Commodore sportwagon at Ford's proving ground

Road_Warrior · 27-02-2009, 12:21 PM

http://www.caradvice.com.au/23698/fo...tv-a-sure-bet/

Caradvice reckon these photos were taken at the You Yangs proving ground. They also reckon that they spied an FG RTV ute mule being tested but I think that has been debunked as twaddle (facilities management ute apparently). There is another thread for that particular item I believe.

However a Commodore Sportwagon was also photographed at the site:

The question is - why would Ford need or want a Commodore wagon at the proving ground? If you look closely, it has an inventory number on the tailgate which suggests to me that it isn't an employee's car - it's for evaluation.

So what gives?

Poidevin · 27-02-2009, 12:25 PM

Doing some testing so Ford can make its own better sportswagon?

ImpGonads · 27-02-2009, 12:29 PM

Well I think the Holden Sportswagon is a brilliant vehicle, very well thought out in its practicality and target market. Hopefully Ford are taking some notes and developing their own model.

**Polyal** · 27-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Cars are evaluated all the time so no surprise there; id be worried if they didn't have other makes floating about.

SM1DY · 27-02-2009, 12:31 PM

Any sportswagon that Ford built would still look like a hearse.

KITBAG · 27-02-2009, 12:35 PM

So what gives?[/QUOTE]

SIMPLE ANSWER..............
FORD WERE HAVING A
SMASH AND BASH DAY (DEMOLITION DERBY)
WHY NOT USE A DUNNYDOOR WAGON

:

Road_Warrior · 27-02-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Cars are evaluated all the time so no surprise there; id be worried if they didn't have other makes floating about.

This is true, I'd imagine that Ford (and Holden) would have a dirty great big fleet of other makes and models to evaluate. But what makes this different is that it is a wagon, and Ford have said that the Falcon wagon is dead. Apart from the BFIII of course.

Apart from being a wagon, it is no different to any other VE, so why not just use one of the VE's you already have? I smell a rat...

Daymoe · 27-02-2009, 12:38 PM

I found this comment funny in that article:

Quote:

Tyrannosaurus Rex just checking out Diplodocus in dino land , soon be both extinct.

.

Funny thing is it relates to Ford and Holden (maybe just Holden who knows).

b2tf · 27-02-2009, 12:39 PM

It's common for manufacturers to test out their rivals products, I've seen a group of early build VE HSV's with some BF FPV's on a run before.

4Vman · 27-02-2009, 12:42 PM

Hate to tell you all but all the car companies have an agreement to swap models on a regular basis. In the past they all bought cars for evaluation, they all knew they did it so a gentleman's agreement was reached between them all to swap cars for free to save the "smoke and mirrors" and costs....
There may be no particular reason for Ford to have the wagon other than it was part of a shipment of "swap" cars, and to be honest they'd be crazy not to test it...

vztrt · 27-02-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Cars are evaluated all the time so no surprise there; id be worried if they didn't have other makes floating about.

When I was on the proving ground there were a few different other makes there that Ford will evaluate and the decide to match or better then their competitors.

EgoFG · 27-02-2009, 12:57 PM

I would love to see a falcon wagon based on the territory

BENT_8 · 27-02-2009, 01:08 PM

In late 01 early 02 the Toyota Hilux was updated, i worked for a Toyota dealership and was asked to prepare a Lux for assesment at the Elizabeth Holdens Plant.
From memory they wanted to leak test it which i presume would relate testing weather seals around doors etc.

Allen · 27-02-2009, 01:19 PM

I remember reading somewhere ages ago, that Holden bought an XR or XT GT Falcon to test against its latest Monaro...

During testing they discovered and fixed a fuel surge problem in the then new Falcon GT. They then passed the information onto Ford so they could rectify the problem on the production line.

The stereotype that Ford and Holded passionatly hate each other and refuse to work together is getting a bit old now.
They are all in the same boat! :P

Paxton · 27-02-2009, 02:00 PM

There is a reason behind this.

Benchmarking. What major Ford supplier went down during the week? How many cogs does the Calais Auto have? How many does the base Petrol Falcon Auto have? See a similarity?

Stattic · 27-02-2009, 02:23 PM

wow apparently ford have been spotted using this
http://tinyurl.com/349ygu

Daymoe · 27-02-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stattic

wow apparently ford have been spotted using this
http://tinyurl.com/349ygu

Woah, that'll hit the media pretty soon!

Stattic · 27-02-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daymoe

Woah, that'll hit the media pretty soon!

mate im surprised its not out already, i couldnt believe it when i saw it

kocho · 27-02-2009, 03:07 PM

Only problem with the VE wagon is the front. I do like its size though..

Be good if Falcon came out with a wagon. But, they do have the Mondeo Wagon coming here and I think thats good enough.

xr6turboford · 27-02-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SM1DY

Any sportswagon that Ford built would still look like a hearse.

Your point is ? Maybe your next home

nugget378 · 27-02-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

There is a reason behind this.

Benchmarking. What major Ford supplier went down during the week? How many cogs does the Calais Auto have? How many does the base Petrol Falcon Auto have? See a similarity?

One test was to see how many litre bottles of milk you can fit into the sportswagon?
The answer after testing was 2, and a dozen eggs if you pack everything just right..

Road_Warrior · 27-02-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stattic

wow apparently ford have been spotted using this
http://tinyurl.com/349ygu

What is it? Yoo Toob is blocked at my work so I can't watch it.

Dr Smith · 27-02-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

What is it? Yoo Toob is blocked at my work so I can't watch it.

...err Rick Astley vid "never gonna give you up"

qwiksix · 27-02-2009, 05:17 PM

Damn, rickroll'd again!

qs

DoreSlamR · 27-02-2009, 05:32 PM

lol rickroll'd is soo 2008

Are we sure that sportswagon isn't some vacuum cleaner sales man that got lost?

seduced_xr · 27-02-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nugget378

One test was to see how many litre bottles of milk you can fit into the sportswagon?
The answer after testing was 2, and a dozen eggs if you pack everything just right..

this is so true. the xr had some repairs done on it and we got a dunnydore VE wagon. i could have sworn more fit into the BF boot. the VE wagon term is a load of rubbish. theres no room in the back at all

4Vman · 27-02-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seduced_xr

this is so true. the xr had some repairs done on it and we got a dunnydore VE wagon. i could have sworn more fit into the BF boot. the VE wagon term is a load of rubbish. theres no room in the back at all

That's why its more accurately known as the Commodore Hatch.....

NC1183 · 27-02-2009, 06:40 PM

I read the Wheels magazine on the Car Of The Year, yeah i know, but they use the Ford You Yangs testing ground for there car testing

Matt P · 27-02-2009, 08:13 PM

Yep Ford gave Holden BA's just as Holden will give Ford commo's Usually they will end up stripped to see what parts do what and how things from other brands are made.

uranium_death · 27-02-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImpGonads

Well I think the Holden Sportswagon is a brilliant vehicle, very well thought out in its practicality and target market. Hopefully Ford are taking some notes and developing their own model.

No way!
Firstly, there isn't the money to develop a new model. Ford's future here or in the US is still not safe.

Secondly, Ford has the Territory, which covers the family market well enough and as stated by many on here, is a fantastic all-round car. Why steal sales from it with two vehicles that are similar in dimensions, interior space, performance, as well as targeted demographic?

Thirdly, there is already a wagon, and it cost next to nothing to update from BFII to BFIII, and has its own niche market. It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done. Holden had to have a wagon, since the Captiva was not the success Holden had hoped it would be.

As nice and rosey as the VE may be, I am not convinced that it's making a massive difference to Holden sales.

When they have to take the price down several thousand only months after release, that is probably a sign that it isn't selling like hotcakes and therefore difficult to recoup the costs.

Ford is playing it smart.

If Ford released a similar wagon, would you buy it? Many people who say, "I want Ford to make a sportswagon" will never buy one. It's just eye-candy and a case of "monkey-see, monkey-do" between Holden and Ford.

Right now, Ford should keep the current line-up.