Are we Witnessing the Last Years of Ford Australia? - Page 5

smoo · 17-01-2025, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Ecosport came and died too,

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...G-AD-23898702/

I saw one on the freeway recently, Fiesta based SUV

Ford Australia struggling to sell SUVs in a market which buys SUVs

Oh yeah that’s right.
I saw a yellow one the other day. With spare wheel on the back door.
Safe to say they haven’t aged too well.

As for struggling to sell, am I right in recalling when they had the full Euro line up, including Mondeo, they made no effort to advertise these models. Instead solely focusing on Ranger.
This was maybe 2015-2020?

**kypez** · 17-01-2025, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

Oh yeah that’s right.
I saw a yellow one the other day. With spare wheel on the back door.
Safe to say they haven’t aged too well.

I'd have loved one with the 1.0 EcoBoost with a proper low range 4x4. Would've been awesome. Would've done really well in India (where they were manufactured for Australia) as well given the success of the Jimny there and other small but purpose built off roaders.

There was an AWD version in Brazil but we never got it in RHD markets.

barra240t · 17-01-2025, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kypez

I'd have loved one with the 1.0 EcoBoost with a proper low range 4x4. Would've been awesome. Would've done really well in India (where they were manufactured for Australia) as well given the success of the Jimny there and other small but purpose built off roaders.

There was an AWD version in Brazil but we never got it in RHD markets.

My sister had a manual 1.0 ecoboost of these for years, no troubles at all.

**kypez** · 17-01-2025, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra240t

My sister had a manual 1.0 ecoboost of these for years, no troubles at all.

That would've been my choice. Manual EcoBoost. But I don't need a small SUV but would love a small 4x4

Franco Cozzo · 17-01-2025, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kypez

That would've been my choice. Manual EcoBoost. But I don't need a small SUV but would love a small 4x4

Like you say, look at the Jimny, flies out the door,

It's like all the imported Kei trucks getting around now, funny how you offer a niche product and suddenly you got unexpected sales happening, the current model Jimny offered to us is a Kei class car, it's sold with a different engine and bumpers in Japan to compete in the Kei class.

How many Thailand Specials are there on offer in Australia? Everyone seems very interested in competing in a very saturated market, and then Kia comes in with the ugliest vehicle since the AU Falcon and pairs it with a 4 cylinder like the other 50 offerings.

The reason Toyota dominates sales is the product range, it also insulates their business from being torpedoed by a new competitor in a segment or legislative changes.

**kypez** · 17-01-2025, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Like you say, look at the Jimny, flies out the door,

It's like all the imported Kei trucks getting around now, funny how you offer a niche product and suddenly you got unexpected sales happening, the current model Jimny offered to us is a Kei class car, it's sold with a different engine and bumpers in Japan to compete in the Kei class.

How many Thailand Specials are there on offer in Australia? Everyone seems very interested in competing in a very saturated market, and then Kia comes in with the ugliest vehicle since the AU Falcon and pairs it with a 4 cylinder like the other 50 offerings.

The reason Toyota dominates sales is the product range, it also insulates their business from being torpedoed by a new competitor in a segment or legislative changes.

Just a side, love the S660 kei car. Sadly, at 188 CMS tall, I simply struggle to fit in it.. Love the concept though!

Ford don't do enough to differentiate at times in a crowded market. Everest was a good idea where it was bigger than the competition and was a proper 4x4 vs the soft roaders. Good play. Terri was that in the 2000's of being a game changer for the price. Sadly, not enough improvement and gave that segment back to the Kluger.

Escape was nice but similar to everything else in the segment. Puma against the Yaris Cross/CX3 was always going to be tough.

Sprintey · 17-01-2025, 01:31 PM

All the more reason to buy one! At 188cm tall, it would be like a road legal dodgems car.

Franco Cozzo · 17-01-2025, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

So looking under bonnet of son's 94 3.9 Disco, alternator is as high up as can possibly be mounted, solid diffs have breather tubes that go up really high, just good engineering in those features. Even then it doesn't completely protect the alternator, as he found out doing mad puddles with mates to his $300 chagrin. You can get sealed alternators, or the youtube fix du jour is to fit and tape an ice cream container over it lol

My memory is getting hazy but I think it's the 76-79 series, or maybe the 200 series which has the alternator mounted down low in the engine bay,

They love being submerged in water

CyberWasp · 17-01-2025, 07:17 PM

How easy would it be to make a Jimny Competitor
Who wants a Baby Bronco...

simon varley · 17-01-2025, 07:30 PM

From 24,990 AUD driveaway

Bronco Sport starts at $29,795 US (47926 AUD) before the 'australia tax'

Crazy Dazz · 17-01-2025, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

My memory is getting hazy but I think it's the 76-79 series, or maybe the 200 series which has the alternator mounted down low in the engine bay,

They love being submerged in water

HUGE problem on site, on the 70 series.

It's not the "being submerged" but the accumulation of dirt & salt. Some sites started fitting sealed (water-cooled) units, rather than replace them every year.

Considering that at one point Toyota had a virtual monopoly on mining light vehicles, the lengths they went to, to shoot themselves in the foot, were extraordinary.

Crazy Dazz · 17-01-2025, 08:01 PM

Considering that Ford manufactures cars allover the world, and that ALL Australian cars are now imported, I find it unlikely that Ford would be unable to source cars at a competitive price.
So I can only put it down to complete disinterest.

At this point, I can only imagine that Ford "Australia" is effectively a subsidiary of Thailand. And when the Ranger loses it's domination, that will be the end of it.

Holden was, for most of history, he biggest seller in Australia, and for much of that their hero-car was no. 1. With brand-loyalty that rivaled Vegemite.
And yet they were unable to translate that into a an ongoing dominant or even sustainable position.

They swapped their other vehicles around, quicker than most of their owners changed undies. And even when they hit on a winner, did their best to sabotage it.
When their hero-car died, they had nothing left.

We bough a (n American) Equinox. It has been brilliant. Fantastically equipped, very spacious for a "small" SUV, reliable and economical. But few people have even heard of them, which is why we picked up a 1yr old model at around half-price.

I WANTED to get the missus into a Puma. But nah, despite all the awards, Ford Australia just cbf.

ILLaViTaR · Yesterday, 01:38 AM

What are you fellas driving these days?

I'm still stuck in the past driving a BF egas. Basically rebuilt the whole car and while I love the car it's honestly a cheap pos (everything but the engine falls apart), and the boot channel rust will eventually need a whole rear quarter welded in, then something else will break anyway and Im not sure how long the wiring/circuits will last without bringing up trouble. I've basically rebuilt 90% of the car, but when the gearbox or diff centre eventually go I'm not sure I cbf with it anymore. I've already had the IRS out once and the box out twice. Still it's probably ideal as it doesn't depreciate and cost stuff all to run, can tow, drives great etc.

I'm not a fan of newer models or EV's. Everything seems overpriced and shit (besides Toyota that imo are too overpriced). I'll probably go a 90's Camry, 80 series or ideally an early 00's TD Patrol. Something I can rebuild that will last without it needing full time care.

I also have a WH statesman as a second car, besides the donkey cart IRS design and the ecotec it's honestly not bad. Ecotec is rough but it's reliable, does the job and has enough power, uses only 8-10l per 100k also. Interior is 1000x better in terms of build quality. The whole car might be tbh. Ultimately looking back I wish I bought an AU instead of the BF. I think after 2002 both Ford/Holden started using some cheap bits. The ball joints on my BF compared to my old EB are absolutely awful. Everything in the suspension on the BF is hyundai cheap. Including the front end. I know they're 20 year old cars but I believe newer cars aren't much better. Pick of them all in terms of quality/reliability seems to be the 80's/90's Japanese stuff. Drove a 1999 Corolla for a year and when I pulled it apart to do the clutch the quality of every part I removed looked like it would've lasted for another 100 years.

Sprintey · Yesterday, 07:43 PM

Mazda, Toyota and to a slightly lesser extent Suby seem OK new.
We're still rocking 2000s/2010s Falcon/Territory here, with a 90s XR8 as the special car. And a 90's Discovery which has been surprisingly reliable! Family has the indestructible ecotec VY. These are peak car, probably right up to the VF/SZII/FGX. Toyota of the 2000/2010s was good too in their small cars like Echo and Corolla.

If going new and actually able to get one in stock, Toyota's hybrid system seems pretty robust in the passenger cars. I'd like to see all the driver AIDS mature and get better in how they consistently operate too.

bb_zetec · Yesterday, 11:23 PM

I will keep driving my FGs as long as I can. I just find new cars too boring and the amount of beeps and general annoyances is too much. I also find them quite uncomfortable.

I have a feeling soon we will get charged more for registering old cars that don't have all these safety features or have insurance levies against us. Australia has quite an old car fleet but this coupled with the new legislation for emissions against new car sales might see a shift in less crap being dumped here from Asia.

We seem to have become the garbage can of new car sales, so many people just don't care anymore and want something cheap and disposable.

We are slowly loosing the car enthusiast from our social make-up....its us that love the V8, the Turbo, the old X series we so fondly remember.

All new Generations now like JDM and electric.....

Ford Australia will survive but most dealers are multi franchise now so they supplement with other brands so don't rely on Ford only sales. Will we see the Maverick or Bronco here, who knows...doubt able with these new emission laws.

Thr crust of it is the consumer pays more regardless....

smoo · Today, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

What are you fellas driving these days?

I'm still stuck in the past driving a BF egas. Basically rebuilt the whole car and while I love the car it's honestly a cheap pos (everything but the engine falls apart), and the boot channel rust will eventually need a whole rear quarter welded in, then something else will break anyway and Im not sure how long the wiring/circuits will last without bringing up trouble. I've basically rebuilt 90% of the car, but when the gearbox or diff centre eventually go I'm not sure I cbf with it anymore. I've already had the IRS out once and the box out twice. Still it's probably ideal as it doesn't depreciate and cost stuff all to run, can tow, drives great etc.

I'm not a fan of newer models or EV's. Everything seems overpriced and shit (besides Toyota that imo are too overpriced). I'll probably go a 90's Camry, 80 series or ideally an early 00's TD Patrol. Something I can rebuild that will last without it needing full time care.

I also have a WH statesman as a second car, besides the donkey cart IRS design and the ecotec it's honestly not bad. Ecotec is rough but it's reliable, does the job and has enough power, uses only 8-10l per 100k also. Interior is 1000x better in terms of build quality. The whole car might be tbh. Ultimately looking back I wish I bought an AU instead of the BF. I think after 2002 both Ford/Holden started using some cheap bits. The ball joints on my BF compared to my old EB are absolutely awful. Everything in the suspension on the BF is hyundai cheap. Including the front end. I know they're 20 year old cars but I believe newer cars aren't much better. Pick of them all in terms of quality/reliability seems to be the 80's/90's Japanese stuff. Drove a 1999 Corolla for a year and when I pulled it apart to do the clutch the quality of every part I removed looked like it would've lasted for another 100 years.

Paint faded AU Falcon on a 300km daily commute. I’m the second owner coming up to 440,000km.
Returns 8.5-8.6l/100km although the last fill I did I tried 95 and got 8.2 litres. Might run it on 95 for a week to see if that fuel figure is consistent.
Paid $2k and spend another $1500 as preventative maintenance.
Not worth ‘upgrading’ to something nicer and more unreliable/higher maintenance. Plus, there’s not many aged cars out there I’d trust to do that many km a week with no dramas.
Took a bird out on a date in it last weekend and I heard no complaints. To my face anyway.
Only issue is the size of fuel tank - have to fill up every second day.
A 100 litre tank would be good.
Plenty of AUs and B series still around for cheap to offer years of relative trouble free motoring.
Unless I’m looking in the wrong places, there doesn’t seem to be that many VX - VY Commodores. A VX or VY V6 Berlina wagon would also be a good daily.

kevino · Today, 09:14 AM

Tbf as a mechanic you can diagnose faults at no cost.
And then repair issues with no labour cost.
For myself as a non mechanical person it would have added say 10 hours repairer labour time at say $1500

Although strangely back in the 80 s with vh vj vk Valiants I used to a fair bit myself.
They were simple and easy to work on.

New cars just leave well alone hell even the ford supplied jack and brace in my 22 Ford is not good emough to even change a wheel.

**kypez** · Today, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bb_zetec

I will keep driving my FGs as long as I can. I just find new cars too boring and the amount of beeps and general annoyances is too much. I also find them quite uncomfortable.

I have a feeling soon we will get charged more for registering old cars that don't have all these safety features or have insurance levies against us. Australia has quite an old car fleet but this coupled with the new legislation for emissions against new car sales might see a shift in less crap being dumped here from Asia.

We seem to have become the garbage can of new car sales, so many people just don't care anymore and want something cheap and disposable.

We are slowly loosing the car enthusiast from our social make-up....its us that love the V8, the Turbo, the old X series we so fondly remember.

All new Generations now like JDM and electric.....

Ford Australia will survive but most dealers are multi franchise now so they supplement with other brands so don't rely on Ford only sales. Will we see the Maverick or Bronco here, who knows...doubt able with these new emission laws.

Thr crust of it is the consumer pays more regardless....

I still enjoy driving my FG the most of all my cars. Just don't get to do it often enough. I'm happy to move to EVs and keep my FG for special occasions or great sunny days.

Nothing in the Ford line up makes me want to buy them. My last Ford was the Mach 1 and the new S650, whilst great, doesn't warrant an upgrade. If they did a petrol Everest, I could see myself getting one but they refuse to paint the top model blue which rules it out for me (my cars have to be blue).

Part of the reason for the change in car culture was the introduction of the V8 and turbo ban for P plate drivers. You had an entire generation stop aspiring to own a V8. That's what killed it.

*Side note: crux not crust

smoo · Today, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kypez

I still enjoy driving my FG the most of all my cars. Just don't get to do it often enough. I'm happy to move to EVs and keep my FG for special occasions or great sunny days.

Nothing in the Ford line up makes me want to buy them. My last Ford was the Mach 1 and the new S650, whilst great, doesn't warrant an upgrade. If they did a petrol Everest, I could see myself getting one but they refuse to paint the top model blue which rules it out for me (my cars have to be blue).

Part of the reason for the change in car culture was the introduction of the V8 and turbo ban for P plate drivers. You had an entire generation stop aspiring to own a V8. That's what killed it.

*Side note: crux not crust

Also had police cracking down on illegal/dangerous driving being carried out in cars.
So most of the ****wits have migrated to GQ GU Patrols, 70 and 80 Series land Cruisers and flogged out Thai specials as they can go and do that in the bush or sand dunes without being seen.
Although a guy I work with was saying he saw a bloke in a new shape 70 series V8 in Perth during the new year period, said the cops defected it for the exhaust/no DPF. Not that I’m a fan of OTT regulation, but I’d be happy to not get tailgated by or hear another POS straight piped diesel 4wd again in my life. So that’s a good start, if the police can keep that up.

Smoke Pursuit · Today, 09:54 AM

TBH with ADR and our pretty strict consumer laws (in regards to Ford anyways) I don’t think Ford would be too concerned about leaving Aus.

I am currently in NZ and you can still buy Puma and Escape, with various Hybrid and petrol options. They are quite popular here too!

The big test for Ford will be the incoming emissions regulation and fines. They are really going to struggle to keep prices under control with their current options. Transit EV has been cancelled and Mach E is lucky to do 30 cars a month. They needed these cars to be more successful to offset other models. They are now banking on Phev Ranger.

**kypez** · Today, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

Also had police cracking down on illegal/dangerous driving being carried out in cars.

So most of the ****wits have migrated to GQ GU Patrols, 70 and 80 Series land Cruisers and flogged out Thai specials as they can go and do that in the bush or sand dunes without being seen.

Although a guy I work with was saying he saw a bloke in a new shape 70 series V8 in Perth during the new year period, said the cops defected it for the exhaust/no DPF. Not that I’m a fan of OTT regulation, but I’d be happy to not get tailgated by or hear another POS straight piped diesel 4wd again in my life. So that’s a good start, if the police can keep that up.

Yep, gutless 4x4 diesels is where the youth is at and why those cars have got higher resale values like old E series and VN, VR and VS were before the ban on V8's for young drivers.

I loathe diesels with an exhaust. They sound so bad and I don't understand how people get excited by them.

Sprintey · Today, 05:25 PM

There's a ray of hope with the young crew, we are finding the Gen Z fellas we know are major petrolheads. Yes they certainly enjoyed the 4x4 over Covid, but they also love the V8s and JDM, there's even a couple into the Euro hatches, like the top racing Meganes. They are handy too, seen pics of them rebuild the front axle of a 105 series while still on an offroad track. Maybe it's because we are regional?

Nice AU there smoo.

EV's have the promise of being far more simple mechanically. Imagine one that was just motor, battery: with none of the connected big brother stuff, that was simply able to be driven rather than overridden by systems. That's basically what the e scooters and e bikes are (I think: do they have modems tracking them?).

CyberWasp · Today, 07:49 PM

Adding to the Baby Bronco Concept, Ford could make a Hybrid Powered Kei Sized Mini Truck, which seem to be all the rage now, to help offset emissions.

Built Ford Tough.....Beep...Beep