nobody wants an AU

[gun-fpv]

AU is a BA basically so ba owners slagging off AU's is a joke !

[raised by monkeys]

Originally Posted by GK

Thems fighting words bud!

its really an individual choice. If an ef hasnt got a tickford it looks a bit poohy too.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

g'day guys,

Just thought i'd come in here and see what other people think.

Im in the market for a new ute and ive been trauling the internet for the last 3months. Id prefer an 5spd XH (but would settle for a sedan - EL xr8) but their prices, especially the XH's are quite astronomical.
Generally, the prices of AU's (s1-3's included) are quite low, even ones with lower km's than that of an XH or even EL.
Not to offend any AU owners, but I personally think that the AU shouldve have been Fords version of the spartan cliff babies in 300, but thats my opinion. However, i do believe that the AU definitely showed great improvements on the preceeding Xh and EF/EL models mechanically.

But the general consensus appears to be that nobody wants an AU.

Any thoughts?

Ok so do you want an AU or not? Not going to try and twist your arm but if you dont like them, doesnt matter what you pay for it you wont be happy with it.

If you dislike them that much then dont buy one, simple. I and many others think theyre quite good value for money and have plenty of potential (I find B series boring and uninteresting, thousands would disagree but Im the one who pays for what is in my garage) so it is very much a case of each to their own.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by xr8-Brute

AU is a BA basically so ba owners slagging off AU's is a joke !

No, not at all. Not even close. The difference between AU and BA cost Ford $600,000,000 (six hundred million) to develop.

[davessleepin351]

for the record. eb's poo all over au's nuf said. owned many of all those models. and els are even better. so why buy an au when the preious ones are just as quick if not quicker, and WAY better looking. thats why they are worth nothing. Basic proof is the au xr8... its a better looking car, hence why its holding its value. (winsors are **** tho)

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by davessleepin351

for the record. eb's poo all over au's nuf said. owned many of all those models. and els are even better. so why buy an au when the preious ones are just as quick if not quicker, and WAY better looking. thats why they are worth nothing. Basic proof is the au xr8... its a better looking car, hence why its holding its value. (winsors are **** tho)

Post of the year.

[raised by monkeys]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Ok so do you want an AU or not?

just wanted to get a perspective from other people to weigh up the benefits of getting one as opposed to an XH/EL

[davessleepin351]

Originally Posted by xr8-Brute

AU is a BA basically so ba owners slagging off AU's is a joke !

WHAT THE ****!

[Uncle_Ken]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

g'day guys,

Just thought i'd come in here and see what other people think.

Im in the market for a new ute and ive been trauling the internet for the last 3months. Id prefer an 5spd XH (but would settle for a sedan - EL xr8) but their prices, especially the XH's are quite astronomical.
Generally, the prices of AU's (s1-3's included) are quite low, even ones with lower km's than that of an XH or even EL.
Not to offend any AU owners, but I personally think that the AU shouldve have been Fords version of the spartan cliff babies in 300, but thats my opinion. However, i do believe that the AU definitely showed great improvements on the preceeding Xh and EF/EL models mechanically.

But the general consensus appears to be that nobody wants an AU.

Any thoughts?

I use this when I buy a car.
1. Can I see myself in this car?
2. If yes can I afford to buy it?
3. Can I afford to run it?
I didn't like AU's until I saw a Monsoon Blue one and I had a YES to No1.
The $$$ added up and again a Yes to No 2.
I was already thinking of LPG and keeping the car for a while (6 years and counting) so a big Yes to No. 3

I think you had answered your own question with 'I personally think that the AU shouldve have been Fords version of the spartan cliff babies in 300' so that would be a big NO to No1. so thats makes No2 and No 3 irrelevant in my book.

Rule number 1, like the car you drive, life's to short, I enjoy driving my car every day.

UK

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

just wanted to get a perspective from other people to weigh up the benefits of getting one as opposed to an XH/EL

Fair enough....

PROS:

Cheap
Still younger than the E series models
Easier to find a good one as opposed to a good low km E series
Most mod cons e.g A/C, ABS, Traction control on some sedans etc
Very simple to work with/on
Comparitively cheap to run

CONS:

The looks (of some models for some people)
Condition of some available
Age of model (things will start to need attention)

[raised by monkeys]

Originally Posted by davessleepin351

for the record. eb's poo all over au's nuf said. owned many of all those models. and els are even better. so why buy an au when the preious ones are just as quick if not quicker, and WAY better looking. thats why they are worth nothing. Basic proof is the au xr8... its a better looking car, hence why its holding its value. (winsors are **** tho)

gold!

[davessleepin351]

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

gold!

thankyou gentlemen... it just had to be said.

[XRGhia]

Originally Posted by davessleepin351

for the record. eb's poo all over au's nuf said. owned many of all those models. and els are even better. so why buy an au when the preious ones are just as quick if not quicker, and WAY better looking. thats why they are worth nothing. Basic proof is the au xr8... its a better looking car, hence why its holding its value. (winsors are **** tho)

********....

Comparing an AU to an EB/EA is just like comparing the acceleration of an FG F6 to an XF or XE....


Also, please use correct spelling and punctuation...



edit: if your still wondering, the AU is the F6, and the EB is the XF/XE... ofcourse the bloody AU is better than an EB



.....

[Silver Ghia]

Years ago I had an AU1 Fairmont in Sparkling Burgundy. The high series bonnet, grille and chrome bits at the front make it look something real special. Saw one in that colour parked at work today, even after over 12 years, it is a timeless aerodynamic shape. T-series AU's much the same. Unlike the BA looks that tended to age. Not to mention the IRS bush problems on the BA. EL's getting a bit long in the tooth now.

[davessleepin351]

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

********....

Comparing an AU to an EB/EA is just like comparing the acceleration of an FG F6 to an XF or XE....


Also, please use correct spelling and punctuation...

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

[AUIIPURSUIT]

my mate actually had a red au xr8, and i found the xr nosecone didnt suit the colour of the car. I will agree that in some colours the xr front end looks kind of, bug eyed to a degree. But then i found mine in liquid silver and compared it to what else was available on the market in terms of utes.

I got an optioned up manual v8 for the price of a smashed up SS (in a bodystyle i find kind of boring as ive already owned the sedan equivalent). I saw no purpose in buying an older model car, especially when its a task to find one a) unmolested and b) in respectable condition.

explain the 'ugliness'?


i wont be offended.

[Zero_PSI]

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

********....

Comparing an AU to an EB/EA is just like comparing the acceleration of an FG F6 to an XF or XE....


Also, please use correct spelling and punctuation...

MOST RETARDED POST OF THE YEAR AWARD!

That has to be the most self-contradicting thing I've ever read.

AU to an EB/EA

IS

FG F6 to an XF

FG f6 is 100 times faster than an AU

and a EB/EA is 100 times faster than a XF

[dansedgli]

What he said makes sense. Some of you guys need to go back to school.

AU compared to EB. AU is good ~ EB is crap.

FG F6 compared to XF. FG F6 is good ~ XF is crap.

E series are not faster than AU's. I've had a lot of E series and only 1 AU. All of them in both manual and auto, turbo and non turbo.

When the OP buys his XH check for broken door handles and rust inside the doors where the hinges mount.

They will be rooted and only XH ones will fit XH's. EF and XG/XF doors are slightly different. They dont get made by Ford anymore so might be hard to find.

[Donny]

I went from a BF2 Boss 302 GTP to an AU3 XR8, and I know which of the 2 cars I much prefer, and its not the B series car.

AU's are a hell of a lot of car for the $$, and the XR's and T series cars do feel special, you really get that (FTE) Tickford experience. My GTP never felt as special as the XR8 does.
AU is an aquired taste looks wise on the outside, but gee does the rest of the package make up for it.. The handbuilt S2 and 3, 5.0's are sweet as, and they retain some of that old school V8 feel and sound, the IRS, the trim and dash are way ahead of their time..

These older utes your talking about are based on the 1979/80 XD ute platform, so their ancient in design right from new, and to me all the E series stuff is looking so dated today, and not in an ageing gracefully way either, rather ageing like milk left out in the sun for weeks..

[Ford_The_Win]

Why would anybody pick an XH over an AU ute?
The XH looks awkward. It's like a 50 year old woman who's had a facelift. A shape that was designed back in 1976 still being sold nearly 25 years later....

The AU would crap all over it. Ride better. Quicker. No blown head gaskets. No busted door handles. Not as many rust traps. I know what I'd pick.

[J.C.]

AMEN to that Donny.
To me after the AU, the performance cars with their fly by wire throttle etc lost alot of old school mongrel about the car and driving experience.
The interior of the B-series cars never appealled to me at all.

[93EB_SXR6]

I was considering a red XR8 AUIII manual ute six months ago, it was selling for a princely sum of $5k.
Unfortunately, there were issues with a job offer not being backed up (bloody bastards!) so I couldn't afford it.

I regret it as I would've loved that ute, the looks don't bother me on the utes as I'd probably be putting a bullbar on anyway (no, not an RM williams B&S thingo) as I do a fair bit of country driving.

I bought an EBII instead of EF/Ls because I absolutely hate the look of the EF/Ls. My EA has been reliable so I wasn't worried about that side of things but in all honesty the ute would have been a far superior machine to my XR6.

I'll probably get either an AUIII XR8 or a VY/Z SS ute (if I can't afford a BA/F XR6t) as my next daily driver as the E-series are all getting fairly old now even though parts are plentiful and cheap.

AUs are the best deal going these days IMO.

[LyleXR8]

ive got my AUII XR8 ute for sale currently for 10k and no interest in it. manual, leather, sony cd, needs a bit of tidy up. but a top ute, ibought a BA XR8 ute brand new in late 04, had it for 2 years and sold it and got the wife a new SS. then when i wanted another ute i got the AU XR and it feels stronger than the SS below 3,000 rpm and is def cheaper to run, even prefer it over the BA XR8, better on juice and the windsor exhaust sound ***** on the quad cam

[Zero_PSI]

Originally Posted by dansedgli

What he said makes sense. Some of you guys need to go back to school.

AU compared to EB. AU is good ~ EB is crap.

FG F6 compared to XF. FG F6 is good ~ XF is crap.

E series are not faster than AU's. I've had a lot of E series and only 1 AU. All of them in both manual and auto, turbo and non turbo.

When the OP buys his XH check for broken door handles and rust inside the doors where the hinges mount.

They will be rooted and only XH ones will fit XH's. EF and XG/XF doors are slightly different. They dont get made by Ford anymore so might be hard to find.

Yes, because the comparisons weigh up perfectly against each other. An AU is better than a FG F6 then?

I don't believe my education has anything to do with this in anyway.

E-series ------------> Au in looks
Au -> E-series in performance

[StealthAu]

The EB's are closely matched to the AU, no wonder give how much lighter they are.
Most people find them ugly, not me personally I like the look of them, but all the same most people don't so this lowers the value of them. This is a great thing for anyone looking to buy a cheap reliable car, not so good for people looking to sell one though.

If looks are so important to you that you would buy a lessor, older, more expensive car, then do so, the more people with the same opinion as the OP, the more AU's on the market to choose from at a low price for those who aren't as fussed.

[raised by monkeys]

Originally Posted by StealthAu

If looks are so important to you that you would buy a lessor, older, more expensive car, then do so, the more people with the same opinion as the OP, the more AU's on the market to choose from at a low price for those who aren't as fussed.

My decision of a car purpose isnt soley made on the looks of the car, this is why i started the thread.

[StealthAu]

Well if looks aren't everything to you, then consider all other points.

AU - Better interior, more power, more reliable, better brakes, better value

E-Series - Looks better, weighs less

[Ford_The_Win]

Originally Posted by StealthAu

E-Series - weighs less

True for earlier E series but EFs and ELs are actually heavier than AUs.

[anto]

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

[StealthAu]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

True for earlier E series but EFs and ELs are actually heavier than AUs.

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