Why do people keep buying VE commodores?

[chookaradley]

Have a look at the entire range Ford vs Holden. Pretty much every reviewer in the country rates

# Fiesta better than Barina
#Focus better than Cruze
#Mondeo (WAY) better than Epica (or whatever midsize car they sell)
# Falcon better than Commodore
# Territory better than Captiva
# Ranger better than Colorado

Kudos to Holden, they are doing something right. Or Ford are doing something seriously wrong. I dont hate Holdens. For a large part of the 80's and 90's I think they prob had a bettter product. Its just hard to understand why theres such a massive discrepency in sales btw the 2 these days, to the point where Falcon is on life support

[svo supporter]

Makes me wonder why a thread like this would appear on a Ford Forum....You won't get too many people that would jump in and say how terrific a Holden is on a Ford Forum.

Me personally think both are very plastically inside....But that's the norm with all modern vehicles....I tend to bash my head more on the A-pillar of a BA onwards Falcon than a VE Commodore, due to the roof line...This tends to erk me a bit. But that's all part and parcel of how it's been designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Yes, both cars have their design floors.....But what car doesn't?

I tend to think, the reason people buy the Commodore is because of advertising....You tend to see and hear more advetising of this brand, compared to the Falcon....and that sort of thing sticks in the mind, when it comes to the everyday run of the mill person....

It's been done before on here...Ford need to advertise more to get the brand known again.....Then they might outstrip the Commodore sales...

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Makes me wonder why a thread like this would appear on a Ford Forum....You won't get too many people that would jump in and say how terrific a Holden is on a Ford Forum.

Me personally think both are very plastically inside....But that's the norm with all modern vehicles....I tend to bash my head more on the A-pillar of a BA onwards Falcon than a VE Commodore, due to the roof line...This tends to erk me a bit. But that's all part and parcel of how it's been designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Yes, both cars have their design floors.....But what car doesn't?

I tend to think, the reason people buy the Commodore is because of advertising....You tend to see and hear more advetising of this brand, compared to the Falcon....and that sort of thing sticks in the mind, when it comes to the everyday run of the mill person....

It's been done before on here...Ford need to advertise more to get the brand known again.....Then they might outstrip the Commodore sales...

I do think it is possible to outsell commodore again!! I dont think it will be in big numbers thou. unless people go back too large sedans. I got in an arguement with someone before about why would you buy a big car?? I told them because i like them. I'm not going to buy something i dont like. apparently his captiva can do so much more then my falcon. untill i said wouldnt be as good as mine at overtaking lol

[BENT_8]

Im not so sure its marketing, product lineup, price or styling.
I think for many its just ignorance.
I dont mean ignorance, like they have anything against a particular brand etc. but ignorance in that they have been brainwashed to believe that Holdens are better and have never looked outside the box.

I have a mate who i've known for 25 years.
he worked for Holdens at Elizabeth from VL through to VP release and has always sworn by Commodores.
When quizzed on this, his only argument was that Holdens were better...
Compared to what i said...


Chirp...chirp...

Fact is he had never looked at anything else as he was content with what the Commodore provided in terms of driving characteristics, fit and finish and value for money.
When you dont know any better, what are you missing...

Then, a few years ago he stacked his Commodore, had let his insurance lapse and had to start from scratch.
He asked me to help him find a cheap replacement until he got his finances in order, he had 2k to spend.
We hunted through the papers and the net, he kept looking for Holdens, but i had spotted a mint ZL Lane and after exhausting all other avenues, i popped the question about giving Ford a go.
At first he was reluctant, but i told him he had nothing to lose having a look.

Well, he bought the ZL on the spot, it was a damn nice example.
Fast frward to now and he has a 02 AU Futura Classic in the driveway and wouldnt part with it.
He now tells me he wishes he had listened to me earlier and had given Ford a chance.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by wildrider

I do think it is possible to outsell commodore again!! I dont think it will be in big numbers thou. unless people go back too large sedans. I got in an arguement with someone before about why would you buy a big car?? I told them because i like them. I'm not going to buy something i dont like. apparently his captiva can do so much more then my falcon. untill i said wouldnt be as good as mine at overtaking lol

I'm a big fan of big cars myself, but unfortunately the big car era is dying slowly....(much to my dislike)...So from that prospective, the difference in sales between the Commodore and Falcon will be small....No disagreement there.

It seems to be general concensis that Ford have been lacking in the advertising area, hence the slow down in sales.....That being said, I have started to see a few Ford adds pop up on the telly, but can't say I've heard any radio advertising.....Maybe that's the area the company needs to focus on to sway the non-ford new car buyers.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Im not so sure its marketing, product lineup, price or styling.
I think for many its just ignorance.
I dont mean ignorance, like they have anything against a particular brand etc. but ignorance in that they have been brainwashed to believe that Holdens are better and have never looked outside the box.

I have a mate who i've known for 25 years.
he worked for Holdens at Elizabeth from VL through to VP release and has always sworn by Commodores.
When quizzed on this, his only argument was that Holdens were better...
Compared to what i said...


Chirp...chirp...

Fact is he had never looked at anything else as he was content with what the Commodore provided in terms of driving characteristics, fit and finish and value for money.
When you dont know any better, what are you missing...

.

Can't really agree there....I have a mate that's been there for 30+ years (it was his first and only employer)...He buys a new Commodore every few years, due to employee pricing (he currently owns a VY, so he has had it for a while) and he loves the product.....However his car passion lays with a pentastar...he has owned them for years and absolutely loves them.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by desGT

I have had mainly Fords, and am on my 2nd GT. BUT, going to move to a VF HSV Tourer not only because I want the extra space, but FPV royalled me when they brought out the 335 less than a year after the FG - same model, etc. Real bad planning and loss of a customer!

You might want to check out what a certain car manufacturer did to their existing V8 customers when they brought out the VT II SS/HSV (equipped with the LS1) less than 2 years after the release of the VT I (equipped with the Aussie 5 litre).

Oh, and the 335 was brought out over 2 years after the release of the FG.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

I think the taxi thing would play a bigger part then you think.

A lot of people see Falcon's as just Taxi's, but whenever I see a Commodore, SS/SSV in particular, I just see a potential un-marked Police car waiting to ping me for doing 0.000000111kmh over the limit.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

I dont hate Holdens. For a large part of the 90's I think they prob had a bettter product.

Yup, the Opel Barina was a much better product than the Kia Festiva. As for anything else in the range at the time, are you sure? IMO in the AU-VT era the discrepancy between Ford and Holden was largest. Holden's local product hasn't been particularly great since 1988.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Can't really agree there....I have a mate that's been there for 30+ years (it was his first and only employer)...He buys a new Commodore every few years, due to employee pricing (he currently owns a VY, so he has had it for a while) and he loves the product.....However his car passion lays with a pentastar...he has owned them for years and absolutely loves them.

And that means...

So he's worked there for 30 years, buys them regularly, but not for 6 years and prefers chryslers.
I can understand if he has bought inhouse over the last 30 years with the discounts they get, so why not get one recently if price is his thing.

I have a mate who's been there for 25 years as of last week when they presented him with his 25yr service award.
I always ask him when he's getting a Commodore, he says he never would, 'have you seen the people who screw them together' is his reply.

Im not saying my perception is right, but my experiences living in Elizabeth have led me to believe that many just dont even consider Ford.

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by 4.0i OHC

Yup, the Opel Barina was a much better product than the Kia Festiva. As for anything else in the range at the time, are you sure? IMO in the AU-VT era the discrepancy between Ford and Holden was largest. Holden's local product hasn't been particularly great since 1988.

All a matter of opinion I guess. As bad as the VN was the EA was worse, particularly in 3 speed centerpoint format. The buick V6 imho got better and better, was virtually indestructible in its final format VY. The I6 continued to suffer chronic headgasket problems throughout the E series. The AU was a solid car but even the most ardent ford fan would surely conceed it suffered majorly in the looks department when compared to VT. Thats just Falc/comm tho that doesnt account for whole range

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

All a matter of opinion I guess. As bad as the VN was the EA was worse, particularly in 3 speed centerpoint format. The buick V6 imho got better and better, was virtually indestructible in its final format VY. The I6 continued to suffer chronic headgasket problems throughout the E series. The AU was a solid car but even the most ardent ford fan would surely conceed it suffered majorly in the looks department when compared to VT. Thats just Falc/comm tho that doesnt account for whole range

I personally thought the VT looked like a pregnate VS when it came out. the only thing i didnt like about the AU lookwise was the series 1 forte grille

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by wildrider

I personally thought the VT looked like a pregnate VS when it came out. the only thing i didnt like about the AU lookwise was the series 1 forte grille

If only the general public shared your thoughts
Falcon has struggled to recover sales wise ever since

[2011G6E]

I too kind of wonder at the point of this thread...

"Why do people keep buying VE's?????", almost seems like a whinge that not everyone sees the motoring world with one eye stuck firmly on a badge, and a badge alone, refusing to consider any other model or make in the slightest, and wondering what is wrong with all those mental deficients out there who don't think the same way as a "pure" one eyed Ford lover.

If you go to a variety of dealerships with an open mind and test drive all sorts of medium to large cars, you will honestly be surprised at how good they all are...some are better in some areas than others, some have pluses and minuses about them, but none are truly "bad" cars.

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

If only the general public shared your thoughts
Falcon has struggled to recover sales wise ever since

wasnt all that bad. the AU utes were very popular as was the BA ute. I blame the declining large car segement for lack of sales. there was acutally times post AU where the falcon has outsold the commodore for the month. same can acutally be said about the commodore. no commodore after VT has yet outsold it and is selling less and less every year. the large car people seem too prefer SUVs nowdays or have downsized too smaller cars

[Trav199]

better advertised... so man dam holden adds on tv

[ivorya]

Originally Posted by GTENVY

And I bet they still wouldnt buy one.

Unfortunately not.

These people being on over $100K per yr whats a vehicle with 'Status' (as they call it). So BMW and Merc's for them.

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I too kind of wonder at the point of this thread...

"Why do people keep buying VE's?????", almost seems like a whinge that not everyone sees the motoring world with one eye stuck firmly on a badge, and a badge alone, refusing to consider any other model or make in the slightest, and wondering what is wrong with all those mental deficients out there who don't think the same way as a "pure" one eyed Ford lover.

If you go to a variety of dealerships with an open mind and test drive all sorts of medium to large cars, you will honestly be surprised at how good they all are...some are better in some areas than others, some have pluses and minuses about them, but none are truly "bad" cars.

There are many examples of fine medium/large cars on the market all of which are obliterated in the sales race by the VE commodore. A car for the most part that has recieved minimal changes in 6 years. I think the Accord Euro is a nice drive, Mazda 6 nice drive, as is Aurion and of course Falcon. I think the question is valid

[Nikked]

[Bonn]

G'Day again,
Just a small point - station wagons. We would have bought an FG XR8 a lot earlier, had it been available in 'sports wagon' mode.
Three years ago, suddenly having a baby, we looked at wagons and were told by the local Ford dealership that 'most people want a Territory', and we could only get an XT BF III, as they were 'for reps'.
Test drove an SS wagon, which had some power/torque, but we ended up grabbing a 7 year old BMW 530i wagon, and still have it (275,000kms).

Would a Ford V8 or Turbo 'Sportswagon' do any good in the market?.
I don't know, but we would have bought one.

[Bonn]

Originally Posted by Nikked

image

Very clever mate, but any thread is only as good as its contributors.

[78xcgxl]

It honestly bugs me why people are putting ***** on Australian made cars at the end of the day we should all be grateful that Australian made cars such as the commodore and falcon still exist . In 10 years time the only thing you'll be able to buy is a POS imported hatchback. Whether it be Holden or ford i'd much rather see people buy an Australian made car and support Australian the economy and jobs over a non Australian great wall ute.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

It's funny reading these stories, I actually bought an AU only after my first car (Holden) blew up on the highway

That Fairmont Ghia changed the way I viewed Ford forever

[mik]

my own view is holden has had much better advertising campaigns, not that all the ford ones where bad , but holden advertising over the years some of it has been really exceptional, and kudos to holden for that, the go better slogan, the football meat pies kangaroos and holden cars adds, they have milked the the ozzie car thing for all it`s worth, where as ford Australia seems almost conservative in their adds for the most part.

[In Focus]

Originally Posted by mik

my own view is holden has had much better advertising campaigns, not that all the ford ones where bad , but holden advertising over the years some of it has been really exceptional, and kudos to holden for that, the go better slogan, the football meat pies kangaroos and holden cars adds, they have milked the the ozzie car thing for all it`s worth, where as ford Australia seems almost conservative in their adds for the most part.

If you saw the recent Volt ads, you could be forgiven for thinking that not only were Volts built here, but Holden designed them all by itself!

[mik]

would not surprise me In Focus, their marketing style is aggressive.

[STINKY NINJA]

The same reason why there is always so many more holden fans at the drags/burnout comps.
Because more people like holdens than fords

[STINKY NINJA]

Originally Posted by In Focus

If you saw the recent Volt ads, you could be forgiven for thinking that not only were Volts built here, but Holden designed them all by itself!

At least they could have changed the name of the car instead of just the chevrolet badge,so imaginative of holden.
Knowing holden drivers they will rebadge it as a chevy volt and rightly so.

[RAPID_BA]

People buy the better looking car. The ve is a nicer looking car than the fg. The only fg that looks better than a ve is the g6et. However I think the fg is the better car model for model but just doesn't look as good.

It's a repeat of the VT and au 6 cylinders, the au on merit was a great car but the vt looked heaps better and sold like hot cakes.

Ford only ever stepped ahead in the sales race when their cars looked better (BA, EF, EL). People don't care which car is actually better.

Just like in the social scene, you would take home an airhead hotty over a short stumpy buck teeth muppet who is a doctor.

[Wretched]

Why do people care if others buy a VE?
What makes people so upset to see someone buy a VE?
The same question can be applied to any car, why do people buy any of the cars they do?
Why do members here by FG Falcons?

Usually the simple answer is because they want to, it is the car they want, it suits their needs and ticks the right boxes for them. Good enough reason for me.
There is no wrong in doing that. Many here may think it is the wrong decision but it works both ways.
Not everyone has the same preference in cars (thankfully).