Officially upset at Ford Australia - but we're now friends again

[Thunder]

To cut a long story short, I am looking to replace my current SUV. The best alternative is the Ford Territory, unfortunately I don’t want to “settle” for it, but I would like to enjoy the purchase.

I said “settle” because, compared to my current ride, both the Territories engines are significantly less powered and the Territory is down on standard features and options. However I will ignore this for the sake of BUYING AUSTRALIAN! I also mean “settle” as I really want a Sports SUV (like the old Territory Turbo) and I am willing to pay cash, but nothing in the Territory range is available.

I have contacted Ford Head Office and whinged with the following issues:
1, If (as has been stated by ford) the SUV segment is stronger than the large RWD sedan segment, why is it that the Falcon’s range has the choice of,

A) 4 cylinder Petrol Turbo
B) 6 cylinder Petrol
C) 6 cylinder Petrol Turbo XR Spec
D) 6 cylinder Petrol Turbo F6 Spec
E) 6 cylinder LPG
F) 8 cylinder Supercharged GS spec
G) 8 cylinder Supercharged GT spec

…and yet the Territory only has 2 engines?

2, If the SUV segment is stronger than the large RWD sedan segment, why is the Territory AWD only available in 1 engine choice?

3, If the SUV segment is stronger than the large RWD sedan segment, why is the Falcon available in more body colours than the Territory?????? I am not old, not chained to a woman, have no ankle biters (all said as a joke) and yet I want a Territory! Surely they can give me a colour choice better than Black, White, Brown, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Real-Light Brown and Burgundy???????


ANYHOW: i will "settle" for the Territory Titanium but I want a Territory in SWIFT or MARS RED.......not ready to die yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all.

[TheZHLANE]

Buy a 2nd hand terri turbo

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by Nikked

image


So, you don't want to settle, but are happy to ignore...whinge to Ford and think a forum is going to get you the car you want?

Isnt that what everyone else does?

My point was why the bigger choice on Falcon and less on Territory? I buy new cars regularily, just last year a G6e, i am a genuine customer, not just a bored keyboard cowboy.

[|Nate]

If you can pay cash, just go buy this and leave Ford alone!

Most of the people that do purchase large sized SUVs use them for putting around the city, suburbia or cruise on the highways. If the 147kw and 4xx (?)nm of the diesel Terry isn't enough for you, then go Euro or a used Terry Turbo.

[Nikked]

Well...

TX
TS
Titanuim

and

TX limited edition

All with the choice of AWD and Diesel.

Thats 16 different combinations, with a colour range dictated by trends in sales...most SUVs are in dark or light silvers...

[flappist]

I suspect the reason why the Territory is so restricted in engines is that the ones that you wish to buy, i.e. I6T, was a rather dismal failure as far as sales were concerned so it was not worth certifying it in later models.

If any model or variation is no longer popular and fails to sell in enough numbers then it suffers the same fate as LTD, Fairlane, Panelvan, XR8, manual Fairmont/G6, F6X, RTV etc.

If you really want a powerful SUV there are quite a number around but your budget will have to be a lot higher.

[mcnews]

I hear your pain. unfortunately if he went sh terri turbo he has BA engine. Latest Territory with FG xr6t donk would be great, and yes there is that much difference in the fg engine in regards to drive/economy/power/torque everything is miles better. New terri deserves fg turbo engine. i would buy one. in every other way apart from engine, dynamically the terri miles ahead of the competition, including 100k+ euros. the engines are their major failing.

[Falcman0o7]

Nikked....

Telling em how it is since 2007 hahahah

[Joe5619]

The only point I'll agree with you on is the color selects. Why all of the Falcon colors aren’t available in Territory is wrong. Especially when you consider this what cost NIL to fix.

[Auslandau]

I would say its because they have done the figures and found that a massive percentage bought what is now on offer and when Turbos, FPV variants were available they sold bugger all?

Compared to all the other competitors in that market I would think that they have it fairly right. Very hard these days to have all sorts of variations just to cater to that few percent and keep the price competitive.

[Peuty]

That's pretty much it. The regular Territory owner only cares about whether they can get to soccer practice in time on a Saturday, not whether you can get a hi-po engine etc etc.

The relatively poor sales of the Turbo Territory and F6X confirms this.

[mcnews]

do you own one? owned one? considered owning one?

[Peuty]

Sorry?

[Kable72]

The territory wasn't supposed to be a performance vehicle. It was designed as an Australian SUV to do your shopping, take your kids to school and sports practice, visit your mother etc.

If you want an Australian performance car, go buy an SS or an XR6T/FPV

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

The only point I'll agree with you on is the color selects. Why all of the Falcon colors aren’t available in Territory is wrong. Especially when you consider this what cost NIL to fix.

I woudn't say its costs nothing to add a new colour...

[Nikked]

Not all territorys are shopping rigs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvrqRNeNWyw

[mcnews]

The Territory in fact drives incredibly well, and as I mentioned before, dynamically, it even makes 100k Euros feel bad. And on bumpy Australian back road, it rides better than Falcon too until you start to push much harder than prudent. They really are a great car, but the current engines are behind the times.

[JG34JA]

Quite a few non-Territory owners schooling you in Territory I suspect.

I hear what you are saying - I've wondered myself at lack of variants. How hard would an XR6 be? Ours has black interior and 'sports seats' which are a hybrid of the XR6 seats of the time.

In terms of what you want, the petrol 6 with ZF does quite a good job. In some ways it is a pity this engine choice is no longer offered with AWD. The handling of the wagon is very sharp with great weighting and turn in feel, for what it is and for speed limits enforced. Can I suggest a Coyote conversion? Or more simply, taking the RWD Aussie inline 6 and supercharging it? Either of those would be an uber Aussie wagon.

As far as only being used for soccer on Sunday, I'd say quite a big bit of Territory's appeal is the dynamics, reminding owners that they are not dead yet. For everything else, oh what a feeling!

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by flappist

I suspect the reason why the Territory is so restricted in engines is that the ones that you wish to buy, i.e. I6T, was a rather dismal failure as far as sales were concerned so it was not worth certifying it in later models.....

Did it sell more or less than the current ecoboost falcon? Lol

Originally Posted by flappist

....If you really want a powerful SUV there are quite a number around but your budget will have to be a lot higher.

And i guess the first vehicle springs to everyones mind is the Jeep SRT8 right? Never again will i buy a Jeep. Mentioned it before in other posts, having issues with a Grand Cherokee now, thats why i am looking for a new SUV.

Australian made means a hell of a lot more to me now with my dramas. Sure a German sports SUV might be better, but not for 2 to 3 times the price of a Territory Titanium.

[Neale]

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by Kable72

......If you want an Australian performance car, go buy an SS or an XR6T/FPV

I would have no issues on XR or GT. Seriously, dealer held a GT R Spec for me. But with my current driving environment, need an SUV's ground clearance. Thus is why i will even settle for only RWD in a decent SUV.

[fou_bleu]

Why not just buy a (new or used) Terry and mod it if performance is so crucial to you? Best of both worlds if you ask me...

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by JG34JA

.....Can I suggest a Coyote conversion? Or more simply, taking the RWD Aussie inline 6 and supercharging it?....

Trust me have thought about buying a second hand TT and geting the engine re done with an OTT Nizpro configuration, just cant be bothered with the search and the second hand headaches.

Just want something new and decent.

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by Thunder

A) 4 cylinder Petrol Turbo
B) 6 cylinder Petrol
C) 6 cylinder Petrol Turbo XR Spec
D) 6 cylinder Petrol Turbo F6 Spec
E) 6 cylinder LPG
F) 8 cylinder Supercharged GS spec
G) 8 cylinder Supercharged GT spec

The Falcon until end of 2012 only had four engines. The other three were only offered by FPV.

[Zedjay]

we bought a new pajero just before christmas and only had a choice of 2 engines..
so the suv/4x4 market is limited when it comes to engine choice..
i too would have bought a turbo 6 territory or a v8 if i could have

[greenfoam]

Just buy a red Kia and get on with a reliable life I reckon, or better yet get the Jeep sorted.

[Thunder]

I even thought of buying a new SSV sportswagon, jacking it up with offroad suspension, monster wheels and tyres..................then i remembered its a Holden! Lol.

Like i said, Titanium RWD petrol 6 i will buy......with the right colour.

And the only reason i would pick the titanium over the TS is another complaint: TS and TX cant have the factory satnav fitted!

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

The Falcon until end of 2012 only had four engines. The other three were only offered by FPV.

Yes, but my point was, if i want a RWD sedan built by Ford in Australia, the choices are bigger than the choices on the Territory. Ford Australia are renowned for making all decisions by "beancounter" my gripe about the choice of Falcon products versus Territory products right now makes no sence.

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by Thunder

Just want something new and decent.

I do to, just cant justify 90 ,100 grand for a V8 patrol
Best of all worlds, big engine plenty of power 300KW, plenty of ground clearance ,pull a freight train and can be cheap enuf to run
But the price tag , i wonder if i plead they will sell me one for say 50 grand
Im loyal ive only even bought nissan 4x4s ,would that count
For years and years patrols only had 1 engine , the dismal 3 L
Any model,any option but 1 engine
Pritty sad when an SUV or 4x4 has to be bought to handle anything worse than smooth bitumen

[mcnews]

Our 4.0 AWD ZF has 135,000km on it and has been absolutely brilliant. When compared to competitors, it is perhaps the most impressive vehicle Ford Australia has built from a ride/handling and value perspective.