Crazy idea of the day - To support Ford Australia

[mike_nofx]

Heres my crazy idea, and there would be so many issues with why it wouldnt work... bet meh, read along.

If the members of this forum formed groups of 365 members, and each member threw in $100 to group buy 1 Falcon, to make numbers simple, for $36,500. Then keep it for 1-3 years, each person owns and drives the car 1-3 days each, then its resold and the money split back 365 ways, you might lose $30-40 each.

With 63000 members, and in groups of 365 thats about 172 Falcons.

Issues:
*Not all 63,000 members are active, many would be double accounts, not everyone has $100 to spare, Not everyone would want to support and buy Falcon.
*Trying to organise 365 people to share a car would be a nightmare.
*Days the car is in for service and repairs are days 'time sharers' are missing their turn.
*172 cars isnt really a lot, and wouldnt stop a company from closing in the long run.

[blackf6]

Ok done I will chuck in a hungie. But I would like to purchase a GT.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I'd rather pay 100 to do a factory tour, or buy a ticket in a mater cars for cancer raffle.

[05_ENFORCER]

Most crazy ideas end up as farts


.

[TC200six]

I know you have good intentions, but even reaching agreement with 365 members would be very ambitious.

[Brazen]

If we were buying over 100 Falcons you would be getting them a lot cheaper than 36500.

I would be happy to see them donated to families that have lost mum or dad. Maybe rural families who have to travel long distances to get their sick kids treatment. War widows etc.

[jpd80]

What about a time share GS?
13 members at $4,000 each share a GS for 4 weeks every year for say four years.

Maybe a bit more to cover mileage and services...

[mike_nofx]

I didn't even think of donating them, must be my selfish nature, but I like it!

[jpblue1000]

sounds like the familar zip car model. Zip car (city car type thing) buys the cars ( like a group of 365 AFF shareholders) then distribute the cars across the city ( which city?) and offer to members (public) hourly use. works well in UK and USA in my experience. Havent had to try here in OZ.
Zip car pays maintenance, fuel up to a certain distance and tolls but this is covered in hourly rate. was about 7-8 pounds and hour for short rents down to 30-40 a day of 24 hours.
A cooperative of AFF could be arranged but Im not sure Falcons are the desired cars...

JP

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

A cooperative of AFF could be arranged but Im not sure Falcons are the desired cars...

JP

But if its not an Australian made car, what's the point.

[jpblue1000]

I agree mate, but just pointng out the flaw in my own argument.

JP

[Franco Cozzo]

Probably would be a better idea to find out who is buying a new car and in what year, then everyone goes in on a group buy.

Imagine if we had 30 members buying a new car at the same time, good discount to be had I reckon.

That discount might be enough to sway some more people into buying Falcon over import.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Probably would be a better idea to find out who is buying a new car and in what year, then everyone goes in on a group buy.

Imagine if we had 30 members buying a new car at the same time, good discount to be had I reckon.

That discount might be enough to sway some more people into buying Falcon over import.

Perhaps...however, by way of reference a bunch of forum members on LS1 tried this years ago, had around 30 cars to order, but Holden were pretty disinterested in doing anything that remotely looked like a reasonable deal. It was a kind of a "talk to the hand" type treatment

Not saying it couldnt happen now though, times have changed and I'm sure Ford would love to have a few more units down the line, in exchange for a handsome discount on the group buy (like Friends of Ford discount or similar)

[Road_Warrior]

Personally I think the Friends of Ford pricing should be permanent - obviously a buyer has to meet the criteria to be eligible for it - but I would imagine we're only talking a few dozen extra Falcons and Territories per month - a drop in the ocean really, I'm sure they could afford to take a lean cut on those few cars in exchange for some extra cars being pushed out, keeping their assembly plant workers in jobs?

[buggo]

What might be a cool idea, using the share idea and donation one, is get 350 people at $100 each, or 700 at $50, and buy a G6 to donate to a family in dire times.

It could be marketed up to the extreme, not only promoting this great forum, generating a lot more interest, but may sway some punters into a Falcon. Because of the extreme generosity of great Ford owners, and them wanting to be a part of that.

So one donated car, could equal many many more in inspired sales. It could generate a new found patriotism in local cars. Something that has seemed to be lost as of late. It could create a massive roll on effect.

If not though, I'm sure that family who had the car purchased for them will have had their lives changed forever. And that alone could be worth it.

And just one last out-loud thought. There could even be a big forum cruise set up for donations, and it becomes an annual event. Building up the momentum and good feels every year.

And op, nice username Fat Mike ;)

[b2tf]

You know what, I reckon we need another RAID. For those that dont know what it is/was look it up but essentially it was a couple of days of activities in and around Ford's operations - and with their backing.

Charge everyone $100 hell even $200 for a full guided tour of the factory, You Yangs, Geelong engine plant etc. I'd pay it and I reckon a lot of others would too.

[stang65]

Wouldn`t work 50 % of forum members are closet Holden supporters....... waiting for the usual replies from the same people.....

Seriously pull this thread before Dowling sees it and it ends up in the paper as Ford forum users only people willing to buy a Falcon

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by b2tf

You know what, I reckon we need another RAID. For those that dont know what it is/was look it up but essentially it was a couple of days of activities in and around Ford's operations - and with their backing.

Charge everyone $100 hell even $200 for a full guided tour of the factory, You Yangs, Geelong engine plant etc. I'd pay it and I reckon a lot of others would too.

I'd love to do that. trouble for me would be getting down there being up in queensland. work commitments suck lol

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by stang65

Wouldn`t work 50 % of forum members are closet Holden supporters....... waiting for the usual replies from the same people.....

I like both but lean towards ford because of some holden supporters.

[Drizz06]

I'd pay for a tour through fords facilities.

[falconnut]

Ford simply just dont make a competitive product anymore.

Sure if its the taxi, government and police market then its fine.

But alot of people just cant afford a big, heavy, expensive car let alone drive one.

When joe blow is working out the repayment plans down at the stealership i am sure they would pick the 15k crapbox over the 30k falcon.

Then theres the issue of deprecation and after sales service which i hear is as bad if not worse as other brands.

I would love a new car as much as the next person but unless i borrow that money i will never have 30k to drop on a new car

[mik]

lots of good ideas here, i like the donating one mostly to someone that really has had it hard, needs one/deserves one, it should be a GT 335 preferably...... i vote me for the recipient , only joking ,
it would be nice to see someone hard done by get something, it wouldn`t be hard to find someone needy, i read the other day there is 105,000 people in Australia listed or classed as homeless.

[BHDOGS]

ill donate 200 bucks to ford if we can kick out 365 forum members who always bag ford