Ford US making better cars than Ford AUS

[Eaturbo]

I hate too say it but having been on the Ford US web site it appears to me that they are getting Better cars than we do here. Have a look at the new Ford Explorer http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/tr...erior_Features

They are getting heaps more options than we get, Things like power tailgate, Dual panel sunroof, Heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, HID lights , My Sync, Sony sound system, Blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, Rain sensing wipers, keyless start, Remote start which auto sets the temp inside so the car is cool or warm in winter or summer, park assist, Auto dimming rear view mirror, 110v power outlet, Power fold up 3rd row seats, rear climate control, 20" wheels and heaps more just have a look for yourself The Explorer is a much better car than the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and how much you ask $38,000 for the top of the range but you have to pay for some of the above options. It makes our Territory look very poor by comparision. I think its time Ford Aus started importing these Cars to give General motors and the rest a fair old hiding. I know a few that have brought the new jeep over the new Territory but hell i would buy and explorer over both. The new F150 Platnium is an awesome truck as well with V6 ECO Boost power for $45,000 fully optioned in a dual cab. Times are changing and we need to move with the times.

[TheyDontWantMus]

Its the way its always been.

but, when it comes to Ford, I really wouldn't want all those "features" as its just more to go wrong.

[BDA074]

Have to admit that I agree. Ford US have a range to be envious about. Ford Fusion Hybrid and Taurus AWD are the picks for me. They have the range and features that we can only dream of. Their Market size is what makes it possible. Economies of scale...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

I hate too say it but having been on the Ford US web site it appears to me that they are getting Better cars than we do here. Have a look at the new Ford Explorer http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/tr...erior_Features

They are getting heaps more options than we get, Things like power tailgate, Dual panel sunroof, Heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, HID lights , My Sync, Sony sound system, Blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, Rain sensing wipers, keyless start, Remote start which auto sets the temp inside so the car is cool or warm in winter or summer, park assist, Auto dimming rear view mirror, 110v power outlet, Power fold up 3rd row seats, rear climate control, 20" wheels and heaps more just have a look for yourself The Explorer is a much better car than the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and how much you ask $38,000 for the top of the range but you have to pay for some of the above options. It makes our Territory look very poor by comparision. I think its time Ford Aus started importing these Cars to give General motors and the rest a fair old hiding. I know a few that have brought the new jeep over the new Territory but hell i would buy and explorer over both. The new F150 Platnium is an awesome truck as well with V6 ECO Boost power for $45,000 fully optioned in a dual cab. Times are changing and we need to move with the times.

Maybe if Ford Motor Company gave Ford Australia a comparable product development budget, we would have all those bits and pieces. But the reality is Dee-troit calls the shots and controls the purse strings and FoA makes do with what they can get for our small yet cut-throat market. This is why most car makers are gradually moving towards global platforms.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Maybe if Ford Motor Company gave Ford Australia a comparable product development budget, we would have all those bits and pieces. But the reality is Dee-troit calls the shots and controls the purse strings and FoA makes do with what they can get for our small yet cut-throat market. This is why most car makers are gradually moving towards global platforms.

Also if anyone thinks they would get American pricing on their vehicles here they would be very disappointed.

[Mechan1k]

Plus the US market is much larger than our own little one ... so they have more R&D to throw at their vehicles compared to what we have hear.

as VZTRT mentioned ... US pricing of vehicles over there makes our vehicles look so over-priced for what you get.

[csv8]

eaturbo..my cousin in Canada has the new Explorer LTD and its a ripper!!! When I was there in October ,I was amazed at how far advanced it is over Holden and Ford cars, here. It shouldn't be too hard too add some of the features to our Territory. Even the Fiesta/Focus/Mondeo have features that our Falcon and Territory should have.

[falcon convert]

I am over in the USA at the moment USA and must say I have been quite impressed with what I have seen from Ford. No, I haven't actually driven any US Fords, but they do have a great looking range.
The Explorer and the Edge SUVs look great as does the Fusion sedan. Even the much maligned (in Australia) Taurus really looks the goods.
Te there are the monsters - the F150/250/350/450 range and the massive Expedition SUV. Even these big beasts have grown on me.
Focus is everywhere, though I think I've only seen sedans. What seems to be missing over here is a toddler - a Fiesta type car, though I may just have missed seeing one.

[Iggypoppin']

I think some people need to understand economies of scale. The population of Australia is around 22-24million. I believe there are two or possibly more cities in America with a population of around that. City. Just a city. Not even the whole state. So really, when you think about it, we have it pretty damn good here. The fact our little country has even the range of cars that we get, is pretty amazing.

[jpd80]

What is interesting is to see the level of quality in Ford's US vehicles and see them having applications in our market .
What is not so pleasing is knowing full well that by the time they get here, you can add at least 50% to the US sticker price..

A lot of prices on Ford UK site align with Aussie pricing, one anomaly is the Titanium Mondeo for 21,000 pounds
which would make it approx $35,000 landed here instead of Ford's price gouging $47,000 - makes you think hey.....

[duaned]

Originally Posted by falcon convert

What seems to be missing over here is a toddler - a Fiesta type car, though I may just have missed seeing one.

Probably because most americans can't fit inside of one, but it seems australians are somehow performing the next to impossible

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

They are getting heaps more options than we get, Things like power tailgate, Dual panel sunroof, Heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, HID lights , My Sync, Sony sound system, Blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, Rain sensing wipers, keyless start, Remote start which auto sets the temp inside so the car is cool or warm in winter or summer, park assist, Auto dimming rear view mirror, 110v power outlet, Power fold up 3rd row seats, rear climate control, 20" wheels and heaps more just have a look for yourself

Kings of adding GADGETS to vehicles that they don't really need making them heavier and less fuel efficient in a time when they need to be doing the opposite. Other than the electronic stuff, most of those gadgets were available in Caddys/Lincolns/Imperials in the sixties, so it's nothing much new.

I'd be far more impressed if they were mass producing cheap alternative energy vehicles with driving ranges and "refueling"(?) times similar to petrol-powered ones.

[ Oh .. don't mistake me for being anti-American; I own two American Motors Corporation Javelins and a Plymouth Fury convertible .. two dead American manufacturers ]

[max_torq]

To sell them here they need a RHD version. The conversion would be expensive.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by max_torq

To sell them here they need a RHD version. The conversion would be expensive.

LHD should be allowed, like the UK.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

LHD should be allowed, like the UK.

dont be silly.. the brain dead masses let loose in LHD cars would be a bloodbath......

[blk6t]

I visit family in the US every year and hire a mustang every year, the Fords there are a great range, the Stang has some great performance options and tech that FPV needs. Having said that, the Stang for example is full of plastic inside and is not quite as refined as a XR6 Turbo. The rest of the range you could probably compare to what Mazda or Hyundai offers in Australia.

All that aside, I don't see why Ford Aus can't have access to tech and parts out of the US and design the Falcon to suit. The Falcon center console could be replaced with the Mustang console for example and the dash.

I still love getting back into a Falcon after spending 4 weeks in a Stang, although I could very easily live with a Boss Stang in Aus....hint hint Ford!!!!

[csv8]

falcon convert..the Fiesta is in America..I saw a few when there in sept/oct.
Pricing is about $5k LESS than here....

[mik]

Ford Australia has had to compete with twice the amount of competition from the flood of imports and probably on a lesser budget, so it`s not a level playing field.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

LHD should be allowed, like the UK.

The UK is not as isolated from Europe as we are from Asia and has no significant local industry anymore. Allowing LHD here i reckon would kill the locals with cheap asian imports on one side and $60K M5's on the otherside

[Cheese3]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

dont be silly.. the brain dead masses let loose in LHD cars would be a bloodbath......

let them, its called Darwins law.

[Joe5619]

I think "One Ford" will really really help in this regards & bring our local products up to US & Europe spec Fords...

[Road_Warrior]

Moving to global platforms and rationalising the overall number of platforms will mean that there will be more money to go around for product development. However this stuff takes time, it's no good saying "Ford should do this/import that" when products like the FG/E8 are half way through the lifecycle - they can't click the fingers and suddenly make things appear.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Moving to global platforms and rationalising the overall number of platforms will mean that there will be more money to go around for product development. However this stuff takes time, it's no good saying "Ford should do this/import that" when products like the FG/E8 are half way through the lifecycle - they can't click the fingers and suddenly make things appear.

A voice of reason!

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Also if anyone thinks they would get American pricing on their vehicles here they would be very disappointed.

Unless they were willing to take US style pay. About half of what we earn...

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

dont be silly.. the brain dead masses let loose in LHD cars would be a bloodbath......

Rubbish...nothing focuses the mind more than being on "the wrong side of the car"...how come no other country has a problem with letting people freely drive on whatever side they like with cars from anywhere?

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

I think some people need to understand economies of scale. The population of Australia is around 22-24million. I believe there are two or possibly more cities in America with a population of around that. City. Just a city. Not even the whole state. So really, when you think about it, we have it pretty damn good here. The fact our little country has even the range of cars that we get, is pretty amazing.

So what your saying is that we have to accept substandard feature cars because we have a small population when the technology is readily available within the Ford Company. When you look at the FG/SZ range, they have not really introduced anymore technology than what the SX/BA had 7 years ago and in fact we went backwards when the dropped the sunroof option from the range. I am just saying that they could have put some new technology into the FG2 or SZ to get people uptrading to new models. Even stuff like LED tailights and HID headlights would add no weight and been seen as moving the bar up plus maybe a decent sound system in high spec cars. Ford have sat on the hands and really offered nothing

[FPV GTHO]

You make it sound like Ford is offering a state service...

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

So what your saying is that we have to accept substandard feature cars because we have a small population when the technology is readily available within the Ford Company. When you look at the FG/SZ range, they have not really introduced anymore technology than what the SX/BA had 7 years ago and in fact we went backwards when the dropped the sunroof option from the range. I am just saying that they could have put some new technology into the FG2 or SZ to get people uptrading to new models. Even stuff like LED tailights and HID headlights would add no weight and been seen as moving the bar up plus maybe a decent sound system in high spec cars. Ford have sat on the hands and really offered nothing

And who is paying for this? Ford are not going to spend more on Falcon unless they can get their investment back.

Its good business sense, nothing more, nothing less.

[Mr Hardware]

Ford US is now making motors that outlast the I6?

I don't think so tim.

[350125GO]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Ford US is now making motors that outlast the I6?

I don't think so tim.

The 300CI I6 awhile back wouldve given it a run for its money...


And no, we don't want people driving around with LHD cars