View Full Version : Worst Aussie Cars, Ford
Ford gone wrong
From Aus These five have to be in the top ten worst cars of Australia.
Au Falcon: woops aparently a marketing flop no consumer research, just ugly.
Mondeo: Not Terribly attractive.
Ka: Whos idea was this!
Cougar: And again!
Ford is on its ay back up but man they had some bad years!
Taurus: Who wants a cockaroach for a car?!!
Spastik_Roach
08-05-2004, 02:25 AM
Every single car there, except the Falcon, was not designed by Ford Australia, or built, just sold by them. I don't see anything wrong with the Cougar, Ka and Mondeo, Mondeo is comfortable, good looking car (Been in a Mondeo 1.8 Turbo Diesel its smooth and comfortable), Cougar is a good looking sports coupe, and Ka is a funky 1st car thats a whoot to drive. Personally I didn't mind the AU's styling, paticulary in TS50/XR8 style. Taurus bit controversial in styling, but I don't mind it and it seems like a fine car to me...
fpv_gtho
08-05-2004, 02:39 AM
Mate have you got a personal vendetta against Ford Australia or something? I know those cars mentioned weren't the best, they suffered from Nasser's "New Edge" styling, but you dont have to make a big thing about it
SlickHolden
08-05-2004, 02:44 AM
The BA was the car that ford had to get right, But going back on AU it was shit ugly but it was a new design it was moving forward something new, So i think BA is one step back i think Ford Aus is playing Leauge now go backwards to go forward
fpv_gtho
08-05-2004, 02:48 AM
yeah the BA was a step back........a step back from a design ahead of its time. its only now the shape of the AU is beig apprciated and you'd be surprised how may people in Europe like the styling
soz, i guess i am dishing out a bit more than i was meaning to, i guess we all got to have own opinions. What cars do you rekon are the worst sold in Australia.
ps. i am a Holden fan but after seeing the VZ i am not completely sure anymore, it just hasnt changed enough.
Matra et Alpine
08-05-2004, 03:48 AM
Hey guys, don't be too negative on the KA.
Once they colour-coded the bumpoers it didnt' look too bad !!
It's proving to be a great wee entry-level rally car :)
http://www.richjoseph.com/rpl04/Photos/04/lunn_r4lg.jpg
Enjoy :) .... http://www.richjoseph.com/rpl04/IMAGES/ka2.wmv (9Mb)
fpv_gtho
08-05-2004, 03:52 AM
i think styling wise the car wise fine here, what stopped it succeeding was its $15990 price and lack of an auto gearbox
Colty
08-05-2004, 03:57 AM
The AU was really ahead of its time in terms of styling but i notice its growing on me.
motorsportnerd
08-06-2004, 03:15 AM
Of the cars mentioned by Brum, only one was actually a dud in any real sense - that's the Taurus. The others are actually all pretty good cars. If they are duds due to styling, then all I can say is that styling is a matter of personal preference.
In the case of the Mondeo, the main reason it failed was because Ford Australia didn't market it well enough. That's a shame. The styling may not have been to everyone's taste, but it was hardly radical. In other regards the Mondeo was on the pace in 1997 when it was released. Good level of standard equipment, good price ($24,995 in 1997), good safety levels, excellent handling and steering, comfortable seats and excellent body rigidity. As an owner I can also affirm to the fact that it is reliable.
Consider that the Mondeo's main competition was the Holden Vectra. They were line ball in virtually every area. The main differences - the Holden had more conservative (and to most people more attractive) styling and Holden put more effort into marketing the car.
I did consider the Vectra when I was looking for a car, but chose the Mondeo instead. Personal preference. However, it would be a very big call to argue that the Mondeo was an inferior car to its main competition.
escort mexico
08-06-2004, 03:19 AM
don't be negative on the mondeo either. sure it was a bit of a lemon...but put the zetec engine in an escort, and you get quite a car.... ;)
the new mondeo is ok though :)
SlickHolden
08-06-2004, 03:25 AM
Hang on you cant put the Taurus as a dud and not include the AU, both cars are in the same boat here, It was rumerd that the Taurus was fantastic car to drive just dont get out in the light and see it. Many say the same for the AU drives great but only drive it at night, The same joke backfired when ford used it on holden VY. I used to like the mondeo when the rat was in the 2lt in the uk. but that pic makes it look like a Mecedes benz. or a lexus
fpv_gtho
08-06-2004, 03:28 AM
i think there'll always be clear differences in how an american sedan drives compared to a local sedan. my dad has 2 AU's and whilst the one tonner gets a bit rough and noisy from the leaf springs and the Ghia's a bit touchy in he steering theyre far from a pig to drive
SlickHolden
08-06-2004, 03:35 AM
Oink Oink lol. Remember the prob my Brothers girfriends dad had with his AU ute the sterring, They didnt even bother with the AU he got a BA ute 1 tonne factory gas, But it chugs and runs like shit, So his work is getting him another ute? Isnt it nice to have your work provide you with a new car evey 2 years.
fpv_gtho
08-06-2004, 03:39 AM
yeah you told me about that, some cmpanes are all to happy to maintain good worker relations i guess
SlickHolden
08-06-2004, 03:59 AM
In line of work as a carer a car is very important to me and i dont get supplyed with one, My nephew is about to turn 18 in sept, He is a bricky labour, His boss will buy him a BA XR6 ute to drive when he has his p's and a phone im like **** me dead **** get me a ****en job there **** ****. His son who also works for him is 19 he has a new XR6 in the drive already but he bought it for his son who loves holdens and wont drive it so instead of buying one for my nephew he will drive his sons The son wants a caprice. Now im not fussy i would drive the bloody ute its got wheels comfy it drives i just wouldnt buy it thats all.
fpv_gtho
08-06-2004, 04:02 AM
wel it must really take a one eyed fan not to drive a car that was GIVEN to them
motorsportnerd
08-06-2004, 08:13 AM
don't be negative on the mondeo either. sure it was a bit of a lemon...but put the zetec engine in an escort, and you get quite a car.... ;)
the new mondeo is ok though :)
I agree about the new Mondeo - I've driven one in NZ - it is a very good car.
Don't agree about the original Mondeo. In what way was it a lemon?
The facelift 1997-2001 Mondeo was one of the better mid-size cars available in Australia.
Handling? No - regarded as one of the best handling front wheel drive chassis of the 90s.
Refinement? No - plenty refined for the 1993 design. Might have been a little bit off the pace in that area by 2001 when it died, but by then it was an eight year old design.
Performance? Its not brilliant, but it is better than many similar size cars (particularly the four clyinder Camry of the same era). The Zetec engine needs to be stirred along, it works best on premium unleaded and Mondeo automatics are slugs. However, considering the car's weight a manual Mondeo not too bad. And the fuel economy is brilliant.
Equipment? No - well up to the pace in that area for the period. Was excellent value for money in 1997. There is no new car available in Australia today at $24,995 which represents any better value for money.
Safety? No - performs well for a design released in 1993.
Reliability? I haven't had any problems. From what I know Mondeo's are not as reliable as Toyota Camrys, but then what is?
The Mondeo's main faults are very poor resale value, cramped rear seats and the slightly controversal looks. Oh, and on the original equipment Goodyear tyres, tyre noise is a problem. Fit better tyres and that problem disappears.
However, controversal looks do not make a car a lemon. Styling is very much a matter of opinion.
Also, poor sales do not automatically mean a lemon. The Mondeo sold very well in Europe, the US and NZ. The fact that it didn't in Australia is not a reflection on the car, but rather on Ford's poor marketing of it.
So, how is the Mondeo a lemon? Can you explain it to me?
motorsportnerd
08-06-2004, 08:19 AM
Hang on you cant put the Taurus as a dud and not include the AU, both cars are in the same boat here, It was rumerd that the Taurus was fantastic car to drive just dont get out in the light and see it. Many say the same for the AU drives great but only drive it at night, The same joke backfired when ford used it on holden VY. I used to like the mondeo when the rat was in the 2lt in the uk. but that pic makes it look like a Mecedes benz. or a lexus
I haven't driven a Taurus, but by all accounts it wasn't as good to drive as a Falcon EF/EL. Let alone an AU.
The AU, to my mind, is a better looking car than the Taurus. However, I'll admit that a VT Commodore is a better looking car than an AU. Styling tends to be subjective.
When I suggested that the Taurus was the only dud mentioned, I did so mainly because it is the only one mentioned by Brum which ever got really bad reviews for the way it drove.
And isn't it a good thing that you think the Mondeo's styling can be compared to a Lexus or a Merc?
SlickHolden
08-06-2004, 10:10 AM
Even stevie wonder would say the VT was better looking then the AU lol.
My mate was there at the melbourne motor show when ford brought the tortus Taurus here, He said they were all speachless they couldnt figger out which part was the front, Anyway his mate drove one as a company car working for video easy and he ended up buying it cause it drove like a dream he said it wasnt flash outside but nice to drive, It takes a fight to start one the yanks like security. Its a slug looking thing and it was rejected here so AU was doomed ford didnt see the warning signs.
Colty
08-06-2004, 09:31 PM
I like the look of the TE50 and TS50 more than any VT or VX but any other AU doesnt look as good.
fpv_gtho
08-06-2004, 09:34 PM
it really needed a bodykit to sharpen up its droopy lines, part of the reason the ute succeeded
it really needed a bodykit to sharpen up its droopy lines, part of the reason the succeeded
Who designed the AU? Are they still around?
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 12:04 AM
I dont know the names exactly. I do know though that Jac Nasser when he was presdent of Ford Oz pushed for the "New Edge" design, then when he took up the spot of CEO at FoMoCo, he pushe it worldwide in the Taurus, Mondeo, Focus, Falcon, Ka, Puma and every other new Ford after the 1995 GT90.
That was mistake #1 for Nasser. He was finally fired after the Firestone/Explorer rollover tragedies.
I dont know the names exactly. I do know though that Jac Nasser when he was presdent of Ford Oz pushed for the "New Edge" design, then when he took up the spot of CEO at FoMoCo, he pushe it worldwide in the Taurus, Mondeo, Focus, Falcon, Ka, Puma and every other new Ford after the 1995 GT90.
That was mistake #1 for Nasser. He was finally fired after the Firestone/Explorer rollover tragedies.
You know where he is now?
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 12:21 AM
He's the CEO of some international company, im not quite sure which one
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 12:25 AM
This is his job exactly: http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromPersonIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedPersonId=2 34231
Spastik_Roach
08-07-2004, 03:11 AM
The Mondeo is flawed in rear space, my Mums Corona is alot more spacious, but the seats are comfortable enough. The 1.8 Turbo Diesel Mondeo, seems to have little engine and road noise, (I'm using my mates mums 98 Mondeo Diesel as the "test car"), the stereos speakers are a bit lacking but other than that a class act.
What I applauded Ford on is that the AU looked so different from the norm. Rather than Vertical line, horizontal, diagonal, horizontal, diagonal, horizontal, vertical design that is basically always the same, it was noticibly a very different car to the EL. The new BA Falcon returns to the typical sort of Falcon shape, which looks good, but doesn't have that same unique look as the AU did..
Basically what i'm trying to say is that if you took someone who had never heard of Falcons or any Aussie cars before, you could put the EL, ED, And BA in a room all together and this person would identify them as evolutions of the same car, however if you put the AU in it would be harder to recognise it as an evolution.
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 03:30 AM
well i think theres still parts of the EL in the AU,mainly the taillights. when i was alot younger though i used to look at XF, EA/EB/ED and EF/EL and be able to imagine how the headlights and tailights morphed over the years
SlickHolden
08-07-2004, 06:56 AM
My bro said the guy in charge of AU was a yank and he was fired sent home he thinks he might have been the brain behind the tortus comming here also. But he wasnt 100% sure.
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 06:59 AM
i'm 100% sure he was an Aussie. The one chance a local guy's had at the top and he went and blew it with a design ahead of its time
Karrmann
08-07-2004, 08:35 AM
well, ford is also been having quality problems in the states sincee 1988. Ford is plainly going downhill.
SlickHolden
08-07-2004, 09:36 AM
They need more help from downunder i think lol.
fpv_gtho
08-07-2004, 06:48 PM
Well if they want to still compete with DC and GM with their new RWD's, they too will need a good RWD platform or 2, and we're the only ones still making quality, cheap RWD cars. Ford have DEWlite and DEW98 but i think theyre a bit expensive. Dont even mentin Panther though
Colty
08-08-2004, 04:53 AM
I thought the person who designed the AU was the same person who designed the taurus, am i right?
fpv_gtho
08-08-2004, 05:01 AM
I think its possible, but this is the story i know:
1995 - GT90 concept released, showing Fords "New Edge" design global face. Around 1996-7, Jac Nasser, then President of Ford Australia pushed for the $700 millioin AU Falconn to feature the "New Edge" designing. Jac Nasser is promoted to CEO of the entire Ford World and makes his mark by ensuring all new products from the compact Puma and Focus, the new Mondeo and large cars such as the Taurus and Falcon all feature the one common design. Shortly after, with Fords drastically nosediving sales and the lawsuits from the Explorer rollovers, Nasser gets the boot around 2001 and is replaced by Bill Ford Jnr.
The only thing now is Bill Ford Jnr has made practically all the latest new Ford products feture a retro theme, from the Thunderbird, Mustang, 49 concept, Fusion etc.