Would you buy a non Australian built Ford?

[Jim5_0]

There are other polls on this subject but I thought that I'd include some more realistic choices.

For instance some people have said that they would buy an imported Mustang of F series because they are a RWD Ford

Much as I dislike FWD cars I would buy an Aussie built front driver before I'd buy any imported vehicle.

However if Holden and Toyota pulled the pin I'd probably buy an AWD Subaru before I'd buy any FWD car.

One day the 4wd bubble will burst and we will then come to lament the Falcons passing into history.

I think that short term used Falcon values will plummet as the Valiant was worth virtually nothing in the 80's but good used Falcons will become a classic as Valiants now have become.

[casabonka]

I have a focus, so certainly not Aussie built. sad to see it go, but in years to come we will come to love something else with the blue oval on it.

[NX74205]

Yes, absolutely. A Ford is a Ford no matter where it's built.

[stevz]

No. I refuse to buy imported, full stop.

[DJM83]

Have done, onto my second German ford.

[krypto71]

Originally Posted by stevz

No. I refuse to buy imported, full stop.

At the moment you have the luxury and ability to stand by that statement.

[westy73]

Originally Posted by krypto71

At the moment you have the luxury and ability to stand by that statement.

Yes but it's his opinion and I also share it. I will be attempting to buy either a Territory and/or GT before production stops.
After that I will have to maintain my vehicles for as long as I can or until I die.
I too refuse to buy imported and prefer to stand by our Australian made brand. It seems too many of us have failed to buy Aussie-made and like to be so called brand snobs thinking imported is better just because it's imported.
Long live the Aussie I6 !!!

[Nikked]

Already have, MA Mondeo.

Great car!


Anyone who refuses to buy ford products anymore out of spite is a fool.

[Franco Cozzo]

Had one German Ford and one South African one (WS Fiesta and LV Focus).

I'm interested to see if we get Exploder and Taur*** as I quite like both

[Bucknaked]

Owned 3 imported fords in a row prior to the FG. Great cars. Would do it again if they had what I wanted at the time and in my price range.

[landau460]

R.I.P FORD Australian manufacturing June 1925 - oct 2016

[zagan]

For the large car ford are thinking of shipping the taurus out as the large car.

It's FWD (US gov don't believe people are able to handle a RWD car on the road properly so have forced companies to stop making RWD cars) with a 2ltr V4 or a 3.5ltr V6 and a 3.5ltr V6 with twin turbo.

Don't expect stupid amounts of power either
v6 twin = 288HP @ 6500 (87 octane)
v6 = 365HP @ 5500 Achieved with premium fuel (91 octane)
v4 = 240HP @ 5500 Achieved with premium fuel

You do have AWD but only on the upper class versions as an extra and no RWD at all.

costs here no idea but $27,000USD for the base model so V4, FWD.

So I highly doubt it'll be cheap here also there's no V8 model so this car can't be used in the V8 Supercars if anyone was wondering.

To be honest I think Ford have damaged their brand here and probably damaged their sales big time and for a long long time.

I only see this as a convenience to close the factories kill off the falcon completely, the ute is gone 100% as well and that can't be replaced by anything as nothing else exists, also the territory is gone as well but they are keeping the faceplate FordAu and falcon faceplate are wiped completely.

And FordAu are going to use the thailand free trade agreement, which saw 10,000 focus's get brought in from thailand a month yet they say they only exported 100 territories for the whole year back to thailand, so it wasn't worth trying to keep it or even bother to sell it anywhere.

Besides all the taxes etc which haven't been good for anyone and they all kick in properly next month for everyone in Australia. it's just an overall kick in the face really from FordUS, even with the talk of this always happening for the last 5 or so years you'd think they'd have at least kept something rather than just completely wipe everything and say here you'll have this from X country from now on deal with it if you don't like it or buy something else if you wish.

The US gov have nearly killed their own car industry with enforcing car companies do things a certain way even if the market doesn't like it.

And I was in a ford dealer today I don't think the mood is good overall in any dealer in fact the guy behind the desk was wearing a jap car brand as they have started selling that brand 6 months ago probably in case this happened.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by zagan

For the large car ford are thinking of shipping the taurus out as the large car.
.

No they aren't...


There is no replacement for the falcon as of yet.

[Jim5_0]

Originally Posted by zagan

US gov don't believe people are able to handle a RWD car on the road properly so have forced companies to stop making RWD cars
.

If that were true the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger would not exist neither would the 300C.

FWD means cheap to manufacture, slightly better fuel economy, potentially more interior space & nothing else.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Jim5_0

FWD means cheap to manufacture, slightly better fuel economy, potentially more interior space & nothing else.

Better in the snow too, apparently

[Bam]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Better in the snow too, apparently

Sort of. FWDs aren't prone to fishtail when they break traction, however they do it more easily when going up hill. I drove my 2.2 tonne RWD Cadillac quite happily in snow. Not a significant design consideration for Australia though unless you are pulling boats up ramps.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Jim5_0

FWD means cheap to manufacture, slightly better fuel economy, potentially more interior space & nothing else.

exactly what else does the average joe need

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Jim5_0

If that were true the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger would not exist neither would the 300C.

FWD means cheap to manufacture, slightly better fuel economy, potentially more interior space & nothing else.

Go drive a sorted FWD car.

I could conjure up something similar for cars that rear drive.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Go drive a sorted FWD car.

I could conjure up something similar for cars that rear drive.

haha Dallas.. i've been humping through the Gorge in Radelaide hills behind a Focus.. i was pushing around 7/10 got the feeling the little tacker was coasting about 4/10.....

i would slayed him in a skid comp though......

[jpd80]

Conflicting interests?
Ford still has gaping holes in its product line up in Australia while we are worried by
the reduction and future withdraw of two products that are slowly receding in volume.

By the time 2016 rolls around, the public may already have given its decision on Falcon and Territory anyway,
making Ford's decision academic. In that instance, Would it be that unacceptable for Ford to pursue
alternate global replacements for Falcon and Territory that provide similar coverage in terms of sales volume?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

i would slayed him in a skid comp though......

If I get to see your GT ripping a skid I'm happy

[Motorbreath310]

Originally Posted by zagan

So I highly doubt it'll be cheap here also there's no V8 model so this car can't be used in the V8 Supercars if anyone was wondering.

Awhaat? No V8? Screw that! Looks like I'll be ordering a RWD, VK56DE-powered Nissan Altima...

[burnz]

Australian built cars only..

[Polyal]

If we do buy new, which is unlikely but hey I am fair to everyone, then Ford with no Falcon becomes just another manufacturer and then its fair game.

[Bam]

Originally Posted by Jim5_0

However if Holden and Toyota pulled the pin....

It'd be smart of them to not do that given the reduced competition, like when Holden stopped making utes for a while and Ford carried on. Assuming that Holden stays in the game, I'll be switching to them. I don't accept that Australia can't have its own auto manufacturing industry.

[LG17]

Have an MA Mondeo (non), BF XR6 ute (local) and a mk1 GT Cortina (local) - Seriously considering a Ranger (non)

[falconnut]

well i started out with a cressida so i might just go back to jdm since yanks dont really send any of their decent rwd cars here.

[flooded one]

I'd probably wait too see what ford replacement would be for the falcon before I decide. (if they do). don't care if its front wheel drive or rear wheel drive either and ranger doesn't appeal too me look wise. they do the job thou and I have driven a few of them just don't like the looks. sorry for being honest. at this stage the answer is no. does it mean that my opinion might change?? of course not. I love my large sedans and utes and coupes. I know times are changing and everyone wants a small car and suv but they don't appeal too me. (exception is the territory). I buy cars I like (been brought up that way so you will look after the car) and the only ford offerings here I like at the moment is falcon and territory. oct 2016 is a long way yet and ford might have something else that appeals too me for sale here by then?? time will tell

[pauljh74]

I've gone to a Mazda 3 SP23 and there's a few things about my old EL XR6 that I prefer over the FWD Mazda. More power and weight tends to increase these negatives in FWD cars.

I picked the Mazda over the Focus and the main reason I downsized is that the suitability of smaller cars improved rather than the Falcon's dropping much. The Mazda uses much less fuel, still has a fair bit of punch and the need for the large sedan isn't there for just me 95% of the time. I have wondered if I should have gone for the larger Mazda 6 instead as I wouldn't pay to own anything smaller than the Mazda 3. But I would have needed to stretch the budget a few grand to get what I considered suitable in a Mazda 6.

I've owned Falcons over my first 19 years of driving, switching only last year.

[mike_nofx]

I've never been a Ford only fanatic.
I've owned as many Holdens as I have Fords, and will consider any brand if it suits my needs. (Have owned Fords, Holdens, Toyotas a Nissan and a Suzuki) All that attracts me to Ford is Falcon.

Also, I don't buy new. 3 years old seems to be the best value to me, so if Falcon is stopped in 2016 I can buy a '16 model in '19 keep it till its 10 years old then replace with whatever is available in 2026.

What to buy though in 2026.... Decisions, decisions.