[muso]

Yeah, I've got a VT and if it picks up 1st gear it goes well, but if you miss that 1 st gear kick down it is very average, most Fords EF EL or AU will out gun it due to superior torque spread.

I'd imagine that a mitsi 380 auto would be neck to neck with a BA ford but I think a BF Ford would nose ahead of either and that's with the 4 speed BTR, if it was the ZF 6 speed it would be no contest. On the ford forums there is a member with a pretty stock BF futura (perhaps CAI and K&N filter) who got 14.8 secs at the track for the 400M, aapparently those BF's really move, Fords money was spent on engine and trans refinement and improvement, I hope they did anyway, otherwise the BF's front bumper bar must be the most expensive bumber bar in the world

I still say that the ultimate Aussie car is a V8 ford or Holden with a manual gearbox (I'm a wannabe, I've never owned a V8) SV8's are a real muscle car as is the XR8 especially the AU XR8=under rated, but they'd need LPG injection unless you own an oil company or strike oil in your back yard.