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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FG Falcon fan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Canberra, ACT
Posts: 913
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I dont know when they replaced the Laser with the Focus but I vaguely recall the Laser was a great seller and I think it was a terrible idea not to rename the Focus as the Laser for the Aussie market. Can anyone shed light on this? Horrific marketing decision.
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#2 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ACT
Posts: 4,028
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Laser
Quote:
sounds like a trend to me.
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Current Rides: 2000 AU 5L XLS ute; 1970 Mustang project |
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#3 | ||
Giddy up.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kramerica Industries.
Posts: 15,620
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The Laser finished up in 2001/02 I think from memory, the last model was the KN.
There you go 2002 as stated above. |
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#4 | ||
Cobblers!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Shire, NSW
Posts: 4,489
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Focus was developed in Europe as a replacement for the Escort.
Laser was an Australian built CKD Mazda 323 until 1994, when it was fully imported from Japan.
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Ego BFII Ghia Titanium Silver E53 X5 4.4i Gunmetal EF XR6. Now retired from active duty. Roses are red. Violets are blue. OS X rocks. Homage to you. |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Nissan is replacing Tiida with the name Pulsar, the only market on the planet to get its own name. Name recognition plays a big part in the Aussie market.
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#6 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,141
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Quote:
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#7 | ||
as in chopped
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,991
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My missus had a 92 Laser and it was the one of the most reliable cars we have ever owned. Nothing went wrong with it.
Hail finally wrote it off (it was still fine mechanically). I never liked the colour though, it was a funny bright blue. I reckon the "Focus" name has been accepted though, so no need to change back.
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-> Reading this signature was pointless <- |
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#8 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 182
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we have a 92 laser as a cheap runabout (i drive it to work too) - have had it now for 3 years and it has never once broke down. Super reliable!
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arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you win, you're still a retard! |
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#9 | ||
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kenthurst
Posts: 40,394
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My Mum had a 90 KF GHIA manual.
That thing was literally bulletproof. Drove well for it's entire life. I should have bought it off her in the end. I learnt to drive in it. Prior to that we had a KB Laser GL 5-speed manual as well. That thing never caused one bit of trouble for my Dad .... as it was his daily to and from work as well (90km round trip a day) ... ran on the smell of an oily rag as well.
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The Current Stable 2016 SZII TS Territory RWD Petrol The Evolution of the EGA54D utes AU Workshop Build thread of EGA54D B-Series Workshop Build thread of EGA54D 2004 SX TX Territory AWD - Gone but not forgotten 2010 FG XT "The ex-rental" - Moved onto a new home Mechan1k's Flickr Page |
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#10 | ||
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kenthurst
Posts: 40,394
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If I wasn't needing my ute for my other job ... and needed a runabout to get to and get to and from work ... I've been looking at carsales of late.
And the non-turbo KF TX3's are going for around the $2-3K mark ... cheap really for what they were. I wouldn't mind having a small runabout again. Especially in traffic.
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The Current Stable 2016 SZII TS Territory RWD Petrol The Evolution of the EGA54D utes AU Workshop Build thread of EGA54D B-Series Workshop Build thread of EGA54D 2004 SX TX Territory AWD - Gone but not forgotten 2010 FG XT "The ex-rental" - Moved onto a new home Mechan1k's Flickr Page |
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#11 | |||
Giddy up.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kramerica Industries.
Posts: 15,620
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#12 | |||
playing in my big shed
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: miriam vale , qld
Posts: 3,302
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Quote:
i think that towards the end of their run the styling had become a bit bland on the laser / 323, although as everyone says, they were super reliable. it was a shame to see ford drop the laser just before mazda started to get some style back in their designs.
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`75 XB FAIRMONT sedan . mushroom beige, injected 351, toploader, 9inch `10 FG XR50 Turbo ute. Nitro blue, 6 sp Auto, Leather trim. `04 BA RTV tray back, Red, V8 auto, `04 BA XR6 Turbo sedan. Blueprint. auto, Leather trim. `03 BA XLS ute . Acid Rush, factory lpg, auto, `48 TEA20 Grey Ferguson, `62 Willys 6-230 , 4x4 light truck `04 Yamaha TTR 250 Last edited by dave351cid; 04-02-2012 at 11:09 PM. |
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#13 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,000
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#14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 734
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I learnt to drive on a 93 Laser Ghia, what a great car.. Power everything, economical as.. I wrote it off :/ still miss it :(
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2011 Ford FG Falcon XR6 LE - Winter White Mods (so far): Sunroof, new speakers, twin 12" subs http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?p=4150126 |
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#15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Topend of Oz since 1980
Posts: 5,299
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Last Laser model was a KQ 2002 - ultra reliable.
Used one as a driving school car for 8 years - replaced clutch once |
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#16 | |||
Giddy up.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kramerica Industries.
Posts: 15,620
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#17 | ||
Call me dirt... Joe Dirt
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Back in Perth for good
Posts: 5,302
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The Ford Lasers were great cars, had a couple in our family too growing up.
The Focus name however is well established now... and its linked to motorsport (well it was, not sure if its still in WRC?) which is powerful marketing.
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2007 BFII FPV Cobra Ute|Boss 302|6M|#23/100 Mods so far: Billet Products Shifter|X-Force Exhaust|Herrod Oil Breathers|Whiteline Sway Bar|Tein SuperStreets|Kings FOR-303SL Rear Springs|Melling Oil Pump|Mace Manifold Spacers|Powerbond Underdrives|Pacemaker Headers|Ballistic Cats|XFT Custom Tune @ 308.3rwkw|DBA T3 Rotors|Ferodo Pads|Goodridge Braided Lines Mods to come: 4.11 Diff Gears|Chromoly Tailshaft I use & recommend: Castrol|Motorcraft|Mainlube|Penrite Check Out My Build Thread |
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#18 | |||
FG Falcon fan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Canberra, ACT
Posts: 913
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#19 | ||
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kenthurst
Posts: 40,394
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Our KF only did an ignition module ... one day it just didn't want to start.
That was the only issue with it ... we had it from new ... not one warranty issue on the car.
__________________
The Current Stable 2016 SZII TS Territory RWD Petrol The Evolution of the EGA54D utes AU Workshop Build thread of EGA54D B-Series Workshop Build thread of EGA54D 2004 SX TX Territory AWD - Gone but not forgotten 2010 FG XT "The ex-rental" - Moved onto a new home Mechan1k's Flickr Page |
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#20 | ||
B1 - J & D Services
![]() Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brim, Victoria
Posts: 1,632
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The Focus was the correct car to get, considering the Mazda 3 (323) was also developed with it, however the name change was stupid...
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Mr. Brett Johnstone. ![]() 2002 Ford Laser 2000 Ford Falcon Wagon Egas 1999 Subaru Imprezza Sportwagon 1998 Holden Suburban 2500 1995 Land Rover Discovery TDI 1994 XG XR6 Longreach 1983 Holden Rodeo 1975 Datsun 120Y wagon 1970 MG Midget 1967 Rover 2000TC Soon: Model T. |
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#21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NSW Central Coast
Posts: 1,266
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#22 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
Futura, Fairmont and Ghia accounted for 20% of total BF Falcon sales, G6, G6E and G6E Turbo accounted for 40% of FG sales. So effectively they doubled the % of Falcon sales with the new name plates, which they considered a highly successful move, yet the keyboard warriors on here know better than Ford right. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() No wonder Ford are in such trouble, even when they do something right the knockers still put them down. |
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#23 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NSW Central Coast
Posts: 1,266
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Quote:
i can have an opinion ....also there were no fairmont ghia turbo's so what are the numbers if you take the G6ET out?? FG Fairmont Ghia Turbo sound better to me than FG G6ET it that makes me a keyboard warrior i can live with that ![]() |
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#24 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
If you had of said you would have preferred to have kept the old nameplates thats fine, but to call Ford stupid for doing it when it was a successful move is wrong. FG may have had the turbo model but BF also had the option of a V8 which the FG didn't. G6E Turbo only makes up a small % of those sales anyway, G6E is the volume seller of the G series range. |
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#25 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Quote:
The 6 year old VE Commodore doubles Falcon sales. G series has been a raging success. The first thing people think of is 'G series' when they are shopping for 50 grand sedans. Calais? Never heard of it. |
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#26 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
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#27 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North Coast, NSW
Posts: 4,012
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Here's an interesting one from South Africa (I think ?)...
The Ford Bantum (A Laser ute based on the Laser/Mazda platform)
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#28 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Andrew's Beach, VIC
Posts: 121
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Let's not forget that the badge engineering exercise was part of government policy during the 90's, and was widespread across many Marques. I don't think that today's market would really accept it today. Even the Bt50 and Ranger have undergone extensive efforts to differentiate themselves.
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#29 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
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Ahh, the wonderous days of badge engineering...they gave us all some bloody good laughs.
People with a Toyota Lexen who would go into, say, Autobarn for parts (a rear window louvre to pick a particular case witnessed), and get into nasty arguements when the assistant would bring out a louvre marked "to suit VN/VP Holden Commodore"...the owner would get all indignant and say things like "It's not a Holden, it's a Toyota Lexan!!!" Same with people laughing at guys who bought a Nissan "Ute"...until they calmly told the scoffers that buying the Falcon ute from Ford gave you a 12 month 20,000km warrantee, but the same car with Nissan badges meant you got Nissans standard 2 year 40,000km warrantee... ![]() On the Laser, I even knew a couple of guys who owned them who were very proud of thier "Fords" and actually, honestly, unbelievably used to knock other guys driving "that Jap crap"... ![]() Quote:
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#30 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 459
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Laser continued to be sold in asia up to 2005. The 02-05 update looked like a mini BA.
2005 Laser Lynx RS ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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