So your the CEO: what would you change with Falcon?

[burnz]

so if we listen to what ppl want ford would sell some cars hmmm.
i'll have a cortina with the xr6t motor thanks. (daily)
miami powered escort for the weekend.

maybe retro those models with an i4t...
same with holden, retro torrie/gemini..

[RAPID_BA]

what if ford did a limited run of retro cars.

A fleet of 100 AU's, a fleet of 100 EB Falcons,

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

what if ford did a limited run of retro cars.

A fleet of 100 AU's, a fleet of 100 EB Falcons,

99 % of the tools are gone ........

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by tezxr8man

If I was in charge of Ford I'd contact Holden And Toyota and set out to lobby the Government to change import rules and cap them at 10-20% less than where they are now and raise import duties on all cars, not by much but enough to make our three companies more viable and start to get more money for development to make our cars better

You'll find the government talk to them now. The reason tarrifs went down was that the car companies agreed, but in exchange they receive grants from the government.

[FNQracing]

Get some funk into the Falcon's styling. Whilst FG is not ugly, it's plain and boring - it has no sense of presence. No WOW factor.

Finally, impose a COMPLETE BAN on it being used as a Taxi :-). Seriously, who aspires to own a Taxi? The taxi image turns off more buyers than you'd care to admit.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by flappist

Optional second fuel tank as most of Australian is not 10 minutes from a petrol station.

Optional suspension that RAISES the car as most of Australia is not in the capital suburbs.

Where did you find these 'facts' on the back of a cereal box or from old wally down the pub.

You will find that 95% plus of people WILL live within 10 minutes or less of a service station and that the majority of car buyers WILL reside in the suburbs of capital cities.

So your made up facts could not be further from the truth...

Originally Posted by flappist

After all some of the people who are 10 minutes from a servo in a capital city might just occasionally want to drive further than their local McDonalds car park and visit some part of the 99% of Australia that is NOT in a capital city.

To me and many I know fuel range is important, so much so that I used to carry a 20l jerry can in the boot of my Ghia, GT-P & F6 and had to use it on quite a number of occasions. My datto will do 900km, the FPVs 500-600km on a tank.....300km is a bloody long walk.....

Different people want different things. Some might even pay extra for stripes and a plastic snake..........

Why would you need to carry a Jerry can in an FPV Are you saying you would not come across a servo in a 500km drive??? I think you are looking for problems where there are none.
Why would you pay extra for stripes and a plastic snake, when it cost the same as a standard FPV, but with more options and better resale??? You obviously don't really know much about these cars, and I did not know that Cobra's came with a plastic snake.
Jealousy is a curse I guess

[pottery beige]

having a crack.. you can drain an FPV fuel tank in around 200km.........

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

having a crack.. you can drain an FPV fuel tank in around 200km.........

Driven hard yes, I believe it would be possible, I only get about 300km/ tank city driving in mine, but I live about three minutes from about three servos....but cruising interstate trips I get well over 500km/tank, actually closer to 600km.

[TC200six]

In areas of Australia where petrol stations are hundreds of kilometres away, most people would seem more likely to buy a Landcruiser anyway. Or some kind of vehicle where they can fit plenty of jerry cans in the back if they plan to travel on roads like the "Canning Stock Route" in WA.

[TURBOTAXI]

I have two tanks fitted in my FPV with a total range over 1000k and about 110-120l in total. lol Best of both worlds.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Where did you find these 'facts' on the back of a cereal box or from old wally down the pub.

You will find that 95% plus of people WILL live within 10 minutes or less of a service station and that the majority of car buyers WILL reside in the suburbs of capital cities.

So your made up facts could not be further from the truth...



Why would you need to carry a Jerry can in an FPV Are you saying you would not come across a servo in a 500km drive??? I think you are looking for problems where there are none.
Why would you pay extra for stripes and a plastic snake, when it cost the same as a standard FPV, but with more options and better resale??? You obviously don't really know much about these cars, and I did not know that Cobra's came with a plastic snake.
Jealousy is a curse I guess

Where you live and where you drive to tend to be VERY different places for some people.

If, one day, you leave the western suburbs of Sydney and go into the rest of Australia you will find that quite often servos close at night or actually run out of fuel. Just stay off the main highways and see what happens.

A few places where I had to use the 20l.

Jabiru
Cammoweel
On the back road from Emerald out near Crackow
On the back road from Mundubbera out near Ban Ban

There were several more over the years. Have such a short range meant I had to plan trips to pass via fuel stops rather than the shortest distances.

But getting back to the original idea, how would having an optional extra fuel tank reduce sales?

I have actually owned several FPVs (T6&V8), have driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres in them in multiple states at speeds of up to 250km/h (legally on the road in NT) and am very aware that the little cobra badge on the BF2 is plastic (and a cobra is actually a snake)
BF2 Cobra will only have resale value if it is seldom driven and what is the point of that?

So what is your personal experience driving long distances at high speed in modern falcons in regional Australia?

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Driven hard yes, I believe it would be possible, I only get about 300km/ tank city driving in mine, but I live about three minutes from about three servos....but cruising interstate trips I get well over 500km/tank, actually closer to 600km.

so you havent driven your FPV hard on the open road well away from those 3 servos in 3 mins then..............

[castellan]

Bring back the RTV ute.

Have a floor shift manual 3 seater ute & auto on the floor to or maybe a button on the dash auto?

We have been loosing sales for years to the imports because we don't have excellent options on the 3 seat capacity ute.

I like the old type of XH design ute ect better because there was more room in the back and they were not as heavy as the half chassis type we now have.

[tezxr8man]

Originally Posted by vztrt

You'll find the government talk to them now. The reason tarrifs went down was that the car companies agreed, but in exchange they receive grants from the government.

I figure they do but i think as a whole not just cars we are a fairly small market and drowning any particular segment of our industry with competition from imported equivalents is obviously going to kill the home grown stuff, it needs to be protected by a Government with balls and a not so near sighted approach filled with dollar signs from the mining boom. What happens When it is gone is simple, the country is flooded with imported products that has killed the manufacturing industry then we have neither to hold the economy together.

[z80]

If I was the CEO I would bring out at least one car in the model range that was a simple design.

I go for distributor with points, carburettor and air cooled.

Hate electronics in cars with a passion.

Yeah still have the air bags and all that, just not all the engine management hoo hah.

Roadside repairs are a thing of the past now.

just my opinions...

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by z80

If I was the CEO I would bring out at least one car in the model range that was a simple design.

I go for distributor with points, carburettor and air cooled.

So you would bring out a car that would be illegal (emissions), and that nobody would buy? That's a way to make the company do well.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by z80

If I was the CEO I would bring out at least one car in the model range that was a simple design.

I go for distributor with points, carburettor and air cooled.

Hate electronics in cars with a passion.

Yeah still have the air bags and all that, just not all the engine management hoo hah.

Roadside repairs are a thing of the past now.

just my opinions...

IF ONLY...

I agree with you entirely, except I'll extend that wishful thinking and say it should be in the guise of the XA-XC shape, start making real cars again! hahaha

Seriously would give anything to return to a time like that, as impossible as that is.

[pandas01]

Start with a $28000 stock standard XT, one model only, and have a 50 pages of options list, from engines to interiors, body kits to paint color, sedan, wagon (BRING IT BACK) or ute. Introduce some individuality! If people want a XR8 spec station wagon in purple, why shouldn't they be able to buy one? What about a V8 RTV ute with a 3" lift kit? Even a V8 territory? A total rethink on how we have been buying cars.....

[Resurrection]

Aluminium body
Bring back the 3.2litre I6
Make a proper poverty pack model
Weight reduction

[4117kev]

Pedigree, make v8 sillycars race with what they come out with. I had the gt out for a drive on Friday, fantastic car. The went to the Brock museum on Saturday and that really made me relise that the new gt really has no pedigree. If they were to race as we can buy them it would give them the status they deserve.

[FalconXV]

Give me a miniFalcon :P And FFS put auto up/down on ALL windows, this is such an irritating omission.
Let people configure the ICC colour/background, that blue gets old quickly on a high-series car. While we're on the subject, there isn't much differentiation between GT-P, and the rest of the range, I look at a picture of an FPV interior and it does not look special in any way. Speaking of FPV's, why are they so scared of surpassing HSV? Sure they are probably better, more together cars and feel good in their own right, but why would you want to play second fiddle at your raison d'etre.
;Performance ( W427 etc, Maloo top speed record), the figures are what seduce people ffs. Well overdue for innovation, a lightweight stripper model would be a treat, shave a few tenths off 0-100, more pure driving feel etc ITS NOT THAT HARD TO TAKE PARTS OFF?!?!

Also Withdraw from V8Supercars. I was gutted when they didn't advertise it in 2007 when they had the 1-2-3-4 at Bathurst; a very rare moment which they didn't capitalise on. it's like they are ashamed of it like taxis, well if you aren't going to promote it then what purpose does it serve?
If they want to appear more sophisticated, then promote it on Top Gear (We need to make an open letter/ petition to get TG UK to drive Falcon!!!) , enter international races, and most of all HONE IT ON THE NURBURGRING ALL YEAR ROUND, NON STOP and learn more and more about the car so they can apply nuances that just make it greater than the sum of it's parts.
Little items like interior doorhandles should have less play and actually feel more solid.
Put bracing/reinforcement around the rear subframe or something, stiffen it up.
Bring back wagon/ variants ,if Holden can make them work then Ford is just lazy. NA Coyote XR8- 7000rpm exotic V8 would become instant cult car.
The Falcon nameplate needs to be seriously re-energised.

[uranium_death]

I would introduce some convicting advertising and also change perceptions of what an Australian car actually is...

[z80]

Originally Posted by Trek

IF ONLY...

I agree with you entirely, except I'll extend that wishful thinking and say it should be in the guise of the XA-XC shape, start making real cars again! hahaha

Seriously would give anything to return to a time like that, as impossible as that is.

yeah...XB coupe for me, remember driving one when it was new ....saw some at the Ford day in Geelong last week....brought a tear to my eye remebering a group of us rolling it on it's roof at Lake Eppalock...flipped it back on its wheels and drove it home. Try doing that in one with computers...

It is an era that still has class...the XD after it just looks all "loose".

Love under the bonnet....I could still do the dizzy points and timing by eye and ear I reckon.

[Zedjay]

bring back proper twin round lights on the XR...

how different did ED EF EL and AU XRs look compared to the rest of the range??

i look at the BA BF and FG XRs and think "meh" needs round lights!!

[MattSAU2XR8]

Better brakes on the 'sports' models would be a good idea. Basically put the BF series 1 XR 8 brake package on all the FG XR6's, this would add about $100 to the build cost at the most and give the car a bit more sporting cred. For the XR6T and XR8 use the BF XR8 rears as per the XR6 and look at adapting a PBR caliper to run on 355 by 32 mm discs so that its almost as good as Brembos but doesn't cost a fortune. This might add an additional $200 to the cost building of the car but would mean that most owners don't then end up wanting to upgrade the brakes on their brand new car. I think Race Brakes made a kit like this so all ford would need to do was copy it.

[VICFPV]

75 Litre fuel tank across the sedan range or bigger. For better driving range.

Station Wagon with a range of engines ie turbo 6,V8,diesel and lpi.

High class interior. With better gadgets. Like Media centres and a high class brand sound system. Sunroof.

Taxi Pack.

Limited longwheel base model. IE Fairlane. 250 units a year. The Hire car industry is crying out for this and Ford has a strong reputation in this industry.

[SEZ213]

I'd start with the dealerships first. I understand they're privately owned, but if they aren't prepared to make a trip to Ford a positive experience for people, their dealership would be gone...after sales service is lacking, and it's really not that hard to fix. The rest of it will piece together...

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Just about agree with all the changes definetly bring back the fairmont fairlane and wagon. I think this Thread should be sent to ford Australia

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Where did you find these 'facts' on the back of a cereal box or from old wally down the pub.

You will find that 95% plus of people WILL live within 10 minutes or less of a service station and that the majority of car buyers WILL reside in the suburbs of capital cities.

So your made up facts could not be further from the truth...



Why would you need to carry a Jerry can in an FPV Are you saying you would not come across a servo in a 500km drive??? I think you are looking for problems where there are none.
Why would you pay extra for stripes and a plastic snake, when it cost the same as a standard FPV, but with more options and better resale??? You obviously don't really know much about these cars, and I did not know that Cobra's came with a plastic snake.
Jealousy is a curse I guess

Some of us do live in areas where a "city" car probably isn't the best choice. Our new G6E has the 19" wheels off the turbo fitted...they were on it when we bought it, otherwise there's no way we would have chosen them, given the roads we drive on out here. we're constantly paranoid of busting a tyre or wrecking a rim hitting the potholes or dropping off the edge of the road. Before you say I have nothing to worry about, a woman I work with had her brand new XR6 turbo with 19's off the road for a few weeks out here with two broken rims...not just flat tyres, one rim was cracked completely and the other bent...after hitting a decent pothole at 110kph just over the crest of a hill.
I may be speaking herasy, but when it comes to tyre time, we're going to be hunting around for a nice set of 17" or 18" wheels for it...style is one thing, but the harsh reality is that the roads aren't billiard-table smooth out here and 19's may not be the best choice for durability...

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Some of us do live in areas where a "city" car probably isn't the best choice. Our new G6E has the 19" wheels off the turbo fitted...they were on it when we bought it, otherwise there's no way we would have chosen them, given the roads we drive on out here. we're constantly paranoid of busting a tyre or wrecking a rim hitting the potholes or dropping off the edge of the road. Before you say I have nothing to worry about, a woman I work with had her brand new XR6 turbo with 19's off the road for a few weeks out here with two broken rims...not just flat tyres, one rim was cracked completely and the other bent...after hitting a decent pothole at 110kph just over the crest of a hill.
I may be speaking herasy, but when it comes to tyre time, we're going to be hunting around for a nice set of 17" or 18" wheels for it...style is one thing, but the harsh reality is that the roads aren't billiard-table smooth out here and 19's may not be the best choice for durability...

One thing that people find odd when the discover it is the way they have clay models, and sometimes full working mock-ups of future cars, maybe five years plus ahead. I've seen history articles of Holden and Ford showing mock-ups of cars six or seven years ahead of the actual build-time of that model.
The side by side comparison of something like a VN Commodore when the VC was being built was startling to say the least. One would wonder why the Big Man didn't take one look at it and say "Instead of tooling up for the next model, let's bite the bullet and skip the next three or four models and go straight to this one next and shock the hell out of the opposition by looking like we're years ahead of them?"