Ecoboost whats the point

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Thought so, so imagine if you had TDi Falcon Utes with a mandate etc from the gov to say that if you want diesel concessions then you buy local.

I was at a mine site for 2 months and all the cars they had where large 4x4's, Vans, etc....And the majority of the time they were not full, one or two people, so perhaps they were buying them just because they are TDI..not so much the capacity.

Diesel Falcon utes would do well as they fit the diesel requirements and have a 5 star ANCAP rating which is becoming a requirement. Funnily enough some big mines prefer 2wds as it means that employees arnt going to get themselves in trouble by driving places they shouldnt - movements on mine are strictly controlled with the vast majority of vehicles contained to well graded and maintained roads. Also when given a 4wd there is an expensive OHS expectation that the employee will be flown somewhere to undertake a 4wd course.

[prydey]

clutching at straws.

[trippytaka]

Fleets. Fleets Fleets.

Government fleets have been given c02 targets they need to hit, which is one of the reasons hybrid camry and camry sell so well on fleets.

Private sales of these cars will help capture the camry market too - people are put off by big engines these days. Fuel economy is a big selling point.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by prydey

clutching at straws.

Wow that was insightful, on one hand you bang on about people wanting/should buy falcons then when an idea to create more sales comes up by utilizing a formula within their current range you come up with a super witty three word reply that means nothing? Thanks for the contribution.

(remember that thread about people with useful post, dejavu hey)

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Wow that was insightful, on one hand you bang on about people wanting/should buy falcons then when an idea to create more sales comes up by utilizing a formula within their current range you come up with a super witty three word reply that means nothing? Thanks for the contribution.

(remember that thread about people with useful post, dejavu hey)

if you were following along, you would realise that it was in context.

from ford's point of view, why would they spend money on the ute, when they have a 5star ancap rated, 2wd, 4wd ute already on sale, and much more versatile than any falcon ute will ever be.

people should buy falcons. there is incredible choice there and yet people always find some sort of excuse as to why they still aren't good enough.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by prydey

if you were following along, you would realise that it was in context.

from ford's point of view, why would they spend money on the ute, when they have a 5star ancap rated, 2wd, 4wd ute already on sale, and much more versatile than any falcon ute will ever be.

people should buy falcons. there is incredible choice there and yet people always find some sort of excuse as to why they still aren't good enough.

News flash...if they were good enough we wouldn't be having this discussion now would we.

How is making the link between the popularity of pickups, the mining boom and the diesel concession clutching at straws? Its quite logical..Brazen is 100% correct, all the roads these cars drive on are very well maintained and a 2wd ute would be fine on...but since they only keep diesel on site they obviously cant buy a LPG or PULP Falcon ute cant they.

The market has moved on and the Falcon is catching up. Im glad that near enough is good enough for you, some are easily pleased.

[prydey]

correct, the market is continually moving, and ford have realised that it is cheaper for them to fight each segment with a specific vehicle rather than try to tailor one vehicle to fit all segments.

the falcon is now fighting in the large car segment only. thats obviously the way ford want it. since cutting back the options, the other models in fords line up have blossomed.

if diesel was so popular in passenger sedans, why aren't more makers doing it? why are makers moving to small capacity forced induction petrol?

there is a point to ecoboost. its so that falcon CAN cater to a wide range of people. falcon now offers a fuel type to suit every situation the average large sedan buyer would find themselves in.

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by flappist

Have you sold many yet?

How is the interest in the demo?

Hey flappist,

Sold zero, the only interest in the demo is if we point it out and make people aware of what it is, they come back from a test drive surprised every time. We are trying a few angles to educate the public about it. We haven't given up!

[blk6t]

What's the point of Ecoboost in a Falcon??

The average punter buying a new car is looking for economy, Ecoboost can deliver the economy over the I6 so that's a big tick in the eyes of the purchaser. It also drives just as well. Either way, I can't see a bad side to Ecoboost. BMW run several engine variants in their cars, for example the 3 series has diesel, 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines, it also works for them!

[flappist]

Originally Posted by barra240t

Hey flappist,

Sold zero, the only interest in the demo is if we point it out and make people aware of what it is, they come back from a test drive surprised every time. We are trying a few angles to educate the public about it. We haven't given up!

Yeh well April sucked anyway, no one did very much. May is looking slightly better.....

[brett7777]

Originally Posted by Brazen

They are trying to find the 4 people in Australia who want a sophisticated ecoboost engine

[Fiesta_Man69]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'm more excited about the 3 cyl 1L Ecoboost going into Fiesta and entry level Focus, now that is interesting.

I agree, but latest I've heard is Ford Aus isn't bringing them here, at least definitely not the Fez. Again, why not?

If Ford have of launched the BA with a 4T and turbo diesel option, imagine where the sales of Falcon would be today...

The Ecoboost is a great idea, pity it's at least half a decade too late to save the Falcon...

[Ford PR]

Hi Ford Forums members, we have posted a huge amount of information on our facebook pages about EcoBoost technology and invited along a member of Ford Forums to attend our EcoBoost launch in Tasmania. There is a great review by him that has been posted to Ford Forums so our suggestion would be to read the review and make up your own mind about the new EcoBoost engine. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the performance and fuel economy, however, we do understand that there will always be buyers who prefer 6cyl. So now there are 2 options - however, before you make a decision about purchasing, we do recommend that you test drive before dismissing it as a purchase option. Also every article on EcoBoost has been very positive and supportive of the engine and our local teams expertise at bringing it to market. Suggest you might want to have a look at the latest Wheels review that has just gone on sale.

[Fiesta_Man69]

Yes yes, the eb is a great concept, well engineered etc. but it's at least 5 years too late: which makes it pointless right now.. Taxis/fleet will buy the LPG falcon and private buyers the mondeo, camry, accord, 6 etc.

Had this been 2004 (or earlier) Ford would be on a winner....

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by prydey

:

from ford's point of view, why would they spend money on the ute, when they have a 5star ancap rated, 2wd, 4wd ute already on sale, and much more versatile than any falcon ute will ever be.

.

But if we use your own terminology as you do when comparing the Mondeo to Falcon, not everyone want's a Ranger, (as I assume this is what you are getting at in your statement above).
Time and time again you have admitted that you prefer the Falc over the Mondeo even though the Mondeo has better option's etc, and you yourself have used the example that not everyone want's a Mondeo with all the gadget's, Well not everyone want's a Ranger that also fit's the bill.
People still want a Falcon ute as you still want a Falcon sedan.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Ford PR

Hi Ford Forums members, we have posted a huge amount of information on our facebook pages about EcoBoost technology and invited along a member of Ford Forums to attend our EcoBoost launch in Tasmania. There is a great review by him that has been posted to Ford Forums so our suggestion would be to read the review and make up your own mind about the new EcoBoost engine. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the performance and fuel economy, however, we do understand that there will always be buyers who prefer 6cyl. So now there are 2 options - however, before you make a decision about purchasing, we do recommend that you test drive before dismissing it as a purchase option. Also every article on EcoBoost has been very positive and supportive of the engine and our local teams expertise at bringing it to market. Suggest you might want to have a look at the latest Wheels review that has just gone on sale.

You guys spamming this site about its own content ..Kidding, good to have involvement, unfortunately there is a culture of cylinder count that some of the die hards just cant get past (they even have issues with 6 cylinders!). Luckily they are not the majority and not who this car is aimed at. From what I can tell its about reaching out to new customers too, because even if you are not growing your business and keeping sales stagnant your actually going backwards.

[csv8]

Ford PR..whats missing is advertising !!!!! Only us, know its available !!!!!

[trippytaka]

It would be interesting to see the amount of money put behind other car makers in other countries for Marketing of this new concept. road shows, advertising blitzes, experiential campaigns... all aimed at increasing public awareness.

It's a shame because, as FordPR points out, the people who get in the car and drive it - even die-hard V8 and 6-cyl fans - think it's a great car.

[Polyal]

So how do you incite non Ford people to drive a falcon, thats the question.

Incentives? Camp out near other dealerships with a bill board on the back of a ute?

People need to be shown that they can get Mazda 3, Camry et al running costs from a Falcon, plus additional practicality...you need to spend money to make money.

I would aggressively advertise that non Ford trade ins get some kind of bonus..more accessories, free year servicing...something...they need to break through initially.

[Falcman0o7]

Originally Posted by davway

Its a legit question and a legit thread.
Im still waiting for Ford to tell us why we should buy one............
Seems they cant even do that.

We can sneak up on a pesty cane toads! thats another environmental plus

[Falcman0o7]

Originally Posted by Ford PR

Hi Ford Forums members, we have posted a huge amount of information on our facebook pages about EcoBoost technology and invited along a member of Ford Forums to attend our EcoBoost launch in Tasmania. There is a great review by him that has been posted to Ford Forums so our suggestion would be to read the review and make up your own mind about the new EcoBoost engine. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the performance and fuel economy, however, we do understand that there will always be buyers who prefer 6cyl. So now there are 2 options - however, before you make a decision about purchasing, we do recommend that you test drive before dismissing it as a purchase option. Also every article on EcoBoost has been very positive and supportive of the engine and our local teams expertise at bringing it to market. Suggest you might want to have a look at the latest Wheels review that has just gone on sale.

You need to post on this forum more often

[TMC]

I actually think it's quite gutsy of FoA to go down this route. Australia is a small market. If it works, the Ecoboost Falcon will become a legend unique to this country. I think the Territory fits in that category. There are many other things FoA have done which are brilliant. Trying to get all of this approved from a large multinational company like Ford wouldn't be easy in the global scheme of things. Remember there are only 22 million people in this country vs 7 billion elsewhere. True it is an affluent country, but our market is almost insignificant to a large multinational like Ford. Also given the economic world pressures there's a lot of risk with promoting locally sourced and designed products rather than a truly global platform where we get exactly the same cars as Europe or the US, with no local content.

I really hope Ecoboost Falcon works for FoA. Holden don't have anything to come close to it.

[2011G6E]

Stepping back many years, I feel amply qualified to comment on that late lamented large four cylinder experiment, the Commodore Four. In late 1984 we bought one, a 1980 VC SL with the Starfire four and Trimatic gearbox. Ithad a vinyl interior...as most did unless you ordered otherwise...a good stereo with, *gasp*, a power antenna, but no air conditioning or power steering...but to be blunt, you didn't need the power steering.

The only...and I stress only...let down was occasionally noticing that mates with two liter Cortinas would blitz you off the line. In normal traffic you didn't really notice that it was a bit underpowered for it's size. It had 60kw when the standard Holden six cylinder of the day (the Blue motor) had double that. However, it was offset by lighter weight (I seem to recall it was about 1200kg while the six cylinder was up between 1300 and 1400kg), revised gearing, and 13" wheels on Torana stud patterns. The brakes worked amazingly well as apart from the stud pattern they retained the same master cylinder and disks as the six, and it handled well, given the lesser weight.
On the highway it was great...of course you had to line up your overtaking a bit more carefully, as you did with any four cylinder car...but the fuel economy was pretty good, certainly a lot better than a six cylinder Commodore, even with the auto. The five speed manual would have been a better choice, but we couldn't find one.

What attracted a 20 year old me to it, someone stepping from a heavily worked 265 hemi Charger putting out near 300hp? Simple...I was newly married with a kid on the way, working on a farm, and basically couldn't afford to keep feeding the Charger. I still miss that car every day, but at the time, not having to throw $50 to $60 a week in fuel down the Chargers throat (petrol was between 36 and 40 cents a liter at the time) and the idea of paying way less for rego was attractive. At the time, four cylinder rego was a fraction of six cylinder, much less than the difference now between the two in Queensland, which meant most young guys started out with fours.
At the moment, our last rego bills for the G6E Falcon and our '82 Celica come out to $802 and $638 respectively for the year...this is why a four is attractive here in Queensland.

It was an idea whose time hadn't come though...even the best four cylinders at the time only made between 60 and 80kw at most. Ford seriously considered putting the two liter Cortina engine into the XD, but dropped the concept after it looked all but a sure thing.
Possibly if they had, people would be laughing at it too the way they deride the poor old Commodore Four.

Now we have the four cylinder ecoboost Falcon, a vehicle that wipes the floor with the performance figures of it's betters of less than a generation ago, better than revered SS Commodores and turbo XR6's of yore.
People of today, especially younger ones, need to be reminded where we have come from with four cylinders...they are no longer something to be laughed at, and people cannot ignore the fact that they are quickly approaching...and sometimes eclipsing...the power outputs of "traditional" six cylinder engines.

Now it's an idea whose time has come...and I hope it does really well.

[Fiesta_Man69]

I really, really wouldn't bring up the Starfire 4 cyl Commodore if you're trying to sing the praises of the EB Falcon...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Fiesta_Man69

I really, really wouldn't bring up the Starfire 4 cyl Commodore if you're trying to sing the praises of the EB Falcon...

They are like chalk and cheese surely you know that.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

Fleets. Fleets Fleets.

Government fleets have been given c02 targets they need to hit, which is one of the reasons hybrid camry and camry sell so well on fleets.

Private sales of these cars will help capture the camry market too - people are put off by big engines these days. Fuel economy is a big selling point.

You know, I look at Camry and then think about the new Fusion (Mondeo) with
- 1.6 Ecoboost that would beat Camry on performance and fuel economy
- The Hybrid Fusion that beats the Camry on performance and fuel economy

And wonder how Ford Australia could possibly build both of those here.....

[barra240t]

Lets play a game, currently, what can you buy in the market that is a rear wheel drive four door sedan 4cylinder?

[csv8]

Originally Posted by barra240t

Lets play a game, currently, what can you buy in the market that is a rear wheel drive four door sedan 4cylinder?

A few BMW's come to mind......

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Diesel engines are very heavy, giving a nose heavy, poorly balanced car. Don't believe me, test drive an XF Jaguar 3.0D and see for yourself.

Compare DJM83s experience in his XR5 Focus compared to my TDCI one, they're both LV models, both 6 sp manual, except mine is diesel with an all cast iron engine and it handles like total ***, it will push wide and skip across the road in moderate to hard cornering and it body rolls like the Costa Concordia. I find the OEM brakes on it are pretty average too.

From reports of DJM83s XR5 Focus is it handles like its on rails

I've got progressive and lowered springs in it now which made a big difference to front/back body movement, but I need to do the rear swaybar to fix its body roll issue.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by csv8

A few BMW's come to mind......

And how much is a 5 series BMW? The discounted ones start at $80k
Or maybe a 3 series even though they are much smaller? Again discounted ones are in the $50k.