The G8, and what Ford could possibly do...

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Since the US is finally getting a version of the Holden Commodore, in the form of the Pontiac G8, why doesn't Ford try the same idea? The Ford Falcon in Aussie is great car, and would make a great competitor for the upcoming G8. So, should Ford try and bring the Falcon here? And even the FPV versions like the GT and Typhoon T6?

[ChevelleSSLS6]

Ford is stooooopid. They have all sorts of attractive machinery for the Aussies and the Euros, but we get fwd v6 crap. Sure the current styling is clean and attractive in a conservative way, much better than the oval, oval, oval 1990s crap, but the machinery still is not enthusiast grade material (Grand Am, Mustang, stuff with a following)

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Ford is stooooopid. They have all sorts of attractive machinery for the Aussies and the Euros, but we get fwd v6 crap. Sure the current styling is clean and attractive in a conservative way, much better than the oval, oval, oval 1990s crap, but the machinery still is not enthusiast grade material (Grand Am, Mustang, stuff with a following)

Agreed. I really don't understand why the dopes up in Ford's management give all the good Ford models to elsewhere in the world, and they give their own home market absolute garbage? Other than the trucks and the Mustang, Fords are bland and boring.

[Trudgn]

The current-gen Focus is a good example. I saw their top-of-the-line version on TopGear last year and couldn't believe it was a Focus! And we get stuck with this new model, who's selling feature is 'ambient mood lighting'? Give me a break!

[Deggy Fresh]

Ford will probably never make any of their international cars available to their US customers which sucks. I think the Falcon is actually a pretty sick car, it is a shame that it will never be available here.



I can't believe I just said I like a Ford product.

[ssracer]

This can be said for most major auto manufacturers. Compared to the cars they sell in other market, the stuff here in the US blows. I'm glad GM started bringing some of the Opel stuff here under Saturn.

[RazorDX]

;1136151']Since the US is finally getting a version of the Holden Commodore, in the form of the Pontiac G8, why doesn't Ford try the same idea? The Ford Falcon in Aussie is great car, and would make a great competitor for the upcoming G8. So, should Ford try and bring the Falcon here? And even the FPV versions like the GT and Typhoon T6?

GM had to jump through hoops to get the G8 to meet emissions standards in the U.S. Not all companies are willing to make this gamble.

They may do something to fill the spot the public Crown Vic left, but I think the Mustang is doing enough to hold up the sales in the RWD v8 vehicle section (albeit it isn't a sedan).

[[ChaosweaveR]]

GM had to jump through hoops to get the G8 to meet emissions standards in the U.S. Not all companies are willing to make this gamble.

They may do something to fill the spot the public Crown Vic left, but I think the Mustang is doing enough to hold up the sales in the RWD v8 vehicle section (albeit it isn't a sedan).

Like I said, if GM is going to do it, Ford will obviously take notice, and maybe bring at least a variation of the Falcon to replace the Crown Vic.

[Trigga-T]

who cares its ford haha. GM FTW!

[[ChaosweaveR]]

who cares its ford haha. GM FTW!

Don't scoff at Ford's overseas models. Your opinion would change about Ford pretty quick if we got what Europe and Australia get. And damnit, Ford better bring the FPV Falcon GT and Typhoon T6 here some time.

[g4mbl3]

get it shipped over! smple as that hehe. btw, lets suppose you buy a car overseas, and pay in full. how much would it cost to get it shipped over to the states?

and i agree ford gives us poop. i mean come on, ford is an american company, selling overseas and not caring about their homefield. oooo well, im happy with my GAGT

[urweak]

i remember reading something that once they axe the crown vic, they will be using a RWD platform from one of the above mentioned cars to make something.

[RazorDX]

get it shipped over! smple as that hehe. btw, lets suppose you buy a car overseas, and pay in full. how much would it cost to get it shipped over to the states?

and i agree ford gives us poop. i mean come on, ford is an american company, selling overseas and not caring about their homefield. oooo well, im happy with my GAGT

It's not always possible. Import shops exist that will make the vehicles legal for import into the U.S., but they often charge so much that it isn't worth doing it.

[car audio dave]

ford wont do it, and heres a few reasons why:
1) they are hurting for money and dont have spare change to try an experiment like this.

2) the GTO. it didnt work for GM, and Ford would kill themselves if they tried to import an aussie car and it failed here.

ford goes by the motto "never try, never fail". :lol:

[matts]

and i agree ford gives us poop. i mean come on, ford is an american company, selling overseas and not caring about their homefield. oooo well, im happy with my GAGT

GM does the same thing. do a search for some of the europe GM models. they've got a lumina SS that's pretty good looking in saudi arabia. came with RWD and LS2. had a couple of other good looking models too

edit: couple sites

http://www.drivearabia.com/chevrolet/#csvcr8

http://www.drivearabia.com/chevrolet/#lumina07

http://www.drivearabia.com/chevrolet/#caprice07

[RazorDX]

Really though, who gives a shit about gas prices in Saudi Arabia? :lol:

There's not much of a market here (it exists, but it's big) and with the mandatory fuel economy average stuff they can't really accommodate an entire line of cars that get the 'gas guzzler' stamp in the states.

[Nighthawk243]

Yeah, the Gas price in Saudi Arabia is dirt cheap... If an american went to saudi arabia, one gallon of gas would cost less than a bottle of soda out of the average US soda machine.

[freekLED]

;1137512']Don't scoff at Ford's overseas models. Your opinion would change about Ford pretty quick if we got what Europe and Australia get. And damnit, Ford better bring the FPV Falcon GT and Typhoon T6 here some time.

You're right

Consider this, Ford Europe offers the somewhat pre-tuned Focus ST which according to Ford puts out in excess of 260hp and you can get the 5th Gen Fiesta ST which will put out 225hp. Now the stock N/A 4th Gen Fiesta had a max of 100hp (largest gas engine offered was 1.6l) and was shitty to drive & maintain.

Look how long it took GM to install an Ecotec engine in any US model... it took almost 20 years, so don't expect anything from Ford too soon.

[Brandon]

i dont understand why the big 3 cant do what mercedes and bmw are doing.... 30,000 for a very nicely equiped car that lasts longer and holds up better, keeps better retail value...

[Nighthawk243]

i dont understand why the big 3 cant do what mercedes and bmw are doing.... 30,000 for a very nicely equiped car that lasts longer and holds up better, keeps better retail value...

I wouldn't say that too fast about BMW. Its quite well known that you better have deep pockets if you want to own one for more than a few years due to maintence costs.

[freekLED]

I wouldn't say that too fast about BMW. Its quite well known that you better have deep pockets if you want to own one for more than a few years due to maintence costs.

Agreed, Maintenance will cost you more in the long run.

As for better resale value than domestic or other, I wouldn't necessarily count on it, especially BMW. True, it will be higher than that of a Ford, GM or Dodge but once you consider the total costs associated and look at it percentage wise vs a comparable Big 3 car the % will be pretty close.

[Brandon]

you guys have obviously never looked for parts online or tried to service them... they are so simple to work on... oil filters ontop of the engine... drain plugs are easier then sin to get too... they are just as easy if not easier to work on as american cars... do some research and i think youll be amazed.

[freekLED]

you guys have obviously never looked for parts online or tried to service them... they are so simple to work on... oil filters ontop of the engine... drain plugs are easier then sin to get too... they are just as easy if not easier to work on as american cars... do some research and i think youll be amazed.

Oh yes, some things are much easier to service as you pointed out, but
OVERALL your maintenance costs will be higher (at least for BMW & MB) vs a domestic/Big 3 simply because the repair/maintenance parts cost more, especially when you MUST purchase from the dealer/OEM simply because there is no alternative.

Granted, in the US we have a much more flexible market/aftermarket than here in Europe (thank goodness!!) and that competition does drive the prices down to a degree plus gives us choices in quality as well as price.

Europe has had it's share of problem cars too in the past few years (GM/Opel included).

By the way, did you know OBDII or CAN was not mandatory in European produced vehicles until 2001. Now how many years are we (North America) ahead of them on this? 20+ IIRC

[bballr4567]

The ONLY reason that the Falcon models arent coming stateside is supposedly Ford cant make them have the steering wheel in the right place. The actual car architecture doesnt allow it.

I will admit that the Falcon lineup has some great cars and look damn amazing.

[Nighthawk243]

you guys have obviously never looked for parts online or tried to service them... they are so simple to work on... oil filters ontop of the engine... drain plugs are easier then sin to get too... they are just as easy if not easier to work on as american cars... do some research and i think youll be amazed.

I'm not talking about Oil changes...etc like that.

I'm talking more along the lines of drivetrain parts, body parts...etc Thats where you start getting into the $ on costs there. If you had a Chevy Cavalier, you could easily go to a junkyard and grab a decent door and toss it on your car for under 150 bucks at the most. For the bimmer, you will be hard pressed to get a door for very cheap, and that is only if you find a bmw sitting somewhere. There was someone I knew at work who needed a new radiator on her 95 BMW, and the price for the replacement was pure rape. It was actually twice the cost of my radiator new.

[Brandon]

well from experience.... ill stick with the higher costs of body parts and unless you have an m car then they arent much more expensive then american... but um... id rather get in a wreck with a bmw then an american car so i can complain the next day how much it costs to fix.... then being pulled out of the next guys mt. dew can.

some parts are way more expensive true... but replace it once where american your more likely to replace 2 or 3 times. savings is there.