First quarter 2006 report for Aussie car industry

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by chich

Unfortunately the Aussies like to see themselves as innovators however the reality is they are simply followers..

It doesn't take a genuis to work out that the Falcon is held back because of the size of the market, and thus its sales.

It makes no sense to "innovate" with a product that barely sells enough to keep a small/meduim companies above water.

The falcon will never be a complete international contender until it is exported.

Australia is jus not big enough to warrant such investment, simple as that.

But it is a damn fact that there are some attributes that the falcon does compare with euro's or whoever you want to name; and beats them even.

For the cash we spend, the output is good. You have to remember that BMW, Merc etc etc sell all over the world, the development budget must be an extraordinary amount compared to Ford Oz's and Holdens.

You pay for what you get.

The sooner Ford US wakeup, swallow there pride and start sharing our technology the better off the company will be. Hell even take our I6T engine, whatever, Ford are just not being smart at the moment, and it will bite them.

[xfalconz]

We should be proud of local car makers, especially Ford for their advances in NVH, Refinement and technology.
Admitidly Falcon still had a live axle option in its sedans as late as 98 i think but the progress in the last decade puts our BA/BF up there to honestly compete internationally. Maybe some quality control issues still to sort but the package is there.
The I6 engine is bloody great and the Turbo even better.

[chich]

Originally Posted by Polyal

It doesn't take a genuis to work out that the Falcon is held back because of the size of the market, and thus its sales.

It makes no sense to "innovate" with a product that barely sells enough to keep a small/meduim companies above water.

The falcon will never be a complete international contender until it is exported.

Australia is jus not big enough to warrant such investment, simple as that.

But it is a damn fact that there are some attributes that the falcon does compare with euro's or whoever you want to name; and beats them even.

For the cash we spend, the output is good. You have to remember that BMW, Merc etc etc sell all over the world, the development budget must be an extraordinary amount compared to Ford Oz's and Holdens.

You pay for what you get.

The sooner Ford US wakeup, swallow there pride and start sharing our technology the better off the company will be. Hell even take our I6T engine, whatever, Ford are just not being smart at the moment, and it will bite them.

In a sense I agree that the Falcon needs export volume to really shine, however engineering a vehicle for low volume market (in a global sense) such as Australia requires innovative thinking - making the most of the few bits and pieces, dollars and resourses you have available. I personally don't believe the Ford Australia organisation has mastered this. When it comes to properly engineering a vehicle Toyota is clearly one of the best in the world. Here in Australia it sells far less V6 & 4cyl Camry's however the quality, reliability, image and resale values is so much better than the Falcons it isn't funny. Parts sharing is the name of the game...