Disaffected By Ford Ending Local Manufacture ?

[Rodge]

I know there's been a lot of threads about manufacturing ceasing in due course but I'm
interested in looking at how this has affected your enthusiasm for the brand ?

Do you feel disaffected, (somewhat discontented and resentful), about the announcement ?
Has if affected your future plans regarding future purchase decisions ?
Has it affected your confidence with the brand regarding future assurance of spare
parts, (yes I know they're supposed to build 10 years supply of spare parts but will they ?).
Has it somewhat affected your enjoyment of your present Ford / FPV ?
How do you feel about potentially owning an orphan brand in the future ?
Are you "all at sea" regarding what to do in the future with future purchases like I am ?

[JC]

No, No, No, No, No and No.

The end of falcon is no different to any model run, and a model run ends after 2 to 20 years, usually. Some parts for BA fit BF, nut not all. Some BF suit FG, but not many, so If FH is the last, does it really matter since by then BA will have been out of production for 10 years so no "new" parts for the model anyway.

[Vincenzo]

I have to agree with JC. The decision, though disappointing hasn't really affected me one way or the other. I will be keeping the AU and ensuring it remains a viable example for the future for my kids and others to look at and appreciate.


Cheers Vincenzo

[GT450]

Hi Rodge as a loyal Ford and Falcon fan I cannot sy I am happy about the decision but I do accept it and all that goes with it. I will keep my FPV and enjoy just as much as I always have and will no doubt but another Ford in the future.
As I told you before I don't look outside the blue oval and it has served me well for forty years. As for parts etc they will be no harder to get than they have been in the past , and to suggest any different is scaremongering.
Let's just wait and see what is on offer in the future before any denigrating of the brand again.

GT450

[AU Mont]

it hasnt affected them yet..........

i own mitsubishi's orphan model before they decided to stop manufacturing here, and i can tell you resale requires you to pay someone to take the car lol !!!

[fanboi]

Yeah, my loyalty has faded as far as new cars go.
I will probably upgrade the fg2 turbo to one of the last GTs, but for the wifes daily it was always euro fords she bought so we will be opening up the field and just buying whatever the best car on the market is in that category and I wont feel bad like i would have before the announcement.

After the next falcon upgrade ill start looking elsewhere for my cars, ill keep my old XT and probably buy a few older falcons to play with but for daily drivers im not as loyal as i was and will consider anything now.

[duaned]

It's disappointing about the loss of jobs, but I'm not affected by the closure of Ford Aus. manufacturing at all. Afterall, all they have done is provide me an appliance that gets me from A to B, nothing more, nothing less. Obviously there are loads of choices with other manufacturers to pony up good coin for an A to B appliance so I'm looking forward to that shopping day when it's time for that changeover.

[vztrt]

Don't care about the rest of the Ford range it will now be treated on the same level as any other brand. Also I will probably won't buy new as I don't see the point for supporting any brand anymore.

[Agent86]

Indeed.

When its time to upgrade the wifes g6et, we will probably go for a 300c or mercedes of some sort.

[duaned]

LOL, can't see this post here for long!

[302 XC]

Doesn't effect me one bit .....
Even looking recently at a new car ford wernt even in the top 5 ......

Brand loyalty aside,many are choosing to save their pennies and buying something a few years old, and saving quite a bit
Its all irrelevant in the big scheme
People either don't have the money and those that do are shopping around for the best deal they can afford
Cant compete, you close, sad as it is, that's the fact

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by AU Mont

it hasnt affected them yet..........

i own mitsubishi's orphan model before they decided to stop manufacturing here, and i can tell you resale requires you to pay someone to take the car lol !!!

$49,999 for a 2008 Mitsubishi 380 DB Series III Sports Automatic http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...-5816526/?Cr=0

$19,500 for a 2007 Mitsubishi 380 DB Series 2 SX Sports Automatic http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-2069172/?Cr=3

[WPR1]

I will be more disappointed if Ford pull out of V8 Supercars, I love my motor racing and it has had a big impact on what I buy.

[Itsme]

Like all new cars I will see what is offered & pick what suits me best.

At the end of the day you got pick a model whether local or import.

[Wretched]

I still am a Ford fan.
The closure of the plant doesn't affect me, sure I am a little disappointed due to the heritage but that's as far as it goes.
As for the Falcon I never had any loyalty towards it, just another model to me.
My purchasing decisions are not blindly made and are based upon finances, car available in that range and my requirements. The brand doesn't bother me.

[nstg8a]

For me falcon is really the only ford that interests me, once that's gone I have no real interest in ford.

Of course that may change if they bring mustang here.

But really I will view ford in the same light as Honda/Nissan/Hyundai etc etc

[mik]

It makes me sad more than anything for many reasons, one is the end of the falcon , which has been a part of most of my motoring life, and to see the end of this company building cars here, that for some years put bread and butter on the table as well for myself and other's, and countless other contributions by ford Australia building cars here to the community as well.
Even though I am not a new car buyer there will probably be a falcon in the driveway till I'm pushing up daisies.

[GQ_Smooth]

Will not affect my opinion of Ford, if anything the way they went about the decision, made me more proud to be a Ford fan. So long as they continue to supply quality vehicles to Australia, my opinion shouldn't change.

Once I get a 2014-2016 FPV the way I'm treated by the dealer(s), will have a greater impact on my opinion on Ford, more so than what Ford Australia have done with manufacturing.

[DJR-351]

Nothing lasts forever and the older I get the more I accept this....

While I loved all my Falcon's brand loyalty was never in my vocabulary, I've had many different brands/models of cars that are no longer available, was I disaffected ? not at all, I accepted and moved on......

[AU Mont]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

$49,999 for a 2008 Mitsubishi 380 DB Series III Sports Automatic http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...-5816526/?Cr=0

$19,500 for a 2007 Mitsubishi 380 DB Series 2 SX Sports Automatic http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-2069172/?Cr=3

not sure what your post was supposed to convey?

but the first car, is the very limited TMR supercharged model they did as a farewell, which should be a collectors item, but i dont think anyone's buying them yet.

the 2nd car is a limited green colour run they did, but i dont think it makes it any more valuable.

the market value for a low km 2007 380 VRX is $11600 atm.......... if you got 9k youd be lucky.

[Rodge]

Once I get a 2014-2016 FPV the way I'm treated by the dealer(s), will have a greater impact on my opinion on Ford, more so than what Ford Australia have done with manufacturing.

Ford have not yet confirmed there will be a FH FPV. I was very surprised they didn't confirm this when they confirmed plans for the 2014 updated Falcon ... According to reporters senior exec's had blank faces when asked about the future of high performance FPV models....

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Ford have not yet confirmed there will be a FH FPV. I was very surprised they didn't confirm this when they confirmed plans for the 2014 updated Falcon ... According to reporters senior exec's had blank faces when asked about the future of high performance FPV models....

Why spend the money to buy out Prodrive?

[strobe]

There may have been an agreement in place for Ford to buy out prodrive in the event of them stopping local manufacture. I hope there's more from FPV to come though.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Why spend the money to buy out Prodrive?

Commercial responsibility, Ford and Prodrive where partners......it was the right thing to do. Prodrive would have know a long time ago about the plans Ford had.......and the only reason FPV existed was to develop the Falcon in to a performance car......so no Falcon no FPV....

You could almost (and I mean almost) say Ford reneged on the deal by no longer supplying the Falcon and had no choice but to buy out there partner....I have no doubt though that it was a amicable agreement....

[tranquilized]

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see FPV disappear with the update, it would make a lot of sense - save a lot on marketing costs etc.

The V8 will still be around though surely, it probably still hasn't paid off its development costs. Hopefully in a GT and XR8, with a Ford badge.

And those Mitsubishi's are a sad sad car. Why would you???

[GQ_Smooth]

I understand there will be no Falcon so eventually no FPV as we know it. My dealing with any of the Automotive players is they negotiate with partners and suppliers extremely hard ball, I don't understand why they didn't buy Prodrive out at the end of Falcon production (when it's arguably worth less), than 8 months prior to announcing the demise of Falcon, if they didn't plan to continue the brand, I don't believe good will would come into it.

Smarter people than me have made this decision, so i guess I'll find out next year.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Do you feel disaffected, (somewhat discontented and resentful), about the announcement ?

No. It was a business decision, it was the only one Ford could have made taking into account the massive losses.

Originally Posted by Rodge

Has if affected your future plans regarding future purchase decisions ?

Only in the sense that a Falcon is probably out of the equation unless I save up enough to buy one before 2016. But I'd still buy a Ford.

Originally Posted by Rodge

Has it affected your confidence with the brand regarding future assurance of spare
parts, (yes I know they're supposed to build 10 years supply of spare parts but will they ?).

No, Ford has assured us that there will be 10 years of spare parts, so there will be.

Originally Posted by Rodge

Has it somewhat affected your enjoyment of your present Ford / FPV ?

Not in the least. I've always loved Fords, and always will, regardless of which end it drives and where it's made.

Originally Posted by Rodge

How do you feel about potentially owning an orphan brand in the future ?

Just fine.

Originally Posted by Rodge

Are you "all at sea" regarding what to do in the future with future purchases like I am ?

No, I know whatever I buy will have a blue oval Ford badge (unless I win lotto, in which case cars with the three pointed star, the winged 'B' and the Spirit of Ecstasy will also be on the shopping list).

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by AU Mont

not sure what your post was supposed to convey?

but the first car, is the very limited TMR supercharged model they did as a farewell, which should be a collectors item, but i dont think anyone's buying them yet.

the 2nd car is a limited green colour run they did, but i dont think it makes it any more valuable.

the market value for a low km 2007 380 VRX is $11600 atm.......... if you got 9k youd be lucky.

Unfortunately I dont think the reason for that is that they stopped making them,
a 2007 VE Commodore or BF Falcon isnt worth a lot more

[stevz]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Don't care about the rest of the Ford range it will now be treated on the same level as any other brand. Also I will probably won't buy new as I don't see the point for supporting any brand anymore.

This.

Without Falcon/Territory/local manufacture, Ford has about as much credibility as Great Wall as far as I'm concerned.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by Rodge

I know there's been a lot of threads about manufacturing ceasing in due course but I'm
interested in looking at how this has affected your enthusiasm for the brand ?

Do you feel disaffected, (somewhat discontented and resentful), about the announcement ?

No, I see it from Fords point of view. Feel for the employees though but I think Ford have done the right thing in announcing it earlier giving employees time to work out their future.

Has if affected your future plans regarding future purchase decisions ?

Yep, if they bring the Mustang here as a replacement hero car, i'll be going that way (unless they ask stupid prices for it)

Has it affected your confidence with the brand regarding future assurance of spare
parts, (yes I know they're supposed to build 10 years supply of spare parts but will they ?).

Doesn't worry me, I may mothball my FG XR8.

Has it somewhat affected your enjoyment of your present Ford / FPV ?

Yep, love it even more

How do you feel about potentially owning an orphan brand in the future ?

Ford won't be an orphan brand?

Are you "all at sea" regarding what to do in the future with future purchases like I am ?

Not at this stage. I'm hanging out for a 'Stang.