Buying first car, preferably EL-EF

[Crazy Dazz]

I assume you're in Victoria?
$1,000
Find out what it needs for RWC, probably haggle down a bit.
$1,000
Same.
$850ono
Same deal, needs RWC.
$700.00 neg, with LPG

$999.00 neg. EF Fairmont with LPG
needs RWC and some work on the gas but at least has a bit of rego.
$1,000 EL on LPG
again, no RWC
$700 EF

[Tori]

Dazz pretty much nailed what I was trying to say, don't want to buy a car for 2k and have it let me down anyway. And yeah I just dont like the AU's at all, the interior the shape, nothing about them appeals to me lol; i'll learn how to fix an engine before that happens. I'm not totally against fixing my car myself, I just havnt tried anything like that before so i guess its a learning curve :P? I think I'll jsut wait for an EL with some rego and low kms. The deluded used car sales make it hard for someone like me to know what i should actually be paying though. I probably seem close minded, but I really just like these cars.

[LTDHO]

Why are people saying parts are hard to come by, you are kidding right?
Right now there are an abundance of parts, in fact the market price on these parts have dropped significantly.

Tori, join the E-series owners club on Facebook, heaps of good advice.

Personally, buying a car that has been looked after an not heavily modified is the way to go. They last forever (like any car) as long as it is maintained. I just sold my EL Fairmont for $1200, had 300k on it but never missed a beat. Sadly low klms comes at a price.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yes, may be easy for someone that knows their way around an engine bay or has the knowledge / connections to do the work themselves but I assume by the questions posted that Tori has a limited scope (as well as funds) to undertake buying a car with a blown engine, then locate a suitable replacement engine, then arrange to have it swapped, then arrange for the inspection and change of details paperwork.

We all know how easily a person who presents themselves to a workshop with little mechanical understanding can be taken for a ride.

Yes, which is why i said 'if thats your thing'.
Evidently the prospect of doing some repairs is a possibility going by his most recent post.
Its only nuts and bolts man, if some dude on a production line can screw it together its not rocket science.
If i look hard enough i could find the step by step guide to doing it that i posted on here 5 or 6 years ago.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ht=AU+motor+EF

My point is, he wants an EF/L, the 'achile's' of the E-series cars is the head gasket, it gets 99% of them.
If he spends 1.5k on a 'running' EF/L he may end up with a milkshake next week, they are unpredictable.
If he bought one with the head already gone, he will get it for bugger all.
Throw an AU motor in which really isnt hard if you can follow basic instructions, and have the look he wants with a reliable powerplant, on the road, inside his budget.

When i was a teen starting out in the car scene i'd be all over it, if for nothing else than to prove i could do it.

[esppwr]

Tori look for a car that presents well, mechanicals on these cars are cheap.
2k is scrapping the bottom of the barrel of any car with reg & rwc.
It may pay to continue saving and purchase a cleaner example.
A clean Xr or ghia will more likely hold it's price v a flogged gli that nobody wants.
Buy yourself a manual and a tool kit, the problem solving and experience you gain from fixing your own car will far out way the cost of fixing it

[IanC]

Originally Posted by gossy

Plenty of bargains around, just make sure you know what to look out for as others have said.

Have you tried the Auctions? http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0001-...matic?spr=true

A few other Falcons available too there.

I strongly advise against auctions for older cars. They are a minefield of rip off merchants. You don't get a chance to test drive at auctions and that is crucial with older cars.

[Tori]

Thanks again for all the help everyone, really appreciate it.

You did that procedure to an EF falcon, I'm buying an EL fairmont; would this still work?

I kind of do want a car like now though, since it would make things a lot easier. A car won't blow a headgasket or a head a week later without showing signs right? If so I can have a car to drive and fix that when it happens, or rather try to fix it lol. On a side note, what makes AU motors so much better than EL's? They're not much younger.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by Tori

Thanks again for all the help everyone, really appreciate it.

You did that procedure to an EF falcon, I'm buying an EL fairmont; would this still work?

I kind of do want a car like now though, since it would make things a lot easier. A car won't blow a headgasket or a head a week later without showing signs right? If so I can have a car to drive and fix that when it happens, or rather try to fix it lol. On a side note, what makes AU motors so much better than EL's? They're not much younger.

They had an improved head gasket on the AU series. Makes all the difference, even though my EL never blew a head gasket and last until 310,000 kms before being written off (was definitely an anomaly)

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Tori

Thanks again for all the help everyone, really appreciate it.

You did that procedure to an EF falcon, I'm buying an EL fairmont; would this still work?

I kind of do want a car like now though, since it would make things a lot easier. A car won't blow a headgasket or a head a week later without showing signs right? If so I can have a car to drive and fix that when it happens, or rather try to fix it lol. On a side note, what makes AU motors so much better than EL's? They're not much younger.

Tori, How old are you and is there an urgent need (not desire) to own a car 'like now'?

Patience is a virtue and if you can wait for the right car and take your time to check things out, I truly believe that you will be better off in the long run - especially as you are getting plenty of very experienced advice on here.

Good luck either way you decide to go..

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Tori

Thanks again for all the help everyone, really appreciate it.

You did that procedure to an EF falcon, I'm buying an EL fairmont; would this still work?

EL run a Distributor as opposed to the coil pack used in EF and AU, though i cant see that being a problem as the hole to accomodate the distributor is present on the AU block.

It was just a thought.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Tori

Thanks again for all the help everyone, really appreciate it.

You did that procedure to an EF falcon, I'm buying an EL fairmont; would this still work?

I kind of do want a car like now though, since it would make things a lot easier. A car won't blow a headgasket or a head a week later without showing signs right? If so I can have a car to drive and fix that when it happens, or rather try to fix it lol. On a side note, what makes AU motors so much better than EL's? They're not much younger.

If you look at an EL Fairmont, I see a few styling cues carried over to the AU Monty.

In addition to fixing the head-gasket problem, there were big changes to the lower end of the engine for the AU. The block casting was revised, the main bearings were enlarged, new pistons were fitted with longer rods, and the sump was made from cast alloy and bolted through to effectively become part of the block, making the bottom end much stiffer and free from vibration. The result was an engine that is now legendary for its longevity.

Back when EL's were still popular, a very common and popular mod was to grab an AU engine from a wreck and drop it it (just required a little shave off the sump to accommodate the EL cross-member.)

[falcon_bandit]

Originally Posted by Tori

And yeah I just dont like the AU's at all, the interior the shape, nothing about them appeals to me lol

test drive the EF & AU back to back, you may change your mind

ive seen heaps of AU Ghia's on gumtree for under $2000, great buying at the moment

[Bossxr8]

For Christ sake he doesn't want an AU. And you're all kidding yourself if you think a $2000 AU is going to be any more reliable than a 2k EL. Either will depend on the previous owners.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

For Christ sake he doesn't want an AU.

Yes, but this is a forum, we mostly want to express our own opinions.

And yes, fact is the AU is a MUCH better car (if you can get past the looks) and the engines are MUCH more reliable.
Also, the price point at the moment sees AU's as the cheapest and most plentiful.

But of course that is only advice.
Most of the other advice applies equally if he only wants to look at EL's.

Personally, If the OP loves the look of EL's, I would SERIOUSLY consider a NL or DL. Generally better looked after, lower k's, more bang for your buck, more likely to have LPG, and on average very competitively priced for what you get.

[Pablo999]

Try and buy an AU.

Au looks good with nice set of wheels. I think they look more modern than ef or el models and price to buy is almost same.

[Tori]

Yeah I don't think I'm going to get an AU, even though theyre meant to be mechanically better. Worst comes to worst I'll try that AU motor replace thing.
I'm 18, and I guess I don't need a car, although it would just make life easier obviously. That said I'm not going to rush it, but if i see something i think is reasonable, I will probably buy it and if it breaks down it breaks down; thats the risk of a car this cheap. I can probably become a little bit less useless with cars if i buy something that needs attention anyway.
You guys have been very helpful anyway, thank you .

[Falcman0o7]

Should find a decent tickford powered EF EL Ghia for 2k

[Falcman0o7]

PS, AU's are great cars! LOL But i understand the issue with the looks.
XRs good good and TS50s are AWESOME!

[sleepisforthedead]

Buy an EF Fairmont or Ghia, buy the best and lowest km one you can afford and hopefully the modifying bug won't bite you too hard and have you dropping coin on chrome inner door handles and EL Ghia grilles and AU diff cover and so on and so forth

[red_hotxr6]

Bought my EL fairmont ghia, just over 3 years ago, apart from, the head gasket $600...4 new tyres, replace the radiator, and having the car serviced every 6 months, its brilliant...Also got an AU xr6 series 3, had to do more on this one as i dont think the previous owner looked after it....EL $2000.00 and the AU $3300..
with both cars pretty much right, they are both excellent cars to drive...

[Sorted]

Originally Posted by bangm001

How much are base model XT BA Falcons?

Funny you should ask - my mate picked one up for $520 a few weeks ago - best buy ever - he has pulled it apart trying to find anything wrong with it and all he can find is that it needs front brake pads lol

He was just at the right place and the right time 0 eBya at 2.30am in the morning lol

I have picked up an EL Fairmont Wagon with Concorde Interior on dual fuel with the only issue being head lining for $1,000 and also picked up a nice and neat EF Fairmont Sedan on dual fuel for $500...

So bargains are out there - you just have to look - get on facebook on Mobstarford E-Series Club and Ford ED EF EL AU XR6 and XR8 buy sell swap - there are some bargain e-series there up fro grabs

With EL's beware of rust in the sills

[El Venom]

I am love of EL's and and the 2 I have I only laid out $460 for and one had just been threw all its rego checks and had 12 months rego put on it. It still had a couple of tiny issues to fix but it to fix them it was more about time then money to sort and it has been a very good car and pretty much on the road since I got it only coming off the road for mods.

If you take your time, look at common area for rust like sills and around wheel arches and get a mechanic to do a pre purchase inspection then there is no reason why you cant grab yourself a nice tidy ef/el within your bugdet and have no dramas. Even modifying mine I havent spent alot but drives great, stops awesome and has some mod cons in it to. So even though it may be an 19yr old car it compares well with later models and I wont be giving it up at all but at the end of the day its your money and your choice.