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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,307
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FORD and its dealers need to get their act together ASAP !!!!
MITSUBISHI finished the financial year on a high and claimed some prized scalps along the way to a bumper sales result in June. The diamond badge outperformed Ford in Queensland to be the third best seller while nationally it slipped past the high-flying Mazda. A total of 8346 Mitsubishis were sold last month, which accounted for a substantial 7.8 per cent of the market. The figures caught Mitsubishi executives off-guard as the company finds its feet after the announcement the locally made 380 sedan would cease production earlier this year. "June is traditionally a strong month in the Australian automotive industry," Mitsubishi Australia president and chief executive Rob McEniry said. "Everyone at Mitsubishi was keen to make June '08 a month to remember." A lot of the success came from the Lancer (2667 sales) and the well-regarded Triton (2683) workhorse range. The June total took Mitsubishi's year-to-date business to 35,167, which is a 4.5 per cent lift over the same period last year. Mitsubishi is launching the cracking Lancer Evolution sedan this week. THE NUMBERS GAME Lancer up 11.7% with 10,495 sales Colt up 14.6% to 2148 Outlander up 18.8% to 4552 Triton 4x2 up 101.2% to 4096 Triton 4x4 up 7.2% to 5277 Express van up 16.0% to 2049.
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#2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Gren A Waverrey
Posts: 2,369
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I don't mind Mitsubishi.
I find they have tried to make their cars a little more interested over the past few years, which in direct contrast with Toyota, who continue to make cars with concrete seats and crappo interiors. If I didn't buy a Ford, I'd certainly consider a Mitsubishi. But yes, Ford dealers do need to get their act together.
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Practicing - Sleeping with a guitar in your hand counts, as long as you don't drop it. Don't snap my undies. |
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#3 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 665
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#4 | ||
XP Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,098
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So if Ford shuts down local production, will sales rise?
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#5 | |||
Falcon Unbelievable!
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Uncle Henry's Garage
Posts: 382
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Only if they actually start listening to people.... |
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#6 | |||
Donating Member
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Posts: 5,676
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#7 | ||
The one and only
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Carrum Downs, Victoria
Posts: 9,053
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Why buy a Ford?
Lame marketing and support they are only going to fail.
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1992 DC LTDHO 360rwkw built by me Tuned by CVE Performance Going of the rails on a crazy train Other cars include Dynamic ED Sprint, Dynamic DL LTD, Sparkling Burgundy DL LTD, Yellow, Red & Blue XB sedan & Black XB Coupe
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#8 | ||
Ex EL Falcon
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bris-bane
Posts: 683
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Yeah, I can't say I blame people for not buying new Fords these days given how god-awful the dealers are reported to be. I can't say the Ford dealers I dealt with while looking at new cars were all that good. One was total crap and the other was just a bit better than crap. They did not instill confidence in me. Nor did their vehicle (A focus) either. Which is why I am the owner of a new Mazda and not a new Ford.
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Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail us now! |
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#9 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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I was very interested in the Focus but no-one was motivated enough to sell me one. When I bought the BA, the car sells itself was the cry of all but one of the Ford dealers I visited. The one savour didn't believe that and allowed me a test drive one so *I* could make that determination (thanks City Ford), otherwise my last car wouldn't have been a Ford, either (and it turned out, over the long run to be my best car to date...) |
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#10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 575
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in 2008, on average, mitsubishi makes better cars than ford.
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#11 | ||
335 - STILL THE BOSS ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melb East
Posts: 11,421
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..... and thats why my next car will be an FG. I buy the cars I want & enjoy. I dont buy on marketing and dont need to be 'sold' on a car by a dealer. They are there to organise the paperwork, agree to the price and hand me the keys. You cant tell me that so many more 380's and Lancer's have been sold on marketing or better dealers? When ever was there an add on the 380 ..... unless it was to say they are now 1/2 price!
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'73 Landau - 10.82 @ 131mph '11 FG GT335 - 12.43 @ 116mph '95 XG ute - 3 minutes, 21.14 @ 64mph 101,436 MEMBERS ......... 101,436 OPINIONS ..... What could possibly go wrong! Clevo Mafia [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
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#12 | ||
Ex EL Falcon
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bris-bane
Posts: 683
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auslandau, my decision was based 80% on the vehicle itself and 20% on the dealer.
Choosing the right dealer is important with new vehicles because if anything buggers up, you want the dealer to be helpful and not a complete arrogant *** (like a lot of ford dealers). I looked at Ford's offerings, saw the Focus was awful inside and had pretty woeful build quality in the body. I saw some other cars and eventually thought the Mazda was the go. If Ford built a good product (and didn't build it in some crappy South African factory), I might've bought it.
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Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail us now! |
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#13 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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Quote:
I don't watch advertisements on TV (I download all the shows I watch) and the salesman doesn't need to open their mouth except to give me a changeover price on the vehicle of my choice but I'm also likely to use the dealer for servicing, so the reflection of the sales department resonates with me for the entire 3 year warranty period. I can tell you that I'm not driving a Ford today because of the treatment from many of the dealers I visited and I'm driving a Volkswagen because of the excellent treatment by the first dealer I visited. |
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#14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,053
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I had a brand new 2007 Lancer VRX, sold it only after owning it for about 2 months, lost 4k on it.
The handling was shocking, felt like it had a "big sponge" in each corner, it just "wallowed" it's way down the road like some big "clumbersome lump", it had no charisma, soul or spirit at all, just a typical Japanese Box. But the main reason I sold it was because of the "appalling paint quality", it was barely even there, the paint was so thin it was disgusting, just about anything would chip the paint, I was finding new chips all over the front of the car each day, just do a Google on "Mitsubishi Paint Problems.".....very interesting reading, lot's of very unhappy owners out there. And as for "Dealer Support".....forget it! The one I bought mine from, which I might add is one of the "biggest in Australia" was hopeless, no better than the useless lumps at the Ford Dealerships around, dont kid yourselves that they are any better believe me. |
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#15 | ||||
335 - STILL THE BOSS ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melb East
Posts: 11,421
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All I am saying is that if you want something, a salesperson cannot be that a big iinfluence not to buy that product, if its available elsewhere close by. Obviously the VDUB is your thing and thats great. I wouldnt buy a VE because the salesperson was a wonderful guy and the dealer gave me flowers for a week ![]() | [/url] |
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'73 Landau - 10.82 @ 131mph '11 FG GT335 - 12.43 @ 116mph '95 XG ute - 3 minutes, 21.14 @ 64mph 101,436 MEMBERS ......... 101,436 OPINIONS ..... What could possibly go wrong! Clevo Mafia [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
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#16 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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I spent 3 weekends and countless hours shopping many Ford dealers and as I've said in the past, most of them wouldn't accept my BA XR8 as trade (without even looking at the car), the best offer I was given was 10k (again, without even looking at the car). None of them would budge one bit on the price of an XR5 even when I told them I should be entitled to fleet discount which I later found out is ~$2k saving. Within 5 minutes of being in a VW dealer, I was offered 17k for trade and 8k off fleet discount on an R32. Would you buy a VE off a salesperson who happily gave you a $14k saving? |
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#17 | |||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Enroute
Posts: 4,050
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Yeah, salesman don't affect my decision too much now either. I prefer to drive in with a trade in, tell them what I am looking at trading it in for, and then telling them how much I want (be reasonable, go for the average redbook price). If they say it's too hard to do I say; "Thanks for your time, I'll just have to try a couple of other places first before making my decision first". Nine times out of 10 they will do the price or damned near it, in one case I was about to drive off and the salesman ran after me to inform me that his boss gave him the OK on the deal. It's not rocket science, have a little respect for the salesman and let him see his goal before haggling. If he can sell a 45K plus car for the sake of 1500 on a trade-in he will most likely do it. Over the last few years, I have always gotten what I wanted and now visit the same lady time and time again. I have also referred many others to her and they couldn't be happier. I must admit though, some dealers are absolutely useless for sales such as Power Ford.
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If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to power an ants go-cart a half a lap around a Cheerio - Ron Shirley Quote:
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#18 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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Quote:
At a guess, I would say rougly 7 salesman said they wouldn't offer anything as trade for my XR8 because V8's are too hard to sell these days. |
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#19 | |||
335 - STILL THE BOSS ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melb East
Posts: 11,421
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Quote:
Soooo the Terri I bought, instead of paying 36k I could have bought a Craptiva for around the 20k mark? What the hell am I doing wrong!!!! ![]() | [/url] |
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'73 Landau - 10.82 @ 131mph '11 FG GT335 - 12.43 @ 116mph '95 XG ute - 3 minutes, 21.14 @ 64mph 101,436 MEMBERS ......... 101,436 OPINIONS ..... What could possibly go wrong! Clevo Mafia [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
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#20 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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Quote:
Fleet purchase entitled me to a flat $2k off a Ford. VW entitled me to 10% off list of a VW, $0 dealer delivery, $0 premium paint and a number of other discounts which added up to about $9k saving off the drive away price. Even ignoring those for a moment. $7k difference in trade alone.. that's a shedload. When you're given a trade-in price that woeful (again, pointing out that was the *best* offer I was given by a Ford dealer) your confidence about striking a good deal plummets. If you were given $7k better trade on a VE over an FG and you still went the FG, I admire your loyalty as a Ford owner. My wallet speaks louder than my loyalty for a car manufacturer. |
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#21 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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#22 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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Quote:
I don't understand the logic behind VW being able to sell an XR8 better than Ford though. Presumably you wouldn't travel to a VW dealer to buy a V8 sedan... since they don't actually sell one themselves. |
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#23 | ||||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Enroute
Posts: 4,050
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Quote:
If you've got ford dealers that unreasonable we deserve to know who. You're absolutely right though, you have been treated very poorly. A 3 year old Ghia in 1998/1999 was worth about 15-20k on the private market back then, so a 15k trade is very reasonable (bear in mind dealers have to prepare the car for sale, sell it and warrant the damn thing plus make some kind of a profit). Sounds to me rodp that you know what you are doing with dealers; it's just that the ford dealers you have been to have been incredibly hopeless and for that reason, I agree with you in your not buying a ford. Brand loyalty shouldn't cost you 7k every time you trade up. Also, BA XR8's are still selling; I have seen many just under the 20K mark at the moment so the 7K crap and excuses are just that; crap and excuses. Sounds to me that the dealers you went to where lazy and ineffective, I'm guessing Ford would be interested to know the reluctance of their dealers to actually sell cars, and those too lazy to prepare a decent trade in for sale always have the option of wholesaling the car. In November 2006 my sister had an AU fairmont with 170K on the clock and an engine that required a new head, cat and the tranny had just been repaired after a failed radiator core. Thomson ford tried to charge her 4K for that little repair (the tranny, I was OS at the time and could have had it done with genuine parts from Jubilee for 2.5K), thankfully after breaking down several times on the way home to her place and blowing all the trans fluid on James Ruse Drive, my sister decided that her car was indeed only going to get worse without TLC. One phone call later to Thomsons with them trying to deflect the blame and any form of responsibility for towing costs etc, I informed them that the good people at American Express had just authorised the payment to be stopped on my behalf until the goods were rectified. Tow truck was there within half an hour and a service advisor turned up with a loan car around the same time. Next day, went to see Jubilee Ford about a BA mk2 fairmont, sold the trade-in without even bringing it there for 8K on a car that was on the lot on with a special price of $19990. Yes, it was only a 12K changeover and the salesman couldn't have been nicer. Told him then to find a Fairlane for my father, week later he had a 6 month old BF for 42K. Bought it without seeing it and found the whole experience to actually be enjoyable. Anyhow, I digress, if you are in Sydney and don't want to be stuffed around, go see Karen at Dale Ford. Never have I found a dealer to be so easy to deal with, and I have dealt with them from Mercedes to Mazda to chrysler to Audi.
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If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to power an ants go-cart a half a lap around a Cheerio - Ron Shirley Quote:
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#24 | |||||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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Salesman can make or break a sale no matter how much I want the car... enough salesman break the sale, time to choose another car. |
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#25 | |||
Mot Adv-NSW
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lake Macquarie, NSW
Posts: 2,153
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Quote:
Might have a sticker telltale in the boot area.
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ORDER FORD AUSTRALIA PART NO: AM6U7J19G329AA. This is a European-UN/AS3790B Spec safety-warning triangle used to give advanced warning to approaching traffic of a vehicle breakdown, or crash scene (to prevent secondary). Stow in the boot area. See your Ford dealer for this $35.95 safety item & when you buy a new Ford, please insist on it! See Page 83, part 4.4.1 http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/media...eSafePart4.pdf |
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#26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide SA
Posts: 1,255
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#27 | |||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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