Hypothetical: Post 2015 Falcon

[THE SLUG]

I think they need:
A diesel option
A 4 cylinder option
A more powerful option (3.5L V6, 4.0I6, with the option of LPI)
A sports six cylinder (3.5 V6 Ecoboost, 4.0L I6 Turbo)
An ordinary V8 (5.0L)
A V8 with more balls (5.0L Supercharged V8)
Better quality interior components
Not to be so cheap (wind down rear windows)
And finally stay RWD!

[FG_Frodza]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

In my opinion it would actually be worth dropping the XR6 and just having the XR6T, have a sports kit option for the XT & G6 if people want an XR6.

Sorry mate - disagree.

People won't be bothered getting an XT and optioning it up if the want an XR6, most people will go buy and SV6 or Aurion Sportivo.

What I think is that the XR6 should have more than stiffer suspension and body kit..

How about a sports exhaust system? Mild tune? Bigger intake? Then the XR in XR6 will mean something again and people (like me) wont have to buy a new exhaust/CAI/flash tune for their new ride, then aim the G6 at fleets rather than the XR.

My 2 cents.

[THE SLUG]

double post

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by FG_Frodza

Sorry mate - disagree.

People won't be bothered getting an XT and optioning it up if the want an XR6, most people will go buy and SV6 or Aurion Sportivo.

What I think is that the XR6 should have more than stiffer suspension and body kit..

How about a sports exhaust system? Mild tune? Bigger intake? Then the XR in XR6 will mean something again and people (like me) wont have to buy a new exhaust/CAI/flash tune for their new ride, then aim the G6 at fleets rather than the XR.

My 2 cents.

One of the reasons that XR6 flourished in fleet sales was that the original FG XT was very ordinary
with dull styling on nose, poxy steel wheels, very basic appointments and trim/colours.

If Ford really wants to reinvigorate the XR6, they must reinvigorate the XT too so that people start buying it,
I think Ford have done a nice job of sprucing it up to a point where people wouldn't be ashamed to own one.
This has to rub off on the XR6, making it more exclusive...well, that's gotta be the plan for Ford.

After all the cost difference between XT/XR6 and G6 has to be bugger all for the factory,
different nose, lights, interior - all the little things that make distinction work across three models.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Change of pace- Ford now imports only the 5-door Mondeo and its stationwagon brother.

instead of a sedan, should Ford be looking at a 5-door Falcon as the future vehicle?
Would this give more versatility without going for both sedan & station wagon products?

Would Ford be able to alter Mondeo's rear hatch or the engineering to work on a 5-door Falcon?



Or is this a bad idea?

What a Falcon becomes is important. As much as an upgraded stereo or LED lights are great features - these things wont make Falcon sales rise from 1600 up to 3500 a month.

Ford should look at the sales figures of the Falcon,Aurion, Maxima, (dead) Mitsubishi 380 which are sedan only, they sell crap, and then look at the Commodore with its 30-40% wagon take-up rate.

Personally If Ford has only the money to do 1 or 2 bodystyles then it should dump the sedan first. Have 5 door hatch and wagon.

Dumping sedan wont lose many sedan customers at all, in fact most sedan buyers would be happy driving a nicely styled 5 door Falcon or wagon Falcon. Heck look how many former sedan owners now drive SUVs, CUVs, hatches, sation wagons, people movers and 4wds. Sedan buyers are happy to trade up to more versatility and utility. However, SUV, CUV, hatches, station wagon, people mover and 4wd owners are far less likely in my opinion to move back into a sedan once they have tasted a more usable bodystyle.

Over the next few years what are today's Mazda 3, Focus, Rav4, Forester, CRV, Golf, Mazda6, Kluger, Outlander, Corolla owners going to want to trade into? Will it be a large sedan? probably not. A large 5 door hatch or wagon? maybe..

Ford killed the Mondeo sedan in Australia and instead focused on the 5 door hatch and wagon, they should probably seriously consider doing it to Falcon.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Ford should look at the sales figures of the Falcon,Aurion, Maxima, (dead) Mitsubishi 380 which are sedan only, they sell crap, and then look at the Commodore with its 30-40% wagon take-up rate.

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by THE SLUG

Not to be so cheap (wind down rear windows)

Wind down rear windows died on the BFII XT sedan and BFIII XT wagon.

Agree with your points too

[imugli]

Originally Posted by Brazen

What a Falcon becomes is important. As much as an upgraded stereo or LED lights are great features - these things wont make Falcon sales rise from 1600 up to 3500 a month.

Ford should look at the sales figures of the Falcon,Aurion, Maxima, (dead) Mitsubishi 380 which are sedan only, they sell crap, and then look at the Commodore with its 30-40% wagon take-up rate.

Personally If Ford has only the money to do 1 or 2 bodystyles then it should dump the sedan first. Have 5 door hatch and wagon.

Dumping sedan wont lose many sedan customers at all, in fact most sedan buyers would be happy driving a nicely styled 5 door Falcon or wagon Falcon. Heck look how many former sedan owners now drive SUVs, CUVs, hatches, sation wagons, people movers and 4wds. Sedan buyers are happy to trade up to more versatility and utility. However, SUV, CUV, hatches, station wagon, people mover and 4wd owners are far less likely in my opinion to move back into a sedan once they have tasted a more usable bodystyle.

Over the next few years what are today's Mazda 3, Focus, Rav4, Forester, CRV, Golf, Mazda6, Kluger, Outlander, Corolla owners going to want to trade into? Will it be a large sedan? probably not. A large 5 door hatch or wagon? maybe..

Ford killed the Mondeo sedan in Australia and instead focused on the 5 door hatch and wagon, they should probably seriously consider doing it to Falcon.

I had a response written but you said it better.

[THE SLUG]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Wind down rear windows died on the BFII XT sedan and BFIII XT wagon.

Agree with your points too

Oh they did? Well hallelujah for that!
And it's good to see that there's some like minded people