Ford Exec's refuse to confirm Falcon production right through to Oct 2016

[westy73]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Whilst I understand your disappointment as an enthusiast, unfortunately I do not think you, or your fellow enthusiasts, were the target audience.

Clearly, this segment, for whatever reason, has diminished to the point where FPVs, and Falcon for that matter, is a niche market. And, unfortunately, Ford have obviously lost a lot of money on what is now a niche market. If Ford were interested in maintaining you as a customer within this niche market, I think they would need to significantly increase the price of the product. If that were to happen, would these enthusiasts remain as such? I doubt it.



I don't think that anyone on this forum (apart from the Holden lovers ) are suggesting that there is anything wrong with the product, per se, it's just that the market has changed to the point where it is no longer viable for the business to maintain this segment of the market under the current business model. So, Ford have changed the model. Will they lose some customers, no doubt, but they may just gain more than they lose.



Nor am I. Again, unfortunately, the Australian content of the Future of Ford plays a very small part of the revised business model. I think the amount of time spent on the Australian models was representative of the proportion the Australian models will play in that revised business structure. Whether we all like it or not, Ford is here not to satisfy niche markets, but to produce product that provides them with a reasonable return on their investment. Whichever way Ford moves, some supporters will be lost.



I don't mean any offence at all with this comment Rodge, but you (and your fellow enthusiasts) are probably not the market Ford is looking at in the future. Why, because it has not been profitable for them to continue to service you in the way they have to date. If you are prepared to look at other models in the line-up, then maybe they can. But, you may need to compromise on some of your preferences (ie, two door performance car instead of four, or American built in stead of Australian built, etc)



I've commented on this subject in a couple of threads, and really it can be summed up as follows:

If you prefer an Australian built product, you will be disappointed with the future Ford product

If you prefer a 4 door performance car, you will be disappointed with the future Ford product

If you prefer the Falcon product, you will be disappointed with the future Ford product

If you are prepared to overlook the above, then I think the future Ford product is exciting. We will now have access to some world class vehicles that we have not had access to before. We will also have access to a range of product across segments that we have never had access to before.

Finally, my reading of the purpose behind the presentation the other day was for one purpose only, and that was to get across to the general consumer of the Ford product (remembering that is no longer the Falcon buyer, nor is it a ford enthusiast who trawls the AFF most days) that Ford will remain as a car supplier post the cessation of manufacturing in this country. If you look at it from that perspective, I think it was reasonably successful. The proof will be in the pudding.

Craig H

Craig,

From what I can tell the problem with us 'enthusiasts' is the fact that Ford can just write off 50 years of history so quickly and on top of that the presentation was almost a confirmation of this with such a lack of detail of any new Falcon/Territory update. What are we supposed to think ? All different fads come and go in the car industry. Look at the current American style 'Pickup' trend. Big Panelled Utes so to speak. It wasn't that long ago we were all complaining of the Big Landcruisers and Prados and Territory's doing the rounds. Now every second car seems to be one of these big ugly pickups. Anyway Craig we will see what happens but I forecast a loss of revenue for Ford as they aren't offering me a reasonable replacement for the Falcon and derivatives which quite frankly irks me no end.