Return To Au Styling In Near Future ? - Page 2 - Ford Forums

Ghia5L · 10-08-2003, 21:38

/me likes the AU/BA A-pillar. Very fat, but it gives XA-XC-like vision :-/

I can't stand the VT-VY A-pillar, it looks so weak!

-Dave-

He|mut · 10-09-2003, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesA

As I've previously stated in other replies, I believe the AU was 'burnt' by the media, yet the vehicle represented some outstanding qualities.

In my opinion, it was too far ahead of its time.

.

'Burnt' by the media??

No matter what the media says, people will always have their own opinions. And when people looked at the AU, they just didn't like it.

I can't see how it's "too far ahead of its time".. it still looks as ugly as ever to me.

BA for sure.

JamesA · 10-09-2003, 06:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossxr8

I don't get how you can say that the Merc is similar to the AU. Who cares that it has triangular taillights. That doesn't make it look anything like an AU. Ford are trying to distance themselves as far away from AU as possible and with the majority of the public hating the look of the VY and the new Magna they are on the right track in avoiding it.

Maybe you need some peripheral help (glasses) ?!?!?!?!?!?

The rear end of the Merc has triangular lights, and the boot shape also has the reverse triangular look with the arching boot lid. Even the bumper sweeps under each tail-light mold into the bumper precisely like the AU. Looks pretty close to me. What I am trying to illustrate is that even a prestiage car maker like Mercedes (and lets face it, they build better cars than Ford anywhere in the world) is moving towards sharp edge design.

I dont think Ford are trying to distance themselves that far from the AU. The BA still has the AU's doors. If they were really trying to distance themselves, they would have changed the doors as well, and not admitted that the base of the car is still an AU.

Anyway, you know as well as I do that Falcon sales are held up by fleets, not the public. The fleets (lease companies) 'punished' Ford for discounting the EFII and EL towards the end of their production, which meant low resale and residual salvage on each unit. The fleets dont give a toss what the cars look like, so attempting to pull the volume argument in the context of the AU and putting it down to looks is ignorant in the context of the Falcon and Commodore.

Even if you did look at volumes, sales of the VY have only come down 600 units from their peak sales of 7800-7900, which isn't bad considering 'you think' the majority of the public hate the look of the VY. Obviously this isn't the case otherwise VY sales theoretically should have dipped to AU levels of 3000-4000 units per month. Ofcourse this is total bs because as I said above, fleets drive the volumes, not the public.

The fact is that even most car writers/commentators from newspapers and magazines a few years back had no problem in rating the AUII/III (on technical, comfort & performance factors) well above the equivalent Commodores at the time. They always put the styling and looks to an individuals taste, and for some its not bad at all.

P'cisT · 10-09-2003, 06:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesA

What I am trying to illustrate is that even a prestiage car maker like Mercedes (and lets face it, they build better cars than Ford anywhere in the world) is moving towards sharp edge design.

But just because Mercedes comes up with a design, doesn't necessarily make it a appealing car. I look at that car, and the styling does nothing for me. Anyhow, t\ey sort of get away with it due to their low volume sales in Australia.

I agree with everything else you said though,

tranquilized · 10-09-2003, 18:27

There is nothing wrong with the styling of the AU, the entire problem lies with the suspension.
In standard form they look terrible, but lower any AU (a lot) and it undergoes an amazing transformation!

baxr6 · 10-09-2003, 23:10

image is everything, Say Holden people think "ss", Toyota "Lancruiser" Nissan "300ZX" , Ford " Mocha cream AU1 Forte", I have got used to the rear styling, but whoever signed off on the AU1 cheescutter grill should be butt #$%^*d, futura and fairmont O.K, but Forte???????

JamesA · 10-12-2003, 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxr6

but whoever signed off on the AU1 cheescutter grill should be butt #$%^*d, futura and fairmont O.K, but Forte???????

Yep, agreed. The "cheesecutter" look was definitely ugly ! - who the hell ever thought that one up, we'll never know.

But there's nothing wrong with the AUII/III which adopted the fairmont bonnet across all models.

outback_ute · 10-13-2003, 19:35

I disagree, I think the Futura grille was v. ordinary but the main problem was the headlights. Apart from the car having too much taper which they have largely rectified with the BA except the roof line.

CSV_LS1 · 10-14-2003, 08:15

I can see Mercedes going near bankruptcy and a massive facelift within 1 year of release of their new 4 door 'coupe'

It's probably the ugliest model to come out of Mercedes.

philstoj · 10-14-2003, 08:19

i can see all the AU haters saying how inovative the mercedes design is when its released....