so... sad day for the Ford Falcon

[tasadam]

While technically off topic, I will share my recent personal experience, as it relates to much of the conversation.

We recently bought a new car. We were contemplating an SUV but ended up buying a wagon.

A bit of history, I've driven to the moon and back roughly twice. I started up in a hotted up 70's Gemini (rear drive), Used to go driving for fun, liked corners and liked to push things. I've had or driven many cars, owned a Falcon (2000's), had a few different V series Commodores including one with sports suspension, also a couple of Corolla hatch's.
Back in the day I used to go for a run up a nearby mountain for fun. Yeah, I was bored, so as it was quiet I would drive up, see there's no cars, drive down, pass no cars so I've got a free run.
What I'm getting at is I know what I like in a car.

Not going into why we bought what we did, but things about it since owning it that make it the best car I've ever driven...
Economy - over 900 km on less than 60 litres, that's not the stats, that's what it gets with me driving.
Performance - 0 to 100 in 8.4 seconds. It's pretty quick & pulls really hard, insane torque & doesn't struggle on anything.
Handling - really does corner like it's on rails.
Safety - Get it wrong, and the electronics will fix it for you. Get it really wrong & you've got antilock brakes that activate hazard lights with fast flash when active.
Really really wrong and you've got more than a handful of airbags.
Comfort - Simply, very.

It's a 2013 Mazda 6 Touring Diesel Wagon, 2.2 litre that produces 129 KW power and 420NM torque.

Any wonder cars like Falcon are struggling. Sad but true.

Just something I thought I would add to the discussion.

[walkinTas]

I've driven to the moon and back roughly twice.

I haven't quite managed that many Km. I think I've probably driven to the moon. I have driven every generation of falcon except the third. And owned a couple.

Maybe if they were making these and flogging them in Sydney they may have survived
http://www.teslamotors.com/roadster

Maybe if they were making anything different from the car they were making in 1960. Each of the seven generations are little more than a modern version of the original idea.

[neilmny]

........Front engine rear wheel drive have less grip than front engine front wheel drive, why did you think they made them ? .

Those idiots in Formula 1 Hallu they've got the drive at the wong end. Someone should tell them.

Anyways....Ford were propped up with a lot of cash by our government....their property assets should be taken as compensation to the Australian people when they bugger off back to the US.

[Strider]

........Front engine rear wheel drive have less grip than front engine front wheel drive, why did you think they made them ? .

Those idiots in Formula 1 Hallu they've got the drive at the wong end. Someone should tell them.

Formula 1 cars are mid-engined.

[wayno]

formula 1 cars are cars, but not as we know them Jim....

[neilmny]

Err the point was about rear wheel drive actually.

[blacksheep]

perhaps the space on the production line could be utalised to pump out a few more P76 Leylands. I believe that was the ultimate expression of a car designed by and for Australians right?

[Strider]

perhaps the space on the production line could be utalised to pump out a few more P76 Leylands. I believe that was the ultimate expression of a car designed by and for Australians right?

So is this what's next for you Cam?

[Rob A]

For axe murderers and people who wanted a cheap aluminium block for boat engines.
Hey, they got to the style years before Volvo.

[north-north-west]

Safety - Get it wrong, and the electronics will fix it for you. Get it really wrong & you've got antilock brakes that activate hazard lights with fast flash when active.
Really really wrong and you've got more than a handful of airbags.

That's so 21st Century - expect technology to mask your inadequacies. Why can't people just learn to drive?

[Ent]

Not unexpected victim of high Australian dollar. Falcons from the BA were remarkably sophisticated and frankly killed many European cars for dollar/performance but sadly had USA management ideas on quality. I love my BA Turbo but growing tired of poor quality and vowed after thirty years of Australian cars this would be my last.

In many ways the turbo diesel 4wd Territory should have been its replacement for me but after spending over a thousand dollars on door locks on my Falcon I just gave up in believing that Aussie car manufactures cared about quality.

Still I tremble what Ford plans to sell as its replacement. Anything for the USA would be a disaster. Maybe a rebadged Mondeo?

I think most people are swinging to Asian cars looking for quality and long warranties. Something USA car companies just have not got in their DNA.

Regards

[wayno]

yeah as much as i liked driving a falcon, i wouldnt buy an aussie car,, i prefer jap reliability and avoid buying gas guzzlers.