Which new Fords have you been looking at, or test driven?

[happy1]

Since this is a Ford forum, and many of us are passionate about some older or newer models, I'm starting this thread where it would be interesting to see how many of us have been to a dealer lately and sat in, or test driven some of the latest offerings from Ford. (Only the last 3-4 years).

FOCUS
MONDEO
MUSTANG
ECOSPORT
ESCAPE
EVEREST
ENDURA
RANGER - yes, sat in one at the dealer for 2 minutes, about 2 years ago
TRANSIT
TRANSIT CUSTOM
RANGER RAPTOR

Unfortunately, I must admit I haven't taken the time to go looking at the latest offering. So far I haven't ever been sitting in a Mustang, Escape or Endura at all.

It would have been interesting to have a 15-minute test drive of a couple of models just to keep informed about what is being offered, and how it feels to drive some of the latest products. But I'm not sure if I want the hassle of almost having to sign a purchase contract before being offered to have a test drive, or to have the dealer call you multiple times afterwards.

Perhaps we should start an initiative to encourage Ford dealers to arrange 'enthusiast days' where they invite forum members to check out and be offered hazzle free non-committed test drives, just to better connect with the brand, and its latest offering.
Cheers,

[arronm]

No large family sedan or hardcore performance models.

I won't bother

[PG2]

I looked at a Ranger about 2 years ago. Unlike all of my previous purchases where I just would blindly buy Ford, I did shop around to other brands.

We, the wife and I, looked at the Navara, Triton, Colorado and Ranger. The Amorok was struck off the list as it did not rear side air curtains. I just simply did not like the Hilux.

We did not test drive the Navara (I can't remember why, but there was a reason) but Test drove the Triton, Colorado and Ranger. I actually liked the Triton... until I drove it.

That left it down to the Colorado LTZ and Ranger XLT. The Ranger certainly drove better but the Colorado was over $9000 cheaper (taking trade-in into account).

If the Ranger and Colorado had been priced similarly, we certainly would have gone with the Ranger but at the end of the day the Ranger was not a $9000 better car for what we wanted to use it for.

[roKWiz]

When Ford offer a 2-5 ton truck I would be interested but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon in Oz.

[Mr Brooksy]

Sat in a '17 Mustang once. Never again.

Sadly, nothing else is of any interest.

[lra]

Sat in a Mustang, seat was nice.
Had to drive an new Opeldore for work once, seat was terrible.
Apart from those, nothing else. My interest in current offerings for a new car/ute/truck/SUV = zilch.

[fiestaz]

Been in a mustang, liked it. Drove a ranger raptor. Surprised at how nice it was, not my sort of car but. Am looking forward to the new Focus ST next year and what that brings.

[jpd80]

I'm mostly FIFO now and last couple of swings been driving long term hire Prado,
it's OK but nothing spectacular but, I notice that Orix now have some Everest as rentals
so hoping to get one of those as a drive on my next swing....

[csv8]

I test drove a Focus Active. With Option Packs 1 and 2 put it 38k on road. Lot of competition in that price range. I cannt see the value in Option Pack 3. $2k for sunglasses holder and illuminated vanity mirrors? Drove well for a 3 cylinder engine. The Active Wagon should also come here..

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

When Ford offer a 2-5 ton truck I would be interested but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon in Oz.

The Transit cab chassis doesn't suit you? or is It a bit too light?

[Brazen]

Keen to try out the new Escape if it comes in hybrid. Don’t want a plug in hybrid though as I’d rather just have a pure EV

Speaking of EVs thinking of just keeping our ICE cars until there are some decent EVs that are affordable. Carmakers have been really phoning it in lately with their current ICE cars, as I suspect billions are going to EV development behind the scenes.

Anyway back on replacements could look at a dual cab replacement for the Falcon Ute, but only want a petrol. Drive a diesel every day at work and modern diesels absolutely suck and don’t really have an much of an economy advantage anymore

[Dr Smith]

I'm waiting for the Transit Custom Sport DCiV and new Escape hybrid...my roadtests have been the loan vehicles when servicing....hence waiting for all-new Escape because my wife prefers this size to our Territory having had a current Escape for a day. For work my second van is a Renualt Trafic Cewvan (main van is '17 Transit Custom) and I want to get back into an auto crew van so waiting to see the Sport Custom.

[anobserver]

Dealing with the salespeople is painful. We drove an escape, the 2017 model, and a low mileage territory, through a dealer. Both had their pros and cons, but the interaction with sales staff was very offputting.

As a stealth car enthusiast (cunningly disguised as a magna driver), i knew the products better than they did.

Repairing our car was preferable to dealing with them.

[Rallye Sport]

We snagged a drive in an RS Focus a while back when we were looking for a car for the mrs. I'd have bought it in a second but it she really wasn't comfortable driving a missile. At the end of the day it was for her so her wishes were respected. She ended up in a Corolla...

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by hayseed

The Transit cab chassis doesn't suit you? or is It a bit too light?

Yeh, to light, It would probably break in half. I should have said 2-5 ton payload.
Like the JAC (on paper) .... Isuzu cab, 3.8 Cummins, 10 speed eaton, Dana axles, S cam air brakes but everything is electronic diesels now !

I do like the Transit though.

[Big_Daz]

Ive looked at/test driven a few:

Focus ST-Line - Actually ordered one but had to pull out
Mustang GT Manual - When I crossed shopped with the SSV Redline I ended up buying
Ranger XLT - When dad was car shopping
Focus RS - As a left of field option instead of a Mustang/SSV

[whynot]

None. The only one that I would consider looking at is the Ranger, but I am not in that market and unlikely to be.

[pwr4ce]

Test drove 2017 Escape - bought that one for the Mrs
Test drove Ranger XLT - liked it but needed a 7 seater
Test drove Everest Trend - bought that as a replacement for my SY Territory
Test drove GT mustang - traded the escape and swapped Everest with the Mrs
Service loan cars
Escape ST line
Focus ST line

[Sprintey]

Been looking at the AU IV Falcon which is about to start production, can't wait to see it in the showroom! A little bit concerned that it's a crowdsourced car from a facebook petition, but AU's last forever so should be all good.

[Venomous1]

Drove a 2015 Mustang great car but other than that they offer nothing I could be interested in anymore.

Plus I don't even have the room anyways.

I do however like the F150's Ranger Raptor Mondeo and Focus Sport variants.

I would only consider to buy a Mustang. But I use my ute tray too much and like the V8 soundtrack so couldn't get a ranger.

[Ben73]

Well I owned a Ranger, it was pretty good.

Hired a Focus and it was absolute garbage. Worst car I have ever driven. I had to take it back after one day and ask for another car because it was so bad. It had those gearbox issues

I've been planning on hiring a Mustang for the past couple of years, so I should get around to that soon.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by PG2

but at the end of the day the Ranger was not a $9000 better car for what we wanted to use it for.

Would probably work out about the same at resale time.... dearer to buy. Worth more to sell.

[M&Ms]

None. Would have considered a new Mustang, but the things are more common than a Toyota GT86 these days, and are up over $85k fully loaded. Maybe Focus RS, but wife has a WRX STi and they're probably more similar than different (plus sitting in my brother's previous Focus ST was a bit of a tight fit for me!)

Went Euro back in April (first time I don't own a Ford since 2005!). Bought an Alfa Romeo Giulia QV, awesome machine! I itch to drive the thing at any opportunity. I never used to admit it, but the world outside Ford isn't any worse!

[TwentySixHundred]

Only driven the Mondeo and it's actually an ok car but boring... It's a little too average joe for me. Not into the Japanese tradie ute or SUV craze that's going on these days either so that's another crossed off market for me. The Mustang im not interested in at all, would much rather a Falcon.



Basically ill stick with Aussie Fords till they become obsolete and rare. The Mrs has a Corolla and as much as it's not my style it's reliable. I will probably end up switching to a Camry for a daily driver and keep the Aus Fords as weekenders in a few years time.


Camry is a decent daily and they're reliable while still seating 5 pretty comfortable. Only pet peeve i have about Toyota is their tacky plastic everywhere! The Mrs car is well built but the interior is lifeless, dreary and plain...

[happy1]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Hired a Focus and it was absolute garbage. Worst car I have ever driven. I had to take it back after one day and ask for another car because it was so bad. It had those gearbox issues

Important to note that the 2019 Focus now has an 8-speed auto and should be a much better car, but I guess the model name is tarnished for years to come.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by M&Ms

None. Would have considered a new Mustang, but the things are more common than a Toyota GT86 these days, !

I'm a bit over seeing Mustangs, even here in the country.

[Sabantien]

I visited a dealer's setup in a shopping centre a while back while waiting for the missus to finish her shopping.
Couldn't drive them of course, and with no intention of buying a new car, didn't want to waste their time doing so. But I got a few impressions.

Fiesta felt cheap and nasty inside. My partner likes small hatches, and she had a Festiva for a long time, but even she didn't like it. Possibly due to now driving an Audi A1.

Mondeo was very nice inside, didn't feel cheap and nasty. Plenty of room too. In a friend's Camry my head is touching the roof in the front of the car.

Mustang. Yes. I like. But when I replace my Falcon, i'm looking at a 4wd, so Mustang is out.

I'm not into utes so the Ranger wasn't high on my list, but I could fit in the back seat, which I can't do with our work dual cabs. I have to go in butt first and lie across the back seat in those.

Everest was nice enough, but it just felt like a city SUV more than a fully fledged 4wd.


I'm not in the market for a brand new car, and probably never will be, but if I was, I really don't know what I would buy, but it probably wouldn't be a Ford.

[Sox]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Been looking at the AU IV Falcon which is about to start production, can't wait to see it in the showroom! A little bit concerned that it's a crowdsourced car from a facebook petition, but AU's last forever so should be all good.

Me too...

No new cars, they're all crap.
When you've lived with perfection (AU Falcon) for as long as I have, nothing else compares...

[Brazen]

Anyone driven the Endura? looks great in ST Line trim. Is there plans to release a petrol?

[Sprintey]

When it comes to new Fords, being serious now, I'm scratching my head as to what to replace petrol AWD Territory with (and so probably won't replace with new). F-Pace about the same size, X5 bigger, Velar a little smaller and all can be had with north-south petrol full time AWD. It's a niche that falls between Endura and Everest. All the Euro handling SUVs I mentioned above are a lot more expensive and depreciate hard.

From the Ford range, Focus Active looks to be the bright puppy, the extra ride height, somewhat like a Suby XV but with a nice torque converter auto. If only it came in driver-switchable AWD... In theory it would make a nice runabout that could go on tracks, more so if all-paw.

Sox, there are some very nice low km AU's around if you can uncover them...