Invisible (pt2)...Fords
Discussion
This thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
...got me thinking.
Where are all the new Fords? With the 62- and 13- plate cars being out for a while now, I've seen plenty of 5-Series, 3-Series, i30s, Ce'eds, 208s, Golfs, XFs etc, etc. BUT, the staple fleet car, namely the Mondeo? Nigh-on bugger all. In fact, for 13 plates, absolutely none. Focuses are more common, but seemingly outnumbered by the previously mentioned. It's only with the advent of the new Fiesta that I've seen any Ford sporting a 13 plate. No Kas, no x-Maxes, Kugas, Transits etc, etc.
Are Ford (Europe) really in that much bother? IIRC Ford USA are doing OK.
I'd also like to make it clear that this isn't a Ford-bashing thread. I'm from Sarf Essex, my grandfather, my father and myself all worked at the Aveley and/or Dagenham plants, my family have had Fords for as long as I can remember and I myself am very ford of anything sporting a blue oval, be it a farty XR2 or a bright green Focus RS. I also spent a lot of time as a teenager lusting after Mk3 Fiesta 1.6 Sis, but the less said about that the better...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
...got me thinking.
Where are all the new Fords? With the 62- and 13- plate cars being out for a while now, I've seen plenty of 5-Series, 3-Series, i30s, Ce'eds, 208s, Golfs, XFs etc, etc. BUT, the staple fleet car, namely the Mondeo? Nigh-on bugger all. In fact, for 13 plates, absolutely none. Focuses are more common, but seemingly outnumbered by the previously mentioned. It's only with the advent of the new Fiesta that I've seen any Ford sporting a 13 plate. No Kas, no x-Maxes, Kugas, Transits etc, etc.
Are Ford (Europe) really in that much bother? IIRC Ford USA are doing OK.
I'd also like to make it clear that this isn't a Ford-bashing thread. I'm from Sarf Essex, my grandfather, my father and myself all worked at the Aveley and/or Dagenham plants, my family have had Fords for as long as I can remember and I myself am very ford of anything sporting a blue oval, be it a farty XR2 or a bright green Focus RS. I also spent a lot of time as a teenager lusting after Mk3 Fiesta 1.6 Sis, but the less said about that the better...
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 20:46
All Ford's large cars (Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy) are built in Genk, Belgium. However production is scheduled to move to Spain in 2014/15. As you can imagine the employees in Genk aren't pleased and went on strike in October and production has been hampered ever since, hence as we are struggling to supply Mondeo based cars to retail customers Ford have cut right back on short term rental deals to the likes of Enterprise etc. not only this but doing short term business with rental companies is only good in the sort term as it effects residuals to quite a large degree.
Fiesta is still the best selling car in the UK and Focus is not far behind it!
Fiesta is still the best selling car in the UK and Focus is not far behind it!
te with that front end ,ka looks horrendous .Ford are certainly way behind in the styling, as mentioned the Ka is pretty awful and the Fiesta and Focus not far behind. That huge downward slanting grill akin to all three doesnt help and a mass of black plastic on mirrors and even more of it on rear bumpers doesnt help either. The likes of kia and Hyundai are of much higher quality and dont seem to have the knobhead following of some Fords either..
I must see 20-30 new 13 plate kugas everyday including a horrid olive green one. Loads of those b max. There's hundreds of new fiestas about and a I've seen a few new focus. But I do live in Bridgend where the engine plant is so there's alot of discount on offer
Edit: I've seen one 13 plate galaxy it was bland and white. No s max though
Edit: I've seen one 13 plate galaxy it was bland and white. No s max though
The current Mondeo is 6 years old, and is perceived as a boring choice in an also shrinking segment of the car market. There is a new one due, but it has been delayed for some reason and Ford don't sell that many in this country anymore anyway. Fiesta and Focus sales are still very strong, and the '-Max' cars do well do. The Ka is a flop though.
The current Mondeo is a superb car and if you are a private buyer who needs the space I think they offer great value for money. Less than £12k but a 1-2 year old good spec diesel car with around 10-15k miles. A comparable 5 series will be double the price.
Last time I looked the Mondeos were about the same price as the focus with the same engine. However the Mondeo looks better inside and out, has much more space, better seats and more equipment
Last time I looked the Mondeos were about the same price as the focus with the same engine. However the Mondeo looks better inside and out, has much more space, better seats and more equipment
I see plenty of new fiesta's, and the occasional B-max. The focus is pretty prevalent as well.
I think the mondeo is suffering from the fact that it is very much due for replacement. the US already has the new mondeo (sold as the fusion there), but on this side of the water we still make due with the old one.
I think the mondeo is suffering from the fact that it is very much due for replacement. the US already has the new mondeo (sold as the fusion there), but on this side of the water we still make due with the old one.
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