AU - best car I have owned

BA GT-HO · 30-03-2007, 05:38 AM

I have to be honest and say ever since the AU came out in 1998 I have been a vocal critic of the styling and the interior of these cars. I have owned an EF, EL, BA XR6T and now a AU XR8 Rebel, and honestly the AU is the best car I have owned. The interior grows on you and I have lost track of how many people have said "For a Ford this is a good looking car".

So to all the knockers of the AU out there (me being one of them for many years) give them a chance, because once you see past the looks of the things, they are really a cracker of a car to own and enjoy!

Cheers! :hihi:

AUIII XR8 MAN · 30-03-2007, 05:54 AM

Yes they are a very good car to own. I keep remineding my brother that the best car he every own was the AU, never had a problem with it unlike his current BA.

au2sw · 30-03-2007, 07:12 AM

i agree. up until 18 months ago i had never owned an AU, let alone been in one. and just went withthe general consensus of "the AU is nearly as bad as the EA, it's just plain ugly and handles like c**p". i wasnt too happy when told that the only car i would be able to buy (due to poor credit rating) with out budging from ford would be the AU. lets just say that after a week of driving it, i found myself falling in love with it and couldnt see what all the fuss was about

im now on my 2nd AU and loving it. the 1st was a series 1 forte sedan with 5 spoke 16's and rear wing in oxford green, unfortunately written off with in 6mths:( now i have a series 2 forte wagon bog stock at the moment, but thats ok, im still loving it!!

Casper · 30-03-2007, 08:20 AM

Yeah, only took some people 9 years to develop a sense of style!

:

**Mechan1k** · 30-03-2007, 08:39 AM

Funny you mention it ... I knocked the AU as well when it first came out ... because at the time the styling was ahead of it's time.

Today though ... it seems to suit now (if you know what I mean). I guess because everyone has seen so many taxis out there on the roads.

When I first looked at mine I had my heart set on a BA ute ... test drive an AU LPG ute (as it was much cheaper as well) ... and I actually enjoyed the drive ... it handled better and the seats were more comfortable ... plus the interior plastics are far superior than the B-series Falcons and S-series Territories (I own one as well ... so I can compare fairly).

The interior styling has grown on me over time and I like te look of it now (I even liked that old Mustang that had the AU dash installed in it ... looked classy).

So from someone who used to knock the vehicle ... I am a convert ... and all Ican say is don't knock'em till you drive one for a while ... you will be pleasantly surprised.

They are a much better vehicle than the Commodore of the same era ... as the Commodores look and feel dated whereas the Falcon doesn't seem to.

Norton · 30-03-2007, 09:30 AM

I've owned an AU1 Forte from New, an AU2 Futura dedicated LPG from New and now an AU3 Fairmont Ghia V8 from 1 year old.

Although they have all had their share of small problems I have never been let down by them.

Prior to owning the AU's I was a dead set Holden supporter, I was then given a Ford Falcon as a company car and have loved them ever since.

You could say I am a true convert!

Sledgehammer · 30-03-2007, 11:20 AM

Yep, I actually prefer to drive our AU over our BA as well,....interesting that isnt it.

**FTE217** · 30-03-2007, 11:34 AM

yep I was a knocker from way back on the base models,they did suck imo......
Always like the XR's though but whinged not enough power so was leading towards a VXSS in 2002.
After driving both (AUXR8S3/VXSS) the money was on the XR8 no worries. I fixed the power deficiency.
Come mid April 06 I came reallyreally close to a BSeries FPV in the V8 ofcourse, by the time I weighed everything up I couldn't go past a T3 and haven't looked back !!
The ugly duckling certainly turns me on.

GK · 30-03-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

The ugly duckling certainly turns me on.

Ugly duckling! No way Bluey, that T series is indeed a beautiful swan!

GK

**Professor Farnsworth** · 30-03-2007, 12:21 PM

i've been close to buying an AU several times, but the interior (and to some extents the exterior) has always put me off at the vital moment. Although i have driven a couple, and they do drive very well, steering is a bit light but they're very responsive off the line, unlike the BA.

And i still believe the t3 TE50 is the best looking muscle car Ford Aus has produced.

**FTE217** · 30-03-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

Ugly duckling! No way Bluey, that T series is indeed a beautiful swan!

GK

No argument re the TSeries, ugly was referring base models, no offence to lovers of them just my opinion.

EA2BA · 30-03-2007, 12:33 PM

I have nothing against an AU XR they look great have never changed opinion on that, it's all the other models with those horrible lights I don't like, I could only ever own an AU XR if I owned an AU.

StealthAu · 30-03-2007, 12:41 PM

AU's are the only care I can think of that need a body kit to pass in the looks department. Standard they are horrid (more so the series 1) but throw on a kit and the look beter then most models

Casper · 30-03-2007, 12:42 PM

Is strange but the only criticism's I've ever heard of the AU's are its visual appearance, tha AU1 brakes, and that the V8's were a bit underpowered.
I can live with both of these as I think most of us agree the V8's were really struggling by the end (hence the 220 and 250 strokers getting a lot of costly parts to try and keep them relevant) and that the looks were certainly polerising. The AU1 brakes were woeful, but that got sorted on AU2.

I think its testement to the AU that, aside from theres issues, there is hardly ever a bad word said about them in general. Strength, build quality, handling, safety, dynamics, "modability" and road presence have all been outstanding features of the car. I'm sure there are plenty of other Falcon models that would love all of these traits in just 1 package.

nikos · 30-03-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

I have nothing against an AU XR they look great have never changed opinion on that, it's all the other models with those horrible lights I don't like, I could only ever own an AU XR if I owned an AU.

Funny that, i'm kinda the opposite. Not that I don't like the XRs, I just love the look of the fairmonts and T3s. Just not the au1 fortes, like mine :P but thats gettin fixed!

b2tf · 30-03-2007, 02:55 PM

Always liked the look of the AU Series III XR's, now Im lucky enough to own one.

jeffb · 30-03-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockoau

AU's are the only care I can think of that need a body kit to pass in the looks department. Standard they are horrid (more so the series 1) but throw on a kit and the look beter then most models

I agree, if you have an AU it must have a wing otherwise the back just looks wrong.

I have a T2 and it has one of those lip things on the back, cant say that does it for me, but XR wings etc make them look much better.

**FTE217** · 30-03-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb

I agree, if you have an AU it must have a wing otherwise the back just looks wrong.

I have a T2 and it has one of those lip things on the back, cant say that does it for me, but XR wings etc make them look much better.

Funny I'm the opposite, my XR8 first I put the Bi Plane on it, then I knew she'd look good without one so I got the S1 bootlid spoiler done in Carbon and she look awesum imo.....
Then as other have done like ex GlennAU's AND SFRROB'S,no spoilers but you must have bodykit's and wheels the look Fat.

**Mechan1k** · 30-03-2007, 03:06 PM

Kit but wingless FTW on the AU

The Monty · 30-03-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockoau

AU's are the only care I can think of that need a body kit to pass in the looks department. Standard they are horrid (more so the series 1) but throw on a kit and the look beter then most models

To be honest, I really dont think they NEED a bodykit, you be the judge...

I was a Holden man, even though my last name is Ford, and I too hated the AU when it was released. Then in 2000, my parents came home in an AU1 Forte, and I hated it. Then eventually, after being driven around in it, and actually driving it, I have come to love it. I ended up buying my own, an AU1 Fairmont, and have not looked back. It clicked over 200000k's today, and all that I know is wrong with it is it need a gearbox rebuild soonish.

StealthAu · 30-03-2007, 03:35 PM

I agree, bodykit without a wing, even though I've got 1 at this stage. Nothing looks better then a ts50 kit and no wing

b2tf · 30-03-2007, 03:49 PM

Might be a bit biased but I think this is one of the nicest wheelbarrows I've ever used.....

Christiaan · 30-03-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Might be a bit biased but I think this is one of the nicest wheelbarrows I've ever used.....

B2tf, ive always wondered what your plates mean?

XR eight eighty??

**DJM83** · 30-03-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Yeah, only took some people 9 years to develop a sense of style!

:

Yes casper i was one of those lol. I had an ED and i wanted an EL /xr6/8 then i found an AU XR6 5sp, thought yeah ok might take it for a spin soon as i drove it i was hooked better then any EL was so i bought it and fell in love with the XR front drove her around for 12mths then i really fell in love i found my current car, a 2000 AUII TE50 i never liked the standard AU front but i liked the T series front i had to buy her rather then see her go to someone else and be neglected, i love how ppl under estermate my car and on body knows what it is. Back on topic ive had 2 AU's and havnt had an problems only with the TE it has a slight ssshhh ssshhh ssshhh noise which is most likely the handbrake and a slight squeak, somedays i wish i had my ED back then i go for a hoon on the TE and it is forgotten

:

**Professor Farnsworth** · 30-03-2007, 04:57 PM

i'd say it's meant to flow as "XR EIGHT" ?

b2tf · 30-03-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuresm58

B2tf, ive always wondered what your plates mean?

XR eight eighty??

Was the closest I could get to XR8UTE without paying the extortionate fees NSW RTA charges for personalised plates. Kind of says "XR eight" in a way if you say it really fast/look at it sideways/drunk etc.

:

**Professor Farnsworth** · 30-03-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Was the closest I could get to XR8UTE without paying the extortionate fees NSW RTA charges for personalised plates. Kind of says "XR eight" in a way if you say it really fast/look at it sideways/drunk etc.

:

well i was close then

**DJM83** · 30-03-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb

I agree, if you have an AU it must have a wing otherwise the back just looks wrong.

I have a T2 and it has one of those lip things on the back, cant say that does it for me, but XR wings etc make them look much better.

Where are you, would you like to swap im after a bobtail? Is it a genuine tickford bobtail and what colour, i have an XR wing on my T

b2tf · 30-03-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcrackers

i'd say it's meant to flow as "XR EIGHT" ?

yep, you are right too. sorry, didnt see your post!

5L · 30-03-2007, 05:22 PM

i didnt like the looks of the au's, and i was a little unsure when buying mine. brought it mainly because it went well, and for a stock car sounded great. plus the leather and premium sound. then i gradually got use to the looks of the car. now though i think that they are an awesome looking car and where just a couple of years ahead of there time.