass always wins"...ie: in a collision between a small 5 star car and a 3 or 4 star large car, the small car will come off a lot worse.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

"Mass always wins"...ie: in a collision between a small 5 star car and a 3 or 4 star large car, the small car will come off a lot worse.

i think thats the idea...the smaller the car the more it has to suffer for occupant safety...

[Supercharged]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

i think thats the idea...the smaller the car the more it has to suffer for occupant safety...

yes, Mazda 3 head butt a 2.5 ton Landcruser will take the Mazda drivers head clean off but Landcruser will suffer a roll over.

[Richmalbill]

Once again, Ford marketing people miss an open goal in promoting their product.

There is absolutely nothing on the Ford site about this. Are they really that dumb? Is this why they are selling less 1800 Falcons a month?

[vztrt]

Funny enough I saw it on one of the morning shows this morning. Advertising was done...and free.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Richmalbill

Once again, Ford marketing people miss an open goal in promoting their product.

There is absolutely nothing on the Ford site about this. Are they really that dumb? Is this why they are selling less 1800 Falcons a month?

I would like to think they are not that dumb. I fear worse than that. I fear there will be no Falcon in the near future. Why spend money on promotion when the deal is already done?

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Funny enough I saw it on one of the morning shows this morning. Advertising was done...and free.

If it was Holden, they would be ramming it down our throats. I am sure Ford marketing dept would love to spend the money to up the promotion. But again, why spend money on a product that is on the way out?

[PETE_XR6]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...727-1i01s.html


Lack of standard curtain airbags can’t stop Ford’s Falcon from topping safety guide.

Ford's Falcon has been chosen by motoring organisations as a top used-car safety recommendation ahead of the Holden Commodore despite a lack of curtain airbags on most models.

The locally built large cars were awarded five and four stars respectively in the latest annual used-car safety ratings published by state motoring clubs and road authorities such as the NRMA, VicRoads and RACV.

The current-model Falcon scores a ''safe pick'' despite the fact Ford does not fit curtain airbags to protect rear-seat passengers as standard except in the flagship G6E model.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Yet the Howsafeisyourcar.com.au that publishes the used car safety ratings advocates the fitment of side airbags, citing research that suggests they can reduce deaths in a side impact by up to 40 per cent.

"Without them, in a side impact crash there is little to protect your head from striking the side of the car or rigid objects like trees or poles," the website claims.

MUARC senior researcher Dr Stuart Newstead admits the Falcon's lack of curtain airbags on all models is a concern, despite receiving a five-star rating from the ANCAP crash test regime.

"You'd rather have the curtain airbags fitted to protect rear-seat passengers, but these used-car safety ratings pretty much driver centric ratings, so you have to put a question mark on that decision if you take rear-seat passengers," he says of a car sold as a full-sized family car.

The Falcon was joined by the Toyota Camry and a 25-year-old Saab, which includes no airbags or modern safety features, in a group of 20 used cars to receive top marks in the latest version of the controversial guide.

The ratings – claimed to "help younger drivers make safer choices when buying their car" – also recommend turbocharged cars such as the Saab 900 that are banned for use by P-platers.

At four stars, the Holden VE Commodore (2006-09) is rated as "good" due to the standard fitment of curtain airbags from September 2008 among other reasons, Newstead says.

"The majority of VEs in this rating will be from 2006 and 2007. When the [entry-model] Omega was released in 2006 through to the MY09 update in September 2008, it only had driver and frontal passenger airbags and no side airbags at all."

At the other end of the scale, popular small cars such as Hyundai's Getz (2002-09) and Accent models (2000-06) as well as Toyota's Echo (1999-05) are deemed "very poor" by the 2011 Used Car Safety Ratings guide.

The guide, developed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), Transport Accident Commission (TAC), VicRoads and the RACV, measures the performance of second-hand vehicles in real crashes.

Data is collected from more than 5.4 million vehicles in police-reported road crashes and more than one million injured road users in New Zealand and Australia between 1987 and 2009.

It uses a five-star system to rate vehicles on their protection of occupants and other road users in the event of a crash, and for the first time this year awards a ''safe pick'' status to a handful of the best-performing cars in each category.

These include the Honda Civic (2006-09), Volkswagen Golf (1999-09), Mazda6 (2002-07), Honda CR-V (2002-06) and Subaru Forester (2002-08).

Of the 184 vehicles listed and ranked between one and five stars, 38 were rated "excellent" and 40 rated "good" while 41 models rated "marginal", 18 as "poor" and 47 "very poor".

Meanwhile, popular light cars including the Mazda2 (2002-07), Honda Jazz (2002-08), Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris (both from 2005-09) were rated "marginal" with three stars.

"There are significant differences in the level of risk of death or serious injury between the best- and worst-rating vehicles," Newstead says.

"Drivers of the poorest-rating cars on the list ... are eight times more likely to suffer death or serious injury in a crash compared to if they were driving the best-rated car, a 2008-2009 Ford Falcon FG.

"This could potentially be a life-saving resource for motorists looking to purchase a used car."

TAC senior road safety and marketing manager John Thompson said if each motorist upgraded their vehicle to the safest in its class, road trauma would drop by about one-third.

"All drivers should check out the used cars list to help ensure they are purchasing the safest possible car to protect themselves and others on the road – one choice could save your life," he said.

Victorian Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the guide would help younger drivers make safer choices when buying their car.

"I hope young people and their parents do the homework, research the types of cars that receive the top 'safe pick' rating in the guide and choose a car that meets a high standard of safety," he says.

The 2011 Used Car Safety Ratings guide is available for download on howsafeisyourcar.com.au.

The used-car safety rating "safe picks"

Small cars
Honda Civic (2006-09)
Peugeot 307 (2001-09)
Volvo S40/V40 (1997-04)
Volkswagen Golf/Bora (1999-09)
Volkswagen Golf/Jetta (2004-09)

Medium cars
Mazda6 (2002-07)
Honda Accord (2003-07)
Saab 900/9-3 (1994-02)
Saab 9000 (1986-97)

Large cars
Ford FG Falcon (2008-09)
Toyota Camry (2006-09)
BMW 5-Series (1996-03)

Compact SUVs
Honda CR-V (2002-06)
Subaru Forester (2002-08)

Medium SUVs
Mitsubishi Pajero (2000-06)

Large SUVs
Jeep Grand Cherokee (1999-05)

Commercial vehicles
Ford Transit van (2001-07)
Mitsubishi Triton ute (2006-09)
Ford Ranger (2006-09)
Mazda BT-50 (2006-09)

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Richmalbill

Once again, Ford marketing people miss an open goal in promoting their product.

There is absolutely nothing on the Ford site about this. Are they really that dumb? Is this why they are selling less 1800 Falcons a month?

You need to relax, this only come out yesterday afternoon... Do you really think the marketing team at Ford Australia are doing nothing & can just drop every thing & create something in less than 7 working hours!!! The world is just not that simiple!!

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

You need to relax, this only come out yesterday afternoon... Do you really think the marketing team at Ford Australia are doing nothing & can just drop every things & create something in less than 7 working hours!!!

it doesn't take much to put something on a website. Very easy. Can be done pretty instantly.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

it doesn't take much to put something on a website. Very easy. Can be done pretty instantly.

To put that up, something needs to come down!! Maybe the other stuff is more important, then a feel good article!!!

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

To put that up, something needs to come down!! Maybe the other stuff is more important, then a feel good article!!!

That's just an excuse. It just needs to be a quick pop-up that appears when you first enter the site. Ford could put plenty more on their site before they get to the point of needing to take something down to put something up.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

That's just an excuse. It just needs to be a quick pop-up that appears when you first enter the site. Ford could put plenty more on their site before they get to the point of needing to take something down to put something up.

If only it was that easy!!! Take a look at the front page of www.ford.com.au & you'll see there is limited space for this sort of stuff at the bottom. 4 spots to be exact & one would need to go!! You can't just expect them to completely change the website to carter for 5 in 2 seconds & as I said, maybe they'd prefer the current 4 to stay over this piece of news.. A pop up will also not work as they have a massive territory campion going at the moment to visit www.ford.com.au, so that needs to be front & centre!!


Why do they need it on there website anyway, when it is all over other websites? Maybe they might try a radio or TV add, but this takes time.. Maybe there A&P budget does not allow for this??

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by PETE_XR6

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...727-1i01s.html


Lack of standard curtain airbags can’t stop Ford’s Falcon from topping safety guide.

Ford's Falcon has been chosen by motoring organisations as a top used-car safety recommendation ahead of the Holden Commodore despite a lack of curtain airbags on most models.

The locally built large cars were awarded five and four stars respectively in the latest annual used-car safety ratings published by state motoring clubs and road authorities such as the NRMA, VicRoads and RACV.

The current-model Falcon scores a ''safe pick'' despite the fact Ford does not fit curtain airbags to protect rear-seat passengers as standard except in the flagship G6E model.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Yet the Howsafeisyourcar.com.au that publishes the used car safety ratings advocates the fitment of side airbags, citing research that suggests they can reduce deaths in a side impact by up to 40 per cent.

"Without them, in a side impact crash there is little to protect your head from striking the side of the car or rigid objects like trees or poles," the website claims.

MUARC senior researcher Dr Stuart Newstead admits the Falcon's lack of curtain airbags on all models is a concern, despite receiving a five-star rating from the ANCAP crash test regime.

"You'd rather have the curtain airbags fitted to protect rear-seat passengers, but these used-car safety ratings pretty much driver centric ratings, so you have to put a question mark on that decision if you take rear-seat passengers," he says of a car sold as a full-sized family car.

The Falcon was joined by the Toyota Camry and a 25-year-old Saab, which includes no airbags or modern safety features, in a group of 20 used cars to receive top marks in the latest version of the controversial guide.

The ratings – claimed to "help younger drivers make safer choices when buying their car" – also recommend turbocharged cars such as the Saab 900 that are banned for use by P-platers.

At four stars, the Holden VE Commodore (2006-09) is rated as "good" due to the standard fitment of curtain airbags from September 2008 among other reasons, Newstead says.

"The majority of VEs in this rating will be from 2006 and 2007. When the [entry-model] Omega was released in 2006 through to the MY09 update in September 2008, it only had driver and frontal passenger airbags and no side airbags at all."

At the other end of the scale, popular small cars such as Hyundai's Getz (2002-09) and Accent models (2000-06) as well as Toyota's Echo (1999-05) are deemed "very poor" by the 2011 Used Car Safety Ratings guide.

The guide, developed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), Transport Accident Commission (TAC), VicRoads and the RACV, measures the performance of second-hand vehicles in real crashes.

Data is collected from more than 5.4 million vehicles in police-reported road crashes and more than one million injured road users in New Zealand and Australia between 1987 and 2009.

It uses a five-star system to rate vehicles on their protection of occupants and other road users in the event of a crash, and for the first time this year awards a ''safe pick'' status to a handful of the best-performing cars in each category.

These include the Honda Civic (2006-09), Volkswagen Golf (1999-09), Mazda6 (2002-07), Honda CR-V (2002-06) and Subaru Forester (2002-08).

Of the 184 vehicles listed and ranked between one and five stars, 38 were rated "excellent" and 40 rated "good" while 41 models rated "marginal", 18 as "poor" and 47 "very poor".

Meanwhile, popular light cars including the Mazda2 (2002-07), Honda Jazz (2002-08), Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris (both from 2005-09) were rated "marginal" with three stars.

"There are significant differences in the level of risk of death or serious injury between the best- and worst-rating vehicles," Newstead says.

"Drivers of the poorest-rating cars on the list ... are eight times more likely to suffer death or serious injury in a crash compared to if they were driving the best-rated car, a 2008-2009 Ford Falcon FG.

"This could potentially be a life-saving resource for motorists looking to purchase a used car."

TAC senior road safety and marketing manager John Thompson said if each motorist upgraded their vehicle to the safest in its class, road trauma would drop by about one-third.

"All drivers should check out the used cars list to help ensure they are purchasing the safest possible car to protect themselves and others on the road – one choice could save your life," he said.

Victorian Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the guide would help younger drivers make safer choices when buying their car.

"I hope young people and their parents do the homework, research the types of cars that receive the top 'safe pick' rating in the guide and choose a car that meets a high standard of safety," he says.

The 2011 Used Car Safety Ratings guide is available for download on howsafeisyourcar.com.au.

FFS they're a pack of *********. As predicted yesterday, they tried their damnedest to turn it into a negative and in the same breath spruik their precious VE. Unbelievable.

[4.0i OHC]

Compare the Courier Mail and Drive* articles, and it's easy to see where Drive's allegiances lie.

*Drive is a subsidiary of GM Holden LTD

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

FFS they're a pack of *********. As predicted yesterday, they tried their damnedest to turn it into a negative and in the same breath spruik their precious VE. Unbelievable.

Post #5.

Pretty much did exactly as I said they would.

They could have just said it might be a good idea for a potential buyer to shop around and find one with the curtain airbags fitted. Being optional for $300, surely it can't be that hard to find one with curtain airbags?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

FFS they're a pack of *********. As predicted yesterday, they tried their damnedest to turn it into a negative and in the same breath spruik their precious VE. Unbelievable.

Not really. I think you like to look for the negatives.
They basically reported the Ford did well even without the need for curtain airbags.

The only reference to the VE is

At four stars, the Holden VE Commodore (2006-09) is rated as "good" due to the standard fitment of curtain airbags from September 2008 among other reasons, Newstead says.

"The majority of VEs in this rating will be from 2006 and 2007. When the [entry-model] Omega was released in 2006 through to the MY09 update in September 2008, it only had driver and frontal passenger airbags and no side airbags at all."

Basically states that the Commdore that would have been tested would be from an era where they had no curtain airbags hence the lower rating.

My take on the whole article was that it is trying to push all makes to have curtain airbags. It just seemed the Ford didn't need them to score top marks. Isn't that a good thing?

You guys need to settle a bit. Too emotional over the most insignificant things.