FG X, The Last EVER Falcon - Picture & Discussion Thread - Page 13

Joe5619 · 03-05-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Final funding for the 2014 Falcon and Territory has been approved by Dearborn, so it's full steam ahead now.

That is great news. I can't wait to see what it looks like & what features they have added!!

mik · 03-05-2013, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dom_105

Just incidentally, did they ever fix the door handle issues on the later utes? Because you would think that after almost 20 years on sale they might have rectified that issue.

first i have heard anything about it mate, you bring this up now why?

vztrt · 03-05-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Surely ute is safe till 2016?

There will be an updated.

R-Design · 03-05-2013, 02:10 PM

It's good to see the 2014 Falcon will come but Q4 2014! What are they thinking? I can understand imported models taking a while to hit our shores (well not really but thats another discussion) but with the VF launch imminent the New Falcon is needed now!!

Mighty Reds · 03-05-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

first i have heard anything about it mate, you bring this up now why?

I think he means the door handles on the XG-H which looked to be a carryover from the XD-E-F and they would break quite often.

flooded one · 03-05-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

I think he means the door handles on the XG-H which looked to be a carryover from the XD-E-F and they would break quite often.

I think just about every XD-XF I've worked on or known someone who owned one had at least one door handle snap off

**janddbone** · 03-05-2013, 04:38 PM

I know the later ones 'feel' a lot better, but have not had one apart to know if they are different.

Kryton · 03-05-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Road Warrior..posted out of interest..Ford cann't be considering canning the Ute when Holden are continuing their Ute....

Let me just run out and buy a new Falcon Stationwagon..........

nstg8a · 03-05-2013, 04:56 PM

Holden ute isn't safe either....

redsfan · 03-05-2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett.r.johnstone

You would think so, the mind boggles why they dont sell more of them...

most utes in the past would have been base models to tradies and companies i would guess, and with the Ranger and various other imported base models being about $10k cheaper than a Falcon and of similar size with better economy it's pretty easy to see where all the traditional Falcon/Commodore ute buyers have gone.

Nikked · 03-05-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Holden ute isn't safe either....

And Dowling gave it a bit of a serve in the paper because a renault megane beat its nurburgring time

Joe5619 · 03-05-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsfan

most utes in the past would have been base models to tradies and companies i would guess, and with the Ranger and various other imported base models being about $10k cheaper than a Falcon and of similar size with better economy it's pretty easy to see where all the traditional Falcon/Commodore ute buyers have gone.

What drugs are you on?? You think you can buy an imported ute for 20K (Falcon ute is 30K), good luck with that!!

edited..
I take this back... I just checked carsales & can see Ranger's for low 20's.. I had no idea they where that cheap. Although these utes sell in the same numbers as Falcon ute does. It is the larger ones that are selling really well..

TC200six · 03-05-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

What drugs are you on?? You think you can buy an imported ute for 20K (Falcon ute is 30K), good luck with that!!

Great Wall? $17,990 for a 2WD

bigwil · 03-05-2013, 06:22 PM

Great Wall of crap, no matter what price.

mr smith · 03-05-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Surely ute is safe till 2016?

I wouldn't bet either way.

bigwil · 03-05-2013, 07:10 PM

Im just waiting for a sneek peak at the 2014 Falcon.

phillyc · 03-05-2013, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I take this back... I just checked carsales & can see Ranger's for low 20's.. I had no idea they where that cheap. Although these utes sell in the same numbers as Falcon ute does. It is the larger ones that are selling really well..

Well for 25-26k you can get a brand new 2012 & 2013 model Falcon Ute. They are on carsales etc right now. The comfort and refinement of the Falcon Ute is unsurpassed in the segment. You can't beat a passenger based ute like the two Aussie made for those traits and their real world safety too. But, the above is getting off track of the actual thread.

On topic. The sneek peek of the 2014 Falcon looks fantastic particularly if you add in the design elements shown on the various Ford concept cars.

Great to hear the funding is through. Like many, just wish it was arriving in 2013 instead.

RPO83 · 03-05-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Final funding for the 2014 Falcon and Territory has been approved by Dearborn, so it's full steam ahead now.

Dearborn approved this a while back though?

P6LTD351 · 03-05-2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPO83

Dearborn approved this a while back though?

Exactly. That's why i asked the question before. No way does a car get approval only a year from release. The 2014 Falcon was confirmed ages ago. Final funding for what? Advertising? That wouldn't need much funding anyway.

Nikked · 03-05-2013, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Final funding for what? Advertising? That wouldn't need much funding anyway.

Funding to take the cars from drawing board/prototype/test mule to production.

Road_Warrior · 03-05-2013, 09:34 PM

Development milestones.

P6LTD351 · 03-05-2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Funding to take the cars from drawing board/prototype/test mule to production.

I think those things you mentioned would have been approved before now. Surely.

spvd02 · 03-05-2013, 09:41 PM

I hate to say it, because I really love the Falcon, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's even worth Ford's while to spend any more on developing it. It's a great car as it is, and even with discount pricing the sales continue to slow down.

It's nothing to do with the car not being good enough, not at all. In fact, the Falcon is better in many ways than other alternatives. It's sad to see their sales slide in the way they are, but it is definitely starting to look like the Falcon is heading for retirement.

We're all wishing the new model would come out NOW, but it seems as the Falcon sells less and less, the development of a new model also becomes less and less affordable. Sad, but it seems the market is no longer all that interested in Falcon. For some reason even the Camry, which used to lag way behind the Falcon in sales, is now selling double what the Falcon is. Must be down to public perception, what else could it possibly be?

P6LTD351 · 03-05-2013, 09:41 PM

So are we really saying that up until yesterday, there was a doubt that there would be a 2014 Falcon as 'final funding' was yet to be approved?

Surely at some stage there is a point of no return due to the millions already invested.

turbodewd · 03-05-2013, 09:47 PM

I think late 2014 is probably wise, u wouldnt want to compete withthe new Falcon vs the VF commodore.

The VF, i have no doubt, will crack the top 5 in VFACTS in just months.

If the Vic and SA govts can twist the arms of the other State govts to buy Aussie then there remains hope for the local production houses.

**janddbone** · 03-05-2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsfan

most utes in the past would have been base models to tradies and companies i would guess, and with the Ranger and various other imported base models being about $10k cheaper than a Falcon and of similar size with better economy it's pretty easy to see where all the traditional Falcon/Commodore ute buyers have gone.

Well I just 'built' two equivalent vehicles on their respective websites:

SR 4x2 Extra-Cab Pick-up Petrol:
(This is their base model spacecab and is auto only.)
Driveaway price here in TAS.
$34,511.60

Falcon Ute Styleside Box
(Auto to match and LPG for economy as you mentioned. Falcon is spacecab standardd.)
Driveaway price here in TAS.
$35,100.00

I am not thinking it purely price that is making the difference, sadly it seems to be reputation as much as anything else...

Bossxr8 · 03-05-2013, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPO83

Dearborn approved this a while back though?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Exactly. That's why i asked the question before. No way does a car get approval only a year from release. The 2014 Falcon was confirmed ages ago. Final funding for what? Advertising? That wouldn't need much funding anyway.

It was summed up perfectly on the previous page by Road Warrior. Funding goes through a number of stages and each stage needs HQ approval. It passed its final stage and is gauranteed for production now.

P6LTD351 · 03-05-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It was summed up perfectly on the previous page by Road Warrior. Funding goes through a number of stages and each stage needs HQ approval. It passed its final stage and is gauranteed for production now.

I see what you're saying but I reiterate what I said in that there is no way a 2014 Falcon would have been canned at this late stage.

Road_Warrior · 03-05-2013, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb2monty

I see what you're saying but I reiterate what I said in that there is no way a 2014 Falcon would have been canned at this late stage.

Yes way. The best (and only) time to can a vehicle that is in development is when it...err, is in development. Especially prior to the attribute mules and full build prototypes hitting the road, those cars believe it or not cost a fortune. A full build proto with all the calibration, monitoring and sensory gear fitted to it can run the manufacturer $1-1.5 million per car. Another consideration is the tooling and plant modifications, there is a crunch date for these as well and they would need to pull the pin prior to the award of design and construct contracts for the tooling and tenders for the equipment for any plant upgrades.

The actual engineering and design costs for the car itself would be relatively small for this model, considering it is not an all-new car, more like a Mid Cycle Evolution or Mid Cycle Enhancement which invariably brings little change under the skin anyway (read: no changes to the expensive bits)

phillyc · 03-05-2013, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Yes way. The best (and only) time to can a vehicle that is in development is when it...err, is in development. Especially prior to the attribute mules and full build prototypes hitting the road, those cars believe it or not cost a fortune. A full build proto with all the calibration, monitoring and sensory gear fitted to it can run the manufacturer $1-1.5 million per car. Another consideration is the tooling and plant modifications, there is a crunch date for these as well and they would need to pull the pin prior to the award of design and construct contracts for the tooling and tenders for the equipment for any plant upgrades.

That's a really good explanation Road Warrior.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

The actual engineering and design costs for the car itself would be relatively small for this model, considering it is not an all-new car, more like a Mid Cycle Evolution or Mid Cycle Enhancement which invariably brings little change under the skin anyway (read: no changes to the expensive bits)

Well, I think that the IRS could very well be up for grabs! The Mustang is said to be getting a new IFS based on the virtual pivot FG Falcon assembly. The Mustang is for certain getting a new IRS. If and it's an IF, that IRS is adopted we can be confident a GRWD Falcon / Lincoln is a goer.