Ford US announces massive plan regarding Ford Australia

[sick holden]

Coventry, yes I agree around a $100 isn't much but that will undoubtedly increase whereas tax for small economical cars and hybrids will drop. Like you I can't see much of a market for them really other than some people having them for their oddity value.

Ford Australia produced a new Capri years ago which was an ugly disaster, it looked like a bad kit car on Mazda running gear.

How many Monaros were actually sold in the UK ? If they do start sending Commonwhores to the UK they had better have good warranty back up and loads of spares :-)

[syko]

Ford Australia produced a new Capri years ago which was an ugly disaster, it looked like a bad kit car on Mazda running gear.

They weren't that bad, especially the later ones. They hold there value quite well, good ones are still around $12000 and the mazda mechanics meant that they will last quite a while. The only downside was the roof leaking and the hard top ones didn't fold, so you had to physically remove it when you wanted the top down.

[sick holden]

The best value I can find for one is $9,300 for the top of the range model, considering they were $34,000 new I'm not sure if that represents holding it's value well. Older ones are worth upwards of $2,300. The were a very unattractive car. The Mazda mechanicals were certainly a bonus.

[fpv_gtho]

Hey this is good new for Australia both daddies now wont there baby's to take big lead rolls, See Aussie's do it best

Is this lights truck more maybe the size a maybe a Ford Ute Something smaller then the F series pickups?? Not everyone wants one of them big things to get around in when they can have a good size one with 300kw.
This all might fund a new Ford Ute that doesn't rely on the Sedan at all.


Thats seems familiar
Not a Fan of the Falcon and Commodore

It would more than likely be the replacement for the Courier. Ford have a facelift coming at the end of the year, although that could very well still be very similar to the current model underneath

£40 (96AUD) per year more road tax for "gas guzzlers" isn't much of a penalty.

The price of fuel is the problem.

Predictions are that petrol will soon reach £1 per litre (2.40AUD)

The last Ford SUV sold in the UK was the Escape under a different name. It sold so badly that they gave up after a while - most looking at that type of vehicle went for a Freelander.

I think that there may not be a big enough market for the Territory - most people are more interested in brand image, so people will be more likely to buy a Land Rover.

Big saloons that aren't German or Jaguar are very unpopular at the moment as well, so that more or less rules the Falcon out, but there are rumours that Holden may start sending over high power Commodores to replace the Monaro.

The Monaro was a big success here, time for a Ford version to replace it?

It would certainly add to the Ford "ST" sporting brand's credibility.

The idea of a "new" Capri also keeps cropping up - a large V6/V8 coupe fits that bill.

Do you think Ford could get away with trying to market them as more of a niche product, even with Holdens presence?

[sick holden]

A GT40 could be sold as a niche product, not sure if a 4x4 based on a family sedan would meet the same criteria.

[fpv_gtho]

Thats the thing though, a niche market doesnt have to have criteria. It can just be something that doesnt fit into a mainstream market, and it could be argued both the Falcon and Territory wouldnt fit in any traditional UK market. Just like the Monaro has over there

[sick holden]

I don't know, there is more to importing a few 'odd' cars, they need a full parts, service and warranty back up, is it worth it for the numbers they would sell ? There is a huge choice of cars in the UK and I'm not sure a Falcon would sell at all to be honest.

[fpv_gtho]

Theyve put the effort in to export what might only be 200 cars a year to Thailand a year. Surely this would be less of a challenge

[sick holden]

Well I don't think it would be money well spent but American car companies don't seem very good at money management do they ? :-)

[fpv_gtho]

Well unlike the US market, our cars can be sold in the UK at an increased price, and people still might buy them as for the price they cant get anything that size with the same sort of handling/power. That was the Monaro's main attraction

[fpv_gtho]

Theres a little bit more amongst this: http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/car-review/1738735.aspx

[Coventrysucks]

Thats the thing though, a niche market doesnt have to have criteria. It can just be something that doesnt fit into a mainstream market, and it could be argued both the Falcon and Territory wouldnt fit in any traditional UK market. Just like the Monaro has over there

The FPV/GT Falcons could certainly fill a niche, but I doubt there would be many takers for the "boring" versions.

There has been a slow but steady stream of Holden Commodores - mostly HSV versions being imported by specialists since the late-mid '90s, and the popularity of the Monaro shows that there is a market for big lairy (and relatively cheap) saloons.

The Territory could be quite popular; it depends on how they market it, how much they want to sell it for etc.

[fpv_gtho]

The FPV/GT Falcons could certainly fill a niche, but I doubt there would be many takers for the "boring" versions.

There has been a slow but steady stream of Holden Commodores - mostly HSV versions being imported by specialists since the late-mid '90s, and the popularity of the Monaro shows that there is a market for big lairy (and relatively cheap) saloons.

The Territory could be quite popular; it depends on how they market it, how much they want to sell it for etc.

Thats understandable, even here theres less and less buyers buying the base models, and prefering to pay more for either the luxury models or the sports models.

I think Tom Walkinshaw has plans to start importing HSV sedans pretty soon, as well as setting up a tuning arm, so that could be something Ford can keep an eye out on.

[SlickHolden]

I seen more of the Ford story on the news it's a very good commitment to building here for a decade, I hate to say it but the same commitment isn't coming from fishermen's bend, Now it could be they dont need to or just don't wont to?. But with Lutz and his big gob something like this from holden would be comforting to the many workers.

Falcon500, that is absolutely true.
I am not a big fan of Falcons/Commodores. I have had a few Falcons in my time but the recent models don't do much for me. Friends who have had them have had more than their fair share of problems. I have a Magna with 260,000 k's and it runs like a dream. If I was to buy a new locally made big car it would be a Toyota I think or a 380.

Wouldn't run as good as my Commodore with over 300,000 on the clock.

All cars have problems but you never here about the ones that don't have issues only the ones that do.

[nota]

They weren't that bad, especially the later ones. They hold there value quite well, good ones are still around $12000 and the mazda mechanics meant that they will last quite a while. The only downside was the roof leaking and the hard top ones didn't fold, so you had to physically remove it when you wanted the top down.

Absolutely agree with you

Capris certainly improved along the way and they weren't a bad jigger for those of open mind. A friend of mine risked an early Capri when it was 5 y/o and she had a great run out of it, resale was good too. In a kind gesture Ford even replaced the entire soft top for free - despite it being way out of warranty and her second-owner status. I reckon they look ok too, they seem to have aged well and are certainly distinctive. Turbo Capris went well and in particular the final Clubsport & Barchetta were good units and have proven to be very solid value for what they were

The best value I can find for one is $9,300 for the top of the range model, considering they were $34,000 new I'm not sure if that represents holding it's value well. Older ones are worth upwards of $2,300.

You must be joking - surely? Capris are now 12 to 18 years old so $9300 doesn't sound too bad at all for a supposed unloved lemon!
A retained-value figure of around 30% is sensational for at worst a twelve y/o car

Have you checked out how little 1988 Camrys or Magnas are worth these days? They are worth bugger all. Likewise no 1994 Camry or Magna will bring anywhere near $9300 that's for sure .. in fact I could buy a 2001 Magna tomorrow for under $9k

The marketplace speaks for itself and most cars including fancy badges like Mercedes and BMW have incurred far FAR greater depreciation than those nifty little Capris have

http://www.drive.com.au/used/search/...995&pr=5000%7c