Would this be successful in the USA?

[Adam]

I work for a large Ford dealer here in Australia.

Ford have just released their new Falcon models, which are a huge improvement over their older cars. They are big, roomy rear-drive sedans, powered by big, torquey motors, yet they are very nimble. They weigh between 3,300lbs and 3,800lbs.



They have a starting motor which is a 4.0 inline six, with variable cam timing for intake and exhaust cams. They are of a 24-valve configuration and push out 242bhp in standard trim. They have 380nm of torque (I don't know how to convert this to lb/ft.). 0-60 in around 8 seconds.

There is a turbo 6 cylinder model, which is intercooled and pumps 320 bhp and 450nm. 0-60 is 5.9 seconds.

A 5.4 SOHC 3-valve V8, which provides 300bhp and 470nm, but with 400nm from 1,000rpm! My old 928 had 400nm at it's peak!

A 5.4 DOHC 4-valve V8... 350bhp/500nm.

1st quarter, 2003 a 5.4 DOHC "GT" model will arrive with around 390-400 naturally aspirated bhp.

My question is.. would this car be desirable in the USA? They start here at around US$18k and goto about $30k for the loaded V8 models. The GT could cost close to US$40k.



Most of the models come standard with alloy wheels (most of them 17", but 18" on the high-line cars).

What do you guys think?

[tabs52]

I think I will buy some Ford stock........

[dd74]

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
I work for a large Ford dealer here in Australia.

Ford have just released their new Falcon models, which are a huge improvement over their older cars. They are big, roomy rear-drive sedans, powered by big, torquey motors, yet they are very nimble. They weigh between 3,300lbs and 3,800lbs.



They have a starting motor which is a 4.0 inline six, with variable cam timing for intake and exhaust cams. They are of a 24-valve configuration and push out 242bhp in standard trim. They have 380nm of torque (I don't know how to convert this to lb/ft.). 0-60 in around 8 seconds.

There is a turbo 6 cylinder model, which is intercooled and pumps 320 bhp and 450nm. 0-60 is 5.9 seconds.

A 5.4 SOHC 3-valve V8, which provides 300bhp and 470nm, but with 400nm from 1,000rpm! My old 928 had 400nm at it's peak!

A 5.4 DOHC 4-valve V8... 350bhp/500nm.

1st quarter, 2003 a 5.4 DOHC "GT" model will arrive with around 390-400 naturally aspirated bhp.

My question is.. would this car be desirable in the USA? They start here at around US$18k and goto about $30k for the loaded V8 models. The GT could cost close to US$40k.



Most of the models come standard with alloy wheels (most of them 17", but 18" on the high-line cars).

What do you guys think?

Adam: this car would HAVE TO BE a success in the U.S. if GM/Pontiac imports the Holden to replace the (I think) Grand Prix.

Falcon, huh? Jeez, haven't heard of a Falcon out here in decades. It's a nice car. I've been jealous of Aussie/American cars since that hollowed-out beast Mel G. drove in "The Road Warrior," which incidentally was the car's second appearance after "Mad Max," right? (I'm a real fan of the first two. The third/American version was...hmmm...sucky).

Incidentally, out here in Hollywood, I've seen that Mad Max/Road Warrior car driving around, or at least it's a real good replica. The car (and driver) seems to hang out at a place called Prisilla's Coffee House. Real special with the H-wood writers, and assorted other showbiz hopefuls.

Nonetheless, if you have any pull with Ford of Australia and can tug a string from Detroit to where you are, tell them to bring it over. Our Taurus types need something more than an aged V6 SUV engine to enliven their rides.

Cheers.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

The Aussies have some really cool cars down under.

Holdens, Tickfords, Hillmans, a lot of stuff most Americans have never heard of. Do they still have Opel there?

Another funny thing, the pronunciation of some cars. I dont mean any offense to our Aussie friends, hell, half my family is Aussie.

Down under, a Toyota Celica is pronounced SA-LEEEE-KA

Nissan is NI-SIN

Just sort of humorous, the slight differences.

[CamB]

Don't forget - the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore are both rear-wheel drive.

And everyone knows you need RWD to be an oik.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Wasnt the car in Mad Max a early 70's Ford Falcon XB? I've had many people tell me it was an AMX, however, I'm pretty sure AMC never sent cars down under.

I think that a Falcon XB is a Ford Torino or Maverick here, right?

[dd74]

Has that sort of Starsky and Hutch shape, eh?

Don't know really what that car was. I just remember this from the first movie over the roar of that beastly V8: "Max! The blower! Try the blower, Max!" (sic).

I've wanted something/anything supercharged ever since.

[Adam]

Mad Max's car was a 1973/74 Falcon XB Coupe. In the movie, it's called an "Interceptor" but Interceptors is the term given to heavily worked ex-Police cars. This was "back in the day" when Police actually ordered hot versions of the family cars for pursuit work. The blower is a mod, but they came out with 4.2 inline sixes, 302 V8 and 351 V8. Some 460 V8s found their way into XA/XB/XC etc, but not from the factory and I don't believe any XA/XB/XC Falcons were ever sold in the USA.

Jared,
Tickford is gone, as of 2002. Now, Ford Australia market their "special" or performance models under the moniker "FPV: Ford Performance Vehicles". Kinda spoils it for all the Tickford owners, but..

Celica = Sell-ee-Car
Nissan = Nis-un

[944S Boyeee]

Jared - most Canadians I know pronounce Celica "SA-LEEEE-KA" also.

Is it pronounced "CEL-I-KA" is the US?

Canadians pronounce a few things differently.

I call Adidas shoes "AHHH-DI-DAS" - but I think that is the correct pronounciation anyway. Most people call them "A-DEE-DUS".

And Canadians pronounce Beer as "W-A-T-E-R"!


944S Boyeee

[CamB]

I dunno that asking Australian's how to say stuff is going to get far - they think we (NZers) say sex not six

We say Adidas like Canadians too.

However, you missed off the Canadian oot and aboot. Eh.

I can't talk - I can't even pronounce my entire country's name. I come from New Zulund

[Adam]

Cam,

Fush 'n' Chups for denner, eh?

Hey, I saw Once were Warriors. That guy is a friggin' lunatic! When he was on the rampage, I almost needed subtitles!

In Australia, we pronounce ADIDAS as "Add-i-das" and we call car trunks "boots", hoods "bonnets" and fenders "guards". It's a funny, funny world.

We have aluminium and in the USA, they only have aluminum...

[stray15]

Looks kinda like the Mercury Maurader (sp).

[dd74]

Is it true Mad Max and The Road Warrior was dubbed in plainer American-style English for us Yanks? I've heard there was a fear we wouldn't understand one thing Mel said if they didn't re-do his and everyone else's dialogue.

Funny, I don't have problems understanding the lead singer from Midnight Oil.

[Neilk]

Adam,

I doubt it would work if Ford follows their traditional path. Many successful American cars produced abroad have been imported into the US only to fail because the car companies changed what made them successful. The Merkur flopped, the Opel Omega/ Cadillac ?? failed as well and the Ford Focus is having terrible quality problems.

If Ford brought the Falcon, they would put a lame 6 cylinder, soften the suspension and wonder why the car isn't selling as well as in Australia.

Now if Ford brings the exact, minus the RHD, car, then it just might work. I have read many online columnist say that US manufacturers need to come out with a simple inexpensive RWD V8. That car fits the bill perfectly.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by dd74
Is it true Mad Max and The Road Warrior was dubbed in plainer American-style English for us Yanks? I've heard there was a fear we wouldn't understand one thing Mel said if they didn't re-do his and everyone else's dialogue.

Funny, I don't have problems understanding the lead singer from Midnight Oil.

Mad Max was dubbed into American English when it was released here. I've seen both versions, and the original undubbed version is soooo much better.

[dd74]

Originally posted by Jared at Pelican Parts



Mad Max was dubbed into American English when it was released here. I've seen both versions, and the original undubbed version is soooo much better.

How's it better? I'd like to see the original undubbed version. Is it available out here?

[nostatic]

you guys and your metal pronunciations. I remember my one foray to Europe back in '77. I had come from Holland with some strange dark brown substance that I felt I needed to smoke. Upon arrival at the hostel in Birmingham (and a bloody aweful breakfast of spaghetti and eggs), I asked the owner for some "aluminum foil" so I could fashion a smoking implements. I got a confused look back. I got a bit nervous ("dude, he's on to me"), but repeated, "I need some aluminum foil...I need to fix my backpack." He finally understood and said, "oh, aluminium...here ya go."

Damn language barrier almost prevented me from enjoying my...um...what was I talking about?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by dd74


How's it better? I'd like to see the original undubbed version. Is it available out here?

I think the original undubbed version is on the DVD, however you wont find it on VHS anywhere in America. It's better because the movie flows better, the audio is better, doesnt sound like everyone is talking into a bowl when doing dialouge, and also everyone sounds much tougher and much more evil with the Aussie accent. Put it this way, the Toe-Cutter and the Night Rider sound much more menacing .


There are so many good lines from that movie, lol some of my favs,

"So there he is, trying to scream, with his face torn off"

"These cuffs are made of high tensile steel. It would take you ten minutes to hack through them. If you're quick, and if you're lucky, you can hack through your ankle in five."

[CamB]

I dunno! It is news to me that there might be a non-Australian verson (but that would be very lame - I have never seen anything dubbed which sounded "right").

Mad Max is good but Mad Max 2 is better. Mad Max 3, beyond Thunderdome is complete crap.

Hey, I saw Once were Warriors. That guy is a friggin' lunatic! When he was on the rampage, I almost needed subtitles!

Yeah, Jake the Muss is one hard bastard (makes Vinnie Jones character in Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels look like a poof).

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110729

In New Zealand, we don't often have local movies which are truely good. (However Lord of the Rings was filmed here using a lot of local resource, and Jackson is a Kiwi).

PS. Anyone see Jackson's "Bad Taste"

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Once Were Warriors is bad ass.

That guy, ****ra Morrison is the guy that plays Jango Fett in the new Star Wars movie.