Hypothetical episode IV (a new hope)

[flappist]

These hypotheticals seem to be quite popular with lots of members showing strong opinions about these fictional situations.

So here is another one.

Ford USA are in even deeper poo. To bail themselves out they decide to sell Ford Australia outright.
Ford Oz is a major employer here so the feds must allow the sale to take place.
Comrade Chairman Kev Tse-Tung due to his rampant cinophillia decides to allow it to be sold it to a Chinese manufacturer on the guarantee that the local cars are still manufactured in Australia and they are similar to the current style and quality and employ Australians.

The Chinese company agrees as it like the Falcon design and wants to convert it to left hand drive for sale into China. The LHD ones will be made over there but the design will be done here.

They insist however that now it is their company the new Ford Falcon will be called the "People's Car Huntingbird". FPV will be PCPV etc etc.

So the nett result is the cars look the same, go the same (probably cost less ), the same people or more are employed but the marque is lost forever.

Would you buy one?

[gtfpv]

i ticked opt #3

[Fev]

better build quality?

[XR6_190]

Providing it is the same as the Falcon as we know it, I would probably carry on the same way I currently do, buy a 2 or 3 year old one every few years. That said though, I would hold grave reservations for future models, even if they are still designed here, there would no doubt be some form of influence from their Chinese parents (in the same way that Ford Australia currently is influenced by their American parents), and I don't know if the Chinese influence translates to a good thing to me yet.

[Fev]

maybe they'll do a jap trick.

eg: Build a new Escort, RWD/4WD front engined and "cap" the official power level at 225kw's - when its really about 260kw+ hehe

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Fev

maybe they'll do a jap trick.

eg: Build a new Escort, RWD/4WD front engined and "cap" the official power level at 225kw's - when its really about 260kw+ hehe

Nope, no Escort. Only the falcon that same as what is made here at the moment.

[Fev]

hypothetically - we can always dream

[SM1DY]

Built it in Australia and I'll buy, if not and that means going to the dark side, so be it!!!!

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by flappist

So the nett result is the cars look the same, go the same (probably cost less ), the same people or more are employed but the marque is lost forever.

Would you buy one?

Voted option 3, based upon this thin material, look the same, go the same.

[vztrt]

lol Flappist that other poll has given you new strength!!

Option 3 as long as its the same car, the profit will go from the US to China. Nothing different really except were supporting the commies instead of born again Christians.

[TZENU]

Assuming that all design (including safety ratings) and manufacturing remained in the country and it still retains the key ingrediants, i'd say i might be inclined to purchase the "People's Car Huntingbird"..
But losing the marque altogether??? Kind of makes you think twice..... Ford Aus stands for alot more than just a Car company!... Above all, its got heritage especially in this country ......

Voted for the safe option. No 3

[irlewy86]

Probably not, if it would happen the Chinese would want all the purchased parts ex China and the car would quickly become a CKD and no different to a Cherry anyway.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by TZENU

Above all, its got heritage especially in this country ......

Getting close on 90 years in Australia. They are the longest remaining, continuously sold car brand in Australia, and have been manufacturing here since 1925. Still think Holden is more Australian?

I'd have to think twice. I really don't want to give my money to the Chinese (but I do on many occasions, because I have to), but for a car, I'd have to sit down and look at all the other options. Ford Australia are controlled at an arms length, and are really lucky that Ford USA only have a passing interest in them. If Ford Australia were controlled closely, Falcon wouldn't be here, neither would Ford Manufacturing. The only way I would buy a Chinese Falcon is if Ford Australia were left to their own devices, and were able to make Falcon on their own, with little input from others.

I don't care what anybody says, Ford Australia is the Falcon Motor Company of Australia.

[Scott]

If it looked, smelt, felt and tasted just like Ford Australia, then yes. If I sniffed jobs going O/S (including from the parts suppliers etc), I would look closely at other Australian manufactured brands ahead of O/S ones.

edit - Hypothetically, have you been engaged by a Chinese company to quantify the interest in a Chinese owned, Australian made, Falcon smelling Huntingbird that may have an XR8 (GT'esque) version that will sell like hotcakes because they know that the Government is about to remove all the taxes and levies on locally produced cars?

[HSV587]

Personally,my view would stay the same as it is now.....buy another HSV....

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by HSV587

Personally,my view would stay the same as it is now.....buy another HSV....

In reality with the situation at GM and the Chinese love affair with "iconic" Australian brands, HSV would be more likely to suffer this fate

[flappist]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

In reality with the situation at GM and the Chinese love affair with "iconic" Australian brands, HSV would be more likely to suffer this fate

No the chinese still shoot "alternative lifestylers"........

[Airmon]

Nope. Similar to Fords recent renaming of models, sure they're the same thing as the old one, with a new name, but I still miss the old name.

I'd go an SS over a Peoples V8

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by flappist

No the chinese still shoot "alternative lifestylers"........

hahahahahah subtle yet effective.

[sfr rob]

UNLESS I got a free bag of "Prawn Cracker" with my purchase, I'd be buying "Holden" products, providing they are still made here.

Whoops, selected 1 instead of 3....... :

[LowEL2XR8]

I take it flappist your a Star Wars nut or something?

[Iggypoppin']

just loves the hypotheticals couple with star wars movie titles. I'd never buy asian brand cars(nissan and toyota are exceptions to this) and i could never be loyal to something that isn't what ive come to love. on the outset it would probably look all good. same basic shape, motors, g'box's. but over time we'd notice the chinese touch. and it would slowly become more of a chinese junk than an aussie icon. note: chinese junk is a flimsy wooden ship used in china :hihi:

[flappist]

Originally Posted by LowEL2XR8

I take it flappist your a Star Wars nut or something?

No not really. It was the 4th hypothetical and just wrote hypothetical 4, then episode 4, then remembered the title of the original star wars movie so I plagiarised it. It also fitted in with the second one "empire strikes back".

Much less boring that the usual titling that appears on here......

I suppose I could have called it "hypothetical china syndrome" or "herro herro, you wanna buy copy car, velly cheap, best qually" (if you have not been to china you may not get that one)........

[Scott]

Originally Posted by flappist

"herro herro, you wanna buy copy car,

[OZQUAD44]

option 3 for me.

I'd have too say I'm a Ford Australia fan as apposed to being a purely Ford fan. As far as yank, or pomy fords are concerned. Apart from the Stangs and other assorted sixties icons, you can pretty much have em! (I would also like a new Stang, and a Ford GT, but they're modeled off sixties icons so they don't really coun't).

So for me it doesn't really matter who ultimately owns FoMoCo Aust. Just as long as the Falcon remains largely Aussie designed, tested, and built. I'll be lining up for one. RWD that is!

P.S. Flappist. Next time your off in HYPOTHETICAL LA LA LAND. How about you get them to call it the Phoenix (you know, rose from the ashes) instead of a Hunting Bird. A Hunting Bird? C'mon

[mrbaxr6t]

sorry but I think the govt will give them 2359872358962389632$ just so they keep going as they are - Mitsubishi anybody?

And my word they do seem to copy everything, why not a falcon, they can already churn out the bits - anybody noticed?

[vanman_75]

no i will keep my slow ugly sundowner thanks ,we better start supporting our own economy more ,they own half the place as it is.

[Bearman]

Option 2 for me. The Huntingbird would be just another car on the market to be considered with all the other brands instead of being the preferred choice as a Ford.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

P.S. Flappist. Next time your off in HYPOTHETICAL LA LA LAND. How about you get them to call it the Phoenix (you know, rose from the ashes) instead of a Hunting Bird. A Hunting Bird? C'mon

"Hunting bird" is the closest thing I could find in Mandarin for the word "Falcon"

[timmo]

if the People's Car had an emblem of The Rock, then I would consider it...