Is the tooling still available for the AU? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

11-06-2002, 23:21

There has been a lot of debate about the BA being used/available as a Taxi. Some are in favour, some are not (me!) There are a number of reasons such as brand image and and image of longevity.

If the tooling/sheet metal pressings/etc are still available for the AU:

Can an AU still be built in conjunction with the BA?

Can the DOHC drivertrain be matched to the AU live rear end?

Can the AU Taxi be marketed/sold as the "Mercury" brand as opposed to the "Ford" brand?

Can the infrastructure for the AU be sold/leased to another company to build Mercury Taxi's?

Will there be enough domestic/international sales to qualify a dedicated Mercury Taxi

xacoupe · 11-06-2002, 23:24

parts etc have to be around for 10 years after the dat e the last one is sold ... I guess you could make one out of spares at 100 times the normal price.....

carazy · 11-06-2002, 23:57

If the sales warrented it I think that would be an excellent idea.
However before ford would do a thing like that I think they'd be wanting a bigger market for taxis.
Imagine that though Mercury taxi's around the world and there all our dear old AU!

Donut King · 11-07-2002, 00:10

Quote:

Originally posted by plonky

Can the DOHC drivertrain be matched to the AU live rear end?

Don't forget one issue with BA DOHC engine is that it can run on LPG or Petrol, not dual fuel, which is one of the things which may make it unuseable as a taxi, so using the DOHC engine in such a car would somewhat defeat the purpose of it...

mrpoppy · 11-07-2002, 00:12

I think there are some good points about having a BA Taxi, despite all the negative conotations.

It allows people who don't own a Falcon to get a feel for what it's like to ride in a Ford. Maybe your coming home from a night on the town or getting a ride to the airport, but it may be a good way to introduce people to the Ford brand.

I personally don't see anything wrong with Ford pretty much dominating the taxi market. Combine that with a strong Ford driven Police fleet and it comes close to making the Ford image ubiquitous on the road.

carazy · 11-07-2002, 00:44

Yeah I personally don't have any trouble with Ford supplying taxi companys. most of the taxi's here in SA are well maintained and drive quite well.
Also It's always great to see that the car I've got it able to do such high KMS.
I get a fuzzy feeling from hoping in a Ford taxi with one of my Holden mates and pointing to the dash to see a good 500,000kms.

FFOracing · 11-07-2002, 01:45

Quote:

Originally posted by mrpoppy
I think there are some good points about having a BA Taxi, despite all the negative conotations.

It allows people who don't own a Falcon to get a feel for what it's like to ride in a Ford.

Well if past TAXI's are anything to go by:

"That new Ford smells, rattles, and groans. And that was at idle."

"Look hunny, chunder stain's - STANDARD!"

Sorry, but I have yet to ride in a taxi that I would consider a good advert. Maybe I just get all the dud ones.

FFOracing · 11-07-2002, 01:47

Quote:

Originally posted by plonky
Can an AU still be built in conjunction with the BA?

Please, NO!

The quicker the world forgets about AU the better.

OK, that might be a bit harsh, mechanically it was'nt too shoddy. But fugliness ain't next to godliness.

PS: Anyone know if the guy who designed AU has been arrested yet? Last I heard he fled to Columbia.

AUForte · 11-07-2002, 04:06

*AU Forte leaps to the defence of poor old AU*

The AU wasn't that bad, maybe I've just become a little attatched to them but but a bodykit and a set of wheels on one and they can look damn nice.

harasn · 11-07-2002, 06:54

one thing with puttimg the BA running gear in a AU. the bloody taxi would be quicker than the BA! AU weight is less that BA!!!