AU XR8 or AU Ghia V8. Which would you buy, and why ?

[Professor Farnsworth]

Well don't go reading anything into this ok. I'm just after opinions. So, offer them away. I'm not going to refine this to au1 au2 or au3, i know the late au2's and au3's got the 220kw motor, etc etc. I'd just like to know which way you'd go, luxury, or sports. I say this, as a friend of mine.....

[StookEB]

At this time of my life I would go for the Sports, with leather and premo sound.
I know its not what you want to hear but its upto the individual.

[5L]

xr8 with leather and premium sound, thats what i did.

[JC]

Having had an AU2 Forte V8 auto, an AU1 XR8 manual and of course my current AU1 XR8 auto, I would go the Fairie Ghia - but only cos I haven't had one yet in AU form - though I did have an EB2 V8 Ghia, and it was a very nice car too!

[mattp]

XR8, but only with leather, manual, and the 220kw donk

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

XR8, but thats just me.

[RG]

XR8 with premo sound, MOMO stuff and the kit. Just like mine!!!

[FPV8U]

220Kw XR8 because a 175Kw Fairmont has no poke...

If you could get a performance V8 in a fairmont that would be the go... oh wait thats the T-Series...

[EL8TED]

id be picking up a cheap v8 ghia and spending some go fast money.

[MRJUCY]

T-series best of both worlds.

[SVR73]

XR8 for sure
I can't stand the fronts on ghia's.

[MAFIA]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

T-series best of both worlds.

I was gonna say the same thing. T series has Sport, Power, Style and luxury. So it beats both of them! :

[Sapper]

In my opinion, you haven't earn't a V8 unless there's a clutch pedal in the footwell. (Put anti-flame suit on....)

[theboss290]

I got the Ghia and loving it all class with the full Tickford pack so you could say a bit of both worlds.

[kiwikid10]

Fairmont Ghia for sure,

Easier and cheaper to make a luxury car quicker with the same V8 than it is to make the XR as luxurious as a Ghia.

Although I Agree with getting a T series comments that is not what the poll asked for people!
It clearly says Ghia or XR you might as well say E55 instaed of T series. IMO

[JC]

Originally Posted by hot xr6

In my opinion, you haven't earn't a V8 unless there's a clutch pedal in the footwell. (Put anti-flame suit on....)

You haven't driven an auto V8 have you? You don't need a manual with the torque of a V8, though both are fun to drive. Having had both, the manual is great fun some of the time, but the auto is good fun all of the time! At my age, I'd rather take good often, than great occasionally - hang on, were we talking cars?

[JC]

Originally Posted by EL8TED

id be picking up a cheap v8 ghia and spending some go fast money.

Yep, costs roughly the same to stroke the base 175 kw jobbie as it does to stroke the 220kw demon. Might as well start cheap and make a real beast out if it - the other option is to spend the same $$$ with less overall power increase..

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by hot xr6

In my opinion, you haven't earn't a V8 unless there's a clutch pedal in the footwell. (Put anti-flame suit on....)

I have to agree with JC. i was brought up with manuals, and while i love driving them, a knee injury sustained at work prevents me from doing so on a regular basis. Therefore, a manual is out of the question. Driving a car is only 10% about how you shift its gears, and 90% how much of a clue you have in general. Take a ride in my eb and you may change your mind about 'earning a v8'.

[DOC]

Voted XR8, but agree with the T3 comments as a good option, in that it is the best of both, no real costs in modding (if you dont want to) and are cheaper than chips at the moment, and will hold a good re sale value.

[FTE217]

Out of the 2 in the poll ?
Love the Ghia interior but can do without, can't do without the power so the 220XR8 wins for me.....

[MRJUCY]

Originally Posted by kiwikid10

Although I Agree with getting a T series comments that is not what the poll asked for people!
It clearly says Ghia or XR you might as well say E55 instaed of T series. IMO

Series 1 & 2 T-series cost around the same as a XR8 if you can find me an E55 for the same money let me know I'm quite willing to trade.

[GK]

I voted the Ghia as I assumed it would hold the family as well as myself.

If it was a one person car, I might go the XR8 220. I've always wanted a Ghia though.

I guess I think more about putting leather in the SR than I do about stoking up the engine. I have recently been doing some serious thinking about a 5 speed conversion though! LOL!

Now a series 3 Ghia V8, loaded with goodies such as sunroof, my beloved S1 Tickford 17's, with a manual conversion; that'd be my perfect car!

I guess I'm really talking about a TS50 aren't I? LOL!

GK

[JefXR8]

I went thru this same question,i was between the fairmont V8 and the XR8 i ended up buying the xr8,i think its just personal taste in saying that the fairmonts are cheaper and have more luxury in them,The XR8 won me beacause they are more sports orientated and that suits me better.

[StealthAu]

T3 TS50....what more could you want

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by stockoau

T3 TS50....what more could you want

More power :evil3:

[SSVPom]

My choice = A series 2 or 3 Fairmont Ghia with the V8, Tickford rims, suspension and skirt kit, and on the inside full leather, Momo knob and tiller, satnav and sunroof.

Basically - the whole 9 yards!

Oh, and my Ghia came with NONE of the above...

[exrtnz]

I would have the XR8 better looks by far! and alot more power, with leather seats the good sounds :

[JC]

Thinking about it more, it really depends what series you are talking about. If it's series 1 or 2 XR8 vs the Ghia, to be honest the extra 10 or 20 kw is not that much for the XR, and the arguments for the XR being more sporty are only marginal - Both the XR8 and the Ghia come with IRS sports tuned suspension, both come with 17s etc etc etc. And a full exhaust plus a set of 1.72RRs on the Ghia would soon see power at around the 200kw mark. So then it comes down to looks and luxury fetaures only. For me, I would go the Ghia here because I haven't had one, and it's easy enough to put an XR front on it if I wanted it to lok like an XR.

So now we turn to series 3 and 45kw is a lot of difference (25% over the 175kw base V8). So if you really wanted the Ghia look with the series 3 XR8 poke, then buy a series 3 XR8 with full leather etc, and just put a Fairmont front end on it. Who would know the difference? Or a TS50 front, skirts and rear bar on the XR - instant TS50 (albeit series looks with series 2 running gear). But you still don't get the ghia interior (dash) etc this way. So engine wins here over luxury functions.

[Professor Farnsworth]

thanks for the responses guys. i should have clarified in the first post..

yes a t series would be awesome, but it's not in the options list reason for this is, this car would be a cruiser & daily. nothing more than that. Thus, power isn't a huge concern!

[SSVPom]

The Ghia's didn't have 17" rims as standard, and don't forget the single spinner!!