Positive SPIN on the Falcon

[PG2]

With all of the negative stuff that we have been reading I thought that I would start a thread that reminds us (for some of us probably points out) the positive aspects of owning a Ford Falcon. This thread specifically puts forward all of the positive aspects of the FG Falcon sedan over some of its competitors. I thought that I would post up some specification comparisons and put a POSITIVE spin on them (yes, I am an ex car salesperson – 12 years with Ford). If this type of thread has been done before, then please delete.

Please don’t reply with something like, “Yeah but the Falcon does not have……” That is not the point of this thread.

I want to make it clear that I am not bagging other models just comparing them and pointing out the positive aspects of the Falcon. It goes without saying, ALL of the models WILL have advantages over the Falcon - to think otherwise would be foolish.

So here goes……

Ecoboost Falcon vs Forester
The Falcon has approximately 42% more power (179kW vs 126kW).

The Falcon has approximately 50% more torque (353Nm vs 235Nm). Also the max torque of the Falcon is at 2000 rpm and the max torque of the Forester is at 4100 rpm. When was the last time you drove your car (constantly) at 4100 rpm?

Despite the Falcon having approximately 42% more power and approximately 50% more torque the Falcon uses exactly the same amount of fuel.

The Falcon also has a larger fuel tank resulting in approximately an extra 100k out of a tank of fuel (840k vs 741k).

The Falcon has approximately 27% more luggage/boot capacity (535L vs 422L).

The Falcon has all of the same safety features that the Forester has – 6 air bags, ABS, EBA, DSC etc

I am also currently researching whether the Forester has some of the following features that the Falcon has such as; Fail Safe Cooling, Grade Control Logic (plus many more).

I have other comparisons to other vehicles and I will post these up in time.

Please add to this if you want to. However please don’t just say for example – it has more console storage space – back it up with some facts and figures.

[GK]

I like this thread already!

Great idea!

GK

[PG2]

Thanks for the positive feedback gentlemen - I thought that this thread could go either way - its still early days though.

I have even thought about writing about the advantages of aspects of the car, for example - Virtual Pivot Control Link, Double wishbone front suspension and Control Blade rear suspension (what the advantages of the 'control blade' are). Other things like how the Falcon uses Boron in the steel to strengthen the b pillar of the car, how the driver's footwell is reinforced to help prevent the floor from trapping the drivers feet in the footwell. Gee I could go on for hours!!!

I am open to suggestions/questions about any of the aspects of the Falcon and put a positive story to them.

[Archilino]

PG2, what did you find customers cross shopping falcon against in your time as a salesman apart from the Commodore and what was the most common factor in getting or losing a sale? Price or features etc?

[Focused]

I hate to be captain negative, but why are you comparing the Forester to the Falcon? The Forester is smaller, higher and is a wagon. Next you'll be comparing the Falcon to a Corolla praising he Falcon for having more power and a bigger boot.

Why not compare it with the Aurion, Camry, 6, Mondeo, Liberty...etc?

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by marco351

I hate to be captain negative, but why are you comparing the Forester to the Falcon? The Forester is smaller, higher and is a wagon. Next you'll be comparing the Falcon to a Corolla praising he Falcon for having more power and a bigger boot.

Why not compare it with the Aurion, Camry, 6, Mondeo, Liberty...etc?

I think these days many people dont compare different cars in same categories, instead we compare specific cars from different categories. For example on my last purchase i was toying between the handling of a Sedan versus the convienice of an SUV. Somone looking for a Camry will probably not consider a Falcon but may compare it to a Kia Sportage.

So far my buying habits have been in this order: Sports Coupe then Compact SUV, Large Luxury Sedan, Large SUV, Large RWD sedan .......and now?????

[PG2]

Originally Posted by marco351

I hate to be captain negative, but why are you comparing the Forester to the Falcon? The Forester is smaller, higher and is a wagon. Next you'll be comparing the Falcon to a Corolla praising he Falcon for having more power and a bigger boot.

Why not compare it with the Aurion, Camry, 6, Mondeo, Liberty...etc?

I appreciate the constructive feedback. However, there have been many posts on here how people are starting a young family and buying SUVs because they are bigger, safer and larger.

What got me started on this was that my sister came to me last week and stated absolute surprise that their Commodore that they bought as a second car had more room in the rear for the two baby seats and could fit the double pram in the boot more easily. Yes, she owns a Forester.

I did say that there was more comparisons coming. My next one is the Ecoboost Vs Camry - that will be posted as early as late tonight.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by Archilino

PG2, what did you find customers cross shopping falcon against in your time as a salesman apart from the Commodore and what was the most common factor in getting or losing a sale? Price or features etc?

People did not just necessarily just shop between the Falcon and Commodore. They would shop between Family cars. These would include large sedans, SUVs and sometimes 4x4 Dual Cabs.

The Falcon (or Commodore for that matter) is not for everyone.

Price did come into it. However, I ask this question when comparing to a smaller car, "When you can't fit that you beaut pram in the boot that you (or your parents) bought for the bub are you going to turn around and say - Oh well at least I saved XXXX dollars?"

How secure is that $1000 pram in the back of the dual cab? After a long day and being sleep deprived from the newborn do you really want to be taking that pram out of the back of it every time you leave the car somewhere?

I think Ford dealership sales people have something to do with the Falcon not selling (lack of training, product knowledge). I am not just talking about the basic product knowledge, for example, the specifications, I am talking about things that people can or do not read about on the internet.

I read on a post somewhere on this forum that one sales person said that why would you buy the Falcon? All I am saying in this thread is, Why Not???

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by marco351

Why not compare it with the Aurion, Camry, 6, Mondeo, Liberty...etc?

Ironically, THAT is EXACTLY where we need it to be compared. People (except for smart ones like us) don’t buy big RWD sixes anymore (in sufficient quantities.) Convincing somebody that Falcon is better than the Commode, is now rather pointless. That is the whole purpose of the EcoBoost, to convince people that an EB Falcon is better than a Camry, Mazda 6, Hyundai POS, etc.
That is a long hard slog for the EB, and may remain fruitless, but it is the only hope for the Falcon.

[Brazen]

The competitors for Falcon nowadays are cars like Forester, CX5, Rav4 etc. it is good to see someone challenge these vehicles rather than pretending they are not competitors.

[bigwil]

I do think some dealers have abit to do with the falcon not selling so well, i went to New Oak Ford and no matter how many questions i asked about the falcon he was steering me towards a focus.

[Motorbreath310]

After recently driving a new Camry from Wollongong to Newcastle and back, and realising that the fuel consumption was not THAT much, if any better than my FG F6, and that the F6 had a much nicer, far more comfortable interior and is a metric tonne-of-fun compared to the A-B appliance Camry. I grew to love my car even more.

Way nicer to drive. Vastly more comfortable. Much better looking. RWD. That engine and gearbox. And the power of knowing you could destroy most other cars you're likely to come across. The power really comes in handy on country roads and when the need to overtake morons arises.

I completed a 4hr drive from out near jerrys plains in the Hunter Valley back to Wollongong yesterday and there are few other cars I would have rather been driving. (within a reasonably comparative price bracket, mind) By the time I reached the F3, I had decided that the FG F6, in my mind at least, is the greatest Aussie production car ever made.

Driving the Camry felt like the automotive equivalent of a castration. Hated it.

[Phil B]

I believe that the Falcon is one of the best cars for highway cruising.
Especially over long distances and on country roads, Falcons just love cruising.

[ieatsports_cars]

I love the fact with the falcon they are comfortable lovely to drive and they engines are awesome and the fuel economy is pretty good. They are reliable and cheap to fix when some thing does go wrong. yes they are not perfect i rather drive something that has a bit of personality. none of my falcon's i have owned has been perfect but i don't care.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

After recently driving a new Camry from Wollongong to Newcastle and back, and realising that the fuel consumption was not THAT much, if any better than my FG F6, and that the F6 had a much nicer, far more comfortable interior and is a metric tonne-of-fun compared to the A-B appliance Camry. I grew to love my car even more.

Way nicer to drive. Vastly more comfortable. Much better looking. RWD. That engine and gearbox. And the power of knowing you could destroy most other cars you're likely to come across. The power really comes in handy on country roads and when the need to overtake morons arises.

I completed a 4hr drive from out near jerrys plains in the Hunter Valley back to Wollongong yesterday and there are few other cars I would have rather been driving. (within a reasonably comparative price bracket, mind) By the time I reached the F3, I had decided that the FG F6, in my mind at least, is the greatest Aussie production car ever made.

Driving the Camry felt like the automotive equivalent of a castration. Hated it.

I drove a G6E Ecoboost and new Camry Hybrid HL back to back a while ago. The Camry was utterly uninspiring to drive, steering was too light and had very little feel, and nowhere near as much 'get up and go' as the Ecoboost. The G6E Ecoboost was undoubtedly the better driver's car, even though the Camry Hybrid had way better fuel consumption.

[tezxr8man]

Originally Posted by NX74205

I drove a G6E Ecoboost and new Camry Hybrid HL back to back a while ago. The Camry was utterly uninspiring to drive, steering was too light and had very little feel, and nowhere near as much 'get up and go' as the Ecoboost. The G6E Ecoboost was undoubtedly the better driver's car, even though the Camry Hybrid had way better fuel consumption.

there is a comparison, Falcon vs hybrid camry, falcon 6 cylinder is cheaper to buy and better for the environment than a hybrid camry as the battery is just plain bad for the environment in itself as they are unable to be disposed of. Not to mention just mining the minerals to make them turns the immediate area into a wasteland

[mik]

no timing belt on falcons, not sure about eco boost, straight forward to service, bullet proof torquey engines for low stress and long life...... fact !

[Buntz]

I'm going to use that fact when someone tells me they can fit more in a Forester. Although it does have a tail gate making easier to get stuff in... it's not as cavernous.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by NX74205

I drove a G6E Ecoboost and new Camry Hybrid HL back to back a while ago. The Camry was utterly uninspiring to drive, steering was too light and had very little feel,

What I HATE, is when I fly somewhere and the company has booked a “Large Car – Falcon or Commodore,” and they stick me with an Aurion. I can put up with a Commode, but those Aurions are ******* scary. 200kw driving through the front wheels of a car that wallows allover the road and whose steering is so loose you can’t even tell which way the wheels are pointing.
It’s almost like we need TWO distinct types of Falcon. One to sell to the mums and old farts who want to replace their Avalon, and another to appeal to people who like to enjoy cars.

The really rotten part is that with the mining boom, and the AUD at records highs, a lot of blokes can afford 100k Landcruisers, Beemers, and various overpriced rice burners. When the wheel turns, and they can nolonger afford their high-priced imports, I hope Ford still has something to offer besides FWD 4 cylinders.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

What I HATE, is when I fly somewhere and the company has booked a “Large Car – Falcon or Commodore,” and they stick me with an Aurion. I can put up with a Commode, but those Aurions are ******* scary. 200kw driving through the front wheels of a car that wallows allover the road and whose steering is so loose you can’t even tell which way the wheels are pointing.

When I was about 5 (this was the mid 90s and the only things I cared about were EF/L Falcons and E36 BMWs), we went on a holiday to Tassie (I think). The rental company stuck us with a Camry, which made me start sobbing, so they upgraded us to a Falcon for no charge. Considering at the time I idolised my uncle's EF Futura and aunt's NF Fairlane, this pretty much made my week.

[efirestorer]

Thanks to PG2 for starting this thread. One question you can answer for me , what is Grade Control Logic as mentioned in your original post.?

[ShootsWithFilm]

Originally Posted by tezxr8man

there is a comparison, Falcon vs hybrid camry, falcon 6 cylinder is cheaper to buy and better for the environment than a hybrid camry as the battery is just plain bad for the environment in itself as they are unable to be disposed of. Not to mention just mining the minerals to make them turns the immediate area into a wasteland

Also, dont forget, you can also tow with a Falcon. First gen Camry hybrids cannot be used as a tow car. The current camry hybrids have a ****y towing capacity.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by efirestorer

Thanks to PG2 for starting this thread. One question you can answer for me , what is Grade Control Logic as mentioned in your original post.?

This is where the 'Lack Of Technology In The Falcon' really confuses me.

Grade Control Logic is where the transmission picks up the difference between the actual speed of the car and the driver input of using the accelerator on a downhill slope.

If the car is picking up speed on a downhill slope and the driver is not using the accelerator the transmission will either hold its current gear or even kick down gears to help prevent the car from accelerating (great for those Govt happy snaps at the bottom of the hill).

There are about 7 or 8 other features of the ZF transmission (that have nothing to do with changing gears in normal driving). I am currently looking through the shed to see if I have thrown out all of my sales release notes and any other notes that I have personally made over the years. Unfortunately, I think I have thrown them out.

Those sales release notes we used to get from Ford on release/drive days - they really should have released some of the information in them to the public.

[Rodge]

Great thread. One of the most plesant aspects of the Falcon's is their brilliant sterring feel and response. There's no slop whatsover in the steering, (unlike many other vehicles), and the sterring is very accurate, feelsome and direct.

ZF is another thing many Falcon owners take for granted. This transmission is light years ahead of most other auto boxes, in fact I can attest from personal experience it is vastly better than the 7G Tronic box in a Mercedes-benz !!

How many people have thought, geez there auto's are super responsive and smooth but give it no further thought and have never truly have never realised how fortunate they are.

[1TUFFUTE]

2012 FG falcon won SAFEST car you can buy in Australia in the used market. And that's not the lame 5star crash rating...its a full comprehensive real world crash sim that tests front and rear passenger safety.
Suburu did not win Safest car....FACT

Oh and I love the FG Grade speed control feature as where I live it is ALL hills.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Great thread. One of the most plesant aspects of the Falcon's is their brilliant sterring feel and response. There's no slop whatsover in the steering, (unlike many other vehicles), and the sterring is very accurate, feelsome and direct.

ZF is another thing many Falcon owners take for granted. This transmission is light years ahead of most other auto boxes, in fact I can attest from personal experience it is vastly better than the 7G Tronic box in a Mercedes-benz !!

How many people have thought, geez there auto's are super responsive and smooth but give it no further thought and have never truly have never realised how fortunate they are.

This exactly. And it's not just the Falcon, it's all Fords with the direct, feelsome steering. I know I'm a fan of it, and by comparison, the Commodore steering feel is vague on centre and offers less feel.

[ryeman]

On the subject of Grade Logic don't confuse it with the Honda version which in the Jazz we have is HYPERACTIVE!

[mik]

Originally Posted by 4.0i OHC

This exactly. And it's not just the Falcon, it's all Fords with the direct, feelsome steering. I know I'm a fan of it, and by comparison, the Commodore steering feel is vague on centre and offers less feel.

agreed, i have liked the falcon steering, even in the early models, not many car makers seem get the ratio and steering feel right.

[FNQracing]

One upside to the poor Falcon sales is that they are not as common, so driving one actually feels a little more exclusive.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by FNQracing

One upside to the poor Falcon sales is that they are not as common, so driving one actually feels a little more exclusive.

Precisely, when Ford does switch to the new model next year, there won't be that many in stock to shift either..

The biggest positive out there has to be a new Falcon next year and an updated Territory..