New feature Falcons should have

[nipper575]

I have never even used my CD player in my XR8. It possesses it's own style of music which far surpasses ANY of the hottest singles of the past, present or future. To equip a HTPC in a car would be an utter waste for me. Suffice it to say that if CD players/radios were still optional extras, I wouldn't think twice about putting one in my car.

Features I think that should be added.

Auto up and down windows

Auto dipping rear view mirror (these are very handy)

Auto dipping side view mirrors on reverse (as above)

Maybe some sort of park sensor that is placed on the front and rear of the car (like in Audi Q7s) that will prevent scrapes whilst parking, they would have to be mounted low, or pick up low objects.

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by Wally

... I reckon it could guess a person's weight, it had so much information available. And that was ten years ago.

Interestingly there actually is a weight sensor in the passenger seat of my BA for the dual-stage passenger airbags. It might even be in earlier models too.

Not on the drivers side though. The dual-stage airbag is selected by the track-position-sensor there.


Lukeyson

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Nice response. Worthy of another follow up.

Righto. Been a long day at work but we'll have a go :hihi:.

I see. Big open country roads with no traffic - I can see why country drivers would have no reason to need it. But the ability to tell the difference between a car decelerating gently and one triggering ABS activation because of a traffic jam in front of them does make a difference to the vast majority of drivers who commute in busy traffic. This is not new stuff - it's common now on cars from Europe and in the US with big highways and heavy congestion. Heck, I'm not even sure why the safety argument is even up for debate here. Were you around to provide resistance to the high-mount stoplight as well?

All for highmount stoplights actually, hell if I could I'd fit one to my ute the amount of morons that near rear end me is not funny. BUT, I still fail to see how flashing blinking pretty party fairy lights are going to do anything other than make the vast majority of people who are behind them go :

The guy across the road from where I live owns one actually. And I pass several on my daily commute. Where exactly do you live so that you don't see them? They're not obscured by burnout tyre smoke are they?

Quite iterally - there a 3 here, one of which is an RTA car. And I live in a city of over 60,000 people. As for burnout smoke - none here, then again you city people probably don't know what stars in the sky look like with your smoggy crap. Want to go with boganistic stereotypes I am happy to continue with them, or shall we move on to sensible comments?

Hey, I don't want to give up my V8 either. I just want it to use less fuel in city traffic when the thing is hardly being used for what it was designed for. I'd rather a baby hybrid feature in my V8 than have no V8 at all.

Maybe you're right. BUT, until it's developed in such a way that I dont lose power, I don't want to know about it. Refer to above point about boganistic comments but I do not care what you say - I love my powerful V8 and I won't give it up anytime soon. I think there's a company that specifically caters for people like me - oh that's right, it's called FPV. Apparently HSV or someone makes go fast Holdens too?

Sorry. A CD Player? You want a CD Player instead of a CarPC? OK, you win. :

No, I want an audio system that doesnt take 4.6 million buttons/clicks/snaps of finger/turn around touch the ground to use, that sounds good and that does what I want. If your Car PC will make me a coffee while I am driving, I will have one. If not, look up porn at home and concentrate on your driving in the car.

Same thing. The Territory brakes, HIM and instrument cluster in my BA XR8 tell me that. The more interchangeable parts they make the better.

Agree to a point about the interchangable parts thing.

Yep, have to agree with that. Stickers on XR's, FPV badges on XT's. No argument from me. But then lots of people do it despite the fact that both you and I turn our noses up at it. So do we ignore that market out of good sense or spite?

I dont know about you, but I dont want cousin Floyd down the road with his VX bodykit on a VN Commo complete with Clubsport stickers wandering into a Ford dealer asking for 'one of them there cars with thuh goofy soundin' horns on 'em'. More power to you if you do - but I don't. Ford/FPV got enough of a roasting selling Typhoons to Police Forces - and now you want to cater to (yes I'll go ahead and say it) - the lowest possible demoninator of car owners? "Buy a Ford - cos they don't sound like one!" - can see the ads now.

Yeah, and the years before that they had horses and carriages, and they never had microwave ovens or computers. I'm a bit lost with finding your point. The reverse camera module is already an option on the FG. An in-cabin camera is just another input. So if they get return on investment for the reverse camera why is the in-cabin camera so hard to do? Once I'd installed a reverse camera in my BA, it cost me $30 off eBay to buy another camera and wire it up in the cabin. I just bet they'd make a profit selling that off for another $500.

Yeh maybe so, have you ever heard that it's actually illegal to have a camera going on a screen in the front of the car while you're driving? Little thing called distraction. So how do you warrant/ADR/market that?

And it's OK. The "option" bit means we won't make you buy it.

Phew. Lucky me.

Is there a term for someone who insists that the old ways are best, and that we should never look for new and better ways to do things? Other than Luddite?

There probably is, but there's also a term for people who expect the absolute world to be packed into a car and sold for under 50 grand, compete with Euro cars that are double the cost, AND cater for every single person who ever gets in one. I believe it is unrealistic.

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by b2tf

All for highmount stoplights actually, hell if I could I'd fit one to my ute the amount of morons that near rear end me is not funny. BUT, I still fail to see how flashing blinking pretty party fairy lights are going to do anything other than make the vast majority of people who are behind them go

Awe heck, all this time you thought we meant flashing blinking party fairy lights? Now I know why you've been disagreeing.

Actually, thanks to another poster I just did a google search on the term "brake light modulator" - and wow, you are WAY outnumberd here!

Originally Posted by b2tf

Quite iterally - there a 3 here, one of which is an RTA car. And I live in a city of over 60,000 people. As for burnout smoke - none here, then again you city people probably don't know what stars in the sky look like with your smoggy crap.

Actually, when we're 4WD'ing down the beach here locally in our big gas guzzling 4WD's, it is a bit hard to find a Prius, yeah.

I think we're not far apart on this despite the fun we're poking at each other. You just want Power. I want Power and Economy - at least in the city. It's a silly long shot, but I'd still like it.

Originally Posted by b2tf

No, I want an audio system that doesnt take 4.6 million buttons/clicks/snaps of finger/turn around touch the ground to use, that sounds good and that does what I want. If your Car PC will make me a coffee while I am driving, I will have one. If not, look up porn at home and concentrate on your driving in the car.

Turn around and touch the ground, make coffee and lookup Porn? It's hard to ignore the trend of you using exaggerated extremes to try and make a point. I'll accept you don't want a carpc, if you accept that all I want is for Ford to provide a standard video input, and a location for me to put a carpc. Not for them to make and sell one. Remember that they already have a Video input pretty close to this now - just not standardised. All we ask is that they standardise the inputs (A proper RCA Line Level Audio In and Out would probably also make about a billion other people happy too) and increase the size of the area under the parcel shelf that currently locates the Sat Nav module.

How many R&D dollars could that possibly take?

Heck, my mate bought a Toyota Kluga recently, and their audio system even does Dolby Digital surround sound decoding. No wonder the Territory is not selling....

Originally Posted by b2tf

I dont know about you, but I dont want cousin Floyd down the road with his VX bodykit on a VN Commo complete with Clubsport stickers wandering into a Ford dealer asking for 'one of them there cars with thuh goofy soundin' horns on 'em'. More power to you if you do - but I don't. Ford/FPV got enough of a roasting selling Typhoons to Police Forces - and now you want to cater to (yes I'll go ahead and say it) - the lowest possible demoninator of car owners? "Buy a Ford - cos they don't sound like one!" - can see the ads now.

Hey, that's a sales conquest you're dis'n there.

Since we're into extremes, I can just picture the 2001 version of that argument regarding the thought of a Falcon with a Turbo 6. You probably wouldn't have wanted a grey-import-nissan driving bumcrack-undy-showin finger-pointing reverse-cap rapper copy boy walking into a Ford dealership either.

Shame on you. Imagine if they'd listened to you then too!

One guy has already posted on here about how the sound of his XR8 is better than any audio system he'd ever need. And along with the power and throttle response, the sound of a V8 is obviously something that appeals to both of us. Thinking about it, it sounds like you're just wanting to deny the greenies and low income earners access to that sound aren't you. You go brudda! You tell them all what they can and can't have!

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yeh maybe so, have you ever heard that it's actually illegal to have a camera going on a screen in the front of the car while you're driving? Little thing called distraction. So how do you warrant/ADR/market that?

Actually, the ADR is clear that you cannot display anything in a car that does not assist with the driving of that car. Otherwise radio displays, Sat Navs, and reverse cameras would also be illegal. A rear facing in-cabin or trailer-mounted camera is exactly that - a driver aid. And if having any rear-facing camera is illegal, then the same would have to apply to the mirrors themselves.

Mind you, I can imagine a lot of people I drive behind on the way to work already treat their mirrors as an unecessary distraction. That right lane is THEIRS god dam it, and they'll only give it up if you pry it out of their cold dead fingers.

Then again, saying that might upset some of those posters upset by the idea of having to look behind them when they drive....


Lukeyson

[G6ET8U]

Really enjoying this... be right back. Need another beer

[Bakis]

Been a good read but so much to catch up on but features that should be at least options on falcons are:

- Xenon's
- LED Lights (High End Models)
- I think the Jaguar's have heated and cooling Leather seats this would be amazing
- LSD Standard on XR6
- Auto adjusting side mirrors when reversing (sounds weird but gf's mums X5 has it not too shabby)
- Instead of a flick thing under rear view mirror for dip have a button
- Either drop alpine for once or do some serious upgrades to audio... Gf's Mondeo is amazing compared to Dad's F6 and Mums XR6 with premium upgrades.
- Auto windows on all doors.

This is off the top of my head lol more to come when i think of them

[nipper575]

Originally Posted by Bakis

Been a good read but so much to catch up on but features that should be at least options on falcons are:

- Xenon's
- LED Lights (High End Models)
- I think the Jaguar's have heated and cooling Leather seats this would be amazing
- LSD Standard on XR6
- Auto adjusting side mirrors when reversing (sounds weird but gf's mums X5 has it not too shabby)
- Instead of a flick thing under rear view mirror for dip have a button
- Either drop alpine for once or do some serious upgrades to audio... Gf's Mondeo is amazing compared to Dad's F6 and Mums XR6 with premium upgrades.
- Auto windows on all doors.

This is off the top of my head lol more to come when i think of them

Don't even need a button, one of Dad's previous cars that had an auto dimming rear view mirror that worked like some sort of transition lens. It just darkened automatically.

[G6ET8U]

Originally Posted by nipper575

Don't even need a button, one of Dad's previous cars that had an auto dimming rear view mirror that worked like some sort of transition lens. It just darkened automatically.

Standard on my G6E Turbo...

and I love the Ford Sync... I think the only thing standing in it's way coming to Australia is the voice activation. It would be made to recognise American accents when english is spoken. So wouldn't work here until that is rectified I would imagine.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by HYPOG6

Standard on my G6E Turbo...

and I love the Ford Sync... I think the only thing standing in it's way coming to Australia is the voice activation. It would be made to recognise American accents when english is spoken. So wouldn't work here until that is rectified I would imagine.

It's actually been held up because Ford Aus can't work out how to unprogram the 'take me to the nearest Taco Bell or Burger King' feature and remove the Confederate Flag screensaver.

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by nipper575

Don't even need a button, one of Dad's previous cars that had an auto dimming rear view mirror that worked like some sort of transition lens. It just darkened automatically.

Our Territory Ghia has auto-dimming rearview mirror. If you can get one of those you can wire i up to your BA, BF or FG. Fairlanes had them too I believe, so you'd even be able to find a roof loom to wire it up right (although the high mount stop light is in the roof on the Fairlane and wired from this too - it's on the parcel shelf in the SWB sedans).

I also have Mirror Dip on reverse on external mirrors in my BA XR8 - I grabbed the mirrors from a BF fairlane, the body and door looms from same (Or fairmont Ghia would do) and the leather seats and memory module from same again. This solution also gives me memory mirror positions trained to mine and my wife's keyfobs, memory 8-Way drivers seat (Wish I could find a 10 way LTD seat but can't) and 6-way powered passenger seat (No memory). I have a manual, so no memory adjustable pedals for me though.

So all of this can be done already, no R&D required (The mirror thing has been around since AU2 LTD in fact), it just needs to be made an option on more models. However it would save a bunch of wires and weight and stuff if it were all LIN.


Lukeyson

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Bakis

- Instead of a flick thing under rear view mirror for dip have a button

That's the other thing I'll miss out of my R32. Button under the rear view mirror engages a mechanism that measures light and automatically dims the mirror as needed. I still think cool every time I turn it on.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by HYPOG6

Standard on my G6E Turbo...

Sweet! How about the F6?

[G6ET8U]

Originally Posted by b2tf

It's actually been held up because Ford Aus can't work out how to unprogram the 'take me to the nearest Taco Bell or Burger King' feature and remove the Confederate Flag screensaver.

Hahahahha Gold.

And the auto dip mirror feature you guys are talking about is that the drop of the passenger mirror when reverse is engaged? My previous BA Fairmont Ghia had that but not my previous BA XR6 Turbo. My G6E Turbo has it. I must also say I do love the reverse camera that my car has too! Great feature.

[G6ET8U]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Sweet! How about the F6?

I would hope so... if I had've bought a car considered higher in the lineup than my car (15K ish price difference) I would hope it would have everything that my car has and more!! Not just big brakes, slightly bigger turbo and LSD.

[WOTDAH]

Originally Posted by nipper575

Don't even need a button, one of Dad's previous cars that had an auto dimming rear view mirror that worked like some sort of transition lens. It just darkened automatically.

It's called an electrochromic mirror and has been in various models of Falcon and Territory for years

[Bakis]

O ok, i haven't been in a G6E Turbo very often so i wasn't sure. But sat in a VW Jetta and that where i got the idea.
What about taking Jaguars' 6 speed auto pedal shift from them ?

[nipper575]

Originally Posted by HYPOG6

And the auto dip mirror feature you guys are talking about is that the drop of the passenger mirror when reverse is engaged?

No but that is also a pretty handy feature to have. What we are talking about is the rear view mirror will automatically dim at night so the car behind you doesn't blind you. I have just been told that it is an "electrochromic mirror."

[Pinch]

Yes to the auto dipping near side mirror on reverse (on a std G6E I rented).

Brake lights. Hmm. There ARE many cars in Australia with the flashing hazards on ABS activation, my Mini is one of them. Fiesta's have them too. Was out at Oran Park (moment of silence please...) for a super sprint when Top Gear mag was doing an article about super sprinting and used a stock Fiesta, hazards kept activating as he braked for turn 1 (was obviously driving it hard - wonder who owned it?). Two defensive driving schools I have been to say to flick the hazards on if possible too when braking hard an unexpectedly (like when rounding a corner on a freeway to find traffic stopped). Especially when driving a large vehicle. Did this once on a freeway and the guy behind was only half paying attention. I stopped for petrol later, as did he and said that if I hadn't of flashed the hazards then he might not have stopped - didn't notice traffic was stopping dead on the dual carriageway. Again if he was paying proper attention it wouldn't be an issue, but how many people don't pay attention? My wife has 2 whiplash injuries from rear enders that have f'd her neck for life. Anything to help prevent it is very welcome. It is actually on our new car criteria now (as are active head restraints).

Auto up on the windows. Mini and Forester have them.

Rain sensing wipers. Thought 'how lazy' until I had to do a 1200km trip in 28 hrs a few weekends ago where it rained on and off, on and off, on and off the whole way. Was in a new Statesman with them and it was much less tiring. Only an extra $200 on the Mini so might get them next time, but then again I don't do such long quick trips in the Mini that it would be that much of a problem.

Puddle lights (as on the Mini, and under the Stateman wing mirrors) are awesome.

[Luke Plaizier]

Well both can happen.

Auto Dimming is for the interior Rear Vision mirror. The electrochromatic mirror is powered and detects a bright light and auto dims.

Auto Dip on Reverse is usually the external mirrors. I use it on the left mirror in particular to get a better look a the gutter when reverse parking. I can also choose to not auto-dip on reverse for when I reverse down the driveway by just touching the mirror button on the side of the seat when in reverse.

Ahh, so that's what Puddle Lights are. I saw them mentioned earlier and had no idea what hey were.


Lukeyson

[290v]

80 Lt fuel tank so i can do 900Kms down the highway who needs SIDI like the opposition i just want a bigger tank then i could go from Adelaide to Melbourne on one tank

[mrbaxr6t]

my focus has auto down and up windows I love the auto up on all 4 windows to the focus owner that was talking about the holding button down keyfob trick do you mean you can hold down unlock button and it will wind down windows? I would like to experiment with this

ALSO my Focus has adjustable headlight angle in cabin on low beam you can adjust the "length" for want of a better term of the light infront of car be a great feature to adjust for utilities so they don't possum spot when the tray gets loaded up

[Road_Warrior]

A workable spare tyre solution for the e-gas Falcon.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

A workable spare tyre solution for the e-gas Falcon.

A boot bigger than a small briefcase on a E Gas Falcon would be a great start!

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

A boot bigger than a small briefcase on a E Gas Falcon would be a great start!

lol

It's the spare tyre that is the problem. Hence why I have a can of that puncture repair crap in the glovebox instead of carrying the spare. On a country run of course I put the spare in but then it's bye bye boot space.

If this plastic boot floor pressing comes to fruition with the FH(?), then they could possibly entertain a more modular design for the e-gas Falcon?

[BeansNoMore]

Brakes that stop and a working handbrake (no Falcon has even had such things).

Park distance sensors front and back. I have them on my 2000 5 Series and love them. I dont on my XR8 and REALLY miss them.

[BeansNoMore]

Brakes that stop and a working handbrake (no Falcon - since the 60s has even had such things).

Park distance sensors front and back. I have them on my 2000 5 Series and love them. I dont on my XR8 and REALLY miss them.

[V-Car]

Originally Posted by HYPOG6

Ford Sync...

Another vote for Sync, and also MyFord Touch.

[aussieak]

+100 on auto windows. Had them on the focus was the best on hot summers days. Op[en all windows as I approached the car and u could sit in it.

Heated and cooled seats for the leather option. I dont think cloth seats need it.
Reverse camera as standard on cars with spoilers.
reversing sensers as standard
+1 on biger fuel tank. (option maybe)

[BULFALC]

For base model falcons a wider rim/tyre setup as i think the current ones are too narrow given the size, weight & power of the car now.i dont know about anyone else but my ba is a real handfull in the wet(yes i have got rid of the orig dunlops but it still seems the same)

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Oh, and for those asking, here's some info on Ford Sync.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Sync
http://www.fordvehicles.com/technology/sync/


And a site that offers some hope that it's coming soon to Ford Oz:
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/Conte...YPage&site=FOA


Lukeyson

Another reason Falcon needs Sync ASAP!

Originally Posted by Feann Torr

GM Holden has signed off on a deal to replace the current infotainment systems in its Commodore and Statesman range of cars with high-tech touch screen systems with iPod and iPhone connectivity

Get ready for a more involving Commodore experience later in the year when Holden updates its entire range of large cars, from the base model Commodores to the range-topping Statesman and Caprice.

At a recent press conference for German tyre maker Continental, CEO Zoran Angelkovski confirmed that it has signed a new deal to supply the infotainment units to GM Holden's Commodore from June this year, and we could be seeing them on the road as early as September.

Continental, the world's fourth largest tyre maker, owns Siemens VDO, which currently engineers and manufactures various car componentry, such as instrumentation, heating/cooling control units and other interior elements for all three Australia car makers.

And an updated Holden Commodore infotainment system with touch screen functionality can now be added to that list.

"We've given them [Holden] the features that are seen on some European cars. [We've designed the new infotainment units] to make the driver feel more comfortable," Zoran Angelkovski told the Carsales Network.

The CEO of Continental added that the new system is "an improvement on the Bosch Blaupunkt [infotainment] system" and will come with a range of features that will put the Commodore ahead of the Falcon in terms of audio-visual in-car technology.

"Our unit has more functions and features. The most important thing is touch screen. At the moment you cannot get touch screen on the Commodore. Our new unit offers touch screen, more connectivity options with iPod and iPhone," said Angelkovski.

On top of iPhone and iPod functionality, Angelkovski explained there would be several 'grades' to the new touch screen in-car entertainment systems and though he couldn't elaborate on the particulars, he suggested that all models would get touch screen functionality. This would be a major coup for Holden.

"So we're starting at the basic level, with the Commodore, and going right up to the Caprice. So the family of new infotainment units has the low end and high end touch screens, but in between you have other models too."

Until recently, more than two thirds of VDO Siemens local revenue stream came from Ford, but the new deal with GM Holden will see the revenue split 30-30 between Ford and Holden, with the last third coming from Toyota [Camry] and BMW Motorrad motorcycle instrument clusters.

We caught a very brief glimpse of the new look touch screen systems being integrated for Commodore, and it's safe to say the new system will be a massive step up from the current setup.

Holden was yet to make an official comment at the time of writing.
http://carpoint.com.au/news/2010/lar...h-screen-18493