nobody wants an AU

[raised by monkeys]

Originally Posted by anto

you started the thread to start a ****** fight...clearly. Well done

i am known to create friction

[Zero_PSI]

Originally Posted by StealthAu

Well there ya go, other then looks (which depends on who you ask) EF's and EL's have nothing over the AU.

EF/EL's have a nicer interior too. And the XR's come with LSD's

[Ford_The_Win]

Looks are subjective, in some guises the AU is a brilliant looking car and is still quite a fresh look.

But the only thing that has been done to this EF is the wheels...pretty sexy looking for a stock car. Such a slick look.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...utura&trecs=39

[borry]

i just bought an AU II XLS Ute. 5L, manual. $8250. and its in very good nick, stock except for a cat back. What more could you want for 8g!!

great base to start from ;)

[93EB_SXR6]

Originally Posted by borry

i just bought an AU II XLS Ute. 5L, manual. $8250. and its in very good nick, stock except for a cat back. What more could you want for 8g!!

great base to start from ;)

Yeah, exactly why I'm getting an AU ute for my next daily.
By the time I'm thinking about changing cars they'll probably be up for sale for $4k for a 5L manual

I love it

[Donny]

Seems to me like the thread title is 180 degrees out...

[blownv8au]

Originally Posted by Professor_Evans

Yeah, exactly why I'm getting an AU ute for my next daily.
By the time I'm thinking about changing cars they'll probably be up for sale for $4k for a 5L manual

I love it

I paid that 4years ago for mine, was a bloody good buy.
I've umed and ared over the years about getting rid of it but i love it. when i got my eb i was going to put the au back to stock since the cops put it off the road but changed my mind. its going to be a drag and fun car no rego, it doesn't owe me anything so why not and i can't sell it i wouldn't get anything for it. I love my au and eb best of both worlds eb power and looks, au monster power and mean as hell lol.
That said buy what YOU like xh el au whatever they are all fords so they are all good and you can make any of them look good and more powerfull it your choice.

[tranquilized]

I think the main reason AU utes are pulling less $ than an XH is numbers. AU utes were hugely popular in their day so there are plenty around for sale now. Not so many XH's

As for the weights - XH's are significantly lighter than an AU ute. AU utes are heavier than AU sedans. XH utes are lighter than EL sedans.

And looks, totally subjective of course but I think XH's look great. The way the bodyside crease blends into the front of the bonnet, and the raised center section of the bonnet (compared with EF) to accomodate the XD underneath looks awesome, and is a very slick example of a new front end being grafted onto a 15+ year old at the time design.

AU series 1 XR' front ends look absolutely horrific, but the series 2 changed all that - amazing what one extra bar in the grille can do.

I'd go AU S2 or 3 over an XH everytime. I've got an XH now and it has so many things breaking and squeaking i'm ready to drive it over a cliff.

[GK]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

i am known to create friction

Well I guess you were raised by monkeys! LOL!

GK

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Zero_PSI

EF/EL's have a nicer interior too. And the XR's come with LSD's

If you like hard brittle plastics the yep the EF/L wins hands down. In fact they are one step above the VN-VS.

I've been looking at a few B series on behalf of the old man. Its been a while since I've had a steer of one. Reminds me just how bad the interior quality had deterioted between AU-BA. After over 600k my AU creaks over the odd pothole but puts BA/Fs with a quarter of the mileage to shame in build and material quality. Don't even mention the E series.

[JC]

Originally Posted by davessleepin351

no its the interenet i dont care enough to impress u for your friends, and your absolutely right... ebs are WAY Quicker... thanks for backing me up

numpty post of the year.

Difference between a base model AU and an EF/EL is not a lot really - same motor, same gearbox, same live axle rear end, slightly revised (and much better) front end suspension. Bodywise, EF/EL (amd if I had to lean, I'd say EF) in base model spec looks better than an AU. But the AU is still a great car - in fact, AU 1 to 3 sold more than BA to BF, and was only eclipsed by the long running XD to XF series, from memory. ie AU series is the best series falcon ever on it's own.

Anyway, go up a spec to the IRS cars (Fairmont Ghia, and XR6 VCT or XR8) and it's a different story - the AU IRS is brilliant and longer lasting then even the B series IRS "control blade" suspension. Having recently sold an AU XR8 and bow occasionally driving an EF, there is no comparison in handling - the AU eats the E series alive.

So...it's horses for course. Want something that goes reasonably well, and handles a bit ordinary - get an E series. Want something that goes just as good but handles 100 times better - then get an IRS equipped AU.

If you care about looks - get an AU XR front end, or T series front end and plonk that on your ugly AU (and yes, series 1 were ugly, series 2 & 3 have aged very well, IMO, and still look modern).

[fordOwner]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

Id prefer an 5spd XH (but would settle for a sedan - EL xr8) but their prices, especially the XH's are quite astronomical.

This is music to my ears!

[samftr]

Just quietly el in two years sold more then the au did in 5.
However if I buy another ford I would grab a nice au II or III sr wagon if I could.

[blueoval]

Im not gonna get into the debate of which model was better or worse. I think its been done to death.

Ive owned an XC, 2 XE's, EA, EB, and skipped the EF/EL to own my now current AU2. The AU wasn't my first choice and I only chose it due to my dad raving on about it. I guess I was skeptical at the time. But in saying that, for the 3 and a bit years I have owned the AU, I have modified it a hell of a lot and have driven the guts out of the stock motor and trans, and it has still held up well beyond my expectations. Sure the live rear axle leaves a lot to be desired, but for what it is, its been a dam good donk.

I still the series 2/3 is tonnes better than series 1 for looks but its been one of the most reliable Fords I have owned. I cannot complain.

I also love the fact AU parts are getting cheaper and cheaper to buy second hand too.

The resale of AU's is shocking I agree and its a buyers market out there for those looking for one, but if your buying one for the intent to make it a keeper or a project of some sort and do not care about resale, then they are worth considering as a value for money buy for those on a tight budget.

As you can read from this thread, its a debatable subject when it comes to looks vs power between models, it just comes down to choosing what best for YOU and what YOU like rather than basing it on others opinions.

[bluovl]

This is exactly how I ended up with my AU ute. I went looking for an XH and came across the 'low' price of an AU ute.

To be perfectly honest it was the best thing that could have happened.
Car has been problem free for the last couple of years I've owned it (touch wood) and in my eyes still looks good.

[Gomez]

I kept my EF XR8 for so long because the AU was too ugly.

The BA/BF's were better looking, but pretty poorly bolted together. The door trim was loose and the drivers door seal was hanging off on one new BF I test drove.....

Finally made the plunge when the good looking FG got better looking with the XR50 release, got lots of good gear thrown in gratis (nice 18's, piano black etc), got dirt cheap with the skyrocketing fuel price, and got a 5 year warranty to boot.

Cars also have to pass a driveway test......look good in the driveway, or get outta here.

[onfire]

Looks will always be the reason why people pick one car over the other. Or at least for the majority.

AUI made a bad first impression. Put lipstick on a pig and release a Series II & III - people still are taken back by " The AU is ugly " and they pass. B series is the classic example. They tart up an XT and call it the XR6 and people go nuts for them despite being poorly built and not even half as tough as the AU.

BTW, I've owned an AU and BA.

[Falcman0o7]

AU's are FANTASTIC!

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Zero_PSI

Probably cos they're hidious.

Yeah what a stupid post
Ill have the last say, im sick of the AU bashing it gets old. And for the AU haters Thanks Tim.