AU XR utes - still a good buy?

markb · 15-01-2008, 07:35 AM

Hi,

I posted in a previous thread about ditching my Navara ute for either a BA or AU XR ute.

I saw a black XR8 AU the other day and it got me thinking as the windsor though a bit breathless sounded great, wasn't too bad on the juice and SHOULD be cheap now as they are (for me) ancient.

Now I should say that I nomally don't keep a car for long and always have new but the idea of owning the car outright ATM really appeals.

So anything in particular to look out for, any big problems relating to age?

Is there a point that even a well maintained car will go downhill? had an AU forte that did this at about 5.1 years/100001k's :-( despite regular servicing etc.

Is the 220kw donk available in the AU3 utes?

The XR8 utes I have seen on carsales seem to be above average in price for a 6-7 year old vehicle so this may be the deal killer

Should I not bother and just get a BA XR6?

TIA

hambo_12 · 15-01-2008, 08:07 AM

Well I havent had an AU XR8 ute, but I have had an AUII XR6 ute, and I got to say, they are a great car, and, irregardless of what people say, you can get them looking real good.

I sold mine with 145000ks on it, never missed a beat mechanically, it still felt exactly as it did when I bought it. Got $15000 for it, so it did hold its value a bit...

There are a lot of AU XR8 owners around, and most have only good things to say about them. If I was given the choice of an AUIII XR8 ute and a BA XR6 ute, I would choose the AU any day of the week...

**Peuty** · 15-01-2008, 10:54 AM

Well it depends if you want to have a car that you just get in and drive, or a car that has character in spades!

See my sig for which way I went.

And no, the 220kw wasn't available in the utes, but it doesn't take much to get them above that figure.

howesy · 15-01-2008, 11:00 AM

As far as I know the ute wasn't officially available from Ford with the 220kw engine. Unless you got a pursuit with the 250kw motor then it should be a 200kw variety speed restricted. I believe to do with the tail shaft which was sorted for the pursuits.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but i'm pretty sure this is so.

Mr Cube · 15-01-2008, 11:03 AM

I hope so as Im looking to get rid of my AUII Ute soon.. The trade figures I have been quoted don't make you feel to good, but the private seller ads are a bit better.

Im a fan of the AU, atleast with the AUXR series you don't need to squint to distinguish between an XR or XT

markb · 15-01-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Well it depends if you want to have a car that you just get in and drive, or a car that has character in spades!

See my sig for which way I went.

And no, the 220kw wasn't available in the utes, but it doesn't take much to get them above that figure.

Well a little of both really...if you mean by character it breaks down every month then no or is something older but still cool then perhaps yes.

I know that I can't be bothered with a new car and want something where the depreciation has already hit fairly well.

when I had the old AUIIXR8 getting to 220 was a massive expense..new heads, injectors,exy exhaust and expensive tuner to get nowhere near 250kw?
Have things moved on since then??

**Peuty** · 15-01-2008, 04:31 PM

By character I mean the V8 actually sounds like a V8, the manual can be hard to live with sometimes and the engine rocks the car at idle. They are also grumpy when going slow, but sink the boot in and she will be as happy as larry!

Send b2tf a PM, he has one of the nicest XR utes around and is pretty cluey when it comes to making power from the 200kw engine.

XR8 Uterous · 15-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Send b2tf a PM, he has one of the nicest XR utes around and is pretty cluey when it comes to making power from the 200kw engine.

Must agree, very nice ute that is, dunno about the owner though...

If you can push the budget, go for a pursuit 250 ute, 250 kw 5.6L stroker. Rare car and since you seemed concered about resale, the Pursuit if kept in good condition is unlikely to fall much further, if any come resale time.

MGM · 15-01-2008, 04:58 PM

ive had my AU3 XR6 ute for 8 months now and nothing has gone wrong (touch wood)and is great on petrol too

i get around 600km's to a tank. i only went with AU because i found this for 13g while looking for BA XR's, but i love my ute now and dont want to upgrade

see my aufalcon link, thats the way i bought it for 13(except hardlid)

b2tf · 15-01-2008, 05:13 PM

I may be biased on this, but the answer from me is a big fat yes! The AU's still look the goods IMHO, and with a bit of work you can have a standout ute which isnt just another BA XR6 etc (thats not a biased comment, but more an observation - there's heaps of them round here and they all look the same).

In answer to your questions, the 220kw engine was never available from Ford in a ute, but add a good exhaust and intake, and you will be around that figure anyway. If you want to go further (and this is what I'm doing shortly), you can port the heads or replace them with aftermarket alloy versions, and add a cam to really wake it up a bit.

The windsor engine has a huge aftermarket parts base, and while you will more than likely end up spending more than you would on say a BOSS to get good figures from it, it is still a bulletproof engine, and I'm yet to hear one that sounds bad. It will really depend on how far you want to go with it (if you get one), but if you can find a good example (Series III would be my pick, the 200kw motor didnt come into utes until about halfway Series 2), you'll be laughing.

If I were in the position to buy again I would either look at a Pursuit 250 (which has been touched on - 5.6L stroker engine from factory, but a reasonably rare model - not many were built), or a Series III XR8 with all the options ticked (which is actually what I'm driving now).

Hope that helps!

markb · 15-01-2008, 05:48 PM

Thanks guys...

I'm kind of over the new car look so happy to be a couple of generations behind :-)

I had the 200kw ute in my AU so know what to expect and would probably not really worry about it. Just nice to have the 220kw if it was available as an option.

I'm not sure as to whether I could live with a pursuit day to day and it's a work ute so would end up getting wrecked.

Any guide as to pricing? Is Glass's guide accurate so I can set some budgets and see what I can get.

I will probably get 32+K for my Navara so would be able to go either way..BA and a little money left or AUIII and quite a bit left.

Oh - just remembered is LPG an option on the windsor? (aftermarket of course)

b2tf · 15-01-2008, 05:51 PM

AU3 Ute = $16,000 approx
Full exhaust = $2,000 (thats being generous too)
Cam and install = $1,500
Lowering = $500

and still have change!

markb · 15-01-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

AU3 Ute = $16,000 approx
Full exhaust = $2,000 (thats being generous too)
Cam and install = $1,500
Lowering = $500

and still have change!

That's 16K for a decent AU3 XR8 ute right?

I still have my K&N as well from the old Xr8 so that's a useful addition.

Hmm, sounds interesting...

The only other option we haven't discussed and I guess I'll get hammered is the equivalent Holden ute in 5.7 trim.

The supercab and better interior, tray and overall look makes me want to AU3 but I need to consider all options.

Anyone have any first hand experience with these?

TIC-302 · 15-01-2008, 09:10 PM

yes you would need the 5.6L pursuit 250 to keep up with a 5.7L holden ute.

but a nice AU3 XR8 with the above mentioned mods would be nice.

b2tf · 15-01-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIC-302

yes you would need the 5.6L pursuit 250 to keep up with a 5.7L holden ute.

but a nice AU3 XR8 with the above mentioned mods would be nice.

My AU3 will keep up with an LS1 and in some cases beat one. They're quick off the line but it doesnt take much to reel 'em in.

LS1's are a great engine apart from the early ones which suffered the oil burning issues (although I think it was sorted by the time they started putting them into VU utes, which was the first Holden ute to get the LS1), and they put out some great figures for very little money in terms of mods. Again I may be biased though and say that as an overall package, the AU ute is a better choice - for the reasons you mentioned. If its important to you, the AU can also carry more than any of the V series Holden Utes.

**Peuty** · 15-01-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIC-302

yes you would need the 5.6L pursuit 250 to keep up with a 5.7L holden ute.

but a nice AU3 XR8 with the above mentioned mods would be nice.

Not to brag or sound like a boy racer, but my XR will keep up with most LS1's any day of the week.

As said in previous posts and threads it's not that hard to get the old Windsor to make a little bit of power.

markb · 15-01-2008, 11:02 PM

I am more interested in an overall package so nice engine that is not horrendous to run, ute that looks good, good cabin, suspension, reliability and decent price.

I am a PT so routinely carry around a lot of weights and gear...

I realise that the unmodded ls1 is going to be faster than an unmodded AU3 but I've been there done that with the BA XR8 and wasn't happy with power kicking in at 3500 rpms and nothing below. I've rather have low down grunt any day of the week. I wakeboard so tow 20ft boats around a fair bit and the old XR8 was a great tow vehicle too...

Knowing me I'll get sick of either car in a year and change over so it probably makes sense to go for a depreciated one so AU3,BA series I, VU/VY SS are all on the table.

Time to test drive a few and see which ones I like but if I can get a good buy on an XR8 I'd most likely go that.

How long do these cars last..I've got a bit of new car disease and think they are going to fall apart after 100,000 km's?

howesy · 15-01-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIC-302

yes you would need the 5.6L pursuit 250 to keep up with a 5.7L holden ute.

but a nice AU3 XR8 with the above mentioned mods would be nice.

A standard LS1 isn't even competition but then neither is a boss 260. Dunno about the Boss 290 because when they realise that a sh**ty old AU might make em look a little inadequate by staying in the mix they back off.
There's a lot to be said for the old 30years out of date Windsors. A good fun engine but then they all are.

JC · 15-01-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markb

Oh - just remembered is LPG an option on the windsor? (aftermarket of course)

Yep, I had a Landi Renso mixer ring setup on my AU1 XR8 - it ended up with 142 rwkw on petrol, and 138rwkw on gas. It used around 16l/100km on petrol around town, and about 18.5l/100km on LPG around town.

These days, you would be mad to pass up VSI gas injection though - no backfiring issues, and probably equal performance and better economy than mixer ring.

b2tf · 16-01-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markb

I am more interested in an overall package so nice engine that is not horrendous to run, ute that looks good, good cabin, suspension, reliability and decent price.

I am a PT so routinely carry around a lot of weights and gear...

I realise that the unmodded ls1 is going to be faster than an unmodded AU3 but I've been there done that with the BA XR8 and wasn't happy with power kicking in at 3500 rpms and nothing below. I've rather have low down grunt any day of the week. I wakeboard so tow 20ft boats around a fair bit and the old XR8 was a great tow vehicle too...

Knowing me I'll get sick of either car in a year and change over so it probably makes sense to go for a depreciated one so AU3,BA series I, VU/VY SS are all on the table.

Time to test drive a few and see which ones I like but if I can get a good buy on an XR8 I'd most likely go that.

How long do these cars last..I've got a bit of new car disease and think they are going to fall apart after 100,000 km's?

mate of mine bought himself an AU2 XR8 with 140,000 on the clock for $18,000 here last year (overpriced dealer), and it still feels very tight and good to drive. The interior looks great and was obviously looked after very well.

Assuming you service it well and look after it, the windsor will run without complaint for well over 200,000kms. Ive seen one with 450,000km, and when I drove it, it felt fine.

markb · 16-01-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

mate of mine bought himself an AU2 XR8 with 140,000 on the clock for $18,000 here last year (overpriced dealer), and it still feels very tight and good to drive. The interior looks great and was obviously looked after very well.

Assuming you service it well and look after it, the windsor will run without complaint for well over 200,000kms. Ive seen one with 450,000km, and when I drove it, it felt fine.

I saw a AUII pursuit 200kw at ACT pickles for 14000 today and the car from digital phots looked mint. Almost worth a trip down to the ACT..

I've decided that It's either AU XR8 or similarly priced LS1 holden ute but I need to refresh my memory with a drive in a AU V8 which is a little tricky ATM as I haven't seen any on the local car lots...need to go to the dirt car dealers on the weekend..

fordon · 17-01-2008, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markb

I saw a AUII pursuit 200kw at ACT pickles for 14000 today and the car from digital phots looked mint. Almost worth a trip down to the ACT..

I've decided that It's either AU XR8 or similarly priced LS1 holden ute but I need to refresh my memory with a drive in a AU V8 which is a little tricky ATM as I haven't seen any on the local car lots...need to go to the dirt car dealers on the weekend..

Make sure you double check with pickles that its got keys,ask to see and fit keys before you buy!! Sounds like a strange request ? I broght a car from canberra pickles stated it had keys,broght car and they lost the keys!!! So came with no keys and pickles said nothing they can do.Wouldnt help,mention fair trading they offed some money but wouldnt pay full cost to replace keys which they lost and car was spose to have keys!!! You can get a good buy but pickles can be dodgey too.Keys cost lots to replace as locksmith had to refit as ford australia didnt have the correct key code! That pusuit is it black ? been there for awhile,yes it is clean,looks tidy.

markb · 17-01-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordon

Make sure you double check with pickles that its got keys,ask to see and fit keys before you buy!! Sounds like a strange request ? I broght a car from canberra pickles stated it had keys,broght car and they lost the keys!!! So came with no keys and pickles said nothing they can do.Wouldnt help,mention fair trading they offed some money but wouldnt pay full cost to replace keys which they lost and car was spose to have keys!!! You can get a good buy but pickles can be dodgey too.Keys cost lots to replace as locksmith had to refit as ford australia didnt have the correct key code! That pusuit is it black ? been there for awhile,yes it is clean,looks tidy.

Thanks for the tip..

You have obviously seen the one I am talking about - link below.

Can you haggle at these fixed price auctions?

[URL=http://http://www.pickles.com.au/cars/vehicle/CP-02-01-Ford-Falcon-AU-II-Pursuit-XR8-Utility-2-Seats/itemid-1-402031855/lotid-402053302]

This one looks like my original XR8 with the exception of leather which is a real bummer as I hate cloth upholstery but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

TIC-302 · 17-01-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

My AU3 will keep up with an LS1 and in some cases beat one. They're quick off the line but it doesnt take much to reel 'em in.

LS1's are a great engine apart from the early ones which suffered the oil burning issues (although I think it was sorted by the time they started putting them into VU utes, which was the first Holden ute to get the LS1), and they put out some great figures for very little money in terms of mods. Again I may be biased though and say that as an overall package, the AU ute is a better choice - for the reasons you mentioned. If its important to you, the AU can also carry more than any of the V series Holden Utes.

guys i was refering to a stock AU2/3 200kw ute, the VU 5.7L will be the quicker ute, auto or manual they are a 14 second car.

fordon · 17-01-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markb

Thanks for the tip..

You have obviously seen the one I am talking about - link below.

Can you haggle at these fixed price auctions?

[URL=http://http://www.pickles.com.au/cars/vehicle/CP-02-01-Ford-Falcon-AU-II-Pursuit-XR8-Utility-2-Seats/itemid-1-402031855/lotid-402053302]

This one looks like my original XR8 with the exception of leather which is a real bummer as I hate cloth upholstery but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

Yeah ive sat in it hehe seems good but i didnt go thru it as i wasnt buying it.
Was before xmas,for sure,i reckon talk turkey you get it for 13grand,the rego run out so the price should come down.
If you want a good deal you better not mention lost keys lol or maybe you should and get me in the good books