Monthly VFACTS figures are iffy, here's why:

[turbodewd]

Commodore base model Omega price: $32,000
Mazda 3 base model, Neo, price: $22,000

December 2011 VFACTS, top 3:

1 Toyota Corolla – 3619
2 Mazda3 – 3325
3 Holden Commodore – 2814

Turbodewd's Dec 11 VFACTS by value:

Commodore - $90,048,000 (sales x price)
Mazda 3 - $73,150,000

So as you can see you can make stats say anything. Large car segment is more valuable. Of course they will sell less compared to the Mazda 3, the commdore is 50% dearer coz u get a bigger, more powerful car which can tow and seat 5 in greater space than the smaller mazda 3. I would also rather be in a commodore rather than a mazda 3 if I was to suffer a bingle.

If only that Fairfax journo twit and traitor Joshua Dowling would publish these stats too.

Commodore and Falcon sales are fine. Falcon loses some sales to the Terri so really you can add those together for the health of Ford Oz and now the Terri is kicking posterior!

[falconnut]

I guess Ford Australia and Holden just want more handouts.

[EFFalcon]

lol... if only things were so simple!

[turbodewd]

falconnut, from what Ive read govt handouts to carmakers happen across the globe, inc. Germany!

[Wretched]

Why would they want to publish these figures? They mean nothing.
Your "value" of the segment is meaningless.

How much would the Mazda 3 cost to manufacture compared to a Falcon or Commodore? What is the ROI for Ford, Holden and Mazda for these cars?

Your vehicle requirements are different to others, not everyone needs or wants the same car.

[BroadyFord]

It's like groundhog day, just 9% worse:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2579980005FC9B

[falconnut]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

falconnut, from what Ive read govt handouts to carmakers happen across the globe, inc. Germany!

I know i am not saying its a bad thing, i am suggesting they might be making things out worse then they actually are do squeeze more money out

[turbodewd]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Why would they want to publish these figures? They mean nothing.

They prove that you can make stats say anything you want. That they can be construed to suit your argument.

But everyone would agree you should compare apples with apples. Mazda 3 and Commodore dont exactly compete for the same market segment, only partially.

[charles_wif_xf]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

It's like groundhog day, just 9% worse:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2579980005FC9B

FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!

[dimka100]

Ford fared far worse, however, with just 931 Falcon sales combining with a lowly 394 Utes and only 804 Territorys to total just 2129 sales of Broadmeadows-built vehicles last month – down from 2309 in January 2011.

Ford said Falcon sales were heavily impacted by hail damage to cars waiting to be trucked from the factory to dealers in December, and January is a traditionally slow month for vehicle sales – especially to fleet buyers that account for the vast majority of Australian-made vehicle demand.

To run insult to injury, while Focus sales soared to 1575, sales of Ford’s other imported models slumped in January, including the Fiesta (888), Mondeo (364) and its own new locally engineered, Thai-built Ranger, which with just 618 sales was outgunned even by Holden’s aged Colorado, which is in run-out ahead of the redesigned model’s debut around June.

However, Ford is confident the interrupted rollout of the FG MkII Falcon, which was to have hit dealers in late December, and the first four-cylinder Falcon – the turbocharged EcoBoost model, details of which were announced yesterday – will boost Falcon sales from April.

Ford Australia had one of its leanest manufacturing years on record in 2011, when it built only around 45,000 vehicles, and sales of its locally built models in January – which equate to an annualised figure of only around 25,000 – could not come at a worse time, when Ford Motor Company is deciding the fate of its next-generation Falcon.

[jpd80]

Falcon 931
Territory 804
Ute 394
Mondeo 364
Focus 1575
Fiesta 888

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

It's like groundhog day, just 9% worse:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2579980005FC9B

Reading that, I'm not surprised, that new front bar with the ugly big mouth is , same with the territory.

Give me a series one AU forte any day over that.

[FacultY]

4045 Mazda 3 sales. What is wrong with people?

[Brazen]

Cruze 2447
Commodore 2170

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by FacultY

4045 Mazda 3 sales. What is wrong with people?

What's wrong with that?

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Wretched

What's wrong with that?

That its outselling the focus more than 2:1....Id love to know why..is it cheaper?

What the hell happened to the Tez?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Polyal

That its outselling the focus more than 2:1....Id love to know why..is it cheaper?

What the hell happened to the Tez?

Focus may be a little more expensive per model than it's competitors.
The Mazda is also a decent car there isn't much wrong with it (though I am not a fan of the style). It isn't like comparing the Corolla to the Focus, there I would question why people buy it over the Focus.
Ultimately I think it is deals being made and word of mouth.
As I said there isn't anything really wrong with the Mazda 3, with the updated SkyActiv engines they're a decent buy.

[Joe5619]

It is a very interesting point!!

Some markets calculate market share by qty & others use $$$. In the industry I work for, $$$ is used to measure market share & not qty.

Which one is right or the best system to used?

[jpd80]

The only reason Focus is selling at higher rates is Advertising and Ambiente at $19,990 drive away.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I think you will find Mazda has gotten very aggressive with fleet buyers...

Big corporates are buying Mazda 3's by the truck load..

Ford is near on dead with Falcon / Territory, it was to be expected though, every car sitting at the plant got hail damaged, of which they have repaired a heap of them themselves internally and shipped to dealers this month.

Territory did alot better then Falcon, Falcon has certainly dropped its guts, Ford need to push it harder, no advertising or initiative on their part it seems.

[whales]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

I think you will find Mazda has gotten very aggressive with fleet buyers...



Territory did alot better then Falcon, Falcon has certainly dropped its guts, Ford need to push it harder, no advertising or initiative on their part it seems.

Spot on

I've noticed that Holden are already advertising their dedicated lpg Commodore which doesn't get released for a couple of months yet, but i've yet to see a dedicated lpg Falcon ad and they were released months ago.

Buggered if I understand Ford tatics

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

It's like groundhog day, just 9% worse:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2579980005FC9B

The funny thing is, that it is groundhog day.

[Road_Warrior]

Meh, I'm not overly concerned. No advertising, plant not building cars for the whole month, built stock parked up at the plant got caned by hail, and VFacts data is based on new vehicle registrations - bit hard to register vehicles if they've been withheld by the factory because of damage.

And even those ones that did make it to dealers need to be 'made good' in order for them to be registered and able to be sold.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by whales

Spot on

I've noticed that Holden are already advertising their dedicated lpg Commodore which doesn't get released for a couple of months yet, but i've yet to see a dedicated lpg Falcon ad and they were released months ago.

Buggered if I understand Ford tatics

Nearly made me puke too.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Polyal

That its outselling the focus more than 2:1....Id love to know why..is it cheaper?

What the hell happened to the Tez?

People prefer the Mazda brand, its seen as better and it doesn't have the reputation of the Ford dealer network or Ford.

Building a reputation takes years, ruining one takes since the BA Falcon.

[blk6t]

Not to be Mr Negative but every month it gets worse for Falcon and every month there is some excuse or "explanation". First it was "wait for the EcoLPI", that came and still no real imact. Then it was "FG2 will prop up sales", well it's here and still waiting. Now it's Christmas and hail damage as the cause for low sales and everyone waiting for Ecoboost. I will bet that over the next 3 months there will be no impact on Falcon sales and there will also be no more comments to mask the real problem which is...no one is buying or wants to buy a Falcon anymore.

I highly doubt the Aussie public even knows about Ecoboost, just ask a random person at your work and see what they say.

All the latest TV commercials for Ford show no Falcon (excl FPV as they only sell Falcon products). The point here is the Focus has a fairly good month due to the constant TV advertising at prime time. If Ford are really serious about promoting the Falcon, the need to start showing EcoLPI and Ecoboost on TV at prime time.

People don't follow Holden and Ford products like they used to where they really sold themselves, those days are long gone, Ford need to realise that. Advertising will only get people to the dealership, it's also up to the dealers to then seal the deal.

Just had to rant because it's frustrating to see such a great product being built and sitting in a holding yard collect dust.

[Dave R]

Ford always has a bad January with the shut down over the break, add the fact that fleets/customers waiting on new FG2 units may have also added to the grief. Feb may not be so bad.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

People prefer the Mazda brand, its seen as better and it doesn't have the reputation of the Ford dealer network or Ford.

Building a reputation takes years, ruining one takes since the BA Falcon.

Yes & no to the whole Mazda brand is seen as better than Ford & that is the reason for the sales difference between 3 & focus.. That doesn't explain why Mondeo kills 6 & ranger kills BT...


Personally I think it is more the brand "3" is seen as better than brand "Focus", rather the Ford vs mazda

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Yes & no to the whole Mazda brand is seen as better than Ford & that is the reason for the sales difference between 3 & focus.. That doesn't explain why Mondeo kills 6 & ranger kills BT...


Personally I think it is more the brand "3" is seen as better than brand "Focus", rather the Ford vs mazda

Yeap I can see your point.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Yes & no to the whole Mazda brand is seen as better than Ford & that is the reason for the sales difference between 3 & focus.. That doesn't explain why Mondeo kills 6 & ranger kills BT...


Personally I think it is more the brand "3" is seen as better than brand "Focus", rather the Ford vs mazda

Continuing the Ford Laser name, I think it would have been a top three contender at the moment.