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Hmmm...can't say I know, but I would've assumed taxi's being Falcons/Commodores was as a result of the government giving more assistance to locally manufactured cars, as some form of incentive? Government fleet vehicles have purchased to support local industry, but I guess that doesn't neccassarily speak for the private sector. I would also assume that part availability in the initial years would've been in Holden/Ford's favour as would resale value and the fact that at that stage you couldn't really get a V6/large Hyundai vehicle, thus making it impracticle for passengers and to convert to more economical fuels like gas. Nowadays, it's more likely an "industry standard..."
As far Australia is concerned many a prestige car manufacturer has succumbed to our extreme climate and road conditions in relation to paint, suspension etc...A few are notorious...
I wouldn't say I'd be delighted to own a Korean car as in all honesty I'd prefer to be driving something out of Europe. Yet I can certainly appreciate that the stigma attached with being "made in Korea" now represents great value as oppose to poor quality, and probably always did! I'm also indebted to companies like Hyundai for revolutionising the car industry and making all manufactures less complacent in areas like efficiency, which has now even hit the European market (look at the new VW floorplans and how they are manufactured). In average income vs. new car affordability, I dare say it's never been better...I have no gripes with Hyundai and God bless them for any money they pump into my club - even if I'd rather be driving a Lexus!
All vehicle manufacturers conduct benchmarking. This includes full tear downs of competitors models and testing to establish each models life when subjected to an equivelent life time of driving conditions. Basically they buy their closest competitors car and torture it until it falls apart. The facts were that a standard Falcon would outlast a standard Commodore (being falcons closest rear wheel drive competitor) by roughly about 25%.
This has probably equalized a fair amount with the release of the new model commodore. There were many reasons for this but primarily that the commedore was traditionally a european designed vehicle (opel) with styling changes made to suit the Australian market. Thus it was designed for driving upon roads that are mostly of a much higher quality standard, plus the trips tend to be a lot shorter. Falcons, since the 60,s(?) have been designed from ground up, by Aussies ,for aussie conditions. For driving upon miles and miles of crap corrugated dirt roads. Thus a bloody good reason for them them being used for taxis. Ask the blokes who have driven taxis for years, not the newer drivers (many cannot understand english), they will tell you pretty much the same thing.
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