New Ford Bantam

S

SlyFly

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Sorry if this has been discussed, I missed it:

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/JHB_Motor_Show/231/dcd917ebaf8e4b43a821948bd6e40674/01-01-0001%2012-01/New%20Ford%20Bantam%20-%20details,%20photos

How can this be the NEW Ford Bantam? This is just another face-lift... With Ford loosing a lot of sales compared to the Opel you would think that they will make a real NEW bakkie... Only thing new is adding a 1.4 diesel engine, which they removed a few years back (1.8 diesel)

Im really very dissapointed, I thought they would use the new Ford Ikon as a template and work from there (Would almost look like the newer Nissan and Opel rivals) or I was hoping they would use the new Fiesta and make a more sporty looking bakkie...


But this is just plain lazy, this bakkie is now almost 10 years old with 2 facelifts... If Ford puts this in the market, Im sorry to say they will drop there sales to even less than 100 per month...

Currently this is top selling small bakkies with sales:

Opel Utility 1278
Ford Bantam 496
Nissan NP200 412

The Bantam used to be at 1600 per month (The same as Utlity) Obviously all car sales has gone down but cant they see the current Ford Bantam shape isnt cutting it anymore, the current one does look better than the one they plan on bringing out this year... They are moving backward! And inside they are staying the same, the cockpit of the Bantam is from a Ford Fiesta model that came out in 1997?

Someone right them a letter :P This thing looks like a Proton Arena... And they dont even sell 50 a month...
 
The article said "Ford will on Friday unveil its facelifted Bantam at the JIMS." so they are not calling it the New Bantam.
 
Well it is the new Bantam... You would think that after 10 years and 1 facelift they would do more than just another facelift? The problem for me isnt the fact that they are calling it whatever, its the fact that they feel fine with just doing another facelift when everyone can see the current Bantam isnt cutting it?

The sales dropped after the previous facelift because a lot of people thought that Ford would bring out a NEW NEW Bantam to rival Opel, which might not have been as good looking, but interior, build-quality, etc. was...

Now with this FACELIFT they are really screwing themselves, I really thought this time around they would release A NEW Bantam, Opel is releasing a new one in the next year, I was waiting for a new Bantam to buy, guess I will be getting a new Opel rather... Or Nissan, same price bigger engine (Just fugly)
 
SHOCKER....they shouldn't have even bothered, it looks like some chinese bakkie...(looks cheap)
 
My 2007 bantam has no problem (except some rattles), I really don't know what they could do to make it better. Lets hear what you would do to make it better?

And my opinion. The Corsa is ugly assed. Tee boot is so high and if one fits a canopy I bet there is almost no rear view because I can hardly see the driver if I am behind them.
 
Saw this a few weeks ago and thought the same thing. Very disappointed, its way uglier(looks like cheap chinese vehicle) than the current and same old interior. I have a charcoal 2008 with matching canopy and am extremely happy with it, no way will I upgrade to that POS. After driving my Bantam my father decided to get one, after showing him pictures of the new one he has decided to go for a Corsa Util.
 
I have a Bantam aswell...

2007 model, previously had a 2005 model, Ive had a few problems with the 07 model, aircon leaks when it rains etc...

What I'd like to see is updated looks? If you read my first post I said I THOUGHT they would base it on the new Ikon (Like the old one) but HOPED they would base it on the new Fiesta...

The Bantam is a better looking sporty bakkie than the NP200 and Utility... Thats why I think the new Fiesta, just toned down a little bit, would have been awesome... Unfortunately they went and made it uglier? The current model is better looking than this NEW face-lift... Just look at it...

I love my Bantam, the problem is the next one is ugly...

Also even I can agree that my current Bantam needs an interior update... Have you actually been in a Utility? The inside is MUCH better than that of a Bantams... Also I agree about the high back...
 
The Bantam is very much a local thing, don't expect it to be refreshed and restyled as often as international utes. Bantam does holds it value quite well - but I am an Opel guy so I would not recommend the Bantam at all.
 
Yes South Africa and Brazil are the biggest markets... But still thats why they use already designed cars as a template, less research... :)

OVerall I am dissapointed, I might be going Opel aswell... Cause the NP200 is just ugly...
I would think that the Bantam would maybe be phased into bigger markets aswell... Seeing as its cheap and economical... Bantam can carry 800 kg's... You dont need a massive Ranger for most jobs...
 
Anyone seen the new prices:
http://www.ford.co.za/servlet/Conte...CSA/DFYPage/Ford-Default&site=FMCSA&c=DFYPage

I heard that Ford looses R3000 on each bakkie sold, maybe the facelift is an easy way to have a reason to boost the prices? Didnt the old Bakkie retail for just over R90 000 for the base model? Now its over R100 000... Also with the Nissan NP200 selling for R86 000 for a 1.6 could this really be the end of the Bantam...

Ive also heard that there wont be a new model...
 
The new Ford Bantam doesnt look that good without a colour coded bumper, my previous model one still looks fine without a colour coded bumper...
 
No matter which way you look at it, Bantam has lost it against the Corsa Ute. While I am a big Opel fan I did have a Bantam from 2000 to 2004 and it was awesome, but I can see why it lost out to the Opel... It just ain't as good and solid.
 
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