Ba Interior

[Guest Mac_Dude]

I got to sit in an XR6 for a while today, and a couple of things stuck in my mind.

1st of all, the drivers position, seats, instrument cluster, stereo/heating layout was way above previous models and most other family cars. It was really inviting/exciting.

Unfortunately there was one thing that got my goat

Looking at the lower 1/4 of the doors & the center console sides, the plastic looks and feels cheap/flimsy. I'm comparing this to my AUII Forte which has a 'soft finish' but the plastic is thick and sturdy. My center console appears to be one molded piece with a lid. Quite nicely finished. The XR6 (maybe other BA's too) had a few panels of this rough finish plastic which were stuck on top of each other with an obvious join.

The bottom 1/4 of the doors are finished with the same plastic and it seems very flexible and thin.

I know I'm being picky, but it just seems a pity as they seem to have gone backward in this area since my AUII (2000).

Guess you can't have everything, or is it just me???

[richdave]

IMO the finish is OK for the price you are paying. It certainly is not the hard plastic feel/look of the earlier attempts and it will be more durable than the "soft finish" interior of the AU series.

[Guest kryzak260]

That was my reaction to the interior aswell. It looks really good, but when you touch some of the panels (the handbrake handle stuck out to me) it feels cheap and flimsy...

[chrislak]

If you want something a better feel you will need to buy a merc or bimma, Ford will get there one day.

[Guest Mac_Dude]

If you want something a better feel you will need to buy a merc or bimma, Ford will get there one day.

I disagree chris. The point I was making is that they had a good finished as was described in my AUII, but they seem to have gone backward in a couple of areas such as the choice of plastic.

richdave your comment about it being more durable than the soft AU finish, my AUII 'plastic bits' look great after 3 years, but that's not very long. I don't know how well the original AU's are holding up, but at this stage I'd that the AU soft plastic.

Yes, I am being picky, but it's such a cop out on such a great car. Kind of in the same league as the zero finish on the boot carpet...

[Guest kryzak260]

Kind of in the same league as the zero finish on the boot carpet...

Huh? please explain

[Guest]

I agree completely with Mac. The hard plastic feel of my BA interior is way down on the AUII XR I just traded in. I was appalled at the plastic finish of the lower half of the doors - and the handbrake is no more than an afterthough, the bloody thing wobbles all over the place when you pull it on! Forget about wasting your money on Armour-alling the dashboard - nothing happens - it still looks the same! The AU ceratinly is not a patch on the BA in all other respects.

[Guest Mac_Dude]

Kind of in the same league as the zero finish on the boot carpet...

Huh? please explain :o

kryzak260 the carpet in the bottom of the boot (in the 3 BA's I have looked in) is roughly cut and the edges are not stitched which looks pretty rough to me...Wonder if many folks are buying the boot liner to replace it? I stress again, I'm being picky but I get pissed off when I see such things taint a great car.

I'm still going to buy one though :-)

[olcoolone]

Well as other people have said to me when I did a post before ....and got shoot down in flames.

What do you expect for $50000....well I expect a little more.

Attention to detail does not have to cost more!

And yes I know Merc spends 5 to 10 times more on R&D, but what you may find is 75% of the budget is spent on safety and styling and yes they do have a larger market than the Falcon AT PRESENT lol.

As for everyone comparing the Falcon to a Merc or BMW (that you have to pay 2 to 3 time more), why don't you compare it to a Hyundai or Daowoe it might be closer.

Fair enough I agree Ford have to build a car to a price so why don't Ford Australia use some (or if not more) of its resources form overseas e.g. Jag, Volvo etc as GM do?

NO I am not knocking the Falcon....I have one on order, when you are evaluating a product to go into manufacturing, you don't say "hey it is going to cost us $50000 to build so lets just compare it to other products in this range”....what you should do is compare the product you are going to manufacture to the Hyundai’s and Merc’s....you may be surprised how cost effective an idea Merc has or stupid or great an idea Hyundai has....but you have to look outside of the square and I think this is something Ford have Forgot about in some areas.

Last time I had a look at a Hyundai the boot carpet was cut all neatly around the edges, so why couldn’t Ford do it?

Well that is my 2 cents worth.

[XR6TK1W1]

Looking at the plastic and the types of materials used, it appears to be very similar to what has been used in the very successful Mondeo. Alot of these materials were used with safety in mind. I would rather be hit in the face with soft maliable plastic than slightly better looking hard stuff that could seriously ruin what could otherwise be a very good hair day. I like the look and give ford credit ( not the finance company ) for trying new products. Ps I was also told these plastic are somewhat odor free and dont release as much fumes when burnt etc.