Comments on: Ford opens $20m research facility

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:58:15 +0000

Yeah Patrick, that 100 million they spent hasnt helped them much has it? They still build bland, boring cars that have abyssmal driving dynamics and 4 cylinder engines with fuel economy that Fords so called “dinosaur” engine can match and even beat.

Shows whose spending their money wisely doesnt it.

By: Millatime

Millatime — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:06:34 +0000

Spot on Andrew M, oh and by the way Patrick, the Camry doesn’t have a V4 engine. As long as you keep learning you’ll get there..

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:32:55 +0000

^^^^
Pardon the typos

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:31:56 +0000

Patrick,
I wouldnt be asking the size of the falcons 6cyl because it will embarras the camry more because an engine near doublt the size and pushing more weight is just as efficient.

This new facility is a big deal for the Aussie industry.
Doesnt matter what they spent in relation to what toyota did, fact is if they spent less (or got cheap as you say), they spent it more wisely as this facility helped get a bigger 6cyl car to be as efficient as a lighter 4cyl camry.

Also, im sure toyotas 100million facility wasnt just for fuel efficiency and emissions research. Im sure that 100 million included research for other aspects of developing a car

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:10:55 +0000

Oh,Falcodore, Toyota research facility in North-America cost over $100m. Not so cheap as ford, eh?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:06:45 +0000

Phil C. how big is the falcon’s engine and the Camry’s?The v4 or v6? Because Toyota has only the 2.4 v4 available in australia. Not the v6 like here in North-America.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:02:56 +0000

Falcodore, Japaneses car companies all ready have its own research facility all over the world.(Europe, North-America, and Japan itself. )

By: eh179driver

eh179driver — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:05:43 +0000

Samr
Here are some real life comments unlike your emotional garbage. I had (until December 08) an Aurion. It was from the first batch built and when it was written off in an accident with a drunken driver, it had 51′000 kms on it. In the “real world” around Melbourne it averaged 10.7 L/100 and on long trips it would drop down to 7.2L/100. I now have a VE Berlina Sportswagon with the so call dinasour 4 speed Auto. It was the only spec I could get in a hurry as I wanted a wagon, someting Toyota does not offer. It now has 16′000 kms on it. In and around Melbourne is returns 11.0L/100 and on trips interstate gives 7.8 to 8.1L/100. That is from a cra that is around 200kgs heavier than the Aurion, physicaly larger so less aerodynamic and has a so called dinosaur 4 speed auto against 6 speed in the Aurion. On top of this it is more comfortable, carries more and is cheaper for servicing.
I also have sales reps with BF and FG Falcons and they return very similar numbers to the Commodore. Around town it is line ball but the Falcons do offer slightly better returns on longer runs. Not sure where you get your info from but these are real world figures not emotional garbage souted by your fine self!

By: Phil C.

Phil C. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:24:50 +0000

Edit: Falcon 79% More torquey* than Camry. (391 vs 218Nm)

Damn that cut and paste! LOL.

By: Phil C.

Phil C. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:23:37 +0000

Here is another comparison.

Falcon 67% More powerful* than Camry. (195 vs 117kW)
Falcon 79% More torquey* than Camry. (391 vs 325Nm)
Falcon 28% More acceleration* than Camry (7.4s vs 9.5s 0-100kmh)
Falcon uses same** fuel as Camry. (9.9L/100km)
* Standard Falcon 6 vs Standard Camry Auto 4.
** Standard Falcon 6 with 6spd ZF vs Camry Auto 4.

By: Phil C.

Phil C. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:17:16 +0000

Maybe Ford should advertise better. Actually definitely.

Falcon 11% More powerful* than C’dore. (195 vs 175kW)
Falcon 20% More torquey* than C’dore. (391 vs 325Nm)
Falcon 22% More acceleration* than C’dore (7.4s vs 9.1s 0-100kmh)
Falcon 14% More Economical** than C’dore. (9.9 vs 11.3L/100km)
* Standard Falcon 6 vs Standard C’dore 6.
** Standard Falcon 6 with 6spd ZF vs Top Line C’dore 6.

By: G6ETURBO

G6ETURBO — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:15:15 +0000

I use 11L/100km from the Falcon. I live in the CBD(Melbourne) and more then 50% off my driving in city traffic. Not bad for a dinasour.
My MPS3 averaged 10.5L/100Km and the Golf R32 10L.

By: Phil C.

Phil C. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:39:34 +0000

This is evidence that Ford Aus aren’t going belly up. They are continuing to spend on world class infrastructure in Australia. They pioneered a new facility last year with an anachoic sound chamber.

All of these investments are making their vehicles better and help to increase their share of the worldwide R&D.

Real world economy for FG beats VE, Aurion and Accord. Ask this site or the major magazines too. This was before this update too which has benefitted from this facility.

PS The real shame is this investment will get ignored by the general media. The only stories to get run’s are negative’s about Ford and positives about Holden. I’m used to it.

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:20:58 +0000

Exactly :)

By: Frontman

Frontman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:19:18 +0000

Damn I’m sooo upset that Ford is going belly up in australia. It is such a shame that they have no money to put back into the comunity :-(
For all the doubting thomas’ here (and the doubting tossers no nmaes no court marshals) FG g6 with the 5spd Bordeaux was more economical than the Accord V6 Active fuel managed car and the Aurion and the VE Berlina when tested by the Qld Motoring organisation. Damn Dinosaurs, you just can’t trust them can you?

As to the facility about time the testing ground got an upgrade. Ford Aus is on the move, again thanks to having an Ausie at the helm,

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:13:07 +0000

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR,

Cheers for the heads up! I need to keep up with the trolls :)

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:43:46 +0000

Adam we have worked out who this guy is…….same as “The Fact” and today hes the “Star”………you can spot him by how he doesn’t use capital letters at the start of his sentences and the accent ;)

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:40:03 +0000

sick of bogans,

Also take a look at the sales figures of aurion AND camry.

Hmmm appear not only are the dinosaurs suffering from sales declines.

I didn’t know RWD platforms where ‘dinosaurs’?

Someone better inform BMW, MERC, AUDI, JAG etc…

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:37:57 +0000

sick of bogans,

Nice try.

Please tell all of us what you drive? how many different vehicles you drive weekly?

You are the perfect example of perception that doesn’t match reality.

Wake up.

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:36:11 +0000

samr,

Oh really? I’ve driven no less than 5 different aurions with a full tank of fuel in city driving and have been ‘horrified’ by the lack of fuel economy.

Reality is an aurion is NO better than an FG for ‘real world’ fuel consumption.