AU VS EL? Changes between au 1, 2 & 3?

[riverrat321]

Hey guys. Just wondering if an au1 is a much better car than an el Falcon? I'm thinking about reliability here also. Anyone know if there were any worthwile changes between au series 1, 2 and 3. Many thanks...

[Sylox]

Au1 to au 2

Different bonnets all models excpet xr
Brake upgrades all models (au1 brakes are BAD)
Dash upgades
Different body styling kits
Different front grills and tail lights

[b2tf]

ooo, been done to death lol.

Given the choice id go with an EL, or an AU2 if can stretch. I wouldnt have an AU1 if it was given to me, they just seem so half-assed it's not funny.

[Dark Horse]

Test drive an EL and AUI back to back.

AUII to AUIII (Glorified AUII)

Dot matrix pattern on windscreen
Series III badging on boot
Clear side indicators

[FNQracing]

Looks aside, you'll find the AU Series I a much better drive than an EL in almost every respect. Performance, NVH and overall build quality. AU II was what the AU should have been. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the AU, apart from its hideous styling which remained until BA.

Series II and III were a little better on the eye, but still a nasty peice of work.

[b2tf]

Ive done the AUI and EL back to back actually, thats why i said what i said (if i hadnt have driven one i wouldnt have said anything).

IMHO, EL was just that much better for some reason - The AU just felt half finished and the interior in it was foul.

[LG]

The motor was changed, and improved.

Also AU1 to AU2, got some suspension changes. AUs look hot, and they look even better with a nice set of wheels and a bit of lowering - as with any car.

[FNQracing]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

The AU just felt half finished and the interior in it was foul.

The dash in the AU reminds me of a baboons ****. How could they go from what was a very elegant design in the EF/EL to the number they pulled in the AU?

I think the interior alone turned off 50% of prospective buyers.

[FNQracing]

[QUOTE=LG]The motor was changed, and improved./QUOTE]

Vastly improved. Was the first thing I noticed when I first drove one from Syd to Melb.

For once the Ford 6 almost seemed willing to rev. It was far superior to any Ford 6 that came before it.

The driving position in AU was also much better. For the first time you sat inside a Falcon, rather on it.

[b2tf]

I like the AUII Fairmont Dash, but i can see where the baboon thing would come from lol. The woodgrain makes it look a lot better, even if it is fake.

[JADED6]

EL interior looked better than AU Falcons/futuras (not Fairmonts) I hate how BIG the centre pod/ big round thing is in the AU falcon, it's smaller in the Fairmonts and an AU Fairmont with wheels/body kit looks great outside & in.

[XplosiveR6]

AU's handle soo much better eventhough they are actually heavier then EL/EF they feel like a car with half the weight, drive both and you will see the EL/EF handles like an old boat compared to the AU, also the much free reving AU engine also contributes to the lighter feeling of the car as it doesnt seem to work as hard as a EF/EL engine, ive driven both and i own an EF. Also AUs are so much quieter its not funny, my car gets wind noise when driving 80km/h+, with an au you dont know whats going on outside.
Drive both and you will see that the AU feels like a car light years ahead of an EL

[EFFalcon]

I'd take an EL over an AU1
I'd take an AU II over both if i could afford it.

but i'll keep my EF

[UNR8D]

simple get an EL2 with the AU engine in it just like my NL, smooth and on superlows it still rides smooth but handles ALOT better. btw some of the series 2 el/nl's had the AU engine in from factory, mine coped the AU gearbox/engine and crappy 3.08 diff....

[FTE217]

This is like comparing apples with pears !
Same for AU to BA , different cars to different times/eras............
EL's were great in their times but nothing compared to the AU I drive.

[loxxr6]

Given the choice id go with an EL, or an AU2 if can stretch.

I think most people will be of this opinion.

My AU1 has been one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. The XR spec interior isn't as shabby as the base models...

Given the knowledge I have now I would have gone the series 2 but I guess I wasn't on the forums back then to know better.

I can't compare the AU to an EL (never driven one) but against my old ED Fairmont I think its much better.

As for the brakes well they've kept up pretty well. For everyday use I think they're fine. They could be better but I hear of a certain performance shop which is doing AU2 conversions reasonably cheap so that might get a look in later on.

[GlennBA]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Test drive an EL and AUI back to back.

AUII to AUIII (Glorified AUII)

Dot matrix pattern on windscreen
Series III badging on boot
Clear side indicators

Also body coloured side moulds and small side skirts. And AUII had cassette players, AUIII didn't.

[champsky]

ive driven both an EL and an AU or actually a few of them, even though they were taxis :P

and i have to say that imo, the AU's engine and throttle didnt appeal to me as much as the EL falcons, i always felt that teh AU's were a bit too spongy for me whereas the EL's ahd more of a response and feel through the pedal.

Whether one was faster than the other im not sure, but it just came across to em as the EL's engine being more robust and the AU as being a bit lifeless.

i know there will be alot of people out there who disagree which is fine as everyone has a different veiw on all things, but this is just the way i see things :

[Walkinshaw]

Late EL's only got AU head, they didnt get the AU bottom end, and thus they only spin as freely and as smoothly as an EF/L motor.

[riverrat321]

Thanks for the great response guys. You've given me something to think about. Having had some unreliable cars in the past, reliability is one thing I need to consider too. Anyway I will let you know what I go for when I can afford to update.