Comes into effect 1st January 2005. Linky for people who want more details.

 

Hmm, I guess that might mean lower GTO prices.

 

It would be nice to see the new 05 GTO at the same price, if not a tad cheaper then the 04's.

 

Good news. I'm betting that by the time I graduate in December '05, I'll be able to find a used 04 GTO super cheap. I wonder how much this will effect current GTO prices?

 

thats what im hoping for

 

does this mean el-camino ??

 

Keep in mind the American dollar has dropped 8% against the Australian dollar in the last year.

 

Will we ever see anything from Ford of Ausi?

I'm really liking the new FPV F6 Typhoon/Tornado (almost brings to memory the GMC Typhoon/Syclone twins). Hmmm, turbocharged 4.0L v6 with 366hp and 401lb-ft of tq.

Just one of the cars i'd like to see from Holden and Ford of down under.

 

Actually the Ford Turbo 6 is an inline motor. Also I believe the Aus Fords are RHD only so that would be a no on a US version unless something has changed recently.

 

Nope. Zero effect. It WILL however mean an end to truck tariffs, meaning that there's nothing standing in the way of getting Holden UTEs as El Caminos.

GTO prices will not come down. That price was set by GM, and is actually CHEAPER than the Holden Monaro it's based on.

A bigger issue is the weak US dollar of late. This means our exports are cheaper to other countries, so any business involved in exports should see a boom of business. However, it also means that everything coming from outside our boarders becomes more expensive (including foreign vacations & GTOs) to us here in the US.

The Monaro was made to be profitable on just 15,000 cars over a 3 year period. Instead, with the GTO, GM-Holden will make 68,000 "Monaros" over 5 years, meaning that GM is making a enough profit on the car that even though the car is relatively more expensive due to the weak dollar, GM doesn't have to raise prices.

 

100% certain you won't see anything coming here from Ford of Australia. 2 reasons why.

1. Ford of Australia is far smaller then Holden. Sure, Ford and Holden are selling neck & neck in Oz, but Holden has an extensive export market that includes the Middle East and even Europe. Australia's Ford meanwhile doesn't do business outside Oz beyond New Zealand & South Africa (Ford sells US made Crown Vics in the middle east & other countries where GM relies on Holden V-cars). Ford has no intention of expanding it's production for export to the US.

2. The Falcon platform, unlike Holden's V cars, is not built for LHD. Holdens are exported to LHD countries, and have that capability built in. Ford Falcon based cars don't.

The next Ford Falcon may be engineered for LHD, but any variation for us here in the US will be made in the US.

 

I6, sorry. Guess i'm too used to writing in a V in place of the I . Guion, that sucks. I really like the Falcon GT and FPV other cars. Now that the cars are pretty much out of the question, Is there any chace we'll see the motors? Notably the 5.4L Dohc and Turbocharged 4.0L I6's?

 

The 5.4s are essentially US engines, so it's likely we'll see them eventially.

Ford's "Australia-only" DOHC I6 engines, despite conforming to more strict Australian noise and at least as strict pollution standards, probally won't make it here since there's nothing worth putting it in (and SVT or FMS will likely create performance versions of existing US engines).

Shame too. That turbo 6 is a screamer!

 

Is there any real chance of a Ford Falcon for us?

It seems that all future mid/large US & Canadian Fords will be either Mazda 6 or Volvo based, and that Ford's plan is FWD/AWD only for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury sedans. From what I've seen, the Lincoln LS has only a few years left, and it will not be directly replaced. The Panther doesn't really count for me, since it's half museum piece (a '70s car somewhat modernized).

With Zeta and Chrysler, I guess we won't miss a Falcon too much, but it does seem a shame that Ford's best sedan is for Australia, NZ, etc., only.

 

Ford will be making a final decision coming up here in the next 2-6 months as to which direction they will be going with their next big cars (regardless as to what you may hear, the FiveHundred is NOT replacing the Crown Victoria). The 2006 Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car is the last restyling planned on these chassis at present.

The choices are: Using a larger version of the FWD chassis currently used on the FiveHundred, using a variation of the Mustang's modified DEW, or making yet another revision of the panther.

I'd divide the chances at 40%-40%-20% respectively.

Yet another possibility is a Mercury sedan based on the next Falcon. Just over a year ago that seemed like a near certainty, but with some key people at Ford pushing for the FWD chassis now, no telling.