BF falcon XT or Mitsubishi 380 which would you buy?

[nota]

Originally Posted by muso

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

Check out the Falcon BF 0-400m time in this post (including link) from charged

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/757023-post1.html

[muso]

Hell was that a stock auto BF falcon or a manual one? They don't say in the article as far as I could see, if it is stock how come the motor magazines only seem to get 15.3 or something like that for a BF XT?

How would you feel if your 16 years old with your mates in your car and you get your doors blown off by a Tarago FWD at the lights

People mover...aerodynamic properties of a block of flats

[pimento]

Hate to lower the tone of the discussion, but after reading all of this, if I was in your position... well, I bought a '96 Volvo 850 R at the start of this year for $12K. It's as fast as anything mentioned here, it's nicer inside, it drives better even if it is front wheel drive (LSD, fancy suspension setup.. just don't enter the corners too fast)... it's not as sideways as anything RWD, but it's very tight and very nice. And in a month's time I'll be driving it to Sydney.... it should make it! But yea, don't narrow your view too much.

[Falcon500]

Originally Posted by pimento

Hate to lower the tone of the discussion, but after reading all of this, if I was in your position... well, I bought a '96 Volvo 850 R at the start of this year for $12K. It's as fast as anything mentioned here, it's nicer inside, it drives better even if it is front wheel drive (LSD, fancy suspension setup.. just don't enter the corners too fast)... it's not as sideways as anything RWD, but it's very tight and very nice. And in a month's time I'll be driving it to Sydney.... it should make it! But yea, don't narrow your view too much.

Yes but that car is over 10 years old now (very likly needs attention) and also the cost of parts on anything imported isnt nice (filter and stuff nowdays is improved but still anything more technicval then that is still worth alot)

It is good to have an open mind i bought my 97 liberty for just under 7k and that works well but still its never a bad idea to go with somthing as popular as those cars there. While parts are cheap here (same as anyother subaru) the grille was worth $300 at trade price and it would of had to of been orderd from japan (so i payed a kid $30 to get me one )

Just find what ever works for you and never pay sticker price make your offer and be ready to walk they often chase you.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by muso

As for going fast, I looked at a 2003 BA XR6 (Mercury silver Looked sweet) and was happy to have it sitting in my driveway until I drove it, it was noisy and the drive train felt less (or maybe equal to) my 99 model VT which has over 200,000 km's on it, sorry but the BA XR6 was a very uninspiring drive for me, however I didn't cane it but didn't really want to either, to me it was a sexy looking Taxi, that's all, don't get me wrong, I love the BA XR6 and even have a poster of one on the wall at work, best looking Aussie car

I am assuming that the BF XT (BF XR6 is out of my budget) would be a much more refined and rewarding drive following Ford's $$$$$ spent on NVH for the BF, but the 380 would be also even more refined but the FWD thing keeps nagging me saying "don't do it, you know you'll be selling it in 6 months".

The drivetrain's always going to be an issue with the Falcon. The diff's Ford use are always making various whines and knocking noises depending on how hard youve driven previously or at the current time.

Originally Posted by Blue Supra

Id love to see an XT V8 falcon. Didnt think you get a v8 in anything less then an XR8.

IIRC, they started off as a near $5K option which put them around $40K in 2002 when first released. The VY SV8's were around that mark as well with a bit more kit, and even the XR6T which was first priced around $42K was a far better deal. Ford later packaged the V8 with sports suspension, 17" wheels and a few other things which now IIRC include the sports brake kit and ESP. They havent managed many sales, but those that have bought them seem to love them. In retrospect, Ford probably would have been better off hedging their bets on the VCT capable 3-valve engine rather than the 4-valve the XR8 and GT have. XT V8's are putting out more low end torque than the higher powered XR8's and similar levels to the GT, without the 2 stroke feeling to the powerband.

[SlickHolden]

Speaking of Government cars have you tried pickles??

If you are looking $20,000 down they might be your best bet..

But don't overlook the VE, Overlook the base model but as the range rises you would be surprised at how much better they get, Infact i would say the VE Calais is the best deal, It's a SV6 with Calais options.. I'd even give up my love child the VYII Calais for the VE Calais, And that's hard to say. However it's going to be hard to pick one of them up right now cheap.

Don't worry about Pickles right now there site has jack in SA.

[nota]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

Speaking of Government cars have you tried pickles??

If you are looking $20,000 down they might be your best bet..

But don't overlook the VE, Overlook the base model but as the range rises you would be surprised at how much better they get, Infact i would say the VE Calais is the best deal, It's a SV6 with Calais options.. I'd even give up my love child the VYII Calais for the VE Calais, And that's hard to say. However it's going to be hard to pick one of them up right now cheap.

Don't worry about Pickles right now there site has jack in SA.

IME in years past Pickles used to have some decent bargains (for selective buyers) but much less so in recent times and especially since every man & his dog now goes to their auctions, at least in Canberra where it's turned into a bloody social event! Plus you can't drive the car and no warranty either

For trivia I saw a Sydney Holden dealer advertising a batch of brand-new VE Omegas for $29,990 driveaway

[nota]

Originally Posted by muso

Hell was that a stock auto BF falcon or a manual one? They don't say in the article as far as I could see,

Think it mentions the ZF 6-speed auto. Its an amazing time for an essentially boggo 6cyl family car, and OMG the Tarago!

if it is stock how come the motor magazines only seem to get 15.3 or something like that for a BF XT?

At a guess maybe for the same reasons why American mags seem to get their 'unusually' fast times - a sticky VHT drag track, solo driver and optimum weather?

[muso]

The place where I have been looking at ex Govt cars is in Adelaide (Sorry I'm too stupid to copy and paste the link) but type in Govt auctions netley and then do a price search, this will give you a history of prices paid for recent vehicles sold.

Nearly all of them are still under new car warranty, I bought my VX from there and a month later the power steering sprang a leak and failed, I phoned Holden roadside assist and a tow truck was at my house an hour later, the vehicle was fixed and returned to my house the following day with some after dinner mints in the centre console, the car had also been detailed inside and out.

I don't think you would get that kind of service from a used car from a yard, so I wouldn't worry about the lack of warranty at these Govt Auctions

As I said I'd love an XT V8 but they go for as much as an XR6T and guess which one I'd pick? The 3 valve V8 is apparently really good and has balls at low revs unlike the LS1 which is more of a rev engine (LS1's really move) the Barra 220 only revs to 5000 rpm I think.

I guess this thread is kind of a RWD versus FWD and I think if you are a car enthusiast the RWD has the bling factor, get my drift? Excuse the pun.

And for the record I think the 4 speed BF's are almost as fast as the 6 speed in a straight line, I don't think there is much in it between them, but for smoothness and roll on power flexibility the ZF 6 speed is brilliant. The BF which did the 14.8 was a 4 speed so the 6 speed is probably .02 sec faster.

[pimento]

Originally Posted by Falcon500

Yes but that car is over 10 years old now (very likly needs attention) and also the cost of parts on anything imported isnt nice (filter and stuff nowdays is improved but still anything more technicval then that is still worth alot)

The attention needed is minimal, the nice thing about Volvos is that when they were new they were bought by people who look after them properly, don't thrash them and replace things rather than dodge something together. True, the air-con blew recently... but even with fixing that it's cheaper than the alternatives discussed here.

[Cyco]

Originally Posted by muso

I guess this thread is kind of a RWD versus FWD and I think if you are a car enthusiast the RWD has the bling factor

This is regularly brought up, but there are so many brilliant FWD sports cars that it would never be an influencing factor for me, esp in a family car.

If you want to do burn-outs then yes it matters, but that makes you a hoon/bogan rather than an enthusiast, perhaps?

[muso]

Yeah different strokes for different folks, I prefer RWD because that is what I've always driven, but yes there are many brilliant FWD cars old (mini Cooper s 1960's) and new (Honda Integra, new Cooper S, Renault Clio etc)

If the Mitsubishi 380 was a RWD I'd stop even considering Ford or Holden (unless V8's)
I'd love to see a return of Chrysler to Australia like there used to be, I bet Chrysler could do a ripper model falcodore equivalent, it was sad when Mitsubishi bought out Chrysler in 1980.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by nota

IME in years past Pickles used to have some decent bargains (for selective buyers) but much less so in recent times and especially since every man & his dog now goes to their auctions, at least in Canberra where it's turned into a bloody social event! Plus you can't drive the car and no warranty either

For trivia I saw a Sydney Holden dealer advertising a batch of brand-new VE Omegas for $29,990 driveaway

Set up a BBQ and they have the day planned out..


Good price for the Omega but personally i would skip it.. If i was going to buy a car for me i wouldn't go under the SV6..
But for the everyday car the Omega is fine, Even the cops are loving them and in there hands they do move fast and i must admit the 180 engine is quieter in the cops hands??.

[Falcon500]

Originally Posted by pimento

The attention needed is minimal, the nice thing about Volvos is that when they were new they were bought by people who look after them properly, don't thrash them and replace things rather than dodge something together. True, the air-con blew recently... but even with fixing that it's cheaper than the alternatives discussed here.

Thats a broad and innacurate generalisation often new they are bought by the elderly or ethnic peoples who have the mechanical apptitude of my cat (who for your information is trying to scratch throught my caravan door atm) and often forget or totally ignore noises, servicing ect ect

And minimal is also an exageration at 10 years of age regardless of the car itself rubber hoses (which seem to double every new revision of motors) do start to perish and normally its an awkward join (the same type that about 1" long and gets ignored often because its hard to see) in the coolent or vacume system that gets neglected and will leave you stranded as its too short to cut and Dr or is near impossible to reach with roadside tools. also at this point there is alot of similar bits and peices that often at least need a look and replacement is strongly suggested as a hose is cheaper then a tilt tray.

Personally I view that unless your willing to work on it (i replaced all hoses and comletle fluid changes,service etc etc in most cases it didnt need it but again cheaper then a tilt tray and much more reliable this way also limited warrenty from failed new parts) somthing much newer is in order there is "less" likly to go wrong and often you can pick some up with a limited warrenty nowdays for very reasonble prices

[Blue Supra]

Just buy a Reventon... seriously, thatll fix everything.