Are we Witnessing the Last Years of Ford Australia?

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by au2000

I’ve thought for awhile that ford’s current strategy of now becoming the ranger car company will eventually bite them in the *** much the same as many criticised the falcon car company strategy.

The new regs and focus on big ticket prices on ranger was always a short sighted plan given the lack of supporting products. I’m sure these new BYDs will take a share of the market and definitely suit the need for some wild track buyers especially the posers who don’t really need a 4x4 but like the looks of one.

For me, my next purchase will be some sort of mid size suv for my wife so ford won’t even be a consideration and I’m sure many others ie those buying rav4,s are in a similar boat.

Heaps of us blue blood are in the same situation, love our Puma but time to change this year and will be going to Toyota/Lexus most likely.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kypez

.

Just look how lousy the features of the Everest/Ranger is compared to the Chinese cars coming in. The basic versions of the latter have memory seats, mirrors and steering column. Even the platinum versions of the Everest and Ranger have manual steerings.

We cancelled the Raptor order when I realised it didn't have memory seats and mirrors. Big height difference between the missus and I and it was a deal breaker.

I find it interesting how everyone focuses on things like power adjustable seats and other electronic knick-knacks rather than how it goes, stops and steers.

Mates missus is insisting on a new MG because for $40K it has fancy seats and it's nice inside.

I couldn't give a shit about that I'll sit on a milk crate and turn the steering shaft with a set of vice grips, I'm more interested in the stop, steer and go part.

Couldn't give a shit about fancy interior,

Give me manual Recaros, wind up windows and HVAC controls of sliders, knobs and buttons, the only thing that matters to me is the driving experience above all else. I do 50,000km/year commuting for work, I want to enjoy every single kilometer. I've been doing heaps of work in the Dandenong Ranges, what better car to have than a hot hatch?

Ford Europe is the undisputed king of reasonably priced drivers cars and Ford threw that under the bus. Mazda in the 'zoom-zoom' era was as well, but their later cars are devoid of steering feel and have the throttle response of a bus, previously had a Mazda 6 wagon as a fleet car at work and I wouldn't drive it, absolute POS, you might as well as remove the steering wheel and pedals and use a 1990s PSX controller to drive it, because the driving experience was like playing Gran Tourismo 2 in 1999 on a 34cm CRT TV.

If all people care about is trinkets and lipstick, then Chinese cars are the best offerings on the market, they cost nothing and come with the kitchen sink.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I find it interesting how everyone focuses on things like power adjustable seats and other electronic knick-knacks rather than how it goes, stops and steers.



Mates missus is insisting on a new MG because for $40K it has fancy seats and it's nice inside.



I couldn't give a shit about that I'll sit on a milk crate and turn the steering shaft with a set of vice grips, I'm more interested in the stop, steer and go part.



Couldn't give a shit about fancy interior,



Give me manual Recaros, wind up windows and HVAC controls of sliders, knobs and buttons, the only thing that matters to me is the driving experience above all else. I do 50,000km/year commuting for work, I want to enjoy every single kilometer. I've been doing heaps of work in the Dandenong Ranges, what better car to have than a hot hatch?



Ford Europe is the undisputed king of reasonably priced drivers cars and Ford threw that under the bus. Mazda in the 'zoom-zoom' era was as well, but their later cars are devoid of steering feel and have the throttle response of a bus, previously had a Mazda 6 wagon as a fleet car at work and I wouldn't drive it, absolute POS, you might as well as remove the steering wheel and pedals and use a 1990s PSX controller to drive it, because the driving experience was like playing Gran Tourismo 2 in 1999 on a 34cm CRT TV.



If all people care about is trinkets and lipstick, then Chinese cars are the best offerings on the market, they cost nothing and come with the kitchen sink.

I have those cars. The GTF and Mach 1. Manual and no frills. Also cars that my wife can't drive because she doesn't know how to drive a manual.

Let's be honest, I'm not looking at a Ranger or Everest because they're dynamically engaging (or any SUV). They go off-road. That's about it. For the other 99% of the time, I want it easy to adjust for the wife and I to use.

Similar issue with the Mach E. It is line ball between it and the Model Y for drive. But the adjustable setting with memory was enough to sway me to the Tesla.

When you're switching almost daily, the memory positions really make life easier. And it's what the market is asking for.

[Sprintey]

Franco I still reckon you should go take a Focus wagon for a test drive. How heavy are your work tools? Are they as heavy as what a carpenter needs to cart around? That sort of weight might be too much for the rear suspension, but anything lighter and it would make a mint little tradey van. Early this year Ford must've got rid of a few demonstrators, there were cars coming up with 9,000km on them.

Dandenong ranges are a great drive, southern Adelaide hills are really fun like that too. We've got the GOR round here and I like to haul in Subies on the corners in my big old handling bus.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by kypez

Welcome to the reason 99% of people buy EVs. Because they're cheaper to own and operate.

Is that the case for businesses where TCO is a factor and depreciation is equally important?

[Sprintey]

I wonder if the severe depreciation reported is the market saying "Well, I'm the used buyer at 3/6/10 years and I know I've got to replace the battery at some time, so here's the discount I will offer."

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Is that the case for businesses where TCO is a factor and depreciation is equally important?

Absolutely. Depreciation on EVs are now finally in line with pre COVID ICE cars. There was this ridiculous situation where EVs and ICE cars had stupid resale values. This coincided with the boom of EVs and people started to believe the crazy resale values were here to stay.

Today, you get the usual 55% in 3 years and 35% in 5 years that we have long used to calculate depreciation.

The advantage of an EV is that the depreciation isn't as important because you save on fuel and servicing. Heck, I've saved circa $90k with my car in 7 years vs if I was using a Falcon. So if I spent $65k on the EV, I'd be thousands ahead of a Camry or Falcon even if they had a better resale value on the car itself.

And for tax benefits, bigger the depreciation, bigger the tax concession.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I find it interesting how everyone focuses on things like power adjustable seats and other electronic knick-knacks rather than how it goes, stops and steers.

Mates missus is insisting on a new MG because for $40K it has fancy seats and it's nice inside.

I couldn't give a shit about that I'll sit on a milk crate and turn the steering shaft with a set of vice grips, I'm more interested in the stop, steer and go part.

Couldn't give a shit about fancy interior,

Give me manual Recaros, wind up windows and HVAC controls of sliders, knobs and buttons, the only thing that matters to me is the driving experience above all else. I do 50,000km/year commuting for work, I want to enjoy every single kilometer. I've been doing heaps of work in the Dandenong Ranges, what better car to have than a hot hatch?

Ford Europe is the undisputed king of reasonably priced drivers cars and Ford threw that under the bus. Mazda in the 'zoom-zoom' era was as well, but their later cars are devoid of steering feel and have the throttle response of a bus, previously had a Mazda 6 wagon as a fleet car at work and I wouldn't drive it, absolute POS, you might as well as remove the steering wheel and pedals and use a 1990s PSX controller to drive it, because the driving experience was like playing Gran Tourismo 2 in 1999 on a 34cm CRT TV.

If all people care about is trinkets and lipstick, then Chinese cars are the best offerings on the market, they cost nothing and come with the kitchen sink.

Easy answer...we forum members have a greater interest in motor vehicles than the average person, most of us know what oversteer/understeer means, sharp turn in, flat body roll, load up the front wheels in a turn vs rear wheels.....the rest of the population wants to spend the least $$ and get the most fancy features for those $$. Yes I'm generalising , but only to a point.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by au2000

I’ve thought for awhile that ford’s current strategy of now becoming the ranger car company will eventually bite them in the *** much the same as many criticised the falcon car company strategy.

The new regs and focus on big ticket prices on ranger was always a short sighted plan given the lack of supporting products. I’m sure these new BYDs will take a share of the market and definitely suit the need for some wild track buyers especially the posers who don’t really need a 4x4 but like the looks of one.

For me, my next purchase will be some sort of mid size suv for my wife so ford won’t even be a consideration and I’m sure many others ie those buying rav4,s are in a similar boat.

Christ, I forgot all the whinging over ‘the Falcon car company’.
What years were people/posters going on about that?
And it’s fair to say that was exaggerated paranoia.

Compare what was around in the FG days to now.

Ford have added more trim options to the Ranger.
Added the Everest and the (pretty much irrelevant) Mustang.

But since the 2010s, they neglected and dropped

Falcon
Falcon Ute
Territory.
Fiesta
Focus
Mondeo
Kuga/Escape
Puma

Yeah, I’ll take the days of the Falcon car company, thanks.
I’m sure those at Ford are thinking the same as they see the Chinese onslaught on the horizon and wondering where they’ll be working by the end of the decade.

I watched a scathing review on the new Prado last night from carsauce. Don’t usually watch them as that presenter cucks for China.
But it’s obvious Toyota, and these legacy Japanese makers on the whole are taking the **** with pricing.
Base Prado is about $30k more expensive than the Chinese large SUV.

[Sprintey]

Been seeing quite a few Tank 300 or 500s on the road, some people are buying and keeping their 30K...

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Been seeing quite a few Tank 300 or 500s on the road, some people are buying and keeping their 30K...

So so many of them are on the road. I'm surprised how many are selling.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Been seeing quite a few Tank 300 or 500s on the road, some people are buying and keeping their 30K...

Wondering how much margin is in Prado/Hilux/Ranger/Everest etc.
If CCP is actually subsiding Chinese brands to keep prices artificially low or if that is a myth.

There will be a point where Jap, Euro, Korean makers will need to significantly cut prices before they lose buyers for good.

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Been seeing quite a few Tank 300 or 500s on the road, some people are buying and keeping their 30K...

Probably another very good reason why you will never see a factory Boronco in Australia, who should pay the difference in price over the tank?

Most drivers now see them as a point a to point b shopping trolly, so $$$ will always win out, even me today was looking at a second hand Stevelo Quattrofolgilo thinking if I’m going suv do it with some fun… but then I saw the price compared to a cupra and thought… for the change is it really worth it.

[Rastas]

Originally Posted by kypez

So so many of them are on the road. I'm surprised how many are selling.

I see BYD testing it's Leopard 5 down under now , will sell this 500kw plus SUV PHEV under their Denza brand here - I would say at around $70k as it's noticeably more up market than little brother Shark - but that price may change due to our diving $.

[jgmdat]

All this anti Ford and POS Chinese EV talk is depressing. I'm going for a drive in my Mustang.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by kypez

Yes, I've been to China. Takes time to clean things up. Just like LA had terrible air quality that is much better these days.

and what the hell has that got to do with anything???

China's pollution is caused by it's massive, disgustingly dirty, industrial base.

They'll mine anything with a sniff of iron, and dump it into an ancient blast-furnace, with the cheapest coal they can buy.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

and what the hell has that got to do with anything???



China's pollution is caused by it's massive, disgustingly dirty, industrial base.



They'll mine anything with a sniff of iron, and dump it into an ancient blast-furnace, with the cheapest coal they can buy.

If you read the rest, you might get the context. Or not. I'm not responsible for your comprehension skills

[CyberWasp]

Tank 300 and 500 have jumped in to the market where Jeep was in its prime, for affordable off roaders like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee once were.

The funny thing is Jeep successfully stopped Mahindra from bringing in the Thar as it looked too close to the Wrangler.

Now could GWM stop Ford from bringing in the Bronco as it looks too much like the Tank 300. Yes I know that Tank ripped off the Bronco's styling but they are selling it here and Ford isn't. So does that set any precedence in a weird way?

[kevino]

Yeah
But
Does anyone know if these Tanks are capable off road

All I see them being used for is standard urban use giving the driver a bit of a tough style apparently although def not my cup of tea

[kypez]

Originally Posted by kevino

Yeah
But
Does anyone know if these Tanks are capable off road

All I see them being used for is standard urban use giving the driver a bit of a tough style apparently although def not my cup of tea

Apparently they are.

And the carsales team drowned their new Prado with very little water. They think it's a design flaw with the 48v system that died and bricked the car so how capable is the new Prado even?!

[kevino]

Oh what a feeling!

[smoo]

To be fair, that Carsales journo looks like he sits down to **** and couldn’t change a tyre.
Probably opened up the air box to ‘inspect’ it and didn’t clip it back together properly.
But I’m not sure how the intake ingesting water effects the battery system?

On mine site a few weeks ago we had a weeks worth of rain. Went through this floodwater in the 50k old Hilux probably a little too fast and it shut down half way through it then went into limp mode. Let it sit isolated for ten minute and it come right. But no one would want that travelling alone in remote Aus.
Bring back the Hilux with the 5L and manual trans.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Christ, I forgot all the whinging over ‘the Falcon car company’.
What years were people/posters going on about that?
And it’s fair to say that was exaggerated paranoia.

Compare what was around in the FG days to now.

Ford have added more trim options to the Ranger.
Added the Everest and the (pretty much irrelevant) Mustang.

But since the 2010s, they neglected and dropped

Falcon
Falcon Ute
Territory.
Fiesta
Focus
Mondeo
Kuga/Escape
Puma

Yeah, I’ll take the days of the Falcon car company, thanks.
I’m sure those at Ford are thinking the same as they see the Chinese onslaught on the horizon and wondering where they’ll be working by the end of the decade.

I watched a scathing review on the new Prado last night from carsauce. Don’t usually watch them as that presenter cucks for China.
But it’s obvious Toyota, and these legacy Japanese makers on the whole are taking the **** with pricing.
Base Prado is about $30k more expensive than the Chinese large SUV.

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

[kypez]

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

Ford missed a trick with the EcoSport. Look at the success of the Jimny. They should've made it a proper 4x4 and I reckon it would've done much better in the market

[Sprintey]

Went through a couple of new Prado articles by them last night... interesting

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...hauler-148053/

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...s-away-148067/

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...series-148055/

[Sprintey]

Now we have Feann's response:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KreKJxDGA8M

He's a good motor scribe, been reading him since Web Wombat had an auto page, back when you could use internet to grief people by spawn-camping in Quake. Or nearly back that far.

He's right that "bogans like us" will go into water faster than a walk speed...

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Now we have Feann's response:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KreKJxDGA8M



He's a good motor scribe, been reading him since Web Wombat had an auto page, back when you could use internet to grief people by spawn-camping in Quake. Or nearly back that far.



He's right that "bogans like us" will go into water faster than a walk speed...

Watched it last night but didn't post it given what others said about him. I'm not across him personally.

Yep, I've driven through shallow water faster than walking pace. Heck you need to at K'gari/Fraser when the storms are in and you can't slow down totally or you'll get stuck in the sand.

[Sprintey]

Yep totally it's mint up there, keep the momentum up!

Best comment on that vid I've found so far:

"From a Land Rover owners perspective, you guys can no longer repetitively say "Land Cruisers will always get you home""

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Yep totally it's mint up there, keep the momentum up!



Best comment on that vid I've found so far:



"From a Land Rover owners perspective, you guys can no longer repetitively say "Land Cruisers will always get you home""

Loved that comment! Was Gold!

[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