au fairmont

[GS608]

i know its probably too early to be looking but right now ive got a triton ute, havnt got my L's yet butt after hearing i can drive a v8 on l's im thinking about selling this and getting an AU. i looked on carsales and saw a few fairmont's and fairmont ghia near the 10 grand mark, and noticed that some had tickford engines and some didnt, could someone explain why, and which ones better? i would love one with a tickford though

also would it be a decent investment, like are the monts good cars? nice ride ect.


cheers dean

[sleekism]

Yeah I have a Fairmont Ghia with the Tickford. and I am on my P's and it's a brilliant car to drive.

It's simply mind boggling the amount of value you get in a Fairmont Ghia (go the ghia not the regular fairmont as it's no beta than base model) wif stuf like electric windows, electric seat, leather, chrome touches, premium sound with subwoofer, computer screen, small computer screen wif range and instant fuel consumption etc.

Mechanically you either get the Windsor 302 V8 with I think 175kw or the Tickford L6 withh 168kw and you get the brilliant independent rear suspension.

I have the Tickford Six so can't comment on the V8 but I can tell you the Tickford Six is brilliant. It is the same motor as the XR6 and has Variable Cam Timing.
It revs really fast and smoothly and has bucketloads of grunt and from what I have heard is only maginally slower than the V8.

Only faults I can find:
-Being a manual man I would have liked a manual but the Auto is a good piece of work.

-It has a really quiet exaust (it loses 4kw over XR6 due to REALLY quiet exhaust) but the aftermarket can fix that.

-Styling is conservative with the 16 inch Ghia rims bot filling the arches enough and make sure you find one witj the optioned bodylit as they look really good.

Basically they are essentially a luxury spec XR6 and an unbeliavable bargain considering everything they come with. Considering that at trade in time your probably not going to be impressed so buy it with the intention of keeping it.

Here is a really good link:

http://trueblueford.com/Specs_Pages.htm

[sleekism]

Sorry about the Grammar but I'm lazy.

[GS608]

thanks mate, nah thats cool.

yeah i was surprised at how much you get with the ghia, would have loved for a manual though, but the auto seems fine.

if i do end up getting one which im fairly sure i will if its the right price i'll be puttin on the v8 supercar spoiler and maybe body kit. btw thanks for the link, i'll deffinetly not bother with the std fairmont, the ghia looks to be alot better.

im surprised a how much power the 6 has, its not much less than the v8, and more than our v8 lol.

[sleekism]

Heres another link from independent source about bargain performance cars under 10k.

http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_2890/article.html

If you really wana ramp up the styling a TS50 body kit can be fitted quite easily to the Fairmont.

Cheers,

[GS608]

awesome thanks for that, the TS50's look really nice, just for future referance where could i grab one of them body kits?

dean

[sleekism]

I'm sure there is a few places but I only know of sydeney special vehicles.

http://ssv.com.au/body_kits

I was considering buying one but the way these hoon laws are going a sleeper seems a better idea and a stock looking Fairmont is a great way to have ball breaking performance and not draw too much attention from the cops, worth thinking about.

[GS608]

tru that, probably opt out of the kit, depends how things go in the next few years, since i wont be on my p's till middle next year.

probably wont have any performance mods till i get my opens, but after that probably chuck on a turbo, do some engine mods chip exhaust. but for now its just cosmetic.

might have a go at putting a manual in it aswell. i hate autos lol

[2Lucid]

go for the 75th anniversary edition fairmont ghia if ya can fnid it...... ya get the dark leather interior from the fairlane, momo leather steering wheel and gearknob and multispoke 17's... i picked up mine for $13k and thats a V8 with 78,000kms when i bough it

[GS608]

damn thats a decent price, i was looking at a 98 fairmont ghia, 83,000kms for $9,990, ill keep an eye out for one of them

[GK]

Originally Posted by 2Lucid

go for the 75th anniversary edition fairmont ghia if ya can fnid it...... ya get the dark leather interior from the fairlane, momo leather steering wheel and gearknob and multispoke 17's... i picked up mine for $13k and thats a V8 with 78,000kms when i bough it

75th Anniversary Ghia would be my choice if I was buying an AU again.

All the best with the hunting. Be patient, you'll find one.

GK

[GS608]

thanks GK

does anyone by any chance know of any reviews or spec sheets of the 75th Anniversary Ghia?

cheers

[Brisbane ghia]

Anniversary model has 17inch wheels, momo leather/wood grain steering wheel, full leather seats, rear spoiler, side skirts.

optional features_GPS (Satellite Navigation), Sunroof - Electric, Suspension - Sports, Tow Pack Class 1

[Brisbane ghia]

from red book http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au...Y&key=FORD00LT

[V3RSAC3]

nothing wrong with the standard fairmont boys!! ... although go the ghia, it's better

[TwistedEL]

Originally Posted by sleekism

go the ghia not the regular fairmont as it's no beta than base model

Someone is looking for a fight...

[GS608]

lol ^

should i go series 1 or 2?
where there any big mechanical changes between the 2 fairmonts?

thanks 4 all ur help guys

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

Someone is looking for a fight...

i rekon ey!

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by dean89

lol ^

should i go series 1 or 2?
where there any big mechanical changes between the 2 fairmonts?

thanks 4 all ur help guys

personally, the Series 1 grill's look much more classier ... with the Series 1 u got a rear fairmont badge ... but series 2 has FAIRMONT engraved into the rear chrome strip!

as for changes, all i am aware if is the bigger brakes

[TwistedEL]

The Series 2 is way ahead of the Series 1 if you can get your hands on a S2 I suggest you do it.

Bigger brakes and you get the panic alarm button on your keyfob!
Actually I know there are a lot of improvements in the S2 I'm just not sure what they are off the top of my head.

[phildee]

Series 2 was 1" lower, double skin firewall. In dash stacker instead of the boot. Rear bumper came down a bit lower, Smartshield

The Fairmont got traction control, 16" wheels and a Leather steering wheel which I dont think it had in series 1

[TwistedEL]

All S2's got 16's

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

All S2's got 16's

yes ... and the S1'z got 15" ... and u know what they say about 15"z? ... cuz i dont!!!

but they are deffinatly not the same as a base model!

[GS608]

say i went for s2 model, would it be better to go for a std ghia with fairly low kays or a 75th with pretty high kays, eventually, im probably gonna rebuild the engine or maybe even put the tickford 8 in there.

[GS608]

bump :]

also would it be worth putting in a manual box, im thinking the T-56 from the BA

would it fit? and work no probs?

[sleekism]

A manual box conversion would probably cost around 4 grand, pretty pricey for a 10 grand car.

Sorry to the regular Fairmont boys but the regular Fairmont should have offered so much more.

I reckon they should have had:

Regular Fairmont: 164kw Tickford HP
Fairmont Ghia: 172kw Tickford VCT

It's even worse with the BA/BF where even the Ghia gets the base model engine.

I think from the BA they relly went stingy with the luxo barges giving them the base model six and eight and now they have only realised that the future to their survival is with Luxo's and Sports car as that where the retail sales are.

Pretty sad really as up until recently Ford always offered better luxury cars than Holden. Look at an XE Fairmont Ghia pretty damn advanced for it's time.

All tarting to change now looking forward to Turbo six and manual option in next Fairmont Ghia.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by sleekism

A manual box conversion would probably cost around 4 grand, pretty pricey for a 10 grand car.

that much? not worth it. unless i can find a cheap one. ive got a mate who can help me install it so that'll save a bit.

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Sorry to the regular Fairmont boys but the regular Fairmont should have offered so much more.

i agree

[BLACKAUXR8]

You can get the 6 speed in them but it will set you back the same price as the car. I got quoted 10k for the 6 speed into my XR8. If your thinking of putting an 8 in it later on your better of buying an 8 to start with. The series one may have smaller brakes but its easier to buy a V8 series 1 and put bigger brakes on it then it is to buy a series 2 I6 and put a v8 in it. My advice buy the series 1 V8 put bigger brakes on it and make sure you put a decent tranny cooler on it while its still an Auto or you could run into trouble... My 2 cents anyway...