Ford Australia faces a dilemma

[terrine]

FORD Australia, for the first time in several years, faces a delicious dilemma – it needs to ramp up production to meet demand for its recently released Falcon range.

Ford president Geoff Polites said yesterday rising demand for the new Falcon range was causing a "pleasant headache" for planners at its Broadmeadows factory in Melbourne.

"We've seriously had to think about how best we're going to meet demand," he said.

Last month Ford had its best Falcon sales since December 1999.

"The December XR Falcon result was more than three times our monthly average for the first 10 months of 2002," Mr Polites said.

Buyers are also showing an increasing preference for the company's high-performance XR range.

Almost 14 per cent of Falcons sold have been the sporty XRs and this figure is trending upwards. The company has back orders for XRs until April.

The V8 XR8 was launched this week, and Mr Polites is confident of a healthy order book for the remainder of the year.

"The figures demonstrate that the Falcon is well and truly back on the shopping list for private buyers," he said...(w/e australian)

r/peter

[biante1247]

So with this much demand on the sedans will it spur on ford to do a coupe to challenge the monaro. Looks like the good old days are back. Lets just hope there is not another super car scare coming. If anybody has been following the media it seems some of them are starting to bang that old drum again.

Paul.

[7Litre]

Holden has 24 hr production now, maybe Ford will have to the same?????

[timbo333]

Was down at Centreford getting my XR serviced last week......

I wandered over to the new car sales area........and then I saw her...........I couldn't take my eyes off her.........she was beautiful.....................dressed in Phantom Mica..............and placed to tempt even the hardest heart..........I was literally going weak at the knees...............I was like a lovestruck teenager.........drooling even..........I muttered to myself "pull yourself together man"............"I mean its only........only.....an XR6 Turbo with Leather Interior!!!

Then I saw them.......the new car salesmen (or is that salespersons??).....looking over at me with that knowing look in their beady eyes......knowing I'd been hooked by their temptress......they came from allsides leaving me little room for exit....I knew then that if I didn't make a run for it I'd be done for.....so I steeled my remaining strength and ran screaming for the service area..where my beloved XR6 AUII VCT in Galaxy Blue (or perhaps she had gone a brighter shade of Chilli Red in her jealousy!! or is that FURY!!) sat waiting for me to take her home and continue our love affair..........

"I was just looking.... honest"...........I said as I turned the ignition key and she refused to start.............geez cars can be tempremental!!!

Then I glanced down at the tranny....the service tech had left it in D............into N start her up and sped off without looking over my shoulders.

I knew then that I had come close to being seduced by the temptress..........what a close call:eek: :p

[Three_o_seven]

LMAO.......calm down timbo......this is 'G' rated.:D

[vx350]

I have read all the hype about the Falcon and I don't know the sales figures but in New South Wales I see plenty more VY Holden Commodores on the road than BA Falcons. Maybe NSW is Holden territory. I have recently walked into a Holden dealer and they didn't bother coming near me even though my VX SS was parked outside ready to be valued, when I went to the Ford dealer for a look they wouldn't let me go and chased me out the door offering deals and business cards.

[brchi17]

Originally posted by vx350
I have recently walked into a Holden dealer and they didn't bother coming near me even though my VX SS was parked outside ready to be valued, when I went to the Ford dealer for a look they wouldn't let me go and chased me out the door offering deals and business cards.

Have found the same thing here in Victoria. Holoden couldn't care less & Ford just wanted to tell me that they now had a car that people wanted (the salesman told me that Ford were only 900 units behind the Commodore last months & they were very excited - I suppose after 4 years with the AU you can't blame them!!!).

After driving both cars (VY & Barra) in the past 7 days, it appears that once again they have both produced world class vehicles. They were both very good cars to drive.
cheers.

[Acj428]

I was told by a FPV salesman, Holden just dropped there HSV prices By $20,000 to keep inline with the release price of the brand new GT / GTP falcons.......I'd be real happy if I had just brought a brand New HSV and found out Holden just dropped the price, Good Customer relations....

I have just returned from Sydney, GT Falcon Nationals where I had the GREAT pleasure of seeing both GTP & GT Falcons and the pursuit ute up close and personal...:) And yes they were full production cars including functioning interior/engine/everything.....

GTP Falcon $69,000
GT falcon $59,000

All I can say is "OUTSTANDING" :D

[sboland]

$20000.... I dont think so.

[brchi17]

Originally posted by Acj428
I was told by a FPV salesman, Holden just dropped there HSV prices By $20,000 to keep inline with the release price of the brand new GT / GTP falcons
GTP Falcon $69,000
GT falcon $59,000


Gee that sound like a bit of an overreaction if what you say is correct. I thought the Clubsport was around 68k so going on your figures the Clubsport will be cheeper than an SS ???

I find it all a little bit too good to be true myself & really when was the last time we have been told a porkey by a car salesman. At the end of the day I'm sure they would have only have told you that if they thought it improve their chances of getting a sale.

cheers.

[brchi17]

I have just been looking at the HSV website & found the following prices for their vehicles (nb: all prices are + ORC)

Clubsport $58,200
Clubsport R8 $68,860
Senator $73,950
Signature $79,950
GTS $ 93,500

So I would find it almost impossible to see HSV reducing their cars by 20k, sorry but it sounds like you've been told a porkey.
cheers.

[the_goldie]

If they have dropped the price by $20k then show me where to trade in my VT Clubby for the VY @$38,200 :D although it will kill the price of my car. Jeez if HSV dropped their price by $20k then everyone will drive the clubby instead of the SS...

[mustang1966]

Seems that ford are on a winner with the BA range.

The XR6 T seems to be the best value car in the ford range, and I would have to think that if the GT is going for around the 59K mark it is going to be a big seller as well.

It is going to be interesting to watch the sales figures over the next few months between the VY & BA.

My almost daily routine of driving down the M4 and Parramatta Rd, I seem to think there are more BA's on the road compared to the VY.

The Focus is another interesting car. I wonder if it will take off here in Australia as it has done over the rest of the world. How do they compare in price to the Corolla, Civic and other cars in the 2lt range.

[mmazz30]

Originally posted by vx350
I have read all the hype about the Falcon and I don't know the sales figures but in New South Wales I see plenty more VY Holden Commodores on the road than BA Falcons. Maybe NSW is Holden territory. I have recently walked into a Holden dealer and they didn't bother coming near me even though my VX SS was parked outside ready to be valued, when I went to the Ford dealer for a look they wouldn't let me go and chased me out the door offering deals and business cards.

Geez vx350.....I'd have that salesman up for harrassment charges!.....Anyway.....here in Victoria.....truck loads more of VY's i see on the road than BA's.

[Conrod]

its a great looking car, but the salesman went blue trying to tell me its a new car and i guess 90% is but i still hit my head when sitting or getting up in the AU style body with new front and rear. i was always a ford man, that was until the AU, i disregard that model but each to his/her own. Only time will tell to see if ford rushed the BA too quickly. i feel a call back for some reason. especally when the tv screen flicked on the Fairmont Ghia at the show room.

[bernoo]

Just back from Bathurst. Saw new GT and GT-P. The game is far from over. Also about 320 GT`s on show. One poor fellow in a AC Cobra hit wall at the Chase end of Conrod. Fibreglass and concrete dont mix. Cobra all broken. Driver ok. I have about 350 photos. When I figure out how to show them I will let anyone who is interested know.