RATT's first drive of BF Falcon and SY Terri

29-09-2005, 03:55 PM

Today I had the opportunity to drive the BF Falcon and SY Territory.

To cut to the chase here are the impressions:

Styling:
Very subtle but a progressive change. The front bar makes an XR look like an FPV product when looking at it through the rear vision mirror.

The new non-XR bodykit for sedans is much more aggressive than the BA version as well.

I like the new wheel designs, especially the G8, which looks very similar to the BA XR8 style wheels.

Driving:

Well, let me say from the outset that the BF Falcon is the smoothest driving Falcon ever. The ZF 6 speed auto transforms the Falcon into a very un-Falcon like driving experience.
The gearing is spot on. There was never a moment where the car was in the wrong gear.
An interesting note is the transmissions ability to let the car start in second gear and still it felt better than the current 4 speed auto in its rate of acceleration from a standing start.

The ZF also has a very good new feature. Basically if you find yourself in 6th gear in full manual mode, and you need to accelerate hard but with no time to down change, all you do is flatten the foot and it will down change to 3rd or 4th depending on speed. It will then stay in the gear in changed to as it is still in manual mode. It's designed to get you out of trouble if need be.

One other thing is that the ZF will still hold a gear in full manual mode even when bouncing of the rev limiter. Which itself is not as harsh as it is for BA.

Brakes:

The "performance" brakes found on all V8's and XR's are a huge improvement over the standard brakes. The felt a bit spongy but I'll put that down to the low km the test cars had.

Here are a few other pics:

Territory

The Territory will also feels like a much improved vehicle. The 6 speed auto makes it a more lively performer, as well as much smoother.

The Barra 190 feels quite good, more powerful and quieter. The transmission certainly makes it feel more powerfull than it is.

The reverse camera will also sell the Territory as well. It is such a brilliant idea that I am amazed why it did not have it as an option earlier. It will make other reverse cameras available on the market look very ordinary.

The new optional alloy wheels on the Territory are also a worthy addition and worthy of consideration particularly on TX.

b2tf · 29-09-2005, 03:59 PM

Noice mate, Noice!

Still no factory lower grill for XR's though, a bit of a downer. And the non-XR bodykit front lip looks a little overdone IMHO.

Otherwise, very impressive!

29-09-2005, 04:01 PM

Oh and my favourite drive of the day? No it wasn't the Turbo or XR8.

The V8 XT 6speed auto. Absolute surprise packet.

Smoke Pursuit · 29-09-2005, 04:02 PM

Love it...

Cant wait to drive one myself.

Which model is that interior picture taken in?? I didnt think you could get the Six speed auto on the XT??? Or is it a V8?

Smoke Pursuit · 29-09-2005, 04:04 PM

Also Ratt will you be able to fit the Ghia Foglamps to the Lower Spec models like the Territory can and the BA Turning Lamps?

29-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShockWaveXR6na

Also Ratt will you be able to fit the Ghia Foglamps to the Lower Spec models like the Territory can and the BA Turning Lamps?

That I don't know yet but we'll see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steffo

How's the XR6 Turbo go with the extra 5kW, 20Nm and 6-speed auto? And the Barra230 must be nice too...

It is awesome. Much better than a 4 speed BA version. But I think the transmission has alot to do with that.

Steffo · 29-09-2005, 04:04 PM

How's the XR6 Turbo go with the extra 5kW, 30Nm and 6-speed auto? And the Barra230 must be nice too...

29-09-2005, 04:04 PM

Yep it's the XT V8 6speed auto.

gtfpv · 29-09-2005, 04:06 PM

wow. but still not sure about the new green colour or the front xr bar. thanks RATT.

3Toed · 29-09-2005, 04:27 PM

Excellent writeup, Dean!

BTW, I like your shoes in the 4th pic! :hihi: Very sexy.

:

**Mechan1k** · 29-09-2005, 04:25 PM

hmmmm ... interesting ... I'd love to trade my SX Territory TX AWD in for one of the new AWDs ... hmmm ... I'd lose too much money on it though I guess.

I can't complain with what I have though ... I am very happy with my current model Territory

deesun · 29-09-2005, 04:46 PM

Damn,I missed the pics by that much.

Damo · 29-09-2005, 04:48 PM

Why were the pics removed ?

TheSneakiness · 29-09-2005, 04:51 PM

Damn... just missed the pics.

Sounds like an impressive piece of work for an upgrade.

Donut King · 29-09-2005, 04:57 PM

pics were removed at the request of RATT.

XA-Coupe · 29-09-2005, 05:23 PM

I am thinking the V8 XT with the 6 speed will be giving some series 1 XR8 owners some curry. Now with same torque and only 30 less Kw .. in a lighter package.
I saw a BF XR8 yesterday ... well, if I get new wheels and a BF front bar, 99% of the population won't be able to tell the difference.

Donut King · 29-09-2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA Coupe

I am thinking the V8 XT with the 6 speed will be giving some series 1 XR8 owners some curry. Now with same torque and only 30 less Kw .. in a lighter package.
I saw a BF XR8 yesterday ... well, if I get new wheels and a BF front bar, 99% of the population won't be able to tell the difference.

98% wouldn't know the difference anyway ;)

29-09-2005, 05:45 PM

Dare I say the XT may give all BA XR8 owners some curry if they're aren't ready. The thing seriously hauls from everywhere. It's definately a low 14sec car now.

MrSparkle · 29-09-2005, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

Dare I say the XT may give all BA XR8 owners some curry if they're aren't ready. The thing seriously hauls from everywhere. It's definately a low 14sec car now.

I can believe it. The new box should really do wonders for the car to make the most of the narrower power band (low redline) of the 230, and add the extra torque and it should be a pretty surprising goer. Fairmont Ghia V8 would be a nice package!

XA-Coupe · 29-09-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

Dare I say the XT may give all BA XR8 owners some curry if they're aren't ready. The thing seriously hauls from everywhere. It's definately a low 14sec car now.

I wonder how long the Boss 260 will be around then. There seems to be a very small gap between them.

29-09-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA Coupe

I wonder how long the Boss 260 will be around then. There seems to be a very small gap between them.

They will be around for a while. Even though it's called a BOSS260, it ain't.. :evil3:

XA-Coupe · 29-09-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

They will be around for a while. Even though it's called a BOSS260, it ain't.. :evil3:

lol, best they at least up the numbers in future models from an advertising perspective or there will be much whining .. probably from me

WASP · 29-09-2005, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

Dare I say the XT may give all BA XR8 owners some curry if they're aren't ready. The thing seriously hauls from everywhere. It's definately a low 14sec car now.

Always liked the idea of a XTV8, but now even more. Dean, did you drive a 6 speed auto XR8 as well or are you just comparing the new XTV8 6 speed with the series 1 and 2 BAXR8's?

LUXO_8 · 15-10-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

Dare I say the XT may give all BA XR8 owners some curry if they're aren't ready. The thing seriously hauls from everywhere. It's definately a low 14sec car now.

FINALLY optioning a V8 means you get real V8 performance...

how long has it taken for that to happen...lol

pics are awesome. thanks for that...

so the sports fairlane is called the G8 now?

29-09-2005, 06:07 PM

I'd say that would be the pic if you're after smooth, quiet performance.

Smoke Pursuit · 29-09-2005, 06:41 PM

That wont worry Ford owners tho, look at Holdens GEN III Executives / Berlinas / Calais in the past, they have only been around 10 kw short of the SS!

I say bring it on!

Steffo · 29-09-2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShockWaveXR6na

That wont worry Ford owners tho, look at Holdens GEN III Executives / Berlinas / Calais in the past, they have only been around 10 kw short of the SS!

I say bring it on!

At one point they were the same as SS... in VX/VXII days, the LS1's in the Executives were 225kW 460Nm... and so was the SS and Monaro CV8...

XtRmn8 · 29-09-2005, 07:30 PM

....bumma missed the pics :(

cogdoc · 29-09-2005, 07:33 PM

Any info on the FPV range Ratt?

29-09-2005, 11:17 PM

No unfortunately there was only one to drive and I didn't get the opportunity. But I did ask 2 people that did and both said the same thing. It feels much, much better down low and free revving top end. They both agreed that it is huge improvement over BA.

Also, I have no info on FPV.