Confirmed: Fairlane Dead & Buried

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

The AU based Fairy's ad LTD's were awesome looking cars, for the simple fact that they were a whole lot different to look at than the Falcon's. They exuded class and that's the reason limo companies are keeping 'em. The BA based LWB cars are a mongrel to look at. Shows that the designers just pasted the Falcon bits on the end of the big cars.

Ah well, they are reaping what they sowed.

Hey there.

Totally agree with you on this one.
The AU Fairlanes were awesome cars which had a real grandeur about them. One of my friends things the front looks dopey but I reckon the squarer headlights (compared to the very unpopular front headlights on the AU Falcon) looked awesome.
The BA was a patch job. "Oh fudge, we're out of money! Hey, I know. Let's just put a Falcon front and back on the new Fairlane! It will have to work!"

Sad, but that's what happens when you try to cut corners.

[mcnamg]

exactly the BA fairlane signalled the end of the fairlane pretty much. It was the first time the had used the same rear end on a fairlane as the falcon and kind of signalled that Ford had given up as it was just not worth it in the end for the volumes they were getting.

The availability of Quality euro cars for the same money was just another nail in the coffin.

[bathurst77]

WHat happened to Gormans comments about a year back that he was making revivng the LWB cars a priority?
SO much for his efforts I Think Tom failed.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

WHat happened to Gormans comments about a year back that he was making revivng the LWB cars a priority?
SO much for his efforts I Think Tom failed.

He's a businessman. His job is to first make money for himself. His second priority is to make money for his company. His third priority is to wear clean underwear.
Telling the truth is not a priority, nor is upholding what they say as it would conflict with higher priorities, namely priority 2.

[Dezza]

What a shame, but I'm not surprised.

The failure of the last couple of Fairlanes is completely Ford's fault, and if they had put a bit more money into it, they could have sold very well. When the AU Fairlane first came out, I thought that it looked a bit bland compared to the previous NL model. I must admit though, as time went on, it has aged very well, so much so that I reckon it looks better now than it did when it first came out.

The BA was the real problem though. It simply looked too much like a Falcon, and the interior was nothing special over the Fairmont Ghia (The BA MkII-BF Fairlane interior showed they were getting on the right track, but now that interior has also filtered down to the Fairmont Ghia). Also if it had the turbo 6 or Boss V8 as an option, it would definately boosted sales.

After 40 years of Australian Fairlanes it will be sad to see an icon go. Guess it shows that modern-day manufacturers are now run more by accountants than true car enthusiasts.

[mcnamg]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

WHat happened to Gormans comments about a year back that he was making revivng the LWB cars a priority?
SO much for his efforts I Think Tom failed.

this has been a long time coming Tom has been hinting this for almost a year now and I dont recall him ever saying LWB was a priority I do recall him saying they would be looking at the LWB to see what their options were but thats all.

I think Tom has made a hard decision but the right one and I applaud him for it. I would rather a great Orion and no Fairlane than a half a$$ed Orion and a Stretched Orion with a fairlane badge which is just as half a$$ed

[xy351]

thats sad. i dont understand though. they have such a big market in limo's, silver service etc. it will be interesting to see what happens.

[LUXO_8]

damn, thats a shame......
not suprised though

[Quicklier]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

WHat happened to Gormans comments about a year back that he was making revivng the LWB cars a priority?
SO much for his efforts I Think Tom failed.

Maybe they were a priority to assess?
Continuing with dev and research wouldn't have been productive.

The future is in smaller, smarter vehicles. That x-large car market are an ageing bunch that might find themselves more comfortable with a Hyundai Elantra. How many 20-somethings do you think Ford sold Fairlane/LTD's to?

I've always thought I'd end up with a G220/G8 as there was no V8 Fairmont Ghia available. Maybe I'll have to refocus my aspirations to a TL50, in gunmetal grey.

[mcnamg]

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

After 40 years of Australian Fairlanes it will be sad to see an icon go. Guess it shows that modern-day manufacturers are now run more by accountants than true car enthusiasts.

Unfortunately car enthusiasts are a minority and from the way people on here talk the only way most of them would buy a Fairlane is from an Auction after someone else has copped the depreciation.

I know its a sad day but its not as if its a surprise. Ford has no money and they dont have an export plan as yet so until they do they will focus on bread and butter and not on a niche. This isnt the 70's where there is nothing else for the consumer to choose. There is so much choice in the 70k price bracket now with a lot of very well equipped euros to choose from and luxury buyers buy for recognition not for brand loyalty unless they are an enthusiast which most Luxury buyers wouldnt be. The buyers voted with their feet after Ford lost the plot with the latest model and this is the end result.

[Fairlane]

Oh man this is depressing, im very unhappy about this. I Ford learns their lesson when the Statesman gives them a walloping and makes a motza both here and as an export model. Holden learned pulling the statey was a bad idea (they have bloody good margins and sell resonabley well when they dont look like a taxi), just hope Ford has the same pain.

Limo market will go straight to Statey and ill wager theyre will be a hell of a lot of ****ed of hired car drivers. Personally i guess ill just have to get that ZH i been planning to get and pretend that is now more unique.

Damn politically correct FWD hippy, ****er euro driving idiots will be the death of the LWB car out:

[BAFalconXT]

It would be VERY unlikely that ford will leave this segment of the market unchallanged. Either a name change or an imported American luxury car will take its place.

[GreenMachine]

Bring on the Crown Vic! Do those things still have drum brakes and 14" steelies?

[ltd]

Originally Posted by BAFalconXT

It would be VERY unlikely that ford will leave this segment of the market unchallanged. Either a name change or an imported American luxury car will take its place.

Exactly. Also, the LWB americans are tipped to be made here. As I said before, Ford boss Alan Mulally has stated several times that he will get RWD cars from australia, as dwindling sales in the US have made their factories too inefficient in terms of overall numbers and the relative cost for an update. Ford Aus knows this, and resultantly the Lincoln Town Car line has been all but shut down with the replacement due out next year axed. This is simply because making 3000 town cars a month is not viable, and the american auto industry is so over unionised that the pension plan leaves ford America struggling for cash.

I don't ever see Ford USA leaving the biggest limousine market without a contender, and already redundancies have been made in the michigan plant which makes town cars. I would not be surprised to see an Australian made Lincoln sent to the USA, designed on American styles (or lack thereof) and some of this product leeching unadulterated into the Australian market. This is what limo companies in Aus will be prepared to take as an alternative to the statesman or caprice. Regardless of how outlandish it may look, it will be a favourite merely for its superior driveline (evidenced by the number of ford limo's and taxi's as opposed to Holden.)

[Ford_V8]

Originally Posted by Paull

So the question now is, what will happen to the prices of the BA and BF second hand Fairlanes and LTD's - up or down?

Any Ford buffs know which way prices will go? All fairlanes in general not limited to BA/BF (particularly limited run models)

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

Bring on the Crown Vic! Do those things still have drum brakes and 14" steelies?

GM are still using pushrod motors, so anything is possible lol.

"Five - oh" cruisers for the win.

[Nikked]

Lets see a runout range of FPV thunderbolts... :

But yes the fairlanes for the past 15 years or so have sucked, and the marketing sucked. But if they are thinking of a new model, that's interesting...

[XD 351 Ute]

The V8, ah, Fairlane is dropped?
Oh well, probably the beginning of the end as far as I can see it.
This new Orion is going to be have to be something super special to try and fill the void.
As others have said, Ford didn't do the Fairlane or LTD any favours.


Ed

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by ltd

Exactly. Also, the LWB americans are tipped to be made here. As I said before, Ford boss Alan Mulally has stated several times that he will get RWD cars from australia, as dwindling sales in the US have made their factories too inefficient in terms of overall numbers and the relative cost for an update. Ford Aus knows this, and resultantly the Lincoln Town Car line has been all but shut down with the replacement due out next year axed. This is simply because making 3000 town cars a month is not viable, and the american auto industry is so over unionised that the pension plan leaves ford America struggling for cash.

I don't ever see Ford USA leaving the biggest limousine market without a contender, and already redundancies have been made in the michigan plant which makes town cars. I would not be surprised to see an Australian made Lincoln sent to the USA, designed on American styles (or lack thereof) and some of this product leeching unadulterated into the Australian market. This is what limo companies in Aus will be prepared to take as an alternative to the statesman or caprice. Regardless of how outlandish it may look, it will be a favourite merely for its superior driveline (evidenced by the number of ford limo's and taxi's as opposed to Holden.)

what about the Interceptor concept car, could a falcon platform be worked into this beast, and sold hear and overseas?

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Sad, but that's what happens when you try to cut corners.

This statement should be fixed to every management office in Broadmeadows, it's a cancer they developed long ago and it's not over yet.

[ZA-289]

Its a sad day, a very sad sad day......

Fairlanes will go up in value for sure, make it even harder to find a reasonbly priced ZA.

[Deadman]

Originally Posted by Tornf6

Very sad day for the LWB buyers in australia IMO. : :

What, all 8 of them? (that bought LWB Fords)

It's been a sad day for a long time with the poor value offer that Ford have in the LWB market. Sorry, but this is one area where Ford hasn't been up to scratch for a while.

[BAFalconXT]

Originally Posted by ltd

Exactly. Also, the LWB americans are tipped to be made here. As I said before, Ford boss Alan Mulally has stated several times that he will get RWD cars from australia, as dwindling sales in the US have made their factories too inefficient in terms of overall numbers and the relative cost for an update. Ford Aus knows this, and resultantly the Lincoln Town Car line has been all but shut down with the replacement due out next year axed. This is simply because making 3000 town cars a month is not viable, and the american auto industry is so over unionised that the pension plan leaves ford America struggling for cash.

I don't ever see Ford USA leaving the biggest limousine market without a contender, and already redundancies have been made in the michigan plant which makes town cars. I would not be surprised to see an Australian made Lincoln sent to the USA, designed on American styles (or lack thereof) and some of this product leeching unadulterated into the Australian market. This is what limo companies in Aus will be prepared to take as an alternative to the statesman or caprice. Regardless of how outlandish it may look, it will be a favourite merely for its superior driveline (evidenced by the number of ford limo's and taxi's as opposed to Holden.)

Just look at the back of the new Statesman. Think there is some American influence there? It just makes sense with such a low volume vehicle that it is shared with an American vehicle. Hopefully Ford find a car with the same presence as a Chrysler 300C

[Psycho Chicken]

Quick everyone, gather up all the ZK 6 bangers on gas we can find, they're about to skyrocket in value!

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by FALCONSR

prices will soar now....look out ebay

How come my gf's Meteor is still worth f*** all then?

[TL50 owner]

Makes me wonder where are the other 2 T3 Tl50s and how sought after they will be? Sad day for Ford history but they brought it on themselves.

[Elks]

FoMoCo have a proud history if inovation and the creation of market segements The T model, The 1st mass produced V8, the ute, the F1/F100, The Mustang, The Explorer SUV, and of course the Fairlane

I've said it before in the Orion section, THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

Not for making an obovious decision today, but for years of neglect of this market segment that lead to todays decision.

I have had 7 different lanes over the years ZA,ZC, 2xZG, ZH and a little old lady 32,000 mile ZF that i'll have for ever.

The only reason I have the TS (A fabulous car that it is) is I couldn't get a V8 fairlane or TL at the time.

Funny thing though is I asked for a quote on one the other day and was told that despite slow sales and discounts on everything else from Teritories to GT's and even Force 8's, nothing zip nadda to be had on a fairlane.

Not having a crack would always result in a poor outcome in any field of endevour and the bunch of accounts that are trying to bankrupt FoMoCo need to understand that they are a CAR company and that product matters.

Marketers need to understand both consumers and some history. Who can forget the by line that ran for months in the Fin Review "Ford LTD only it's name is limited." Idiots its name means Lincoln Type Design. Sad that some goose at the add agency did it much worse that no one at Ford picked it up.

I'll have the last 1 please Ghia, V8, BLack Biege with the lot. any dealer reading this message me. I'll trade my Fairlane ute for a sedan.

[TZENU]

I can see it from a financial perspective but damn they are practically giving up on that part of the market... Basically it is saying to us that,
"Pfft holden is walking all over us with the Statesman and Caprice, so its time to throw in the white towel"
And i was looking forward to seeing what they would come up with, with the Orion..

[XplosiveR6]

If statesman wasn't being exported, it too would have been killed off before the VE came out, Holden too would have lost money from them.

Ford have invested heavily into the territory platform instead of the crappy selling LWB sedans, you cant have everything in such a small marketplace

Its funny how people expect ford to keep a model even when it looses them a heap of money, simply because we have always had it. Get over it, if it doesn't sell then get rid of it, simple. The more investment ford does for the model the more it has to recoup, which it cant is such a small market, so you cant just say, "make it better", anyone with basic business sense would realise this.

[FlipXW]

40 years of aust fairlanes. Sad to see them go but as others have said, its a market that they have let slide away from them in the last 5 or so years. Very dissapionting as it is after all a market ford created.