What is Ford?

[carstensdj]

also not true.American mussle cars drift quite fast around cosrners.just dont try it.you gona crash

Lol, you just proved my point.. Thanks

[Robvd]

Hi Guys

I have also done some research into this.

Reason being that I bought a new Fiesta Titanium 3dr about two weeks ago.
I could choose between two versions, the previously imported one that comes from Thailand (comes without leather seats and with the 1.6 DOHC engine.) or the one imported from Germany since April 2012 (Comes with leather seats, bluetooth, cruise control, parking sensors and the 1.6L Sigma engine.)

At first I was a bit sceptical as the one made in thailand's retail is R205000 and the one from Germany is R225 000 (This I only found later, the salesman didnt know about this and charged me the wrong price for the German version with a discount! I paid R200K on the road for the German version )

Now if you go look at this website http://www.carfax.com/vin_decoding.cfx it actually decodes what your VIN number means.
In my case my VIN number starts with a W meaning that is actually was produced in germany.

I drove both the versions and the build quality between the two is astonishing! My "German" version feels much more solid and the road noise is non existent, also the power in my car feels much more as well!

I was also one of those First_On_The_Dumpster guys... but I took a chance and I was pleasantly surprised by ford.
The other car I was interested in was the Kia Rio Tec, and again you cant compare quality between the two...even the ford's leather is much better! and of course the dynamics of the Ford beats the Kia hands down.

[Fazda]

Ford obviously started in the States, but it wasn't too long before they realised that if they wanted to be popular on a world wide basis, they would have to start designing European type cars for European markets, and that is when the V8 became the British/German Pilot. In the 30's the engine was the flat head V8 produced in the States, but slotted into a smaller car, more suitable for European roads.

In Southern Africa you had Fords being assembled with roots in Europe (Ford Zephyr, Consul, Taunus) as well as fully blown American spec cars. (Fairlane Galaxie etc) During the 60's the Australian influence kicked in and SA started sourcing their "big" Fords from Oz, whilst continuing with the smaller British and German Fords ( Capri Escort etc) as their bread and butter.

So....basically American Fords haven't been sold in SA since the 60's.

Variations on all the models can be found in the States, usually beefed up to suit the US market.

Someone's already said that the Focus is a World car - designed to be modified from market to market, but the same platform throughout the world.

Hope you like my non wiki explanation for the original question OP....I lived through most of the model changes and influences, so I have to rely on my brain for this one...

[carstensdj]

Hi Guys

I have also done some research into this.

Reason being that I bought a new Fiesta Titanium 3dr about two weeks ago.
I could choose between two versions, the previously imported one that comes from Thailand (comes without leather seats and with the 1.6 DOHC engine.) or the one imported from Germany since April 2012 (Comes with leather seats, bluetooth, cruise control, parking sensors and the 1.6L Sigma engine.)

At first I was a bit sceptical as the one made in thailand's retail is R205000 and the one from Germany is R225 000 (This I only found later, the salesman didnt know about this and charged me the wrong price for the German version with a discount! I paid R200K on the road for the German version )

Now if you go look at this website http://www.carfax.com/vin_decoding.cfx it actually decodes what your VIN number means.
In my case my VIN number starts with a W meaning that is actually was produced in germany.

I drove both the versions and the build quality between the two is astonishing! My "German" version feels much more solid and the road noise is non existent, also the power in my car feels much more as well!

I was also one of those First_On_The_Dumpster guys... but I took a chance and I was pleasantly surprised by ford.
The other car I was interested in was the Kia Rio Tec, and again you cant compare quality between the two...even the ford's leather is much better! and of course the dynamics of the Ford beats the Kia hands down.

Very interesting! Thanks for that! And are you always so lucky or was this your lucky break?

[carstensdj]

Ford obviously started in the States, but it wasn't too long before they realised that if they wanted to be popular on a world wide basis, they would have to start designing European type cars for European markets, and that is when the V8 became the British/German Pilot. In the 30's the engine was the flat head V8 produced in the States, but slotted into a smaller car, more suitable for European roads.

In Southern Africa you had Fords being assembled with roots in Europe (Ford Zephyr, Consul, Taunus) as well as fully blown American spec cars. (Fairlane Galaxie etc) During the 60's the Australian influence kicked in and SA started sourcing their "big" Fords from Oz, whilst continuing with the smaller British and German Fords ( Capri Escort etc) as their bread and butter.

So....basically American Fords haven't been sold in SA since the 60's.

Variations on all the models can be found in the States, usually beefed up to suit the US market.

Someone's already said that the Focus is a World car - designed to be modified from market to market, but the same platform throughout the world.

Hope you like my non wiki explanation for the original question OP....I lived through most of the model changes and influences, so I have to rely on my brain for this one...

Who needs Wiki when we have you Fazda

Thanks for this! Also, very interesting read and somewhat comforting to know i'm not driving a yank mobile around... PHEW... hahaha. I just couldn't bring myself to accept that the Americans built such a decent little car! Got nothing against them, but from an Automobile point of view lets face it, they not great!

[Captain Beer]

The first two digits of your VIN will tell you where the car was built. Look on Wikipedia for the list.

[Robvd]

Very interesting! Thanks for that! And are you always so lucky or was this your lucky break?

LOL definitely my lucky break...

[Fazda]

Who needs Wiki when we have you Fazda

Thanks

[GarethC]

...and of course the dynamics of the Ford beats the Kia hands down.

shucks, you're as bad as BMW with their Dynamism adverts :P

[VernD]

I just have this to say to Fazda:

Toyota? Really?

And thank you Robvd for that info on the new Fiesta.

[Fazda]

I just have this to say to Fazda:

Toyota? Really?

And thank you Robvd for that info on the new Fiesta.

It's known as survival....

[VernD]

It's known as survival....

Clearly

[Robvd]

shucks, you're as bad as BMW with their Dynamism adverts :P

LOL

[MickeyD]

The SA Ford motor factory was in Port Elizabeth before it was shut down for (mainly) political reasons. Since then they have now built a Ford engine factory that produces Rocam 1300/1600 engines for export to Europe, India, China and Russia and it also powers the local Ford Icon and Ford Bantam ranges. Since last year they also produce the Duratorq TDCi diesel engine for the Ford Ranger.

[carstensdj]

...The other car I was interested in was the Kia Rio Tec, and again you cant compare quality between the two...even the ford's leather is much better! and of course the dynamics of the Ford beats the Kia hands down.

Does it really beat the Koreans hands down though?

I'm quite a fan of the Korean brands and have owned a couple and they were fantastic! I'm not disagreeing with you, im genuinly asking...

Did you test drive the Korean brands when you were buying your Fiesta?