Ford wagons confirmed

[GK]

Mercury Silver Fairmont Ghia Wagon. Mmmmmmmm!

GK

[charles_wif_xf]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

Nup if you ask me, I want a solid rear axle. Nothing holds the road with a bit of weight like the live axle. Tyre wear is superb as well. Not to mention weight. IRS just shrinks up into the wells and wallows all over the road when it has weight on it.

Good point there. Maybe the ar$e end is modular, ie able to take both suspension solutions.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by GK

Mercury Silver Fairmont Ghia Wagon. Mmmmmmmm!

GK

+ Turbo and I'm sold :

[vztrt]

Guess ford found a market for them, because the wagon was in serious doubt of getting redesigned.

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

+ Turbo and I'm sold :

but in black, with the china beige / white leather.... booiiiiiinnnnngggg

[P6LTD351]

Why are people worrying that the orion will carry the BA-BF rear-ends?? Orion will be a NEW generation. Just like XD - XF, EA-EL, AU - BF. I'm sick of people thinking that the BA-BF is a different generation to the AU. The BFII is the final evolution of the AU. Just like the VZ commy was the final evolution of the VT. GEEZ it frustrates me!!! Therefore of course the rear end of the Orion wagon will be different!!! Holden have had it over Ford in ALL wagon variants going right back to the HQ. The Holden rear ends all look compact and refined whereas the falcon rear-ends look like a never ending expanse that hasn't been refined.

[XR Martin]

I think theres a good chance the BF wagon will continue and not be based on the Orion. Look how long the XF series ute ran, it wasnt until 1998 that it was completely replaced.

[LeadFoot81]

XD to XF and EA-EL wagons looked great! it was with AU that Ford lost the plot.

[XR Martin]

BTW, didnt the VT-VZ Commo wagons have a larger cargo area than the AU-BFs? So if thats the case there is no excuse for it looking the way it does.

EDIT: AU-BF Falcon Wagon 2584L with rear seats folded, VT-VY 2752L.

[red_october]

Now that's a bit of good news - I have always loved wagons since I was a kid. Hope they make a Ghia version of it with mag wheels and twin exhausts.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

I think theres a good chance the BF wagon will continue and not be based on the Orion. Look how long the XF series ute ran, it wasnt until 1998 that it was completely replaced.

More likely. Drive are a joke, the headline that a new wagon is confirmed is totally misleading. No where in that story does Tom Gorman say they are making a new wagon. They have just made an assumption.

[Airmon]

No way an FPV Wagon would work. However, if a Fairmont wagon is released, consider it bought

[irsa76]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Guess ford found a market for them, because the wagon was in serious doubt of getting redesigned.

Considering the VT wagon was designed around Telstra requirments when Holden had the supply contract, I would have thought that as long as Telstra was buying Falcons a new wagon was a given. Hopefully the new wagon will be as clever as the Territory for internal storage.

[BFXR8Silhouette]

V8 wagon & I'm sold. As long as it has a decent interior. I can get a bodykit later. If the SS wagon comes back and we dont have a direct competitor I'm off to the red team. (I'll be about having kids age shortly and will need a wagon)

[Dr Smith]

As the owner of a BA Futura and Territory maybe I could give some comments/opinions.
Where the wagon is clearly superior:
rear cargo length and lower loading height
more economical
cheaper to buy but less features/specs
Territory advantage:
has full active/passive saftey features available (big one here)
looks better (subjective), can come in ghia spec
far better use of space in passenger cabin.
driving position is brilliant, the a-pilller/sun-visor profile is worth the money diff.
out-handles wagon (1st roundabout shows this) and rides better, no rear axle hop mid corner especially...
comes in turbo to keep VE-driving reps at bay...

so as you can see the Territory is the "better" vehicle unless you need to carry long loads in the rear...
Ford have to redesign the rear, the EL tailgate/tail-light design and the side profile of the X series were the 2 best features of past wagons.

I feel the past effort Ford put into the wagons (and LWB models) was justified internally on the basis of AU sales and that was hugely effected by the looks of AU versus the looks of VT combined with the pricing structure to fleets/ EL resale etc...plus designing a Territory that was to have a ghia spec. If the AU had of been more successful, more effort would have been given to these models and so on...

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

As the owner of a BA Futura and Territory maybe I could give some comments/opinions.
Where the wagon is clearly superior:
rear cargo length and lower loading height
more economical
cheaper to buy but less features/specs
Territory advantage:
has full active/passive saftey features available (big one here)
looks better (subjective), can come in ghia spec
far better use of space in passenger cabin.
driving position is brilliant, the a-pilller/sun-visor profile is worth the money diff.
out-handles wagon (1st roundabout shows this) and rides better, no rear axle hop mid corner especially...
comes in turbo to keep VE-driving reps at bay...

so as you can see the Territory is the "better" vehicle unless you need to carry long loads in the rear...
Ford have to redesign the rear, the EL tailgate/tail-light design and the side profile of the X series were the 2 best features of past wagons.

I feel the past effort Ford put into the wagons (and LWB models) was justified internally on the basis of AU sales and that was hugely effected by the looks of AU versus the looks of VT combined with the pricing structure to fleets/ EL resale etc...plus designing a Territory that was to have a ghia spec. If the AU had of been more successful, more effort would have been given to these models and so on...

Not really a fair comparison, the wagon(199?) is essentially years older than the Territory(2004), a brand new wagon design with all the modern safety features, coil springs and IRS would be a fairer comparison.

[Bucknaked]

At least give us an XR Wagon in 6, 6T and 8

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

At least give us an XR Wagon in 6, 6T and 8

As long as it's completely new, not a AU/BA/BF rehash :

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

As long as it's completely new, not a AU/BA/BF rehash :

Couldn't see them doing it now before the new model comes out. Would be nice to see it happen in 08.

[Airmon]

A Falcon Wagon, In Ghia spec and factory Turbo.....now we're talking :P

[banarcus]

Hmm you never know if Ford will just do a frank-en-wagon. Orion front end and AU rear. It's been done before with the frank-en-ute hasn't it?

[El_Poochino]

Probally due for a new rear end. EA end went through to EL and AU to BF.

Let FPV tinker with the wagon. The ultimate sleeper at the traffic light wars, the rice bags won't see the wagon comming... won't belive it either.

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

out-handles wagon (1st roundabout shows this)

you cant be serious???

i would have a territory over a similar spec'd wagon for a number of reasons but handling and roundabouts are not one of them.
fair enough they may "ride" better and in general probably be more comfortable but push a territory around a roundabout at speed and it carrys more body roll than my 14yo eb.
not suggesting a wagon is going to be the ultimate handling weapon, but if your going to stick up for the territory and are comparing it to a wagon, i wouldn't mention roundabouts.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Mr Stationwagon

Considering the VT wagon was designed around Telstra requirments when Holden had the supply contract, I would have thought that as long as Telstra was buying Falcons a new wagon was a given. Hopefully the new wagon will be as clever as the Territory for internal storage.

Even with the Telstra sales it dosn't sell enough numbers.

[GXL078]

Mitsu 380 would be a good sized wagon. I could own one of those. Updated front on the latest BF (as seen in article) is a step backwards. Very AU series 3 ish.

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by ken2903

not sure about the number of the choices but i was under the impression that they didn't make any after the BA series 1.

i cant remember what month the series 1 BA's ended, does anyone have a newer wagon than that???

Jan 07 BF2 new enough for you?

Originally Posted by Ozfords

They need an RTV varient of the wagooon!

See below - not mine though! Done with RTV bits plus a custom shackle mount

[Bobman]

Why are people here saying an Orion wagon would have a BA rear end? That's just stupid.

Every completely new model in the Falcon Wagon range had new styling (front and rear).

Someone mentioned ute's, that's fine, but it doesn't relate to the Wagon topic, which have always changed rear ends at each new model. As others have said, the BA was not a completely new model, but simply an evolution of the AU, exactly why 2007 Commodore wagons share the same rear end with the 1998 versions.

I think leaf springs would be retained, as the pro's outweigh the cons given the market that buys this sort of vehicle.

[LeadFoot81]

Ppl are saying the AU-BF rear end might stay, because Ford are so cash strapped at the moment, and even if there is a market for wagons, its not as big as it used to be.

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by Inline6

Ppl are saying the AU-BF rear end might stay, because Ford are so cash strapped at the moment, and even if there is a market for wagons, its not as big as it used to be.

It won't stay though, as it's a completely new model, Ford have been more cash strapped in the past, ie XD or even EA to an extent.

I agree about the market thing, but I highly doubt it will have the same rear design as the current wagons.

All of this is of course based on a rumour from an unreputable website, like many other motoring journals who don't know what a camshaft is, let's wait until we hear proper confirmation from Ford itself.

[Bossxr8]

Since the wagon only really sells to fleets there's no way it will be all new. Thats the only reason it is staying on, it would be lucky if it even got a facelift.