Quote Originally Posted by FTe217 View Post
Thats the $64000 question ?
Now the XR8 was the better/best performer pre 6T - BA on it got smoked and not by just on road but by the press saluting the awesum performance/package of the 6pack hence contributing to the diminishing XR8 wiht the 260.
Next a large % of Fleet/Rep buyers who didn't like the whoosh being V8 lovers would have opted for the SS in that case, sharper pricing, always looked to offer more outside and inside.
.........but as F6310 posts many new prospective buyers did buy into the 6T who possibly never would have considered the XR8.

There's arguments either way - I'd love Ford to have a premium V8 again but why do I say this ? because I grew up with the halycon days ? most likely, my 2 boys probably would take the I6T in the future as the entry purchase for performance and when more coin come into their pocket head for FPV into the SC and beyond, don't know if it makes sense what I say but all I see is the buyer is a different animal compared to when the 8 was king for Ford.
BAXR8 was quicker than the first BA XR6T, pretty sure BAXR8 outsold it too, BF onwards is where the drift occured....

Having owned 3 XR8's now im what you would consider a "brand loyalist".
My opinions on this are in no way my opinions on the XR6T/XR8 product itself, but more a broader view of how and why XR8 died.

In my opinion every XR6T sale has ultimately cost Ford atleast 2 XR8 sales.... Why? well for a host of reasons;

1) like it or not the VAST majority of Ford/Holden performance buyers are V8 buyers first, its got NOTHING to do with their age, or "technology", look at the absolute plethora of 20 something SS ute owners.... The LSX engines are the lowest tech engine on the market, so i dont buy the "youth tech" angle or "old V8" angle at all.

2) The media have slaughtered the XR8, unjustly IMO.

3) Forum parrots who have neither owned or driven a new XR8 recite magazine dribble like they've owned 1 for 5 years and are scathing of the product, largely without challenge....

4) the performance deficit between XR8 to XR6T has "embarrassed" Ford buyers to leave the brand.

All this has done is ruined the image of the XR8.

I believe many Ford performance buyers have simply said "pfft... if the XR6T is better than the XR8 ill just buy some other brand, i dont want a turbo 6" or "ill wait".

Those people either are waiting, bought SS's or just walked away from performance vehicles into "A to B" vehicles...

These people need to be drawn back if XR8 is to be a success but it needs to be a better accepted product that it was and the XR6T has to go to make room for it.

Yep, controversial views but i believe them. Let me also say the XR6T is an outstanding vehicle, but there isnt room for it if Falcon and XR8 is to succeed.