Alright ford, a rose by any other name smells as sweet, bring back the fairmont/ghia

[ST]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

So do you know the sales split in comparison to Futura, Fairmont, Fairmont Ghia vs. G6 / G6E / G6ET or are you dribbling??

Same thing I was asking continuously in the first 2 pages, it seems evasion is his answer.

The only people who seem to be against the G6/G6E/G6ET are a handful on here who can't let go of an outdated name. For the 50th time; there is no evidence to suggest changing the name of the Fairmont has had a negative impact at all. Until somebody actually points out otherwise with facts/evidence/statistics you are .

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Brazen

The only rubbish being spouted is the idea that the naming convention has been a success. Its failed. People still dont know what the G6E is, .

no wonder mitsibihi failed. they changed magna to 380. ahhh, it all makes sense now!

seriously brazen, you need a few of these

you can't see the wood for the trees and you always have all the answers as to why falcon isn't selling, and you seem to fail to see or accept the whole large car segment is down.

[ST]

You didn't happen to look at sales comparisons with the Fairmont in the B-series did you? It was much the same, in fact it was even worse.

Nameplate recognition is not the issue. Do you honestly think by throwing FAIRMONT back on these cars twice as many will move out the door?

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by ST

You didn't happen to look at sales comparisons with the Fairmont in the B-series did you? It was much the same, in fact it was even worse.

Nameplate recognition is not the issue. Do you honestly think by throwing FAIRMONT back on these cars twice as many will move out the door?

I seriously think many G6 and G6E buyers are/were XR6 buyers. I think in the process of removing the Fairmont name and 'sportying' up the G models, all they have done was gone after the buyer which would have traditionally bought an XR6, but in the process have alienated traditional Fairmont buyers, conservative car shoppers and non-car enthusiasts who buy recognised names. Just a gut feeling... Its like Ford brought out variants which compete with itself.

[MITCHAY]

I dunno green man. I think the FG has it all over the BA. I have never heard or seen a BA Fairmont that sounds or moves as good as the G6ET not even close

[NCF302]

i liked the fairmont ghia name. g6 and g6e arent that bad. the car buyer will know they are more up market than the falcon and they will know what models what.

just remember, the fairmont ghia name still sort of lives on. the fg is called the fg because is stands for fairmont ghia!

[XR8putts]

I'm sorry guys, nothing says middle-age balding fathers of three like Fairmont.

G6 / G6E / G6E-T is a winner.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by puts99

I'm sorry guys, nothing says middle-age balding fathers of three like Fairmont.

They said the same thing about the Ford Taurus, actually they said even worse as it hadnt changed for 12 years and was basically sold dirt-cheap to rental companies....

So what did they do? In 2005 they brought out the new Ford 500 to replace the Taurus... it tanked as no-one knew what a 500 was. Two years later it was rebadged the Ford Taurus.

As much as I prefer G6, most car companies would KILL for nameplate recognition of Fairmont and Ghia. Nissan Australia was forced to replace the Pulsar name with Tiida, they reckon it costs them 5000 sales a year. The next Tiida will be renamed Pulsar solely for the Australian market.

[FalconXR6]

i would like to hear from somebody, anybody, who refused to buy a g6e because it wasn't called fairmont ghia...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

i would like to hear from somebody, anybody, who refused to buy a g6e because it wasn't called fairmont ghia...

Thats the point, a Ford enthusiast or motor enthusiast would still buy a Fg Fairmont Ghia Turbo. Its the non-enthusiast, not FordForum follower which is the point, they dont know or care about the G6E. So you have lost sales without gaining them elsewhere (maybe a few XR6 buyers would prefer G6 but they would of bought a Falcon anyway)

If they renamed Calais to Commodore G6, you would see a drop in sales. A big drop.

Can you believe only a few years ago Japan wanted the new Corolla to be called Auris. Toyota Australia thought that small move cost them 20,000 sales over 3 years... It didnt happen, but the change went ahead in other world markers.

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by puts99

I'm sorry guys, nothing says middle-age balding fathers of three like Fairmont.

G6 / G6E / G6E-T is a winner.

Hey!! I resemble,er, resent that....

[ST]

If you're a Fairmont buyer the name change will be obvious and you'd get one regardless. If you're conservative/non-enthusiast a badge means nothing, you look at the price tag and features.

They haven't alienated anyone with this and have definitely added a more prestigious and upmarket feel with the new badging (complementing the styling of course).

[Mansal]

Having one of each (BA Fairmont Ghia V8, FG G6ET 50anniv.) I say the name change goes really well with the updated styling of the vehicle (more contemporary, 'luxury sports' look n feel).

As for the 'Ghia' nameplate - gotta remember where that came from - in the 50s and 60's Italian motor designer house - Carrozzeria Ghia - designed specialist cars for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Chrysler, Volvo, Volkswagon and Ford. The company then became 'Ghia Design' and eventually got sold to Ford in the 70s. The nameplate became a mainstay for top-trim level Ford models in Europe, US, Sth America and Australia.

In 2010 Ford retired the Ghia nameplate in favor of 'Titanium' to identify the new range of top-trim vehicles, and we're going to see Aussie built Fords take on that nameplate starting with the Territory.

..in short, the Ghia nameplate - like 'Pinafarina' (Focus Cabriolet, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and others) have a time and place, and clearly now it's the time of the Titanium!

Wikipedia
Ghia Logos

[TUF_302]

When I think of fairmont Ghia I think of an xf or and xd or an el, older falcons which suited the fairmont and ghia names, the fg suits well with g6 and so forth, I believe ford ended the fairmont ghia at the right time, the g6 sounds new, fresh and modern, why drag it back into the 90s and 80s

[ST]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Thats the point, a Ford enthusiast or motor enthusiast would still buy a Fg Fairmont Ghia Turbo. Its the non-enthusiast, not FordForum follower which is the point, they dont know or care about the G6E. So you have lost sales without gaining them elsewhere (maybe a few XR6 buyers would prefer G6 but they would of bought a Falcon anyway)

You keep saying this but the problem is that there isn't any evidence to support it whatsoever. Yes Falcon sales are down overall, but that is due to a rapidly changing marketplace with different demands. The G-series easily sell as well in comparison to the rest of the range (if not better) as the B-series Fairmont models they replaced.

The demographic you are referring to doesn't even know what a Fairmont is, it's a name (Fairmont) within a name (Falcon). Yes it isn't badged a Falcon but it most certainly is and people (especially 'casual' buyers) will classify it as such.

[csv8]

Take Nissans example, they changed Pulsar to Tiida and sales have collapsed. Next model, Pulsar is back.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by csv8

Take Nissans example, they changed Pulsar to Tiida and sales have collapsed. Next model, Pulsar is back.

Toyota changed Echo to Yaris and its still going gun ho.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Toyota changed Echo to Yaris and its still going gun ho.

Echo wasnt an established name in the market. Also Toyota backs this up with extensive positioning advertising. Its a very expensive exercise, Toyota Australia didnt want to change the name but was forced to. They got to keep Corolla because Toyota US also kicked up a stink.

[RAPID_BA]

Ford tried the t series, good cars but only sold a handful, then the gt name is back and bada bing.

Fairmont name is older than gt isnt it?

Why dont they ignore the gt and call it the fpv force 8? Oh they tried that, tail between legs and call it gt-e.

Fairmont will be back, mark my words.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Ford tried the t series, good cars but only sold a handful, then the gt name is back and bada bing.

Fairmont name is older than gt isnt it?

Why dont they ignore the gt and call it the fpv force 8? Oh they tried that, tail between legs and call it gt-e.

Fairmont will be back, mark my words.

It will be interesting to see what this new CEO does (RTV please).


But seriously, if Taurus, the most hated and loathed name in modern vehicles in the US can return, then anything is possible.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by csv8

Take Nissans example, they changed Pulsar to Tiida and sales have collapsed. Next model, Pulsar is back.

I think that has more to do with the car itself regardless of the badge. The N14/15 Pulsar SSS was a much better car.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by csv8

Take Nissans example, they changed Pulsar to Tiida and sales have collapsed. Next model, Pulsar is back.

No, sales collapsed because the Tiida is an ugly piece of crap.

[ST]

You can use a million examples from other car manufacturers but they are all irrelevant. The simple fact is the G-series nameplate has been out for years and the impact it has had is negligible, if not slightly positive since Ford are modernising and responding to trends in the marketplace.

[dannyhilton]

I wonder if Ford will keep the G6 name as the Titanium name spreads into the Territory, and now features on the new US Focus. As part of 'One Ford' do all high series models have to wear the Titanium badge?

[Brazen]

well maybe im in the minority, but the name Fairmont is known and therefore worth millions. The most coverted measure of a marketers job is brand recognition, brand recognition is everything in getting sales.

Look at the previous model Kia Sportage and Optima, two of the worst cars on the market yet not even they changed their names with the release of the two critically acclaimed new models, Sportage has a 6 month waiting list, Optima is expected to be up to 12 months.

Heck I remember in the 90s, the Calais name was starting to get very very daggy, especially against the Tickford modified Fairmont Ghias. Holden didnt chicken-out and throw out a recognised name, they simply brought out better and better product. Now every second executive lease vehicle seems to be a Calais.

People talk about targeting the younger demographic, who is this mysterious younger person buying 1.8 tonne family cars? oh right, either they dont exist or they are already buying an XR6. Whats wrong with going after tradtional buyers and broadening Falcons appeal a bit, after all Australia has an ageing population - so its a growth market!

I think dismal FG sales also suggest something isnt clicking..

Personally I would of had the G6 the Fairmont, and the G6E the Fairmont Ghia, with the G6ET as the Fairmont Ghia Turbo. I dont prefer the Fairmont names, but they would be selling more than now, maybe a few thousand a year extra. But motoring enthusiasts who know cars inside out would not think that, you got to think like the other 90% of the population.

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Well maybe im in the minority, but the name Fairmont is known and therefore worth millions. The most coverted measure of a marketers job is brand recognition, brand recognition is everything in getting sales.

You raise some bloody good points in your argument. But I'm sure you'll agree that while brand recognition is important, it has to to be right kind of recognition. If many potential clients knew the name, but associated it with a grandpa car used for carrying gold clubs, then it's not really worth all that much is it?

There is no doubt that the Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia brand was well known, and even more so very well respected. But then on the flip side, was is associated with a positive image or something that turns potential customers away? Ford would have done extensive research into the name change before committing to it, and they've made it clear the name was associated with an older generation.

Has it worked? Sales wise, no one can say as the large car market, especially for the Falcon, is vastly different now as volumes decrease. Did it work in attracting people turned off by the Fairmont brand, and did it attract a younger audience? To be honest, I don't think so. And brand perception is worthless when no one is buying the product.

[Windsor220]

Fairmont and Fairlane were seen as Grandpa cars. Holden has even got rid of the Statesman name for the same reason. G6 is much better. Brings it into the 21st century and I've even heard a few young people talk about them for once. Never would of had that with the Fairmont.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Never would of had that with the Fairmont.

Obviously too young to know......

[Ryan]

I like the G Series nameplate. As a few people have said it's more modern, and puts a fresh spin on things.

I wonder if Holden will ever consider dropping the "Calais" name? Although I don't think Calais has that same "grandpa" image as Fairmont did.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Obviously too young to know......

Well yeah if your talking about back in the 70s. Since Ive been old enough to be interested in cars(mid 90s onwards) the Fairmont has always had an "old mans" image. Things have changed since 40 years ago.