Falcon...RIP ???
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 15:47
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Member - Oldbaz. NSW.
It seems that the most popular non 4wd tug, & oldest continuous car model may be
dead in 6 months. Although Ford wont admit this yet,the decision will be made at that time.The mail is that production will cease as sales are at the lowest ever
point & still falling. The favoured replacement is an imported Taurus & it is FWD.
While I have never owned a Falcon it is sad to think it may soon be gone. This Taurus
thing wont replace it, & has been a sales failure in Oz.. The biggest downside will be
the associated job losses, not only in assembly plants but in all component industries.
What happens to V8 Supercars ? Could import the Mustang I suppose. If you are a
dedicated Falcon fan, it may be time to watch carefully & update before they are
history, & then care for it to ensure long life...........oldbaz.
Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 16:27
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 16:27
So sad Oldbaz - our families AU falcon ute has just left the stage , but I think its going to be replaced with a 6lt V8 300kw 6 speed manual Maloo , so at least the Comodores are still here for a while.
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Reply By: Notso - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 16:28
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 16:28
The V8s are going to a multi maker format soon I hear so Ford could put an overseas model in I guess.
Will it be worth them keeping on with the Territory? A lot of common components.
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Reply By: Axle - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:00
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:00
Not Good Old Baz, ...Ford have been struggling with the Falcon sales for quiet a while, ....The later units where the best ever built, Very strong vehicles with excellent power, and with very reasonable fuel economy . Why won't they sell??...Beats Me... Bomadore Mania...LOL
Cheers Axle.
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Follow Up By: member-PradoMad - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:15
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:15
Yeah, I agree, the new ones are excellent.
Sold mine with 200k on the clock and it still run beautifully.
Wouldn't mind to get a Mustang though..
In the meantime I am very happy with my Prado
JS.
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Follow Up By: Geobserver - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 09:33
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 09:33
Agree that the recent Falcons are super cars and I am also puzzled why they don't match Commodore sales. I had to change to a Commodore recently because I need a wagon and it is not a bad car, but the Falcon just had the edge with power, economy (don't believe the manufacturer figures), interior quality and comfort. I suspect it all comes down to marketing (Holden have done a very good job) and getting the motoring press on side.
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Reply By: Hairs & Fysh - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:01
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:01
Yeah, I watched the midday ABC News and the bloke from Ford was very cagey about answering any questions about the Falcon, he preferred to talk about other issues.
A sad day, been a blue oval bloke from my early teens.
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Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:39
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:39
I'm a Blue Oval bloke as
well.
I love my ute,.
The
Cook reckons i'm a Hoon lol lol.Image Could Not Be Found
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Follow Up By: Hairs & Fysh - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 20:19
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 20:19
Yeah mate,
Nothing wrong with being a Hoon.
69 XW Fairmont, 351, 4V Heads, a nice cam, Holley, Top Loader, 9" lsd with disc brakes on all four Cnrs., 14x7 front, 15x10 rear
Bathurst Glode mags
Wish I still had her.
15 years ago we had to part company :(
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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:30
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 17:30
I doubt it, ford are developing a 4cyl turbo motor for the Falcon and it will exsure that the model lives on I reckon. The Taurus was a disaster for Ford when they tried in it Oz a few or so years ago.
You'll be able to tow with a Falc for many years to ciome I reckon.
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Follow Up By: Road Warrior - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 20:28
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 20:28
Ker-ching! There is so much misinformation running around about this issue at the moment its sickening. Ford aren't doing themselves many favours though by being cagey about it, partly because their masters back in Detroit aren't very nice.
The reality is, Ford would not have given the green light to $230 Million worth of new powertrain development for the Falcon and Territory if its future was limited to only the next couple of years. There is a series 2 update due next month, and in 2013 a mid-cycle update (so a major refresh) is due. Ford Australia is also the development hub for the entire Asia-Pacific region (remember the new Ranger?) and the assembly plant is an intrinsic part of that. Ford Australia is one of only three locations in the Ford empire that can bring a new car from a clean sheet of paper (or these days, a blank computer screen) to the showroom floor.
The tradeoff is that the trusty old straight six will have to go the way of the Dodo because it is an orphan engine in the global Ford parts bin and won't be compatible with the future RWD architecture.
Here is an article from a respected automotive industry journal that is much more informative than the usual press:
GoAuto article
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:29
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 at 19:29
I hope not!!
My second car is a XR6 Turbo and I love it, 2 years old and will be time for replacement in a years time and will get another, just a brilliant car!!
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Reply By: ipickles - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 08:14
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 08:14
falcon lives
as what bonz has stated above ford are developing the eco boost four cylinder due for release first quarter 2012 for falcon, also as an employee of ford Australia i have it on good authority that a complete new Australian designed falcon has been approved for development (dies currently being made) and a release date around 2014 some time.
regards pickles.
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 08:41
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 08:41
Was touring
Queensland recently and saw the cops ruling the roads from Toyota Aurions in Highway spec - wake up call for me - the future is here.
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 11:07
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 11:07
We have 10 Current model Commodore SV6 Wagons as work vehicles, they are the best Australian made vehicle I have ever driven, bar none. It's a lot of car for $34k thereabouts. Ford have always made a fair product but we live in a changing world and both Ford and Holden would have never survived without Government sanctions on imported cars, sad but reality.
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Reply By: Shaker - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 15:40
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 15:40
It will be sad to lose an icon like the Ford Falcon.
Hopefully it may bring on the demise of the V8 Supercars & pave the way for the return of Touring Cars.
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Follow Up By: Holiday Maker - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 16:40
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 16:40
Youv'e got my vote on that.
V8 Supercars? They are nothing more than a boring class of NASCAR's.
I've packed our XR6T waway for the future.
Dusty
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