FPV GT to be killed off early

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Most of us? I couldnt care how many falcons are/were sold either
Comparing when big cars dominated the market to now isnt right.
Yeah the falcon generated jobs. But in the end it/buyers lost those jobs, times are changing and Ford is moving with them, there is no point making something that no one wants.

After all what badge is on the front of a falcon?

Anyway we all know opinions are like... everyone has one

Clearly there are those who have worked in the industry (not sales) that appreciate the impact all this mess is going to have, so to say you couldnt care less is rather selfish.

It is true that the market has changed, but it was Ford that did not adapt to attempt to slow the blood shed and it is jobs that concern Australians that we should be worried about. Ultimately I too dont mind what plan they went with, build a focus/mondeo/whatever here, but they chose to shut it all down.

Agreed things cant last forever, but talk about kicking a dog while its down.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

I think the Mustang will attract a whole new group of potential buyers and may just sell equivalent or better numbers than FPV...?

.

Might be difficult - FPV were selling GT / F6 sedan and ute variants for a while.

Mustang is still very bogan - so it wont likely attract any new crowds that weren't unearthed by FPV. Considering Mustang is 2 door - there will be plenty of Finance Ministers around the country that will likely frown upon any foray into a car with less space / less practicality and less room for the little princes and princesses........

I'm betting it sells in big numbers to begin with.......and then just drops off vertically as the target buyer group dries up. Would also have limited novated lease attraction ?

[pottery beige]

thread is passionate.. passionate is thread..

there are owners of both old and new GTs in this thread.. and those looking to become owners..

those that can't afford new.. there's plenty of good buying second hand..

buy them and love em up..

[Dr Smith]

I guess I'm more a half glass full person so looking at the story and if it's true then what I take from it is that the next Falcon has enough changing externally that it isn't financially viable to pay for the tooling to also make a new body kit for the F6's/GT's . Even F gen HSV's now are less differentiated to the donar car then before and they should have had more money to spend then Ford. I've always preferred a G6ET over and XR6T and a GTE over a GTP. The sad truth is we only have the Australian buyers choice of vehicles for the falling large car market. If Ford badge engineered a BMW 5 series as the next Falcon and at Falcon prices, would sales jump enough to maintain production here, not really, simply because the biggest selling vehicle only gets to an average 3500+ sales a month. How do you recoup $500mill to $1billion on such sales numbers. Holden can't anymore and Toyota don't because they don't r&d a vehicle from sketch to customer job 1 in Oz. Next months Ford reveal is going to be very interesting.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Clearly there are those who have worked in the industry (not sales) that appreciate the impact all this mess is going to have, so to say you couldnt care less is rather selfish.

It is true that the market has changed, but it was Ford that did not adapt to attempt to slow the blood shed and it is jobs that concern Australians that we should be worried about. Ultimately I too dont mind what plan they went with, build a focus/mondeo/whatever here, but they chose to shut it all down.

Agreed things cant last forever, but talk about kicking a dog while its down.

You missed my point.
Just because i couldnt care how many falcons were sold doesnt mean i dont care about the jobs and how they may have been salvaged by producing something else here, ie Focus if it were fee sable.
So im not being selfish at all.
Ford could have stemmed it by producing something else here, well im my eyes they could have but its all well and good for me and many others to say that. But we arent the ones looking at the numbers and making the tough decisions.
What annoys me is when people say Ford could have done this and should have done that, when they really dont know the goings on.

[Tysonv48]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Today's generation is not comprised of motoring enthusiasts, so your response will look like this.

1. Prius
2. Fiesta
3. Escape/Kuga
4. CRV
5. Fiat 500 (because they think the Beats audio is cooool maaaan!)


etc etc..

As an 18 year old I disagree most parents at this age have a phenomanl Influence on the cars that we drive. Most of my friends drive Volos and subarus due to the safety ratings and fuel economy.

The majority of my mates want a big v8 ie ss or xr8, this decision however is no longer simple with the regulations enforced on p platers that means a brand loyalty isn't developed at the same young age that it used too. By the time were of p's the money needs to be focused on other things.

Let's face it the V8's have so much more presence than the I6 which is seen as slow.

Just my 2 Cents

[HEMI POWER]

I hope the Mustang exceeds most expectations, myself personally not a big fan of later model two door cars.A real pain in the *** to get in and out especially if you have a young guy.Will the Mustang work here I don't think so.I would be more inclined to buy a XR8 than a Mustang.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Polyal

My anger is that while the decision on cancelling the Falcon is fair enough, atleast let it go with some dignity. All I ask is that the Falcon be gievn the means to spread to other people who otherwise mightn't buy one, thats how you grow a product, not by satisfying a small band of diehards.

And a GT is undoubtedly satisfying a small band of diehards who can afford such a car.

Mate, I think you're talking in circles because you're letting anger get the better of you,
why not wait and see just what kinds of V8 Ford will offer in 2014 as a send off,
keen price and features of that car may reach people that wouldn't consider an $80K Falcon.

You're obviously very passionate on this subject so with respect, this will be my last post on this thread,
giving you the last say and leaving the discussion to others. This is a time when we should be pulling together,
not turning on each other because of perceived differences of opinion, we are all Ford and Falcon fans down to our boots.

Originally Posted by HEMI POWER

I hope the Mustang exceeds most expectations, myself personally not a big fan of later model two door cars.A real pain in the *** to get in and out especially if you have a young guy.Will the Mustang work here I don't think so.I would be more inclined to buy a XR8 than a Mustang.

The build quality of FGII is far and away better than what Ford NA offers in the GT Mustang,
plenty of people I know, have sampled the product first hand (including my self),
the nicest thing I can say is that it's..."basic", read into that what you like...

[manny.miner]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Ok, so they're going to kill the GT basically in name, and revive the XR8 and make it the GT in body and practice. Retarded decision is retarded.

Also Flappist you forgot the highly sought after RTV Fairlane option.

I agree on the retarded bit. How many guys here were prepared to purchase "the last ever GT" whether it be in 2014 or 2016? There were heaps of us.

They don't need to rebadge the GT as an XR8, but if they did well, it'll only ever be an XR8. Helps keep the value of my GT I guess.

I don't want to offend any XR8 owners by any means, however, the GT earnt its place as a flagship Ford performance vehicle and should be kept as such.

Sent from my Fg GT

[pearlhead]

Originally Posted by jpd80

And a GT is undoubtedly satisfying a small band of diehards who can afford such a car.

Mate, I think you're talking in circles because you're letting anger get the better of you,
why not wait and see just what kinds of V8 Ford will offer in 2014 as a send off,
keen price and features of that car may reach people that wouldn't consider an $80K Falcon.

You're obviously very passionate on this subject so with respect, this will be my last post on this thread,
giving you the last say and leaving the discussion to others. This is a time when we should be pulling together,
not turning on each other because of perceived differences of opinion, we are all Ford and Falcon fans down to our boots.

Have all my THANK YOUs!!!

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Polyal

This is an extreme case, Im well aware of all the costs involved but it would have been nice (yes romance has little to do with business decisions) for everything to be done right, not pull further costs out because its all to hard.

That is the attitude that has got Ford to this point, its all just to hard.

I disagree, it's not that it's all too hard, Ford just clued onto and accepted their fate earlier than Holden. I don't think Ford/FPV's attitude towards romantic grandeur (think Monaro, Crewman, Adventra and HSV's spinoffs as well as assorted concept cars) has gotten them to this point. Large cars are becoming increasingly irrelevant (either rightly or wrongly) and I believe unfortunately, that in spite of all the effort Holden has put in to building it's persona and nurturing the equity within it over the last half century, it too will close and it will all count for nothing...perhaps that brand equity will bolster sales of it's imported Chevy models in the short term. However based on the strengths of it's products and (hopefully) a well panned marketing onslaught I think will go from strength to strength.

[Bluehoon]

It's well known that the value of the infamous X-Series Gt's is to their respective generation and those who can afford it.

The same will happen (in time with the B/FG Series FPV's in all their marque's). The value and perception will apply to this generation and, is, mustang for the next.

XR8 as a send off, yes please! There's no harm in FPV there, just enjoyment for us.

[GT014]

Think ill wait until Aug 13 to see how it pans out. I reckon they will have the GT but wont be a huge change from the XR6 in terms of bodykit. Maybe different spoiler, wheels and some striping.

In the latest Wheels magazine, they talk about a FPV badged Mustang, whereas Drive say FPV is gone.

Other than Drive, no one else has spoken to this so called 'insider' who dropped the news. If anything I believe they have their wires crossed and FPV GT will be rebranded Ford GT.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by manny.miner

I agree on the retarded bit. How many guys here were prepared to purchase "the last ever GT" whether it be in 2014 or 2016? There were heaps of us.

They don't need to rebadge the GT as an XR8, but if they did well, it'll only ever be an XR8. Helps keep the value of my GT I guess.

I don't want to offend any XR8 owners by any means, however, the GT earnt its place as a flagship Ford performance vehicle and should be kept as such.

Sent from my Fg GT

XR8 did the hard slog through the 90'and very much earnt it's spot as the top Falcon (and it was a proper modern equivalent of a GT)

When it was decided to attack the juicy sales that HSV had a stranglehold on, the GT name was dusted off for instant cred. My father in law and his brothers owned, drove, and worked on classic GTs and to them, modern GTs are just nice-ish cars with badges that belong on XR-XB Falcons.

[tezxr8man]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Yeah difference is that most of us couldnt care how many Taurus/Mondeos they sell, they are not made here and they do not generate the jobs like the Falcon did locally during its good times. Pretty big difference.

I know i'm with you there but people who aim to buy Australian are few and far between now, it's something I'm not real happy about myself being a younger person.
If this turns out to be true I won't be a fan but the comedy of errors with ford lately could you guys expect any different? common sense seems to be absent in a big way there for the last few years
I can understand the want for the XR8 to have a proper send off tho because lets face it, the GS wasn't right to bring back it's not a Fairmont like it should be.I think it's had its send off now.
I am a big fan of the XR8 and have 3 of them of my own and have owned a few more and its the correct badge to have on the sporty base model v8 and love the aussieness of the falcon in general. where else in the world can we get a car that can do what they can for the price??? you can take your dualcab jap trucks and stick 'em give me a falcon ute any day

[Bossxr8]

I've been hearing rumours internally for at least the past 4 to 5 months about FPV models being downgraded into XR's, but I didn't believe it at first. Plenty of rumours about GS becoming XR8, and also one of Ford ditching the GT and just having the GS because it already has the XR body. Maybe XR8 and GS as 315 and 335?

It's more than the cost of the bodykit, it's also the other unique to FPV stuff that costs money to develop. So much cheaper being an XR body and interior, means it can all be included in the development costs with the XR6 and turbo. But it's nothing but a decision based solely on dollars, from the head and not the heart. Soulless beancounters are now running the show, if they haven't already been doing that for the best part of a decade.

Ford's performance models make up at least 20% of sales going by build numbers, and the GT models are the biggest cash cows of the range, and the most desirable models for people to buy and collect come the last few years. Seems like a pretty dumb decision to me. The yanks are raking in billions of dollars of profit per quarter and are going to skimp here to save a few mil.

[Rockape]

Well there goes my plan to get the last GT. Sorry but XR8 just doesn't do it for me.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Rockape

Well there goes my plan to get the last GT. Sorry but XR8 just doesn't do it for me.

The best example of how a badge sells is comparing the AU3 TE50 to the BA GT.

They were basically similar spec cars at a similar price but the GT sold about 10 times as many vehicles.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

XR8 did the hard slog through the 90'and very much earnt it's spot as the top Falcon (and it was a proper modern equivalent of a GT)

When it was decided to attack the juicy sales that HSV had a stranglehold on, the GT name was dusted off for instant cred. My father in law and his brothers owned, drove, and worked on classic GTs and to them, modern GTs are just nice-ish cars with badges that belong on XR-XB Falcons.

took my modern GT for its fortnightly spin around the block on the weekend and its just as mad as the day i bought it...

it sleeps next to two old GTs

its more than worthy of the badge..

[XA5800]

I recently bought a FG GT & now so glad I did, its a great car & with ford closing down , I think it will be the last chance for US to own something this good, If you can not afford a new GT buy the best car you can afford & cherish the time you have with it , as there will be no more made in Australia

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by flappist

The best example of how a badge sells is comparing the AU3 TE50 to the BA GT.

They were basically similar spec cars at a similar price but the GT sold about 10 times as many vehicles.

its all about the vibe, the feel, the mabo......

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by flappist

The best example of how a badge sells is comparing the AU3 TE50 to the BA GT.

They were basically similar spec cars at a similar price but the GT sold about 10 times as many vehicles.

Yes and no Flappist, there are many who simply skipped the AU entirely due to not liking its looks, I liked the look of the TE50 personally but wouldn't have bought one over the BA GT and wouldn't have bough one with a GT badge but for sure, many held out for a GT as you say

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

took my modern GT for its fortnightly spin around the block on the weekend and its just as mad as the day i bought it...

it sleeps next to two old GTs

its more than worthy of the badge..

Skids in the shed dont count

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

its all about the vibe, the feel, the mabo......

And the BA was reasonably good looking.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Skids in the shed dont count

hahaha Dallas shed skids are fun for ***** n giggles but theres no substitute for skating down a lonely road on the limiter......

[FPV Wombat]

I don't want to believe it. I'm holding out for that announcement in Aug and really hope that it will mention that the GT name will be there till the end. It's a name that deserves a fitting send off not that the powers probably give a rats **** about it really. I think it would be very fitting that it carried the Ford nameplate again as it was to start with. I still don't want to accept the end of the Aussie Falcon but i'm really hoping like a lot of you that FH line up will include the GT and perhaps even a HO as a final fling.

[Rodge]

Soulless beancounters are now running the show, if they haven't already been doing that for the best part of a decade.

Ain't that the truth !! I know how beancounters think and back when Ford bought out Prodrive I predicted this was nothing more than an excercise in Ford "milking the cow" (the FPV mechanical package), for all it was worth for as long as they could get away with it. Plenty of people weren't happy with my line of thinking back then but guess what, its looking like it'll happen, i.e. No new specific mechanical or development costs for FPV vehicles. I believe despite this article coming from drivel, it won;t surprise me in the slightest if its turns out this way and if so its a gutless decision from people without any vision or foresight whatsoever who are looking at the red ink on the profit and loss statement and doing everything in their short-sighted power to mitigate their losses. These people are not performacne enthusiasts like many of us on here and simply cannot understand our way of thinking "there's none so blind as those that will not see"
If you want a GTHO buy a SC GT-P or R Spec, use that as a base and build it yourself before its too late, or defect to the Red team and buy a VF GTS and conceed that the team at HSV had more vision than Ford / FPV

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

took my modern GT for its fortnightly spin around the block on the weekend and its just as mad as the day i bought it...

it sleeps next to two old GTs

its more than worthy of the badge..

Fair enough.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Soulless beancounters

All beancounters are soulless, lol.

[pottery beige]

I thank Mr Geoff Polites, father of the modern GT and Territory..

much different times now, we are all the much richer for the experience..


http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...256CD8001280B3

its been a hell of a ride..