What will the world look like after 2016 ?

[brett7777]

Was talking about Falcons to some guys in the US.
Of course as we know, they were made there from 1960 to 1970.
They were interested to know that Australia had continued to make & develop Falcons since then.
These were some of the comments I got from the US guys, & pics:

"I had a Ford Falcon about 15 yrs ago, was my first project vehicle. I see they have improved the look considerably. I used to love going to junk yards to find parts but I think those old cars are all gone now."



"I love those old falcons. I would really like to have about a 63 or 64 model."

"Been working on my daughters 72 Maverick. Sad thing scrap prices are so high they are all getting crushed. Our local wrecking yard won't even sell you the parts if they have them...cost too much to have an employee pull the parts. quicker faster profit just to crush everything."

"Here is our 64' that I restored in my garage last sept.
It now has 14" new white walls and Smoothie wheels."


These guys live in a 'post Falcon world'. For these guys, they still wanted one, one thought that the Australian Falcon had 'improved the look', one had just restored one, & there was some talk about junkyards & scrap. (yes I realize a Maverick is not a Falcon, but the comment was made in relation to the Falcon conversation & is still interesting, regarding the rising prices of scrap metal).

It got me to thinking about what it's like when an iconic model is no longer mass produced, & how the world might look without the Falcon in mass production?

And yes I'm aware that we don't know yet about exactly what will happen in 2016. This thread is based on the possibility that Ford Australia may not be producing a large falcon badged sedan after that time.

What do you think it might be like to live in a post Falcon world?

[MattsDisturbed]

FG Falcons, especially the higher end models, will hold their value quite nicely. and if you've got an FPV, hold onto it for a few years to come!

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by MattsDisturbed

FG Falcons, especially the higher end models, will hold their value quite nicely. and if you've got an FPV, hold onto it for a few years to come!

I doubt it very much. In 10 years time you probably won't even be able to get parts for them. And alot of the parts will be irrepairable or cost too much to repair.

[brett7777]

Originally Posted by Scooter

I doubt it very much. In 10 years time you probably won't even be able to get parts for them. And alot of the parts will be irrepairable or cost too much to repair.

There is usually a ten year parts guarantee (2026). Then it would depend on how much the aftermarket provides. That would be based on demand, & with there being so many cars out there, I would think there would be demand for aftermarket parts.

Which parts would be irrepairable, or too expensive to repair?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by brett7777

There is usually a ten year parts guarantee (2026). Then it would depend on how much the aftermarket provides. That would be based on demand, & with there being so many cars out there, I would think there would be demand for aftermarket parts.

Which parts would be irrepairable, or too expensive to repair?

I had trouble getting parts for my AUII TE50 when it was 6 years old.

[brett7777]

Originally Posted by DJM83

I had trouble getting parts for my AUII TE50 when it was 6 years old.

A pretty limited model. But after just 6 years? I wonder what that could mean for FPV's? I guess there's more FPV's out there than T series, so more demand for parts?

[Scooter]

I think parts like airbags, ECM's etc. All of todays cars are just loaded with so many bits and pieces I don't think they will survive like the older cars that were more user friendly to repair or restore.

[Mesa]

Depends what demands are placed on the aftermarket industry to continue supply to these cars. Look at what you buy from Rare Spares these days and for what models.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by brett7777

There is usually a ten year parts guarantee (2026). Then it would depend on how much the aftermarket provides. That would be based on demand, & with there being so many cars out there, I would think there would be demand for aftermarket parts.

Which parts would be irrepairable, or too expensive to repair?

There is no gaurantee, all the law states is that all the manufacturer has to do is take reasonable steps to provide parts for at least 7 years.

If they can't then it doesn't matter, as long as they "tried".

Ford cut short parts all the time, in some cases as little as 3 or 4 years. They don't want to be carrying large levels of stock now, its just money sitting on the shelves.

I'd hate to see what they are like now, I reckon a lot of parts for the BFII would already be obsolete.

[2011G6E]

Implying the world will end if there's no Falcon...

Seriously though, "the world" won't notice if a small branch of the massive organisation that is Ford stops making a small number of cars.

The problem with resale value is that Falcons (and Commodores) are just, well, Falcons and commodores. They're common, they're made in bit (for Australia) numbers, and a lot or people have been sadly disappointed when they go to trade it in. We got an astounding trade in for our Landcruiser...but we're under no illusions that when we trade in our G6E, it will get an offer something like the Redbook trade in price of less than half it,s original value.
Unless you have something truly unusual, a Falcon won't appreciate in value, especially not just because they might stop making them. Good as they are, even the FPV's, they're hardly awesomly high standard rare exotica...

The problem is not how well the cars are or aren't built...it's how they're built. A car restorer once said in a magazine interview some years ago that guys asking for restoration work on cars from even as recently as the early 1990's were in for a very nasty shock when they got the quote...mainly because of all the plastic mouldings. The philosophy was "If a man made it, a man can fix it easily".

[JG34JA]

Three words, aftermarket plastic mouldings. That's what I'm finding, anyway. More concerned about all the electronic wizardry. Just wait to go to restore the 2012 VW that parks itself...

[mik]

imo getting /replacing car parts wont be a problem, perhaps some uncommon special models with body mouldings/parts might take a bit of effort, but very few parts that can`t be out sourced or made or repaired for a reasonable cost, i`m doing up a 22 year old japanese luxo barge, and while some parts are not stocked at the factory there are many other avenues to get replacement parts.

[SSD-85]

I dont dare think of a world beyond then. Chances are I wont like it at all.

[PlukaDuck]

I am guessing the world will be round. Unless we get hit with a meteor.

[Nikked]

2012 Argentina falcon?

[brett7777]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

There is no gaurantee, all the law states is that all the manufacturer has to do is take reasonable steps to provide parts for at least 7 years.

If they can't then it doesn't matter, as long as they "tried".

Ford cut short parts all the time, in some cases as little as 3 or 4 years. They don't want to be carrying large levels of stock now, its just money sitting on the shelves.

I'd hate to see what they are like now, I reckon a lot of parts for the BFII would already be obsolete.

Sadly, I think you might be right. I used to work for a Ford dealer, & it was amazing how many things were obsolete that customers were still asking us for.

[burnz]

Re: What will the world look like after 2016 ?

send a maniac to catch a maniac.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Nikked

2012 Argentina falcon?

image

your a funny guy

[brett7777]

Since I asked it, I might have a go at answering my own question. I think the world will have lost one of the great motoring icons.
I can remember falcons ever since I first started working & getting rides in workmate's XW's & XY's. Then the huge XA-XC's, tried to buy a red one from a car dealer but it was missing the little white plastic bush from the steering column gear change & the part was obsolete so the gear change didnt work properly (consequently couldnt buy the car). And of course all the rest of the models since. My Dad had XD & then later AU, then BA.
I think these cars are more part of our everyday Kiwi & Aussie lives & culture than we maybe realize? And for over 50 years!
They are really THE muscle car of down under.
After 2016? You may have to buy a mustang if you want to buy a new Ford RWD muscle car.
Have you ever watched when another car marque gets killed off? How attitudes change towards that car - some people lose interest, others collect them & become enthusiasts.
What sort of car it is & how loved it is, decides on how much it becomes an enthusiast's car.
I think if we say the world will just be totally the same & nothing will change might be true in a way, but in another way, no. Because these cars have been so much a part of our world down under, for so long, that you can't tell me that they won't be missed.

[EB#]

Second hand spare parts will be an issue in the years to come. Consider the
following numbers in terms of the likely Falcons (and their available parts)
that may end up in wreckers yards:

2003, BA Falcon, 75,000 cars sold new for the year
2012, FGII Falcon, 12,000 cars sold new (possibly) for the year

[Dusty1]

Spare parts will be wreckers I'd say. My first car was over twenty years old when I got it, but these days lung blokes tend to drive newer cars, so won't be going to them as much as I did with it. I have no idea how young people pay for upkeep on the BMWs I see them driving around in. My HT Kingswood was simple!

Enthusiasts will always find a place for parts, speciality places will fill that gap. I'd say more cars will simply be written off if parts can't be found, or they are too much trouble to fix even after minor bingles.

[flooded one]

i can see it now. if the falcon goes then the media will start bagging out the commodore for a few years and it too will go too.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Implying the world will end if there's no Falcon...

Seriously though, "the world" won't notice if a small branch of the massive organisation that is Ford stops making a small number of cars.

The problem with resale value is that Falcons (and Commodores) are just, well, Falcons and commodores. They're common, they're made in bit (for Australia) numbers, and a lot or people have been sadly disappointed when they go to trade it in. We got an astounding trade in for our Landcruiser...but we're under no illusions that when we trade in our G6E, it will get an offer something like the Redbook trade in price of less than half it,s original value.
Unless you have something truly unusual, a Falcon won't appreciate in value, especially not just because they might stop making them. Good as they are, even the FPV's, they're hardly awesomly high standard rare exotica...

The problem is not how well the cars are or aren't built...it's how they're built. A car restorer once said in a magazine interview some years ago that guys asking for restoration work on cars from even as recently as the early 1990's were in for a very nasty shock when they got the quote...mainly because of all the plastic mouldings. The philosophy was "If a man made it, a man can fix it easily".

I beg to differ. I think if the falcon stops getting made they will be more sort after and collectible by enthusiasts.