some help from my friends

[NARCEA]

Hi folks,

Need some advice.

A good mate of mine has offered me an 99 auII forte badged an 'svp' or something like that. It's been hit on the passenger side, with fender and passenger door replaced, and the usual patch up job. Everything else works fine.... I think it's done roughly 150000km. It's mine if I want it for 5000.

It has a lip spoiler, nice looking rims and a sony cd deck. So is it a good buy? I know this guy well but I'm just not at all sure about the AU and their prices.

I have a reasonable tidy ea with gt body kit, full exhaust, rather large cd set up and I'm prepared to sell as is so I'm reasonably confident someone will want it.

I'm looking for a car for the long term and don't really want to spend heaps of money.

Any advice would be appreciated... what's the AU like??

Cheers,

Ian

[NC 5ltr]

i think as long as nothing mech was damaged and EVERYTHING was replaced after the ding you should be fine,and the au's dont go through head gaskets like the ea's of old

[NARCEA]

thanks mate. ive watched the car since he got it and nothing has been touched mechanically.

anyone else... feel free to put in your two cents worth!!

cheers

[Casper]

once you own an AU you will wonder why you didnt get one earlier

[max^power]

I have two AU's 99 models, they are great. No serious/expensive problems as yet, apart from those that i caused myself (accident). Both ours have done over 150,000+.

Parts are cheap from wreckers, so thats a plus. Probably the only negative i have with ours (and this may not be the case with anyone elses) is a clunk in the gearbox in a certain gear/rpm. XR isnt noticable, but the fairlane you notice it a fair bit. Something to watch for if you want to pick a reason not to own one.

[EBII Fairmont]

If i had something like that pop up when i bought mine just under a year ago, id be goin nuts. I paid 5g for a fairmont with 115,000 on the clock, no roady n 2mnths reg. If i was you and you know its mechanically relaible don't think about it anymore and act on it before he gives it to someone else. I wanted an AU but could never afford one at the time. But this car will stick it out enough so i can also get my gt in a couple of years.

[NARCEA]

cheers guys. your opinions are appreciated. he won't get rid of it until I let him know what I'd like to do. anyone want the ea??? (=

have a good eve.

[TURBO_GHIA]

my mates got an 98 au done 480,000 kms still going strong ,goes harder then my 205,000 km ED

[NARCEA]

480thou..... is that a taxi mate?? pretty impressive figures!!

[TURBO_GHIA]

nah no taxi ,just driven alot

[NARCEA]

for those interested went to pickles yesterday. there was an au on gas but it was very rough around the edges, but a series II AU caught my attention. ended up getting it for 2100, so probably take that instead of the other one my mate has.... this one's a bit more conservative plus its second series and 50000 less kms. i really wanted cruise control for the country driving and the interior and front end is immaculate. included some pics. once again 5000 and it's mine. i feel very comfortable knowing the mechanically it's fine.

cheers again,

ian

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by NARCEA

for those interested went to pickles yesterday. there was an au on gas but it was very rough around the edges, but a series II AU caught my attention. ended up getting it for 2100, so probably take that instead of the other one my mate has.... this one's a bit more conservative plus its second series and 50000 less kms. i really wanted cruise control for the country driving and the interior and front end is immaculate. included some pics. once again 5000 and it's mine. i feel very comfortable knowing the mechanically it's fine.

cheers again,

ian

Bit confused here ... Are the pics your mates 5 grand one Or the 2100 one at Pickles?? And Did you buy the 2100 auction one?

[NARCEA]

basically theres 2 aus.

one is at his house.... been repaired and ready for pits. that is series 1 with spoiler mags etc. 150000+ kms

this one is the one we bought yesterday. series 2, 100000kms.

either is mine for 5000.

sorry if this saga is confusing

[Charliewool]

So , you get the 2100 Pickles one, REPAIRED & on road for 5 grand?
If Thats the case Definately the series11 with 100,000ks... Top buying!

[NARCEA]

yeh i can take either one on road for five grand, the blue conservative one is mine.

[Charliewool]

Just look out for the diff on that one... (pretty hard shunt sideways , by the rim damage)
But.. $5000 A bargain!

[NARCEA]

yeh we've got a another diff if needed. any idea what would've caused such a knock. neither of the air bags are deployed.

[Charliewool]

Looks like someone lost it & side swiped an "immovable" object together with the gutter?.... Was it stolen?... (Is that fingerprint dust on top of rear door?)

[Charliewool]

Ohhh S**t... just noticed R/H quarter also! I take back previous comment, I have No idea.
Any panelbeaters on here?... Surely that'd cost more than 3 grand to repair?

[NARCEA]

my brothers mate panel beats. he's sorting this out for me. there's about five of them and they all network parts, work etc. so yeah it's worth more than 3 grand to repair... i guess that's why it was written off. done a few favours for him recently so its 5000 all up. i had a good look inside before i bought it and unless they stole the keys all panels are in place, and the car fires fine so not sure if it was stolen. while on the topic does the security system in these need to be upgraded or is it decent enough as it is. its a 2000 series 2. coming from the famed ea1 i'm a bit lost on the technology.

cheers,
ian

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Casper

once you own an AU you will wonder why you didnt get one earlier

It's funny you mention that ... what put me off originally was the look of it ... then i test drive one for the hell of it ... I was hooked.

Seriously ... a "deceptively" nice car to drive.

After I got it ... "I wondered why i didn't get one earlier" .... hee hee