Comments on: Ford workers agree to cost cutting

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:02:04 +0000

I was told by a taxi owner that they love the falcons because they are reliable, and if something does go wrong, then they are cheap to fix.

I was told you just need to keep a spare tranny and diff in the shed and they will last forever.

And also as BM says in that the I6 runs well on the LPG (well sort of what she said)

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:26:48 +0000

Having owned a workshop for 10 years we use to fix most of the Taxis in Hobart , drivers drove them because of reliability and fuel economy.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:09:31 +0000

“Roddy there’s a reason Falcon is the preferred TAXI”

They’re cheap to fix and maintain. And they’re cheap to buy. Lots are bought as 2 year old + at auctions, after they’re worth less than half the new purchase price.

By: Glen

Glen — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:02:54 +0000

Roddy there’s a reason Falcon is the preferred TAXI, I fail to see why its a bad thing. You cant kill the bottom end in the inline 6. omgwot, would be safe to bet the FG was designed to be adapted to the V6 considering the announcement about the V6 was 12 months before the FG was released. The reason the inline 6 was going to be stopped was cos it was going to cost too much to bring to euroIV emission standards, now they have found a way.

By: Roddy

Roddy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:32:40 +0000

Falcon, The Great Australian Taxi.

By: john a

john a — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:36:22 +0000

omgwot,if we loose falcon we loose commodore or vice versa,the whole supply industrie will die if we loose one of the 3 manafactures we have left.so no matter what you like lets hope we dont loose any and that includes (yuk)toyota

By: omgwot

omgwot — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:55:02 +0000

Glen, yes I’m aware that the plant will remain open past 2010 but for how long? I was under the impression that was done as it was to expensive to re engineer the current FG to the imported V6 therefore allowing the plant to stay open till the FG model cycle ends and then what happens?
I hope we keep our Aussie big RWD cars (well the Falcon anyway, as for the Commodore meh not a car I would buy)

By: realcars

realcars — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:40:15 +0000

Falcon, The Great Australian Road Car.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:19:31 +0000

Here is an extract for you Spitfire………

Ford Australia president Marin Burela said the Geelong-made inline-six (I6) engine was secure for the medium-term, and that the outlook for the operation had been strengthened by approaches from manufacturers who wanted to use the engine.

“We are getting all sorts of interest from different sectors on whether or not we would be prepared to sell them some engines, for different applications,” he said. “They want to know would we be willing to sell them some I6 engines.

“That’s a different angle on the Geelong engine plant story.”

Mr Burela would not say which companies were making the enquiries or what sort of vehicle they would be used in. “There are different groups around the world. I don’t want to talk volumes.”

The Ford chief said negotiations were in the early stages, but there was strong interest – “it’s really encouraging”.

He said that even without any export orders, the engine would “probably” be kept in service until 2015 or 2016, although a decision will be made earlier than that.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:09:10 +0000

Spitfire,
Ford are not saying exactlly which manufacturers are showing interest.
they are not naming names