Detroit Rumble

OK, has anyone noticed how a pretty-much bog-stock Falcon XT can cost up to and over 37K on the road? Now with a top-line Focus Ghia sedan availible for about 31K-33K, doesn't this leave a bit of room for...Mondeo? The Mondeo is such a great car it would surely steal sales from Vectra (new one), even Camry, and some european, Jap and Korean stuff for sure. Focus does not seem to be doing so well in sales (marketing? ofcourse, this is Ford!)

I know Ford discounted the Mondeo a while back but this was before the rather hefty BA-price hike. And just take a look at how the Toyota and Holden model lines overlap, its pretty extream(Choice is why they are beating Ford?). I can't understand why this car can't be slotted in with deliberatly select range for about 31-38K? If they can get Focus over here for less than that, what's the problem?

Is this market sector shrinking? Well, I dont think so. Mondeo would appeal to a very different buyer to Falcon I susspect. It seems to me BA pricing has opend up a hole in the line up, and I recon Mondeo is the car to fill it. Modeo is Tough-looking, european(seems Euro is the only way to sell thesedays), has a great interior, has won countless "Car Of The Year" awards...

Can anyone convince me otherwise, or am I just rambling on with mindless shit?

Or will Ford Australia forever be the Falcon Car Company. Now, is there anything wrong with that?

Dunno.

IPhido

Mondeo I don't think would ever be profitiable in australia. Its a great car and all. But even Holden is rather slim pickings with the vectra which has now been updated in europe to be a much bigger car etc.

Wedged inbetween the Focus and the Falcon would be a hard place to live. If you wanted something smaller and fwd, there are always the camry and the magna which are pretty good cars for the australian market.

Busdriver

I thought that was exactly the point that was being made - why does Ford just let the others have it for free? Get a car in there and compete for a slice - even a small slice is better than none. And it is a very different buyer in that market - one who doesn't want a Falcon (full size car) but is maybe older and is downsizing because he doesn't need all the space any more but wants to stay a Ford buyer.

I like the Mondeo - can't understand why it hasn't been marketed better by Ford - it has to be a better proposition than a Camry imo.

61sg

their is a big hole below the focus,i think the focus is overpriced in base form and below it you have the KA!!
although the fiesta should fix that.

BIGBADAU

one problem with the Focus - THE PRICE,

FordHawk

The price is a big problem for the Focus because of the importing, and the fact that they say it competes against VW Polo etc. in Europe. It needs to be cheaper because even though it is a great car price is a big deterrant when buying a new car, as we all know. It also needs to be marketed better, detailing its class leading abilities and awards won.

Onto the Mondeo issue, I do agree there needs to be a car in that region in Ford's lineup, but am not convinced the Mondeo is it. It didn't win a lot of people's hearts when it was here and hasn't won mine. It lacked appeal I feel. I would like the Ford Puma to come to Aus., but am unsure if it is in this region of vehicles (too small etc.). I like it on Colin Mcrae Rally 2, and my brother really loved it when he saw it in London (i think)

But as with all new car ventures money is the biggest issue and i'm not sure that now is the right time for Ford Aus. to be splashing out even more money.

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61sg

I like the focus to drive but its still got that ugly front ford dna as with KA, AU etc and a lot of people have been put off by the looks.
the rest are turned away by the price.

maybe it should have entered the market at a lower price untill it become established?

laminge

Should Ford have something in the 15k bracket then?

rsgerry

Ka isnt far from there, but using a 30 or 40 year old engine this car is behind the 8 ball to start with. i like them, but they are totally gutless, with not much room for improvement.

hopefully, the fiesta will fill that gap. maybe Ka could be retired quietly.

i agree that there should be something in the mondeo class, and the mondeo is a great looking car, and by all accounts a great car, but it needs to be priced sensibly. if there are focuses (focii???) creeping into falcon pricing territory, what chance for the mondeo?

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You wash your car like it was your firstborn child, you tend to its needs like it was your own body, you protect it like it's your family, then you drive it like you stole it.

Weapons of rice destruction

2002 Ford Falcon AU3 XR6
1985 Ford Sierra XR4i
1980 Ford Escort RS2000

VanGelder

I'm with Viper8Lv10, bring the Puma over here.
I saw a couple when I lived in Holland, they are an awesome looking car. It has a style of it's own, very futuristic but still subtle.
With the right marketing strategies I'm sure it will sell like hotcakes.

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