How long to build a new car?

wadexr583 · 15-07-2008, 08:27 PM

Hi there. As the title suggests I was wondering about the timeframes it takes to build a new FG (or any car) from scratch.

I have purchased an FG XR8 ute and am (painfully!) awaiting its arrival, dealer says fourth week of July. What I have been told was the car was due to go into manufacture in the first week of July and be finished by the end of the second week, then a week or so to transit it up to Brisbane and a few more days to sort out pre delivery stuff.

But does it really take 2 full weeks to manufacture a car from scratch? I actually don't have a clue into how long it would take. Maybe someone who works or has worked in the industry could add something to this?

I'm not flaming Ford or the dealer into the time taken to get it, on the contrary. I am merely interested in the inner workings of car manufacturing.

And when I said painfully waiting, well that's the missus description, I thought I was being quite bearable, I only get on this website once a day, fliick threw the latest Wheels/Motor articles every few hours, not to mention the brochure that looks thoroughly used.

**Fordman1** · 15-07-2008, 08:36 PM

Once the body is started, it will take about 2 1/5 days for it to be finished I hear.

The car may have some issues at final inspection that need addressing (and therefore delay shipment) but I think that would be the exception and not weeks to complete.

2 weeks is a bit overstated, however his timing may include shipment etc. Maybe he's padding the timing to prevent disappointment on your behalf.

XR8 Ute, Mmmmmmmmmm !!

Donny · 15-07-2008, 08:50 PM

When I had my first XR made to order back in 2003 the wait time was 6 weeks from the date my dealer first placed the order with ford.
The cars themselves dont take that long to make, but with custom ordered ones must have a SIDO generated for them first, and then they are allocated to the build cue.
If the line has a similarly coloured and optioned car allready on it that isnt allready pre ordered or sold to a customer or dealership, you will get your car a bit quicker.

If the demand is high, you have to go in the cue and the car basically gets built on an order/priority basis.
The delay will differ depending on how diffrent your car is to a stock floor model build, also depending on how many orders are infront of yours, and depending on the line itself as to whether it is not flat out making dealer stock.
Being a new model line, there will be delays because ford will be making lots of cars to fulfill dealership floor stock needs, then there will be the FPV floor stock needs etc etc then the custom orders will get taken on.
Dont forget due to issues the Turbo cars production copped a delay due to a rework issue, so backorders of allready ordered cars and floor stock will also see some priority there too, not to mention FPV will have a entry level order for a large number of floor model F6's. If your delay is a month, thats not too bad at all.

FPVF6X201 · 15-07-2008, 09:55 PM

Queue.

Ruger · 15-07-2008, 09:59 PM

yep id put it down to queue... and in reality 2 weeks to build an entire car? thats quite amazing....

Smoke Pursuit · 15-07-2008, 10:06 PM

Usually 3 days fromt start to finish, providing there are no hickups down the line.. Then if its an FPV it goes down there and waits for its bits to be added, which can take up to 2 weeks depending on what parts are available.

arlester · 15-07-2008, 10:32 PM

Clarckson said about 9 hours for a Yaris to be built so i wouldnt think anything over a day and a half maybe for a falcon

1970galaxie · 15-07-2008, 10:44 PM

I don't know if they still do this, but when I had my BA XR8 ute built, it also had to go over the road to FPV for a couple of days.

**Fordman1** · 16-07-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arlester

Clarckson said about 9 hours for a Yaris to be built so i wouldnt think anything over a day and a half maybe for a falcon

That number quoted by Clarkson is usually "Man" hours - not including idle time.

The 9 Man hours quoted by manufacturers is the time a Human is actually adding value to the car (not a Robot).

wadexr583 · 16-07-2008, 08:35 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I actually placed the order 4.5 weeks ago so I am hoping sometime next week I'll get the phone call to say come and get it.

I'll post some pics when I have it, well thats if my missus can drag me from the drivers seat!

Cheers

blown32 · 16-07-2008, 09:09 PM

: Lucky Its Not An Fpv Super Pursuit I Placed An Order The Day The Pricing Was Released 9 Weeks Ago And Have Paid For It In Full And Still Don,t Know When Im Getting It From The 15 /6 They Have Been Saying It Will Be Coming Next Week 4 Times I Have Heard That Now Im ****ed Off

dave351cid · 17-07-2008, 12:27 AM

when i ordered my BA ute i had to wait 3 months because of back orders. actualy got it a few days earlier then the date they predicted when i ordered it.

xw_beast · 17-07-2008, 01:14 AM

On the subject of building cars, I wonder what piece they start with first? it would have to be the floor pan with the tailshaft hump Im guessing.

arlester · 17-07-2008, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

That number quoted by Clarkson is usually "Man" hours - not including idle time.

The 9 Man hours quoted by manufacturers is the time a Human is actually adding value to the car (not a Robot).

He says word for word that "It takes a swarm of robots 9 hours to build a small hatchback"

I am not taking into account the idle time and stuff like that.

On that subject i wonder how much man work goes into a Yaris compared to a Falcon?

WOTDAH · 17-07-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xw_beast

On the subject of building cars, I wonder what piece they start with first? it would have to be the floor pan with the tailshaft hump Im guessing.

Engine box, front floor and rear floor are all built as sub assemblies and then all come together as one then and sides, roof and hang on's (doors bonnet ect)