Taxis Dumping LPG Ford's For VW PASSAT Diesels - Page 3

Stoney! · 19-04-2010, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Very, very few Falcon taxi's are brand new cars, rather auction bought low kay cars. So Ford's sales are not effected.

I've seen quite a number of new Commodore taxi's getting around with SIDI or LPG badges when it was new.

Stoney!

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoney!

I've seen quite a number of new Commodore taxi's getting around with SIDI or LPG badges when it was new.

Stoney!

If Holden is offering retail customers cars at $35,990, how much do fleets pay for an Omega?
Makes you wonder, whether Holden is chasing down every fleet sale at any cost.
No wonder Ford isn't interested in fleet sales, who would if you had to match $29,000 or such...

mcnews · 19-04-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

its hard to believe that the vw or the prius would be cheaper in the long term, give it 5 years have another look at the taxi fleets.

An $11,000 per year saving over a Falcon is what the taxi driver in Townsville told me when I was asking about the Prius I was in.

Joe5619 · 19-04-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

If Holden is offering retail customers cars at $35,990, how much do fleets pay for an Omega?
Makes you wonder, whether Holden is chasing down every fleet sale at any cost.
No wonder Ford isn't interested in fleet sales, who would if you had to match $29,000 or such...

What are you talking about?? that is the price for an XR6, so what is the difference?

Mr Hardware · 19-04-2010, 10:57 AM

what about the silent killer guys, resale.
The falcon already has just about the poorest resale value of any car on the road,
if the taxis do defect from ford, what will happen to the thousands upon thousands of near new fords that won't be bought by taxi operators?

irlewy86 · 19-04-2010, 12:42 PM

Cant wait for the Taxi operator to grin as he does the sums and realizes he's saved 20k over three years... then his you beaut VW DSG poo's itself and needs a 20k reco.

flappist · 19-04-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Cant wait for the Taxi operator to grin as he does the sums and realizes he's saved 20k over three years... then his you beaut VW DSG poo's itself and needs a 20k reco.

After 3 years he will sell it to a wrecker (or some VW forum enthusiast who will be able to fix it for half the price) and buy a new one. After all it is half paid for already, isn't it?

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

What are you talking about?? that is the price for an XR6, so what is the difference?

The difference is that Holden's fleet buyers pay nowhere near that already discounted price.

Ford is not interested in selling cars for less than that price and the days
of fleets expecting 25-40% discounts on XTs are well and truly gone.

SteveJH · 19-04-2010, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

The difference is that Holden's fleet buyers pay nowhere near that already discounted price.

Ford is not interested in selling cars for less than that price and the days
of fleets expecting 25-40% discounts on XTs are well and truly gone.

Except for Taxi driver's, arent most companies now getting at least the model above the base anyway? Plus a lot have switched to diesels to appear more "ecofriendly".

Brazen · 19-04-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

The difference is that Holden's fleet buyers pay nowhere near that already discounted price.

Ford is not interested in selling cars for less than that price and the days
of fleets expecting 25-40% discounts on XTs are well and truly gone.

I dispute that, Ford still offer us fleet discounts comparable to Holden (in utes, maybe sedans are different?).

Also the Falcon XT and XR6 have now become the default rental car, I cant remember the last time I got a Aurion or Commodore. I would imagine the rental car market would be the most cut-throat fleet market around. Although I only rent with Avis and Thrifty which is why I might not come across the others.

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

I dispute that, Ford still offer us fleet discounts comparable to Holden (in utes, maybe sedans are different?).

Also the Falcon XT and XR6 have now become the default rental car, I cant remember the last time I got a Aurion or Commodore. I would imagine the rental car market would be the most cut-throat fleet market around. Although I only rent with Avis and Thrifty which is why I might not come across the others.

I don't dispute that you get a discount but I doubt that it's anywhere
near the 40% discount that Holden used to offer government fleets.

I remember when Omegas were around $22K - $23K and Ford said enough and pulled back
to a maximum 25% discount, not long after that they pulled out of the taxi business.
People often wonder why Falcon doesn't sell in the same quantities as holden, that's your answer...

The reason you get so many Falcons as fleet rentals now is because a lot of customers request them,
fleet companies responding to their customers wishes so make of that what you will

Dr Smith · 19-04-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoney!

I've seen quite a number of new Commodore taxi's getting around with SIDI or LPG badges when it was new.

Stoney!

I don't doubt you however how many brand new FG's are being turned into cabs is the more relevant question?

Stoney! · 19-04-2010, 05:28 PM

That I can't answer, but just the subtle model differences I have noticed have made me realise they do at least buy some new cars and I'm sure it applies to the falcon also.

Stoney!

Brazen · 19-04-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I don't doubt you however how many brand new FG's are being turned into cabs is the more relevant question?

Well City Ford has their own Taxi fleet manager. Trust me cab companies buy a lot of brand new Falcons. Tax and fleet incentives ensure it.

Even on Ford's own website:

"Taking this further, Ford Australia announced on July 24, 2009 that it will introduce an advanced liquid-injection LPG system for the Ford Falcon in 2010, providing customers with the most advanced LPG technology on the market and making the Falcon even more attractive to private, taxi and fleet customers."

Brazen · 19-04-2010, 05:48 PM

To give you an idea of a taxi company's buying power:

http://www.yellowcab.com.au/news/?fu...75&ct_id=0&i=1

The taxi company itself was selling brand new Falcons in 2008!

The idea that all Falcon cabs are from govt auctions is a myth.

vztrt · 19-04-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

I remember when Omegas were around $22K - $23K and Ford said enough and pulled back
to a maximum 25% discount, not long after that they pulled out of the taxi business.
People often wonder why Falcon doesn't sell in the same quantities as holden, that's your answer...

Also the fact that you can still get VZ utes as a fleet vehicle.

Joe5619 · 19-04-2010, 06:19 PM

I'm not conviced taxi companies buy that many new falcons (In Sydney anyway).. The FG has been out for over 2 years & I've only seen 1-2 FG taxis in all that time!!

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

To give you an idea of a taxi company's buying power:

http://www.yellowcab.com.au/news/?fu...75&ct_id=0&i=1

The taxi company itself was selling brand new Falcons in 2008!

The idea that all Falcon cabs are from govt auctions is a myth.

August 2008, the FG was already out..
If you read the link you provided, you would see that there were only three 2008 BF II SR Falcons for sale at the time.
At the time, the last of those SRs were being advertised at other dealerships for around $28,990 drive away.
They may have been advertising them for or sourcing them from Southside Ford.

Using that as a basis to prove that the majority of Taxis are
not sourced from Government auctions is pretty flimsy.

Granted, they are a registered dealership but can you quote any recent offers?
I can't find a one on their present site.

smoo · 19-04-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

After 3 years he will sell it to a wrecker (or some VW forum enthusiast who will be able to fix it for half the price) and buy a new one. After all it is half paid for already, isn't it?

Sure, because when these trick common rail diesels or twin clutch automated manual tansmissions pack up, they're a diy-ers dream.
Lets see what sorta problems these things start throwing up when services are skipped, unlike the forgiving Falcons.

**Dave R** · 19-04-2010, 06:44 PM

Do taxi companies ever buy cheap petrol models from auction and then convert them? Because FG Falcons (non factory LPG) cannot be fitted with aftermarket LPG systems due to the plastic manifold..

prydey · 19-04-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Do taxi companies ever buy cheap petrol models from auction and then convert them? Because FG Falcons (non factory LPG) cannot be fitted with aftermarket LPG systems due to the plastic manifold..

i don't think thats an issue with injected gas systems (vapour and liquid) as backfires are a thing of the past.

fitting an old mixer type system is actually illegal as it no longer meets emission regs. doesn't stop people doing it though.

vztrt · 19-04-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Do taxi companies ever buy cheap petrol models from auction and then convert them? Because FG Falcons (non factory LPG) cannot be fitted with aftermarket LPG systems due to the plastic manifold..

I know they use to with the B-series. FG's are a bit harder to determine as there are more models you can get with Factory LPG.

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Do taxi companies ever buy cheap petrol models from auction and then convert them? Because FG Falcons (non factory LPG) cannot be fitted with aftermarket LPG systems due to the plastic manifold..

Surely, taxis would just chase E-gas falcons at the auctions...

Mr Hardware · 19-04-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Surely, taxis would just chase E-gas falcons at the auctions...

No, not if the price is right. Egassers command higher resale value (49% after 3 years as opposed to 39% for the petrol counterparts, iirc) so sometimes a petroley is a more attractive option.

And the reason why you haven't seen many new falcons as cabs is you're looking for the nice shiney FGs. I bet you're not looking at the plethora of brand new BFIII wagons ordered during the recent 50% tax incentive for small business buying new vehicles. I know my old employers bought at least one, a brand spankers white BFIII egas wagon with tint. Looked schmick, too nice to be a dirty cab.

jpd80 · 19-04-2010, 08:36 PM

Shame that "plethora' of wagons was barely 200 a month at the end...

Bossxr8 · 19-04-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Do taxi companies ever buy cheap petrol models from auction and then convert them? Because FG Falcons (non factory LPG) cannot be fitted with aftermarket LPG systems due to the plastic manifold..

The upcoming LPi FG still uses the plastic manifold, so obviously its fine to use for vapour and liquid injection LPG.

Bossxr8 · 19-04-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Shame that "plethora' of wagons was barely 200 a month at the end...

It was really, and still is, around 400 a month. Around 20 a day with most of them LPG.

Maybe Marin was trying to downplay how many they actually make so it didn't seem so bad dropping the wagon.

Brazen · 19-04-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Maybe Marin was trying to downplay how many they actually make so it didn't seem so bad dropping the wagon.

I suspected as much

b0son · 19-04-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

This is good news, we can stand back and watch people say VWs are crap because they're used as taxis.

More likely, they'll say 'finally, a taxi that doesnt whine and clunk like some sort of farming equipment'

Bobman · 19-04-2010, 11:13 PM

Ford sold quite a few AU2/3 taxi packs but when the BA came out they weren't selling as many, so they stopped painting them yellow from factory and then dropped the taxi pack altogether around 2003.

Most BA-BF Falcon cabs down in Vic are e-gas ex fleet cars. There's a few Territory taxis in Melbourne amongst other varieties as mentioned in previous posts.