Shannon's AU Falcon Story

[Maka]

I love the suv like ground clearance in my AU1 Futura, i prefer it for taking the kids to school in, it has nice soft suspension to soak up those bumpy & cratered tracks we call our roads, speed humps are nothing! As a reliable, comfy daily it's peerless.

Ask my kids which car to take them to school in though, its my AU XR6 VCT every time!

cheer's, Maka

[Stock XR]

Bought an AU2 XR8 new, had it for 10 years & did 240,000 kms. No major drama's just serviced it when needed. Had a BF XR6 after that, sold it 12 mths ago & bought an AU3 XR8 220 & the Missus has a AU2 XL ute, we love them. Being wheelchair bound AU has a better seating postion & is easier to get in & out of.

[EBTom]

I’ve owned for the last 4-5 years (although will be selling shortly), a 5.0L 99 Fairmont Ghia.
Brilliant car all round; smooth, comfortable, effortless power from the V8. I also think it looks great with the Fairmont trim and Series 1 kit, and no complaints about interior (although the low-series interiors are a bit ‘bleh’).

Was quite a reliable car too (after a bit of preventative maintenance after purchasing).

My only issue with the car, that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, was that dang IRS (and now the Auto which has spat the dummy, requiring a $2500 rebuild).
I was forever having problems with it chewing out wheel bearings (and sometimes damaging hubs) every 6 months as well as flogging out bushes, etc.
Im sure there was some underlying problem causing this, but buggered if me or any of the numerous mechanics I took it to, could diagnose it.

Im also sure that this is an exception to the norm, so I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another or recommend an AU to someone else!

[Cav]

I love the AU - I have owned three:

AU Forte
AUIIIXR6
AUIIIXR8 ute

[Mainforcepatrol]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The XR's are worse than the regular AUs, that bug-eye front looks horrible.

I like the TS50, its my favorite AU.

Suprising that you say that as it was the lesser models that received more styling changes throught the AU lifespan as opposed to the XR series.

I had the 220kw XR8 S2 and it was the most reliable Falcon i have owned.

[Uncle_Ken]

Well Mercades thought it was a goer in 2006..
Silver AU






UK

[PridenJoy]

Originally Posted by Cav

I love the AU - I have owned three:

AU Forte
AUIIIXR6
AUIIIXR8 ute

You mean this one? Looks a bit different now.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Uncle_Ken

Well Mercades thought it was a goer in 2006..
Silver AU

UK

That Mercedes AU is quite fetching.

[Eaturbo]

I had a 2000 AU2 Forte. It was brilliant on fuel and heaps of power. In my eyes they were the best Falcon ever made from the point of driving. The seating position and seat to door arm rest position was better than any other Falcon and so to was the steering wheel position. The double wishbone IRS was much better than the bush failing control blade set up on BA on. Highway fuel economy was near Camry matching and still amazes me. There was so much right with the AU but also a few things wrong. While the dash worked well it looked terrible and the rear end was boring design wise. Still would have an AU over a VT Commodore or Camry or Magna

[Falcman0o7]

Alot more positives on the mighty AU...

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11350680

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by mik

i own one, and admit they are probably not pretty, but they sure make up for it being a ripping good car to drive and own, and you could throw anyone in the drivers seat for the first time and they would feel right at home in an au.

They are good cars, no doubt about it.

The only work we get the odd one in for was for starter, alternator, power window switches, AC and that's it really.

I recommend for first cars that kids go out and look for a real good series II or III AU over an average BA if they don't have overly much coin to spend if they want something Falcon sized.

[b0son]

They were ugly. Simple as that. The Ford faithful may have praised it, but much of the public sure didn't. I remember the first time I saw it, test vehicle coming up the Hume Hwy a month before release. I remember shaking my head saying 'what the hell were they thinking'.

Beautifully engineered, but as I've always said about Ford, they build the product the engineers want to build, not the car the marketers think they can sell.

[SVR73]

I have owned two AUs in my time and drive the current one on and off today. My pride and joy galaxy blue August 98 build XR6 VCT with the bi plane, side skirts and front chin spoiler

Bought the first one in sep 98. But it was coloured grille forte 65mm lowered with 17s and eventually 205fwkw. 1200 km to a tank on the highway

The xr is lowered and fully urethane bushed with bilsteins and Lovells. Ride height is perfect and ride is comfy whilst handling is very sharp and feels great through the turns.
Sure the AU is not perfect but I'd rather have it than later models. Love the XR front and that low series bonnet. Never liked series 1 high series bonnet or series 2 forte grille

140,000 km on her as of yesterday and love how she drives.

The XR or a lowered forte with coloured grille and rear spoiler should of been standard. And mags not hub caps. But oh well

[mik]

For a model that was generally criticized by many for being the ugly duckling with a few minor flaws , the AU has a lot of fans .

[FGX335]

My first AU was a Fairlane Ghia with the V8, and my favourite car to drive until I got my new XR8. I sold the AU when I got a company car, a BF, then a BF MkII. After being retrenched, I had to buy a car and got an AU Fairmont with the I6, and geez that engine felt rough compared to the BF with the Dual VCT and DOHC! Happily sold it when I could afford a BA Ghia, then a BF MkII Ghia.

If I were to go an AU again, I would certainly get the V8, even if it was pretty asthmatic!

[SVR73]

Love it. you can always tell an AU on the road to any other car

[Sprintey]

Sensational, SVR73.

[mik]

Originally Posted by FGX335

My first AU was a Fairlane Ghia with the V8, and my favourite car to drive until I got my new XR8. I sold the AU when I got a company car, a BF, then a BF MkII. After being retrenched, I had to buy a car and got an AU Fairmont with the I6, and geez that engine felt rough compared to the BF with the Dual VCT and DOHC! Happily sold it when I could afford a BA Ghia, then a BF MkII Ghia.

If I were to go an AU again, I would certainly get the V8, even if it was pretty asthmatic!

my mate had fairmont S1 v8, i never got a drive of it, but it was nice to ride in,
he sold it and now drives a hyundai ...... a couple of months down the track hes missing the AU now .

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by SVR73

Love it. you can always tell an AU on the road to any other car

Truer words have never been spoken. The AU is unmistakable on the road.
Its polarising looks have served it well for the history books.

In 10 years time I bet it will receive the same kudos that the X-series get today.

[Sprintey]

That's a good point. And when you consider that compared to the X series, the sports and top end/optioned EB-AU Falcons got so much Tickford specialist engines, parts, tuning - what price an XY GS now?

I remember the 90's, GS Falcons were pocket money, exactly the same as what pre-BA XR6 (when it all went in house and was no longer unique) are now.

[Uncle_Ken]

I agree with the 'whale teeth' was ugly. BUT with the Series II and III grilles

CRC havoc and colour matched headlights

and Fairmont egg shape

plus the XR front the 'look' was much improved, and yes my wife even 'see's' more AUs than other cars cause they do now stand out.
Just my thoughts..
UK

[orsm8]

I had a new future in 98 followed by sr sedan the V8 Forte followed by the series 111 XR8 sedan. They were all great cars that never let me down. after that I had 3 baxr8s and I wish I had kept the AU xr

[JessieXT]

I had a 2001 Falcon AU II s/wagon and it was no picnic. I always felt like it needed more weight in the back. Sometimes people can get one car that gives them grief. Oil and water leaks made me end up selling it. My brother bought one at the same time as me and never had an issue, still has it today. It wasn't my driving of it either. I looked after it, but sometimes you just can't get a break with a certain car.

[Polyal]

Yeah dog ugly..who would want one...



Better interior quality than a B series, better IRS design, the only thing B series had was better engine as the ZF towards the end.

We also bought the T instead of a BF2 Ghia at the time.

Can someone please copy and paste the article in full by any chance? Just encase the link goes down.

[Autolite]

I know if you havn't got anything nice to say you shouldn't, but god damn they are ugly.

[Adamz Ghia]

I'd go a T2 TS over a T3 TS. T3 might have a better engine but there is something about the T2 for me that just works..

[fordmfp]

I have an AU2 Fairmont wagon that's done 297ks and I love it!! Drives beautifully and never misses a beat. Had an AU2 Fairmont V8 sedan a few years back and loved that too!! Fantastic cars!!

[mik]

Originally Posted by Autolite

I know if you havn't got anything nice to say you shouldn't, but god damn they are ugly.

Yes probably the ugly step child in the aussie ford car family,
but they do have a lot going for them,
Ford did some pretty cool engineering on the au models, obviously there where some flaws as well,
but the good points massively out weighed any small flaws, including the styling.
From memory the ugliest model had the best co efficient of drag, and probably the best fuel economy because of it, nevertheless it was crucified as a model because it looked different.

[chookaradley]

The toughest Australian car ever built. As a mechanic we absolutely love them. Cannot break one unless your trying to.

My first brand new car an AU2 SR (that was the number plate) factory ordered 5 speed manual. Also owned a 220 AU 3 XR8.

[cycle myth]

Have to say I expected more - the story was pretty short - and didn't go into the details - things like focus group outcomes, redesign and change motivations would be pretty interesting.

This model was pretty pivotal for many reasons - Holden's continued dominance, further Ford investment requirement for BA, trend of large car segment....