A tear will be shed...

[Riksta]

People of aufalcon.com - I have taken the plunge today and signed a contract to trade the AU in on a black manual LS Focus Zetec, subject to finance.

Now the finance shouldn't be too much of an issue, which means, its time for me to start saying goodbye to those of you at aufalcon.com

You guys have been brilliant, any problems I've had you guys have generally had quick, concise and easy to follow instructions to fix. Its been a great community to be a part of and even though I haven't posted much in here recently I will still miss the banter of this section.

I'm still going to remain an active member here on AFF so I'm sure I'll still see you all in other sections, but just wanted to put up a personal goodbye to the section that's been of the most help and importance to me - it was because of the aufalcon.com website I found AFF and signed up to start with.

While this is the end of my first chapter with an AU, I'm sure it won't be my last, I just can't justify having a 6 cylinder car at the moment, and those of you who do know my car would know it probably needs about $2-$3k spent on it to get it both cosmetically and mechanically immaculate again.

I will be taking the aufalcon.com stickers off my rear quarters before I hand it in, in case somebody down the track decides to use it in a manner not fitting for a car with our stickers.

So I bid you all farewell, and until we meet again, may your AU's treat you well! Thanks once again everyone for your help & support over the last three & a half years. It has been appreciated!

[KR1STO]

Good luck with the new car mate...!
Would've been a hard decision...

[mik]

have fun with the new limo.

[GasoLane]

Make sure you pop back in from time to time so we can pick on you for defecting and buying 1/2 a car

[Day-mow]

i saw it driving the other day on marion rd. i like the front end.

[JC]

So long for now - you'll be back!

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by KR1STO

Good luck with the new car mate...!
Would've been a hard decision...

Thanks, and yes, it was a very hard decision. I've become quite attached to the old "tractor" as it has become known in the SA circles, I think it will really hit me when I drive out in the Focus, leaving the AU behind. I'm hoping the excitement of new car will outweigh the sadness of getting rid of the AU.

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Make sure you pop back in from time to time so we can pick on you for defecting and buying 1/2 a car

I've been copping a little bit of flack about buying a "girlie hairdressers car", but at this stage I don't mind, the Focus' are good cars from what I have read and heard, and it should only save me coin at this stage - more dollars to put into the Luxobarge means that gets more work done quicker!

Originally Posted by JC

So long for now - you'll be back!

I really hope so. Hopefully at some stage in a Windsor powered AU!

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Riksta

I really hope so. Hopefully at some stage in a Windsor powered AU!

Or.................... a Windsor powered Focus?

[crdave]

A black manual Zetec, nothing wrong with that ,nice choice and it's still a Ford. Good luck and have fun with the new car. Bring it along on the 24th if you get the chance.

[Riksta]

I think I'm working that weekend unfortunately, will know for sure when the newest roster comes out hopefully this week sometime.

And a Windsor powered focus would be awesome, would need AWD though ;)

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Riksta

And a Windsor powered focus would be awesome, would need AWD though ;)

Of course, and if I see an AWD focus with a shaker bonnet I'll just move over and let it go

[Day-mow]

if i may ask rik,
are you getting much of a trade in on the tractor?

[au11futura]

good luck mate with the new micro machine......you wont be able to fit any bbq's in there for your snags now.....

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by Day-mow

if i may ask rik,
are you getting much of a trade in on the tractor?

I'm getting $3500 for it. I know its probably worth more, but it does need a fair bit of work done to it: new back bar, new plugs, new leads, new power steering pump & rack, new front hubs, brakes are starting to shudder again, tyres are starting to get to the point where they need replacing, there's rust in the boot on either side of the number plate that's starting to get bad, plus it just has reached that magical 200,000km mark which drops value.

I'm not too disappointed in the $3.5 though, since a couple of yards after were only going to go to $2.5, or, "we'll match the $3.5 but won't be able to drop the price on the car you're buying at all".

The way I look at it, I'm cutting my losses now before it drops in value too much more, and before I HAVE to spend a heap of money on it to keep it running. I'm doing this to try and save a bit of coin on fuel to and from work each day as well.

Originally Posted by au11futura

good luck mate with the new micro machine......you wont be able to fit any bbq's in there for your snags now.....

You'd be surprised, I reckon the boot space is almost on par with the Falcon. In fact, because I have a stupid huge sub box in the boot of the AU which effectively takes out a third of my boot space, I reckon I'll have more now! BBQ anyone? ;)

[Day-mow]

yeah fair call mate. totally see where your coming from.

[DJM83]

I did the same thing a few weeks ago, congrats on the purchase

[blueoval]

I hope you find some happiness in the Focus Rik. They (the german ones) are very well built and will serve your purpose well. Plus they are easier to park than the AU. Thats something you will be happy with I know.

I think 3.5k isnt that bad for an AU of your condition. You havent spent all that much on it (not like mine) so in effect your losing less so to speak.

Anyway dude, at least you have the barge to keep your cruising temptations happy.

[Riksta]

Its not German Shav, its South African. From memory, only the XR5T was German.

And yeah, the Barge isn't going anywhere in a hurry, would never sell that!

Well the call just came through, finance is approved on the Focus, looks like I'm about to go sign all the finance paperwork, but may not actually be able to take delivery of the car until Friday as it needs to undergo their reconditioning - even though it was only serviced 1000km ago.

Reality has started to set in I think, it was with heavy heart I just removed the RIK250 plates and put on the old state plates. For some reason, I'm not getting excited about the new car, more disappointed over getting rid of the old one! I hope this changes though.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Its not German Shav, its South African. From memory, only the XR5T was German.
And yeah, the Barge isn't going anywhere in a hurry, would never sell that!

Well the call just came through, finance is approved on the Focus, looks like I'm about to go sign all the finance paperwork, but may not actually be able to take delivery of the car until Friday as it needs to undergo their reconditioning - even though it was only serviced 1000km ago.

Reality has started to set in I think, it was with heavy heart I just removed the RIK250 plates and put on the old state plates. For some reason, I'm not getting excited about the new car, more disappointed over getting rid of the old one! I hope this changes though.

Correct

[Qwik6]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Well the call just came through, finance is approved on the Focus, looks like I'm about to go sign all the finance paperwork, but may not actually be able to take delivery of the car until Friday as it needs to undergo their reconditioning - even though it was only serviced 1000km ago.

They would've just given it a detail & safety check.

[blueoval]

Sounds like your heart will always be with the AU. Its taken u on some great cruises and the Focus wont fill the same void the AU does when it comes to baynies...lol. Still, look forward, dont look back and you'll think more positive on your choice to change.

[Riksta]

Well, the deal has all gone through and everything has been said and done.

I spent a while Thursday night stripping back the AU, removing the DVD player and putting the factory head unit back in, took the sub box & amp out as well. I left the Polk Audio speakers in there, I'm sure somebody will appreciate their quality over the factory speakers someday! After work on Friday I went to the dealer and did the swap.

After what I said about leaving it behind it was weird. I guess I had the couple of days to get used to it without my plates on it, and without my plates on it, it didn't really feel like "my" car anymore, just something I was driving around in (if that makes sense), so leaving it there just felt more like parking it to leave it for a while. Even though I know I'll never have it back.

The Focus is so much fun to drive! I'm still getting used to manual again, its been quite a few years since I've owned a manual, I've driven a few here and there, but still getting used to the fact there's a clutch to play with as well!

Shav - the Focus has done a couple of Baynies now, its not the same as the AU but its still a bunch of fun!

Thank you all once again for all the answers you guys gave me to the questions I have had. I hope the guys in the Focus section are just as great as you lot - in fact, I'm going over there now to start getting some advice on a couple of minor mods I wouldn't mind doing ;)