Ford market share to drop to 4%

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

Please don't become a Holden fan. Holden can't afford your kind of support.

Huh? Having confidence in a brand and hence, supporting that brand by purchasing despite others constantly bagging the crap out of them? Not following ........

[AU1XLS]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

Please don't become a Holden fan. Holden can't afford your kind of support.

Please enlighten us on what point your trying to make

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

My first brand new car was a XF ...... had every model since up to the FG (2) and another Terry a few weeks ago. I don't know how many exactly ..... around 30 I think? Now ...... the reason I buy? BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY and AFTER SALES SERVICE.

I would have no issue buying a Falcon if I had the need for a large sedan - I have had a soft spot for F6 and G6ET for a while now!

That said, I would mentally prepare myself for more 'issues' than I have been used to driving Japanese cars.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

Commodore is heading the same way, albeit far slower as the fact is they are in a far stronger position.

As for market share dropping its a real possibility. As mentioned above, I have heard a few people mention they thought Ford was pulling out altogether. I think FoA needs a good brand building campaign across TV/newspapers as we get towards 2016.

Meanwhile, advertising for Fiesta etc is strong, which should help.

If Ford have to rely on their sales and marketing team to inform people that they will still be selling cars after 2016, then they are screwed. They couldn't promote free beers to thirsty blokes after Friday knockoff.

Originally Posted by Rodge

Yeap, sad reality is large cars have been in serious decline for years. Last statistic I saw was large cars only represent 8% of all vehicle sales and they're falling fast every year.

Its actually only 3.7% and still falling. Holden are kidding themselves if they think the VF will fire. Large car market is dead.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

Really ...... I thought it was the Australian people that gave Ford the middle finger and didn't buy new Falcons?

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If Ford have to rely on their sales and marketing team to inform people that they will still be selling cars after 2016, then they are screwed. They couldn't promote free beers to thirsty blokes after Friday knockoff.

Touche.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by prydey

so, falcon and commodore (as we know them) are being discontinued at the same time and yet the market isn't a factor? how is it that 2 products that sold side by side can finish at approximately the same time, and yet one is to blame and the other not? mystery.

A comment like this really ****** me off, especially coming from one of the biggest Ford defenders on here!!!

We as Ford fans did not like anyone calling the end to Falcon until Ford said so. So why are you now calling the end to the Commodore when Holden has not said so? Please, lose the double standards!!

[prydey]

obviously i mix with the wrong crowd. i don't have many car enthusiast friends or colleagues or associates, and yet not one of them think that ford are pulling out of australia. none of them care too much about loss of falcon either but they could all discern the difference between falcon ending and ford as a brand staying.

the extremist views on here are always the same. poor service is rife, quality is poor, etc etc.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

A comment like this really ****** me off, especially coming from one of the biggest Ford defenders on here!!!

We as Ford fans did not like anyone calling the end to Falcon until Ford said so. So why are you now calling the end to the Commodore when Holden has not said so? Please, lose the double standards!!

holden have said so. they announced the nameplate would likely carry on, which is why i said 'as we know them'.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by prydey

holden have said so. they announced the nameplate would likely carry on, which is why i said 'as we know them'.

Holden managing director Mike Devereux – speaking at a hastily held press conference in southern New South Wales, where the company is launching its new VF Commodore – remained upbeat about Australia’s car-making industry in light of Ford’s shock decision.

“Despite Ford’s announcement to end local manufacturing we believe the industry can survive in Australia and has already adjusted in large part given Ford’s relatively low production volumes,” he said.

“Holden set out a 10-year manufacturing plan that was agreed with the Australian government in 2012 based on economic and market conditions at that time.

“That plan would see Holden inject $1 billion in this country and secure production of two all-new global vehicles all the way up to 2022.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

“That plan would see Holden inject $1 billion in this country and secure production of two all-new global vehicles all the way up to 2022.

so basically, like prydey said, the commode dore is gone - as we know it anyway

a front wheel drive car can be called anything they like, but it sure as hell ain't a commode dore

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

So the decisions to decontent the cars, not seek export markets, repeatedly ignore problems with the dealer network, appoint useless yank executives to run the place and fail to issue proper recalls when needed were the public's fault?

Thats before we talk about marketing, the save a dollar today, loose five tomorrow corporate thinking at Ford Australia and the complete shambles that was and still is their marketing and customer relationship side of the business.

I had no idea the market was to blame for all of that.

Are you saying that your list of issues lead to the downfall of the FALCON in Australia?

In my view, It's a number of reasons and the only one in your list that MAY have saved FALCON is exports but I doubt it. Commodore will follow Falcon in 2016 and they do have an export market.

Facts are, Aust is too small a market to support unique cars nowadays, there are more models/brands on the market than ever, large cars have been replaced by SUV's and its too expensive to build in Aus now. That's not Fords fault and it can't really be blamed on the public, they are spoilt for choice and will buy what they like, nothing wro ng with that.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

That said, I would mentally prepare myself for more 'issues' than I have been used to driving Japanese cars.

To have this perception of the Falcon or any Ford for that matter is sad. I don't know where it comes from really. Ignorance? I don't know. Same as I don't know why some are members of a Ford based Forum. Just to continually bag or whinge? Is it really that much fun to continually lay the boots on a product that people have a choice to buy, own and drive? Who forces some to keep their Fords and log in everyday?

[Lotte]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

To have this perception of the Falcon or any Ford for that matter is sad. I don't know where it comes from really. Ignorance? I don't know. Same as I don't know why some are members of a Ford based Forum. Just to continually bag or whinge? Is it really that much fun to continually lay the boots on a product that people have a choice to buy, own and drive? Who forces some to keep their Fords and log in everyday?

This.

My BF Egas has given me zero problems in over the two years I've had it, besides the cluster not being plugged in properly (and the dealer not picking up on that or fixing it when I rang them the afternoon I picked it up). It should. Toki needs a gas service something shocking. And I just don't have the time, or the money right now to do it. My old Toyota however.....

I just seriously don't understand the whole "falcons are crap" thing people seem to have. And we wonder why they weren't selling and now Ford is shipping out and only importing to us?

As for the dealer service melarkey people complain about, has anyone actually taken it higher? I don't have to deal with it at the end of the day, I've had one bad dealer issue, but since my other half is a mechanic, and I'm mechanically minded, I couldn't care less, since the issue was a "four screws, pull the cluster out, put the plug in properly, fixed!" issue.
Or maybe I'm just one of those people who'll deal with whoever I have to, to buy/obtain/receive what I want. Because when it boils down to it, I'll still buy it, but you treat me like **** during a sale, and I'll walk all over you and make sure you know why. Who knows.

[Auslandau]

Thread is done. Some great negative posts once again. Unfortunately it seems that any post that has the word Ford in it these days gets turned into a 'Ford is crap' theme by the same few.