FPV GT to be killed off early

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Alan D Segal

And if someone pays what they want they can laugh all the way to the bank

Well not all the way. The laughing usually stops when they call into the Post Office to pick up the payment cheque that has be sent from the Nigerian Prince via Western Union.

[tex]

Unless I'm mistaken, a representative of Ford Au hasn't made a single post in this thread, or on this site for a good while.

What's that tell me? Nothing positive.

I actually don't think we're treated with any care, or respect, the fan base I mean.

the single biggest Ford Forum in the country, and look at the input from F Au... As I've said the silence is deafening.

I don't know what's worse. The people that just don't like the brand, and its products, or the people that fall into the "disenfranchised fan" category. I actually think the latter can do more damage, as they are more often than not the ones that would have bought a new ford.

I now resent the way my favourite car company has handled the model I liked most. The last several years have been more than disappointing, they've left me often embarrassed by the way it's been marketed, the way it's been supported and the way the dealerships have been managed (bad choice of words) by the parent company.

I'm poisoned. But I'm lucky I've got my own version of GT that will continue to appease that side of me that demands a product that wasn't ever available ex factory.

I have so many strong words springing to mind that I can't write down, in relation to ford au, and none of it is positive. The brand is broken in my opinion, it MUST be top down driven, because care factor for us fan, those that have been loyal, not just vocally loyal, but those that have bought the product are treated with an apparent contempt. From dealerships, to the silence from corporate in the face of years of negative press, the exit strategy that I spoke about well over 2 years ago would appear to be primary concern. And that's just wrong.

Ford Aus, you've burnt me. And you don't give a crap because you continue to engineer the inevitable. As a brand, I struggle to comprehend, even identify the business acumen associated with failure to support the falcon product.

Is it because you'll be able to say in a soft voice... But we tried...? Tried to do what, engineer reduction in sales volume?

Advertising on Facebook, YouTube videos.... Please.

Focus groups tell you that's the mediums that get their attention? Here's a thought, try filling the room with a mixed demographic and not the <30 year old gen whatever it is who probably would never by a real car anyway!

You should have just closed down the falconand built some little car because apparently that's where the market is.

Signed. Grumpy tex, a 41 year old life long fan of the brand, bought 4 brand new Falcons, now bitter, twisted, fed up.

[Rodge]

^^ Yeap, its almost enough to make one contemplate buying a HSV, except on the balance of probabilities they're on borrowed time too.

[FalconXV]

I could never buy an HSV. After driving an FGII GT, that is the car I lust after and aspire to own. It was above and beyond anything else I've driven, and the day I drove it was one of the best of my life. I hope this rumor is wrong, or at least they do a limited run Falcon GT before the end of the line.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Rodge

^^ Yeap, its almost enough to make one contemplate buying a HSV, except on the balance of probabilities they're on borrowed time too.

Yes they are - but look at what they have presented to their followers and buyers as a possible last Hurrah......a GTS with the Lot.........here we are discussing whether there will even be a GT.........leaves you kinda cold - whereas the RED team are left with a lasting legacy of having the biggest and baddest V8 bruiser to be ever built in this country....not to mention the plethora of high tech VF HSV's that will also be available 2nd hand for years and years to come...big difference.

[DMENTDGT]

I wish my GT had park assisst like the new gts cause I don't know how to park... Wtf gimmick shmimick true FORD fans well never cross the border to the darkside, if anything they will buy anything but a holden. And what a **** box the gts is at CV performance they had one on the dyno and it only made 320kw atw so called 430kw gts my *** the nugget. And that's for $105k on road what a joke... I don't get some of these ford fans that don't think too much of the most iconic brand the GT. Is this a gen y special or wtf is going. Every true ford fanatic are mourning for the falcons end but still we have hope for one last falcon GT but still will be saddened by its end. I'm gutted big time the fact that ford au doesn't give a **** or even gave a **** for some time now kills me even more.

[dddd]

Has anyone highlighted the one possible positive out of FPV being killed off before the next model release, and that would be (IMO), we wouldn't have to wait until 2016 to see the mustang. If they kill off the GT, as being predicted, they won't want to be without a halo car for two years. They will bring in the mustang asap.

I can certainly understand Ford not wanting to pay for the set up of another model run of the FPV range, as you would have to expect sales would be dismal and, as such, would never get a return on such an investment. In fact, if it weren't for existing agreements with Canberra, I bet they would have preferred to have already ceased production as sales have, no doubt, dropped like a stone since the announcement of their closure.

I would be surprised if it does last to 2016.

[DMENTDGT]

The only way holden are still going is cause they had a big hand out of $275 million and are still going to finish real soon...

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by dddd

as sales have, no doubt, dropped like a stone since the announcement of their closure.
.

Sales actually jumped by more than 300 units last month iirc.

As much as il be ****ed if ford does euthanise fpv early it is understandable from a bean counter point of view, and we all know that's who runs ford these days.

Il still buy a fh, or if it turns out to be a crazy Clarks update then I might just get a late fg2 instead.

But if ford doesn't honour the 2016 date then il get neither, and il never buy another ford. The workers deserve that timeframe to try and sort out some sort of plan for themselves.

[jpd80]

No other Ford plant I know of has been given three year's notice of closure,
most are lucky to get 12 months notice let alone an update of products
heading into run down....


Believe it or not, this is Ford being generous, normally the are pretty cold blooded
about these things..If this was handled like the Saint Thomas in Canada,
the plant would be closing in November for good.


I don't like this any more than you guys but given the way Ford normally operates overseas,
I think we're lucky to still have a Falcon to speak of let alone an update coming next year..

[nstg8a]

They're only being generous if they stick to their word.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I think we're lucky to still have a Falcon to speak of let alone an update coming next year..

Assuming they don't swing the axe before then, as the October 2016 date was given in terms of "up to" not "until".

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by ESP

Yes they are - but look at what they have presented to their followers and buyers as a possible last Hurrah......a GTS with the Lot.........here we are discussing whether there will even be a GT.........leaves you kinda cold - whereas the RED team are left with a lasting legacy of having the biggest and baddest V8 bruiser to be ever built in this country....not to mention the plethora of high tech VF HSV's that will also be available 2nd hand for years and years to come...big difference.

Yeah, the irony isn't lost on me or many others I reckon.

BUT as noted by someone above LSA won't make much of a premium, (if any), on what a SC Coyote makes.
Here's the 415 KW version of the LSA in a Cadillac CTS-V that couldn't even make 300 rwkw's on a Mainline dyno in Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0fqU8X4Atc
Even after a tune it only made 308 rwkw's
So if we see similar driveline tranmission losses in the HSV GTS their claimed 430 fwkw version of the LSA will translate to about 310 rwkw's on a Mainline dyno.

I've got a funny feeling I know a car that makes about the same power stock

[GTP534]

I noticed Rodge you DID underline almost.

I can understand how Tex feels; we have this love of the brand that Ford just don't seem to get. I've read that a lot lately but even last year while waiting for my R-Spec I used to chat regularly with Hamilton at Sinclair Ford and this phrase came up a lot. The FPV website is woeful, the marketing of FPV was woeful, to the point of embarrassment!

It's just as well the cars, from both ranges GT and F6, are far from an embarrassment. I've had mine for 10 months now with no buyers remorse at all and even now I shake my head that I at one time seriously contemplated a 300 SRT8!

I also shake my head in disappointment at how FPV has been allowed to go into decline.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

They're only being generous if they stick to their word.

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Assuming they don't swing the axe before then, as the October 2016 date was given in terms of "up to" not "until".

1) Ford's workers asked Graziano to tell them as soon as possible
2) The money has been spent on the 2014 Falcon and Territory

Ford has committed funds to the next Falcon and Territory, they won't pull out
without recouping a return on that investment, regardless of the negative propaganda.
If losses were as bad as made out by some, Ford would close at the end of the year
but clearly that is not happening.....................yet.

[Cheese3]

I can tell you guys now if you think ford manufacturing in Australia will last to 2016 you guys are very optimistic . . .

[djjase]

Local Ford dealer has said they are preparing for the Mustang to come sooner and the FPV will certainly go soon, it won't last to 2016.

We had a good chat as I was there looking at a Focus for a replacement to our 5 year old Camry company car.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by jpd80

No other Ford plant I know of has been given three year's notice of closure,
most are lucky to get 12 months notice let alone an update of products
heading into run down....


Believe it or not, this is Ford being generous, normally the are pretty cold blooded
about these things..If this was handled like the Saint Thomas in Canada,
the plant would be closing in November for good.


I don't like this any more than you guys but given the way Ford normally operates overseas,
I think we're lucky to still have a Falcon to speak of let alone an update coming next year..

I don’t agree Ford is doing us the favour here at all. All the factories that have closed overseas still have another factory in the world building the very same car, so the show room gap in products is miniscule. The only reason Australia is getting such a long lead time, is Ford Australia can't fell the product line up gap left by Falcon/ Territory quick enough.


Dropping FPV & GT early is disgraceful IMO. The last thing that will just top it all off for me, will be a pull out from V8’s… And what is Ford saying about this matter?? Sweet jack all, which based on how we (the fans) have been treated for years now, means it too is gone, just waiting for dumb **** Bob to tell us the news.

Tex... You have summarized it up very nicely!!

[Bossxr8]

Latest talk is the XR8 will have an NA crate motor. Don't know if that still means the GS will continue with the SC motor or not.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by djjase

Local Ford dealer has said they are preparing for the Mustang to come sooner and the FPV will certainly go soon, it won't last to 2016.

We had a good chat as I was there looking at a Focus for a replacement to our 5 year old Camry company car.

Dealers don't know any more than anyone else...

How are these 2015 mustangs going to get here sooner?

[Cheese3]

My guess is it will be SC with what I have seen, well I should say lack of.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Latest talk is the XR8 will have an NA crate motor. Don't know if that still means the GS will continue with the SC motor or not.

How ironic would that be... The smarter option, that could have made all the difference, and ford saves it till the final ever falcon

[HEMI POWER]

I can see Rare Spares already tooling up B and F series plastic pieces of crap
and in a few years they will be selling parts for big bucks.

[Bonn]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

How ironic would that be... The smarter option, that could have made all the difference, and ford saves it till the final ever falcon

I wonder if they'll revive the 'Falcon' badge on the FH????????

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Bonn

I wonder if they'll revive the 'Falcon' badge on the FH????????

Be great to see the Falcon name plate on the GT!

Cannot see them R & D'ing crate engine for such a short time?

[zx10]

Originally Posted by mcnews

I think the XR8 name plate has been well and truly overshadowed (and shamed performance wise) in every respect by the XR6T nameplate.

I think the XR8 was overshadowed from the start by the SXR6.

[Bonn]

Originally Posted by mcnews

I think the XR8 name plate has been well and truly overshadowed (and shamed performance wise) in every respect by the XR6T nameplate.

...only if you believe journos' first impression of brand-new, tight not run-in examples, and certainly not 'every respect' IMO.

Admit the development potential is superb with XR6T/G6ET, which is hard to match.....

[CAT600]

Going to enrage all the B series fans but you all know me, some might even like me

For all the reasons an AU was wrong are the only reasons a BA/BF was right.

Take the GT and F6 badge (and Barra 6 engine it has to be said) and looks away from a B series and you are not left with a very inspiring car.

Devoid of true soul and chassis balance like an AU T-Series, lacking what will henceforth be called the "epitome" of Aussie Falcon engines like the 310 6 cylinder and 315/335 Coyotes in FGII and clearly without the interior class, fit or finish of either of the two... The BA-BFII FPV's were in my mind quite uninspiring cars as they left the factory. I had a few B-Series (XR8 ute, BaII Tornado and BF Typhoon and the only real positives I got out of the whole experience was the ZF and a burning desire to build a crushing AU driveline to complete what is an otherwise very complete and competent vehicle.

Since '98 I've owned no less than 7 AU's... 5 of them were/are T-Series and only 2 of them were bought new... I own 2 right now and I'd love a third (T3)

The FG is right up there too, never to regain the lost steering feel and chassis balance of AU but the interior feel comes back to within striking distance of high series AU and it goes without saying that (IRS aside) the driveline choice is clearly world class at this pricepoint.

And I prefer the look of an FG over B-Series but I freely admit that's personal preference.

So while looks are subjective and it could/should be argued that the Barra 6 and ZF need to be credited to B-Series, after that the only really decisive advantage of a BA was the clever badge engineering solution called "GT"

AU GT Phase III.... the only way a T3 would have sounded any better than it did!

Daniel

[Cheese3]

Oh I'm feeling an AU lovefest is about to start I hope it doesn't derail the thread <3

[Bonn]

Originally Posted by Cheese3

Oh I'm feeling an AU lovefest is about to start I hope it doesn't derail the thread <3

Bring back the Jailbar Forte'