First time poster and Fairmont AU2 2001

Gedc · 31-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Hey guys.

Would appreciate some help and advice.

Ford owner in previous life (& country) but currently living in NZ and driving a mitsy family car for last 5 years. Friend has offered me his 2001 Fairmont AuII for a private sale. Its done 158K - primarily open road, coast to coast driving. Serviced by local ford dealer. Looks cosmetically in good condition by all accounts. I trust him and he said its run well for him over the last 5 years. He bought it from his accountant in 2004. The K's are putting me off slighty as the current mitsy diamante (1997) has done 136K and sounds like a dying dog.

Appreciate this the following is crystal ball gazing but at this level of k's what would I primarily be looking for mechanically with regards major overhaul in the next 12 months+..shocks, joints etc?

Appreciate this is an enthusiasts forum but do these engines run and run and is 160,000 K still light in terms of useage?

Thanks for any inputs, tips or advice you can shed. The price in Kiwi $ would be around the $8500 mark.

Cheers

Ged

InfernoSR · 31-03-2009, 12:14 PM

Those km's arent anything to be scared of... i recently bought an AUII SR 5.0ltr with 220,000 km's on it, and its fantastic!

RG · 31-03-2009, 12:17 PM

With 158k it is only a baby. The usual service/consumables will need to be looked at such as shocks/filters/ignition and so forth but there are no major issues that you should come across.

As long as the price is right it should be a great buy, as you said it has had regular servicing.

sbcb · 31-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Gidday should be a safe buy with the known history. Make sure the service history included full transmission flushes (they are classed as sealed units so might not have been done, everything else should have been covered). If the trans has been serviced (at least twice by those Ks) the trans should last for ages, if not its lifespan might only be around 200,000km (a proper trans service requires a machine to flush the oil out of the whole transmisson and not just drop the pan and change filter like some dealers do). If it has IRS (independent rear suspension the rear upper shock mounts wear early), I think only the Ghias had the IRS setup, otherwise the base fairmont will have the less impressive but more trouble free live rear axle setup. The stereos can give grief (mainly if a multistack job, single cd players sound more reliable). Have the shocks been replaced? if not they will probably be pretty shagged. Also check around the inner door seams and boot (around the base of the gas struts holding the boot open) for rust.
I've had 6 different AUs of various models and years and highly recommend them. Like any car it needs to have been looked after and your one does have that description.
You'll be suprised how economical they are on the open road. As always have a good look around to compare value for money. The advantage this one has is the known history. In a nutshell though AUs are fantastic cars and the series II,III had some better advantages over series I, brakes system upgrade etc.

onfire · 31-03-2009, 01:07 PM

1997 with 136,000kms. Nothing to be scared of. Theres a reason why so many AU's are taxis. Sure, a few thing will maybe in need of replacing, but thats life.

The Monty · 31-03-2009, 01:21 PM

Ahaha. Probably still has run in oil in it.
Im at 280 000, have been drag racing at Willowbank, skidpan days and dyno days, and I havent changed a thing other than servicing and the odd brake switch in the last 130 000k's that Ive owned, it, so dont be scared, itll be fine, and worth the extra cash for a fairmont.