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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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30-11-2018, 08:36 PM | #1 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 50
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Hi
My in-laws want to buy a vehicle for driving around the coast including dirt roads. They don't feel safe in cab-over vans so considering a wagon then fitting it out with bed etc. I suggested the VT/VZ commodores etc (from memory they were mechanically solid and plenty of parts). They however have looked into Magna's and Falcons. The vehicles in their price range (~$1500-$2k) have over 200k on the clock. I own a BF and am quite disappointed with the suspension; front control arm bushes, diff bushes etc. Do the BA wagons share the same woes? I thought perhaps a AU3 might be better? I thought they had more robust suspension? What would you suggest? |
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30-11-2018, 08:49 PM | #2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Riff
Posts: 12,391
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B series wagon all day.
No rear suspension woes, barra I6 up front, good looks. What else could you ask for?
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FGII XR6 IN LIGHTNING STRIKE R52 SIII IN GUN METALLIC |
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30-11-2018, 08:52 PM | #3 | ||
PURSUIT 250
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: sydney
Posts: 5,820
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30-11-2018, 08:55 PM | #4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 18,986
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you can leave the keys and a full tank in an a/u
still be there in the morning |
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30-11-2018, 08:54 PM | #5 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 50
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30-11-2018, 09:05 PM | #6 | |||
^^^^^^^^
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: online - duh
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
Front is the same, more or less AU = BA.
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30-11-2018, 09:26 PM | #7 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 256
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BA-BF are tanks and therefore have suitably engineered shocks and springs, why spend $800 on brand new replacements for your AU? When you can waltz down to your nearest junkyard and for the meagre sum of $150 have the full BA-BF kit that will last 500,000klm.
As for POTTERY BEIGE, only ford's make it beyond the thunderdome! |
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01-12-2018, 10:00 AM | #8 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 18,986
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Quote:
VTs are a far superior product for the more refined motoring folk among the rabble and driving on dirt roads is for peasants! #vtlyfe |
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01-12-2018, 11:02 AM | #9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melb.
Posts: 4,458
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Quote:
XP, XW, XE, XF, EL, BA...all the wagons in my life and all used also as work vehicles. |
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01-12-2018, 01:28 PM | #10 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 18,986
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Quote:
VT either sedan or wagons by now have suffered the ownership of several single mothers (shazzas) and still going strong if single mothers drove around in ugly cars (a/us) they would be out of business #vtlyfe |
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01-12-2018, 02:06 PM | #11 | ||
RS The Faster Fords
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Westralia
Posts: 1,694
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Sold my old BA wagon to a backpacker at 400 000km. Had heaps of calls from tourists about it. No doubt its still going strong albeit a bit smellier.
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Escort RS2000 Restored factory a/c and alloys. TD Cortina Unrestored 35 000km 6cyl manual. Mk1 GT Cortina Project. FG XR50 Daily. |
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01-12-2018, 02:09 PM | #12 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 256
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Quote:
do running repairs. Never any time for business cause their always dirty. Ford shazza's are usually morbidly obese cause they have plenty of time to indulge in the finer things in life. They prefer getting dirty after hours once the business is done. |
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01-12-2018, 04:28 PM | #13 | ||
Shenanigans..............
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Footscrazy
Posts: 12,477
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So you're saying vt's are welfare wagons? Sounds bout right.
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01-12-2018, 02:09 AM | #14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 5,001
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If you want bulletproof reliability, its hard to go past the Intech 6 in the AU.
I'd also choose the AU because the interior controls are a bit more old school, and therefore cheaper and easier to fix. Plus easy to replace the standard factory radio (if not already done) with something more modern, DAB, sync, etc. And they are as cheap as chips. |
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01-12-2018, 10:47 AM | #15 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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Quote:
Re the Intech 6 ...Geez it's a good donk . They just go forever . |
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01-12-2018, 10:51 AM | #16 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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Quote:
Re the Intech 6 ...Geez it's a good donk . They just go forever and you don't have to pull covers off to access the plugs..Then again the Barra plugs are good for 150,000 k's os something ridiculous anyway .. Just buy a Ford wagon ..either /or ...Both AU or BA/BF will be great . |
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01-12-2018, 11:15 AM | #17 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,674
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I'd be looking for a Magna wagon personally and if the budget can stretch a little but further, look for a TL VR with the 3.5l/5sp Auto, should be able to get one for under the $3k mark now.
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...-5664308/?Cr=0 |
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01-12-2018, 07:03 PM | #18 | |||
If it ain't broke........
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Sunshine Coast Qld
Posts: 18,710
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Quote:
You'll need a fuel tanker to follow you on your trip.............
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Visitors welcome Relatives by appointment only |
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01-12-2018, 07:59 PM | #19 | |||
Au Falcon = Mr Reliable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North West Slopes & Plains NSW
Posts: 4,076
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Quote:
cheers, Maka
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Ford AU Series Magazine Scans Here - www.fordforums.com.au/photos/index.php?cat=2792 Proud owner of a optioned keeper S1 Tickford Falcon AU XR6 VCT - "it's actually a better-balanced car than the XR8, goes almost as hard and uses about two-thirds of the fuel" (Drive.com 2007) |
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02-12-2018, 01:07 AM | #20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NSW
Posts: 4,331
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Quote:
I much prefer the front end before the facelift of the one you posted. I had one about 10 years ago that I treated pretty badly and never had issues apart from the standard oil leak. |
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02-12-2018, 01:24 PM | #21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,750
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A question close to my heart.
The AU intech SOHC is a bit more torquey feeling low down, I think the Barra gets to peak torque a little higher? Otherwise both robust. I'd say AU (or early AU2?) for that extra ground clearance the early models got - they were apparently great dirt road tourers back in the day. Live axle rear which got panned in the press is actually a bonus 10 years+ on. Front ball joints seem to be the thing I most did and redid in my old Falcons... As for the Commodores OP lists, Ecotec is reliable & in all of them except the VZ which got this alloy thing that ate timing chains - beware! Touch not the alloytec! As for the ecotec, it can short out an electrical lead connection on the alternator, there's an aftermarket part that is more sensibly designed. Can leak at rocker covers. Dad's VY does go through power steering fluid pretty quick. And early ones (VR-VS) would forget to send timing information from sender unit near harmonic balancer on hot days and shut down all power while on the move. Intermittently. Fun. Commodore wagon also has IRS which tended to eat inside rear tyres until VX2. They are pretty cavernous inside, being designed to Telstra's brief! I'd reckon they are a bigger/taller load area than the Falcon wagons of same era - does anyone have any dimensions to compare? Overall, AU is the winner but it's getting old now, so latest BF you can find at a nice price?
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I6 + AWD Last edited by Sprintey; 02-12-2018 at 01:32 PM. |
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02-12-2018, 03:19 PM | #22 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,674
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Quote:
These can be an ongoing issue if owned by a tight **** who tries to tighten the bolts instead of replacing the gaskets and crushes the covers. The timing belt/waterpump and housing is an easy swap too and again, only due every 100k's. BA/F and VT/Y have common faults too which will cost just as much over the life of a high milage car. I wouldn't head off around the country without doing a heat exchanger or bypass cooler for piece of mind in a high milage example. The good thing about the TL Magna VR is the VRX output which sits between the AU and B series and will outrun both, IRS rear suspension and 5sp auto which is a good unit. The BA/F will have a 4sp, live axle and leaf springs which unless you're towing is overkill for the task described. |
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03-12-2018, 08:24 AM | #23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,614
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When I bought my TJ Wagon 5 years ago, it had oil pouring out like a waterfall, the dealer fixed the rocker cover gasket pretty easily. Back then I bought the Magna because a commodore wagon of the same age came with bogan tax, they were almost double the price for the same kays. Almost no Magna wagons left now, theyre worthless.
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____________________ 2019 LDV G10 2009 Mitsubishi Express-GONE 2011 Honda Jazz ____________________ |
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01-12-2018, 05:34 PM | #24 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 256
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ECOTEC, BUICK V6........... ROUGH, OILY, GUTLESS
Absolute travesty and sacrilege that these PIECES OF **** ever outsold any falcon let alone the AU. The AU was a victory for functionality over aesthetics..... the fallen, the blackened, the down trodden.....but never forgotten. |
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01-12-2018, 05:44 PM | #25 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 18,986
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Quote:
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01-12-2018, 07:47 PM | #26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR6sKfaBlGM .. Go the mighty Intech inline 6 ..Those engines will survive religion as once commented somewhere on another thread . Last edited by roddy1960; 01-12-2018 at 07:58 PM. |
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01-12-2018, 05:56 PM | #27 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 256
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Never seen an INTECH drop its guts even when completely neglected. On the other hand the mighty BUICK has snapped rods, spun bearings and lost oil pressure on many occasions. I replaced about 5 in total back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avGbis23h0M |
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01-12-2018, 06:33 PM | #28 | |||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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Quote:
AU/BA/BF wagons are solid things, and can handle OZ really well. The suspension systems on all 3 are essentially the same and very rugged. The most significant difference between them is the engines and dashboard. Both engines are solid workhorses, with the AU slightly easier for repair, but the B series slightly more powerful. Dashboards are significantly different, AU being old school and less to go wrong, and B series much more modern but more to go wrong. Neither are considered to be unreliable though. I personally would choose an AU because I prefer them over B series... ...However, age is catching up on them and even the newest AU is 16 years old and will most likely have high k's. BF wagons were made until 2008(?) or thereabouts so you have more chance of getting something quite a bit newer and with less k's, so it may be a better choice for your in-laws. Good luck...
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. Oval Everywhere... |
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01-12-2018, 07:01 PM | #29 | |||
If it ain't broke........
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Sunshine Coast Qld
Posts: 18,710
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Quote:
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01-12-2018, 09:34 PM | #30 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Taromeo
Posts: 10,584
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A mate had the same decision to make for going around Australia.
He is towing a caravan though. I tried to talk him into a BA/BF wagon but he reckoned the AU would be better as it would be easier for him to fix should it break down. So far he's fixed the engine (5L) 3 or 4 times, including 2 engine swaps, the auto box, the diff, the brakes... I think the suspension is ok. |
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