Are the Lights still on at Ford Australia?

[Crazy Dazz]

I've spent the last 20+ years driving ubiquitous dual-cabs on minesites. Luxes, Mazdas, Rangers, Isuzus, Navarras, even drove a Great Wall once.
So for me I guess they're like hi-vis. They're a reliable workhorse, but will never be a fashion-statement.

I have no need of a truck, and personally I will never connect with one as my personal vehicle. So there's a reason I've stopped browsing my local Ford dealer.

Ok, there's always the Mustang, but come on $90k for a Ford?

Missus wanted a new car, and Daughter is currently in the market. And what does Ford have to offer??? SFA unless you want a Ranger.

I mean sure, it's been a decade since we made Fords locally, and I've had to accept that anything new will come from Thailand, or Mexico, or Bulgaria. But nope, they can't even do that right.

Ok, so the great cars Ford once made have all died in the **** and been replaced with generic SUVs. That's fine, that's what the Missus and Daughter wanted.
So where TF are they?
Where's the Focus, Puma, or Kuga?
Where's the Escape, Explorer, or Edge?

[kevino]

There’s still new Escapes round esp in Brisbane all be it 2022/2023 models
And also Puma demo s around.
The Gc Ford dealers forecourt is chocka with Ranger Everest Transit- I think the bubbles starting to burst for Ford Ute Australia

Q Ford Springwood Brisbane is the place for Escapes
Most dealers have 1/3 demo Puma s still at 29990 sort of price

[Sprintey]

Yep Dazz I can relate to having minesites colour my view of that vehicle class. Can still see the fine red dirt throughout their AC vents and all over everything inside

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by kevino

There’s still new Escapes round esp in Brisbane all be it 2022/2023 models
And also Puma demo s around.

Q Ford Springwood Brisbane is the place for Escapes
Most dealers have 1/3 demo Puma s still at 29990 sort of price

Couldn't find one in WA.
Ford loyalty aside, the Puma won a lot of awards, and I was keen to look at them. Ended up with Juke.

[kevino]

Yes I have a 2022 demo Puma / v good car
The Juke is same thing too three cyl compact dual clutch auto
How do you find the auto in the Juke?

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by kevino

How do you find the auto in the Juke?

Missus' car. The way she drives, who TF would know.

I worry that in the future with Autonomous Cars becoming Intelligent, she'll buy one and it will knock her out with the airbag and then throttle her with the seatbelt, just to stop the abuse.

[simon varley]

yup they've given up on the non-Ranger/Everest market. Even new Puma is only coming as an EV

the good news is that Kia/Hyundai/Mazda/VW make some outstanding cars so maybe time to lose the brand loyalty? Toyota still drive like rice puddings

[uranium_death]

Consumer: Do you offer anything anything aside from the Ranger and Everest?
Ford: We did, but they didn't sell
Consumer: Did you market them?
Ford:

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Consumer: Do you offer anything anything aside from the Ranger and Everest?
Ford: We did, but they didn't sell
Consumer: Did you market them?

Ford: No, we spent our whole marketing budget on developing the RM Williams pack for the Ranger.

Consumer: Hey remember when you guys developed a whole load of custom parts to graft all the E-series components into a X-series body, to create the XH?
Ford: Check out our new Murray River Salted Caramel air-freshener.

[Itsme]

Crazy Daz, I was in your position 4 months ago looking for a new replacement vehicle, Ford has squat choices of cars or suv's, my local ford dealer has even resorted to selling the Chinese Chery.
After buying ford vehicles for the last 25 years, I ended up purchasing Suburu Outback as my preferred choice vehicle from a good range of vehicles on offer from other car brands.
Shame Ford has gone down the path of offering limited choice of vehicles, many loyal customers are turning elsewhere.

[Adamz Ghia]

To be fair, Ford marketed the Puma heaps, and it still didn’t sell.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

To be fair, Ford marketed the Puma heaps, and it still didn’t sell.

If they marketed it on TV then there's the problem, they should have been giving 30-something female influencers drive cars.

Because no one under 40 watches TV unless MAFS is on

[naddis01]

Yet Ford last month had the highest selling sports car under $80k, large SUV under $80k, 4x4 ute and large pickup. As well as third highest selling 4x2 ute and medium van. They are up 12.6% year on year in a market that is up 6% and they are second only to Toyota both YTD and last month. Maybe they have some idea on what they are doing?

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Yet Ford last month had the highest selling sports car under $80k, large SUV under $80k, 4x4 ute and large pickup. As well as third highest selling 4x2 ute and medium van. They are up 12.6% year on year in a market that is up 6% and they are second only to Toyota both YTD and last month. Maybe they have some idea on what they are doing?

You are correct, niche Market, f*** the rest.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Maybe they have some idea on what they are doing?

Maybe you should learn to read?

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Maybe you should learn to read?

I can read fine thanks. Ford don't sell a car you or your family like any more. Wah, wah.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by naddis01

I can read fine thanks.

Oh, ok, so you're just Mentally Impaired. My apologies.

[kevino]

Marketing
Advertising
They are different animals
Advertising of Puma
Can’t remember seeing any

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by kevino

Advertising of Puma
Can’t remember seeing any

Exactly.
Anyone who thinks "Ford marketed the Puma heaps" has been smoking crack.

Ford Australia needed to put in the hard yards (and the Dollars) after screwing the country over with the PowerShit. And they just didn't.
Finally got their hands on the Puma, by most accounts a cracking little car, and did SFA with it.
Only ad I ever saw for a Puma was on Ford's own website.
Never saw one in the flesh.

Sadly, this has become an all too familiar story with Ford Australia.
Get a good product.
Don't market or stock it.
Complain that it doesn't sell and axe it.

And end of the day, they've become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They don't sell anything but Rangers, so I guess when the global bigwigs get together to discuss production, nobody but Rayong is much interested in the Australian Market. And the cycle perpetuates.

[chich]

We went looking for a replacement for our Territory and our local Ford dealership showed an Everest to the wife. She took one look, laughed then walked out of the place. Ended up going elsewhere & haven't looked back since. Looking to buy another car again and won't be stepping foot back into a Ford dealership.. I'm done.

90k for a tractor made in a third world country.. no thanks.

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by chich

90k for a tractor made in a third world country.. no thanks.

I wouldn't call the territory a tractor - not quite.

[chich]

Originally Posted by simon varley

I wouldn't call the territory a tractor - not quite.

Ok, how about we call it a donkey instead

[Honest Gaza]

Originally Posted by chich

...Ford dealership showed an Everest to the wife. She took one look, laughed then walked out of the place....

90k for a tractor made in a third world country.. no thanks.

In 2021 when we had to replace our FPV-GT with a 'Tow Vehicle' my Wife took the Everest for a test drive and was completely underwhelmed. Unfortunately, she was comparing the acceleration with the GT and I believe she was thinking too much about the features instead of just sitting back and experiencing the ride.

I convinced her to go back for a second test drive a few weeks later and the response was completely the opposite. She fell in love with it and we placed an order almost immediately. Now I can't get her out of it.

So if you are still in the market, ask your wife to keep an open mind and take a test drive. Surely, it has to be an improvement on the Territory.

[chich]

Originally Posted by Honest Gaza

In 2021 when we had to replace our FPV-GT with a 'Tow Vehicle' my Wife took the Everest for a test drive and was completely underwhelmed. Unfortunately, she was comparing the acceleration with the GT and I believe she was thinking too much about the features instead of just sitting back and experiencing the ride.

I convinced her to go back for a second test drive a few weeks later and the response was completely the opposite. She fell in love with it and we placed an order almost immediately. Now I can't get her out of it.

So if you are still in the market, ask your wife to keep an open mind and take a test drive. Surely, it has to be an improvement on the Territory.

There is absolutely nothing about the Everest that is appealing.. too big, too heavy, too slow, looks like a truck, diesel only fuel, poor fit & finish, too expensive, etc, etc. I've driven my fair share of both newer & older Everests to know its not for us. Handing over 90k on top of it all would just be insulting..

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by chich

There is absolutely nothing about the Everest that is appealing.. too big, too heavy, too slow, looks like a truck, diesel only fuel, poor fit & finish, too expensive, etc, etc. I've driven my fair share of both newer & older Everests to know its not for us. Handing over 90k on top of it all would just be insulting..

I liked the Everest but will agree with you on the diesel fuel only and high price, decided to hang on the old ranger (low K's) and go for a smaller more refined vehicle that does not run on diesel.
Geez I hate to imagine the price of the PHEV Ranger & possible Everest when they come on the market.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by chich

There is absolutely nothing about the Everest that is appealing.. too big, too heavy, too slow, looks like a truck, diesel only fuel, poor fit & finish, too expensive, etc, etc. I've driven my fair share of both newer & older Everests to know its not for us. Handing over 90k on top of it all would just be insulting..

My fiance has a 2024 Everest Sport V6 and she loves it. Came out of a 2021 CX5 Mazda and reckons there is no comparison.

Each to their own.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Honest Gaza

In 2021 when we had to replace our FPV-GT with a 'Tow Vehicle' my Wife took the Everest for a test drive and was completely underwhelmed. Unfortunately, she was comparing the acceleration with the GT and I believe she was thinking too much about the features instead of just sitting back and experiencing the ride.

I convinced her to go back for a second test drive a few weeks later and the response was completely the opposite. She fell in love with it and we placed an order almost immediately. Now I can't get her out of it.

So if you are still in the market, ask your wife to keep an open mind and take a test drive. Surely, it has to be an improvement on the Territory.

The new Everest is a great car, but it's better than a Territory in powertrain/towing and extra tech.....for driving dynamics and comfort it's not...now if the tech could be reversed engineered and the powertrain dropped into the Terry engine bay...it would make it one of the best SUV's on the road once again...I think they would have named it SZIII (or TA ) or whatever the new model might have been named if a program was instigated.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by chich

We went looking for a replacement for our Territory and our local Ford dealership showed an Everest to the wife. She took one look, laughed then walked out of the place. Ended up going elsewhere & haven't looked back since. Looking to buy another car again and won't be stepping foot back into a Ford dealership.. I'm done.

90k for a tractor made in a third world country.. no thanks.

It's pretty mad they spent 30 years engineering out things like live axles, drum brakes and separate chassis, Peter Wherret is spinning in his grave.

Originally Posted by Itsme

Crazy Daz, I was in your position 4 months ago looking for a new replacement vehicle, Ford has squat choices of cars or suv's, my local ford dealer has even resorted to selling the Chinese Chery.
After buying ford vehicles for the last 25 years, I ended up purchasing Suburu Outback as my preferred choice vehicle from a good range of vehicles on offer from other car brands.
Shame Ford has gone down the path of offering limited choice of vehicles, many loyal customers are turning elsewhere.

Good choice.

[SapperAstro]

Originally Posted by chich

We went looking for a replacement for our Territory and our local Ford dealership showed an Everest to the wife. She took one look, laughed then walked out of the place. Ended up going elsewhere & haven't looked back since. Looking to buy another car again and won't be stepping foot back into a Ford dealership.. I'm done. 90k for a tractor made in a third world country.. no thanks.

We are in the same boat here. The Territory seems irreplaceable, even the opposition vehicles don't have the same power, luggage space, ride and so on. Unless you spend an absolute fortune on some CX90 or something...

[chich]

Originally Posted by SapperAstro

We are in the same boat here. The Territory seems irreplaceable, even the opposition vehicles don't have the same power, luggage space, ride and so on. Unless you spend an absolute fortune on some CX90 or something...

Yeah I think you're right.. the Territory was right on the sweet spot when it comes to value for money. Even Hyundai are asking mid-60s for anything close to a Terra.

I drove the CX60 phev & petrol versions late last year and was pretty underwhelmed. Hard suspension, sounded pretty average (surprised given it's a generated sound..), clucked badly in reverse, and let's be honest isn't the most pritiest thing to look at. The Phev version was just over 100k for the Azami spec. Apparently they've revised the suspension & trans calibration now, but the train has left the station for us now so i wouldn't consider one again. Then there's trying to sleep at night knowing you've dropped 105k on a Mazda when you could've bought European for just a little more..