What Should Ford Do To Become Number One?

[sleekism]

All I hear from bloody Toyota and Holden Supporters all the time is how more bloody Camrys Corollas and Dunnydoors are sold ignoring when I point out that Ford makes more profit per vehicle and technically you should count territory and falcons together.

The sad thing is that Ford Oz was number one wif the XF with a total absence of the V8......

I hear a lot of talk that the Falcon should downsize but the last time that hapnd people flocked to the AU and when holden went from big kingswood to small commodore it almost sent them broke........

[xr6ist]

Shoot you out of a cannon into the sun

[Falcon Coupe]

12 posts with 5 polls started.
Do you really need everyones opinion on a graph with every thread you start ?

[Mechan1k]

Have Polls come back into fashion ... I remember at one point the most of the 1st page on The Bar was filled with Polls.

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Have Polls come back into fashion ... I remember at one point the most of the 1st page on The Bar was filled with Polls.

Sad, sad, days....
He is new, will learn one day....

[Danny]

You seem to have missed a poll option:

"No matter what they do, nothing will make them #1 again for a LOOOOONG time..."

[Zedjay]

they need to bring in the V6 mustang as a base model that everyone can afford!!

i reckon thats were holden went wrong... if they had of bought out a V6 executive monaro they would of sold shlt loads!!

remember back in the day you could buy a 186 monaro or a xy 6cyl GS

bring back affordability lol

[majin_andrew]

Ford needs to directly target Holden in their advertising. For example, in the Captiva diesel ad, Holden claims better fuel economy than Territory.
Ford should actually state in their fiesta ads etc that the Barina and Captiva etc are Korean and none of the Fords are.
Ford should also state in reply to the Captiva ad that Territory was built in Australia specifically for Australian conditions.

If Holden can rubbish a product which has won Wheels COTY, then Ford can rubbish Holden's Korean junk.

Edit: Sorry, just realised this is about Falcons. Oh well, I hope you enjoyed reading this anyway.

[majin_andrew]

I'm not sure what Ford can do. As has been shown in the past, a great car doesn't always translate to great sales. If Falcon became number one, it would be because of an improvement in marketing IMO.

[FTE217]

It just won't happen anymore, the past is the past,bugger all choices before compared to the market nowadays.
They don't have enough production lines,not enough model choices and not enough $$$ especially while FordUS can't get their act together.

[ebxr8240]

They need top quality cars like the size of Mondeo from $15,000 through to $30,000 in various sizes.. Some with electric / gas motors...
Some of the bigger with turbo diesels at cheap prices or at least cheap base prices... Having driven a few new-sh Euro 4wd diesels lately you wouldn't know they are diesels the way they perform with approx twice the economy of petrol powered....Toyota have 4 or 5 different models in the mid sized car.. Where Ford only have one. This is where Ford are loosing big time when it comes to sales...The big car market is not going to hold the market...This is blatantly obvious in U.S...The Jap cars are killing them...
They need a body that can be diversable that can be built as a small station wagon down to a two door pocket rocket on same platform saving millions on production costs much like the Corolla...

[1600GT]

im going to get flack over this, but maybe they should actually build some decent quality into their cars by taking some care in putting them together (instead of throwing them together to get them out the door..) to cut down on expensive warranty claims (that eat profits that can be used on developing new models...) and also look after their customers in both sales and after-sale to ensure they return when they want/need a new car, instead of spending their money elsewhere simply due to being sick to death of they crap they try to put over u time after time...
hence, a competitor is getting my next $...

[pistonbroken]

Ford could look at loosing 200kg.And also add a deisel option.And I know the 2 don't go together.
And a small car in turbo deisel.
More marketing would also help.

[Barra182]

Ford just need to produce something special with the next Falcon. Considering how much effort Holden put into designing the VE Commodore. And they seriously need to improve the Boss 260/290. They are in no comparison to the L98 in the VE SS.

[pistonbroken]

Originally Posted by 1600GT

im going to get flack over this, but maybe they should actually build some decent quality into their cars by taking some care in putting them together (instead of throwing them together to get them out the door..) to cut down on expensive warranty claims (that eat profits that can be used on developing new models...) and also look after their customers in both sales and after-sale to ensure they return when they want/need a new car, instead of spending their money elsewhere simply due to being sick to death of they crap they try to put over u time after time...
hence, a competitor is getting my next $...

X2
Quality and service could make them no.1 in the long run.

[AussieJason]

Originally Posted by 1600GT

im going to get flack over this, but maybe they should actually build some decent quality into their cars by taking some care in putting them together (instead of throwing them together to get them out the door..) to cut down on expensive warranty claims (that eat profits that can be used on developing new models...) and also look after their customers in both sales and after-sale to ensure they return when they want/need a new car, instead of spending their money elsewhere simply due to being sick to death of they crap they try to put over u time after time...
hence, a competitor is getting my next $...

I agree 100%. This is what Toyota do, and look where they are now.

[Night Runner]

I think if they were to become #1 they would lose build quality and perhaps their true fans and supporters. They would do what most big companies are doing and in most cases HAVE to do and look at overseas companies to build the majority of their products for the cheap labour/build costs. This will more than likely result in the same cars but for 1/2 as much which is what will (obviously) help drive sales up.

You need to build great looking, performing cars in the right money market and that is a cocktail that is hard or almost impossible to do in today's econo-car market. Big companies are losing out to cheaply built imports. Like Muscle cars back in the 60s/70s. Awesome wild machines that any average working class Joe could go in and buy. Supercar performance on minimum wage, those were the days.

My 0.02c

[Tles]

Ford buying needs to be a Quality experience overall, From the first ad, or vehicle you spot on the road, which catches your attention and desire and drags you into the showroom - through buying, ownership, warranty, service and driving.
For too long us Ford buyers were forgotten about while the Marketing and sales guys chased new business. Hey we bought the cars, give us what we want and decent enough resale to be able to buy another one. Protect and address your core market, nothing wrong with being tribal, especially when your making a quid. A dual cab Territory RTV and a Territory XR - (TS turbo) with Cloth/Leather wouldn't hurt either.
If my son still wants Fords when he is my age then Ford is getting it right.

Otherwise,

Originally Posted by 1600GT

im going to get flack over this, but maybe they should actually build some decent quality into their cars by taking some care in putting them together (instead of throwing them together to get them out the door..) to cut down on expensive warranty claims (that eat profits that can be used on developing new models...) and also look after their customers in both sales and after-sale to ensure they return when they want/need a new car, instead of spending their money elsewhere simply due to being sick to death of they crap they try to put over u time after time...
hence, a competitor is getting my next $...

Cause he's got a point or two...

[Jayden]

Maybe falcons number 1 days are over. the best cars have never been number 1 sellers though, too good for human consumption. Maybe focus on getting the mondeo and focus to fill in the mainstream as the 6s are sliding thx to fuel prices. And the falcon will still be around forever but build them better for a more refined market: performance. and keep the fairlane/ltd for luxuary!

either that or blow the planet away with orions awsomeness, then people will buy it. like how ford US still moves Mustangs off the line. The Mustang is an immortal name it will always be reinvented, if it dies it will return. if ford dies someone will still find a way to produce it in some form. Falcon is also an Immortal thx to a rich heritage of awsome cars like the XYs etc. I have a good feeling when im 120 years old there will be water powered Ford Falcons flying past my apartment window on level 590. Maybe Ford will be a brand subsidary of c.r.a.p (China Royal Automotive Propriety) ltd. who could possibly know.

[LTDHO]

There are a lot Ford Aust can do, none of which are in your poll.

[TheSneakiness]

From reading here of other peoples experience with Ford, customer service would be a huge step in the right direction.

[osiris]

there are a lot of things that ford aus could do, from marketing , (ie small holden cars captiva barina etc made in korea adn taiwan etc rubbishing it on the territory about fuel economy ( well dah. its a smaller engine u twats!!) ) to a car thats designed in aus, for aus by aus, built and driven in aus.... to making sure that theyre put together right, customers feel that theyve had a good hassle free experience.

when holden brought out the crewman, they found an instant market. this is a car concept that has been needed for a long time.

also, bringing the affordability back to the range would help.

[ClevlndStemer]

So much Ford could do but it won't happen. A reputation can't be built up over night. Ford in Aus are seen as cars that blow head gaskets all the time and are generally seen on the side of the road, thats how many see the cars. A friend of mine was after a F6, he is usually a JAP car fan but liked the sound of what the F6 offered. Anyway he was concerned about the quality/reliability. I told him the reliability isn't a problem as such but moreso the quality, he went down to the dealer and had a look and was pretty disappointed at the quality offered. Doors mismatched and not painted, interior was very flimsy and the general feel of the car felt bad.

These are the things Ford need to deal with, the quality, everything else is fine, the cars look good, drive well, just absolutely shocking quality.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by [ NZTS50 ]

I think if they were to become #1 they would lose build quality and perhaps their true fans and supporters. They would do what most big companies are doing and in most cases HAVE to do and look at overseas companies to build the majority of their products for the cheap labour/build costs. This will more than likely result in the same cars but for 1/2 as much which is what will (obviously) help drive sales up.

You need to build great looking, performing cars in the right money market and that is a cocktail that is hard or almost impossible to do in today's econo-car market. Big companies are losing out to cheaply built imports. Like Muscle cars back in the 60s/70s. Awesome wild machines that any average working class Joe could go in and buy. Supercar performance on minimum wage, those were the days.

My 0.02c

They have **** all build quality..

[FPVTurboTaxi]

you missed the obvious one

Build a car that doesnt fall apart rattle squeek like a 30 year old car that has 5000 kms on the clock and is less than 3 months old . i doubt i will be buying another ford

the explanation from the dealers that they all do it or yes we can put another diff in it but it will be the same doesnt wash with me anymore

i would not mind if i could take it in for waranty and be half happy but its really a joke ..

[Rev28K]

"Import all parts including motors from chinese sweatshops"

I've heard that the new FPV/XRs aren't going to have Momo wheels, they will use a Chinese made wheel.

[Dr Smith]

Just stick to building better quality cars that have high driving enjoyment factor, don't chase sales by matching Toyota's ridiculous pricing and don't worry about market leadership AS LONG as profitability remains high enough that it's worth producing cars in Australia and for some new export markets.

[JC]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

There are a lot Ford Aust can do, none of which are in your poll.

Yeh - you left out "Put a Holden/Toyota badge on Falcons".

[Dave_au]

I can tell you now that Falcon isn't in the formula for Falcon to become number one.

Give it a year or two and Corolla will probably be number one, it's already second now.

[Danny]

The falcon has a shocking image, From the gleaming tecnhologically advanced BA that was unveiled in 02, they have quickly recieved a reputation of being crappy falling apart sh1tt3ers with low build quality. Our family has had a S1 BA XR6 and Dad Currently owns a BFII XR8 Ute.

The XR8 has the full leather and Fairmont dash with IIC and Premium Dual Zone climate, and the quality of the thing is awful! Poor button Placement, rattling buttons, some of them even sit diagonally in their slots. Awful cut lines plastic everywhere I could go on. There is a reason Falcons are as crap as they are, and that is becasue Ford build them like that. The Taxi and EA reputation will never be shed unless they begin to smarten up. Orion is a good oppotunity to fix their woes.

I bleed blue for falcons I really do, I HATE to see this reputation befall them. If I didn't have to have an economical car for uni commute, Hell I'd have a Typhoon or an XR6 Turbo. For those who buy a falcon and want a sporty classy well built car, I scream inside when die hard blue ovalists can spend that sort of (XR, Typh, GT,) money only to be told by the masses that it is a TAXI or a headgasket blowing heap of sh11t.

Honestly if something can be done, its still going to take YEARS for the Ford Falcon to shed such a reputation.... Look at Lexus, Its been 20 years and people STILL think they're a camry...