Ford Australia to shut its doors

[Goggles]

But the Commodore went to the US and got badged a Pontiac. We all know how that ended

the timing was off, had the Pontiac brand not died, the G8 would have sold in greater numbers.

[HSVREDSLED]

Holden employees may be joining their ford buddies at Centrelink if this nonsense keeps up.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226270229745

Oh thats right..unions protect workers. Where are they for the poor ford people now?

[vy2ttr]

Unions protect no one but themselves...

I would so much rather be called a scab that have anything to do with a union, lol

[redvxr8clubby]

Where will the taxis come from?

Stu

Already I believe taxis on Gold Coast there are no Falcons already - mostly Prius of various age, some Taragos for disabled access.

[redvxr8clubby]

You wonder how these announcements will affect sales over the next 3 years, their numbers are sad already, I would think it's going to be an even harder sell now. I figure they will have to come out with parts guarantee statements for the Falcon and Territory in the coming weeks or months or their sales would likely fall even more. Wouldn't be helping Commodore either if this gets people wondering about future resale as manufacturing ends. Most people buying new car now would probably sell in 3 - 5 years time, by the time they come to sell, the manufacturing will be ended and used car buyers then will be concerned about future parts availability so values are likely to be less than if manufacturing was still full steam ahead.

[matthewfnorbert]

in any case, if you want one of the last great aussie rear drive V8's, buy the new model Ford or Holden in the next 2 years.... they may be keepers if you are that passionate.

[HSVREDSLED]

in any case, if you want one of the last great aussie rear drive V8's, buy the new model Ford or Holden in the next 2 years.... they may be keepers if you are that passionate.

I think I agree with ya....

[GR346]

Not only that but watch the price of the other already pricey "collectables" sky rocket...

[bozodos]

typical, "blame the unions" rhetoric spouted by the misinformed conservatives without any thought or investigation done.

If you honestly think that Unions are a bad thing, you are TRULY a fool, or part of the rich elite who have a vested interest in keeping wages low and conditions unfavourable.

try things like Ford's inept marketing efforts for the last however many years, or the parent company not backing the local arm 100%, the popular perception going around that Aussie made cars have shitty build quality or are only owned by 'bogans', as well as the trend towards people buying Stupid Useless Vehicles.

It's a sad day for local manufacturing, the Govt are also culpable for not protecting the local industry enough with tariffs etc (every country that has local car production does it, and generally to a higher degree than Australia). Hopefully Holden are able to keep the dream alive.

[Drizt]

If you honestly think that Unions are a bad thing, you are TRULY a fool, or part of the rich elite who have a vested interest in keeping wages low and conditions unfavourable.

Are you in the union mate (part of the running of the union, not just donating your hard earned to them) ???

[VL Executive]

RIP to the longest running car model in Australia's History! Sad days and this is not good news for Holden either.

Ford Australia invented the ute to the world and for that I am grateful!

Everyone's had times in a Falcon whether it was a taxi to the airport, parked in their garage, police pulling you over, company car, family car. Significant car in Australians lives for longer than I have been alive.

When I was a kid the street garages were full of Falcons and Commodores and now it's Hyundais Kias Mercedes Toyotas and Mazdas and not one single Falcon or Commodore. Really says it all.

Even though Im a Holden only man and would never jump the fence to Ford. It is a sad day. Its another piece of Australian history gone. And Aus8 is right, back in Falcons heyday (I can only vouch for late 80's - 90's here) They were impossible to avoid. They were the taxis that took you places, They were in lots of peoples garages, fairly common family car, they were a commonly used cop car, etc. Even used as ambulances.

Stark contrast to today - you have to be looking hard to find one forfilling those roles now

In the late 80's, just about everyone who did not have a Commodore. Had an XF falcon - they were everywhere. And into the 90's there was still a pretty good spread of EA / EB, EF / EL's. EF - EL XR6 and XR8's were quite a nice looking car.

But them came the AU..........Ford never really recovered from that. BA saved them in the short term, and even knocked Commodore from the top spot a couple of times. But by then, it was too late. Might have been a mini recovery. But Australian buyers were starting to move to imports, then the SUV craze hit. The WORST Enemys of the Australian large car

Its been a slow and painful to watch war - But Imports vs the Australian car - The imports appear to have won. 88% of new car sales in the last year have been imports

Ill just leave this here. Back in happier times for Ford Australia and probably one of the best and most well remembered TV Commercials they made -

[Micks]

Holden employees may be joining their ford buddies at Centrelink if this nonsense keeps up.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226270229745

Oh thats right..unions protect workers. Where are they for the poor ford people now?

Pretty typical of you Sled to use this thread to bash the unions!

[dnos]

Having the Falcon gone is like not having Collingwood in the AFL, we need someone to pay out on !

[VRIIClubby]

typical, "blame the unions" rhetoric spouted by the misinformed conservatives without any thought or investigation done.

If you honestly think that Unions are a bad thing, you are TRULY a fool, or part of the rich elite who have a vested interest in keeping wages low and conditions unfavourable.

I wouldnt be so quick to call someone a fool, nor be as quick to call a divide between the working class simply as Unionist OR part of the rich elite who have a vested interest in keeping wages low and conditions unfavourable

Unions may have had a time and place within our industrial growing years, but today they are nothing more than a fat, money hungry lazy bureaucracy. And if you disagree with that, then you havent had to deal with a Union in a personal capacity for the past ten or so years. and to call a divide so simplisticly? (I can smell Julia all over that comment). Whats wrong with a "fat cat" that flogged his arse out as a kid and did the shit jobs (whilst others strike) and was driven enough to end up making millions? Why should he then have to "prop" up others who where on strike the day he worked?

try things like Ford's inept marketing efforts for the last however many years, or the parent company not backing the local arm 100%, the popular perception going around that Aussie made cars have shitty build quality or are only owned by 'bogans', as well as the trend towards people buying Stupid Useless Vehicles.

It's a sad day for local manufacturing, the Govt are also culpable for not protecting the local industry enough with tariffs etc (every country that has local car production does it, and generally to a higher degree than Australia). Hopefully Holden are able to keep the dream alive.

But I do agree with this part, Ford is the main culprit for their own demise, As Holden will be, but ALOT has to be learnt about the real cost of Unions blackmailing industry to a point where manfacturing cannot be financially sustained.

[A^K^T]

Sad news. Back in 04 I was looking at a Falcon ute as well as the Tonner.