FG XR6T UTe wins Motor BYFB

[sandmanls1]

Latest isssue have it at home so not all the details, price range was 38k-50k was up against the FG XR6T sedan, SS Ute and Sedan, Mazda 3 MPS, Subaru WRX. Shoe in at @38,990.

[TOASTED]

yee ha

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by sandmanls1

Latest isssue have it at home so not all the details, price range was 38k-50k was up against the FG XR6T sedan, SS Ute and Sedan, Mazda 3 MPS, Subaru WRX. Shoe in at @38,990.

That is great news! What times did it do around the track and acceleration?

[FalconXR6]

Interesting.
Will have to go and buy the mag tonight.
But I could never see Motor giving a ute the BFYB gong...

[Ives]

Congratulations to Ford and the XR6T for taking the overall Bang For Your Buck 2008.

[poolkeeper]

go the leaf springs haha

[TC200six]

Oh YEAH! The FG Falcon won Motor Magazine's Bang For Your Buck!! :

...What? It was only the ute?

[4Vman]

HTF does a ute get into a performance vehicle magazine BFYB field in the first place?? :

[EF Hoon]

price bracket i think

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

HTF does a ute get into a performance vehicle magazine BFYB field in the first place?? :

About the same way a family sedan or a mid sized hatchback does Id say...the utes would perform every bit as well as the sedan versions,and lets face it the falcon,commodore utes are more show pony than workhorse...

[Falc'man]

It would have been better for the sedan to get it. Why all of a sudden do they require utes to be in there? For the past two years did they include the SS utes? I don't think so. I wonder how Ford will market this... (if they even bother)

[4Vman]

I dunno, ive never been able to get my head around the concept of "performance" utes.. i accept that there's a market for them, but i still and will allways think of utes as predominantly workhorses....

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I dunno, ive never been able to get my head around the concept of "performance" utes.. i accept that there's a market for them, but i still and will allways think of utes as predominantly workhorses....

I agree 4Vman.....i don't get the concept either. Alot of people i know put forward a good case for them....practicality, only need 2 seat, damn fast still and pretty good handlers (even with the leaf springs) but they still don't seem right.

I would say the ute won over the sedan simply because its cheaper...BFYB is all about go versus cost and the XR6T ute certainly has that. What i find interesting is that it beat an SS ute apparently....given what you woudl think is similar pricing, the IRS of the SS should have given the falcon ute a run for its money....performance would be similar in a straight line?? Interesting, very interesting...

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I dunno, ive never been able to get my head around the concept of "performance" utes.. i accept that there's a market for them, but i still and will allways think of utes as predominantly workhorses....

Yeah, it's weird. Then again, this is "BANG" for your buck. Not PCOTY. But why change the rules? I stand to be corrected if they've tested utes in the past.

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I agree 4Vman.....i don't get the concept either. Alot of people i know put forward a good case for them....practicality, only need 2 seat, damn fast still and pretty good handlers (even with the leaf springs) but they still don't seem right.

I would say the ute won over the sedan simply because its cheaper...BFYB is all about go versus cost and the XR6T ute certainly has that. What i find interesting is that it beat an SS ute apparently....given what you woudl think is similar pricing, the IRS of the SS should have given the falcon ute a run for its money....performance would be similar in a straight line?? Interesting, very interesting...

Good point. Imagine how dirty Ford (and AFF members) would be had the SS ute beaten the XR6T ute for the reasons you raise! All of a sudden Motor decide to include "utes" in their tests, and it just so happens the Ford gets pipped by it's rival.

The reason(s) would be more than outright grunt and handling, what it is I don't know till I read why as the SS ute is a decent bit of gear. Maybe it's the I6 turbo's rush, refinement and sophistication? Or maybe they just couldn't find time to test the SS cos they couldn't get out of the FG ute?

[bf tubs]

the au2 xr8 ute was in it way back then so its not the first ute to be in bfyb

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by ute302

the au2 xr8 ute was in it way back then so its not the first ute to be in bfyb

Cheers.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by nugget378

About the same way a family sedan or a mid sized hatchback does Id say...the utes would perform every bit as well as the sedan versions,and lets face it the falcon,commodore utes are more show pony than workhorse...

Yep, Peformance come in all shapes and sizes! XR8-Ts/FPV's and SS/HSV's are (mainly, not very often you'll see a HSV or FPV as a genuine load carrier)bought as a two-door performance car with a big boot...

...but its funny that a (laughed at) leaf sprung ute won. :

[DoreSlamR]

when do they run PCOTY? I think thats the one we need to look out for.

[Windsor220]

PCOTY - Ford Ranger turbo diesel.....

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Good point. Imagine how dirty Ford (and AFF members) would be had the SS ute beaten the XR6T ute for the reasons you raise! All of a sudden Motor decide to include "utes" in their tests, and it just so happens the Ford gets pipped by it's rival.

The reason(s) would be more than outright grunt and handling, what it is I don't know till I read why as the SS ute is a decent bit of gear. Maybe it's the I6 turbo's rush, refinement and sophistication? Or maybe they just couldn't find time to test the SS cos they couldn't get out of the FG ute?

Yeah good one Falc'man! Motor has noted (from memory) in recent times that BFYB would be more inclusive in the general sense of 'on road' factors, like practicality, NVH etc.....whereas PCOTY would shift to true performance focus. Perhaps this helps explain the XR6T ute win...it does beat the SS ute in most of these areas i would say (even though it technically has a lower payload...that is wheel/tyre package related....anyone who believes an SS ute can truly carry more than a XR6T ute is kidding themselves IMO...).

Either way it is both funny that a leaf sprung vehicle can win such an award, but also a true feather in the cap of Ford Aus engineers. I haven't driven an FG ute but from what i have read, apart from crappy surfaces (more so with optional 19s) the FG utes aren't really behind the VE stuff anyway....more fun actually. Of course ride quality and outright grip isn't there on rough stuff....but still, they seem to have done a truly great job with the new rear end.

Maybe the FG boys looked over the shoulder of the team working on the T6 light truck?? That is supposed to be gunning for the best light commerical ute in the world according to rumours out of Ford Aus engineering....tough and practical but bringing handling and NVH never seen before in light commercials. Kinda cool what can be done with 'ancient' technology when you tune it properly......

[Falc'man]

Awesome news on the T6. That's another "BFYB" win Ford, that is, always able to come up with the best value for the budget given to them.

Yeah SM88, I remember the live axled AU being rated as good as the IRS VT with regards to ride and handling, except for when it got overly rough.

[mcnews]

That is the drawback with the leafs, when things get bumpy, mid corner bumps can see the rear out very quickly but overall the leaf sprung ute on smooth surfaces seems to break away later and more gradually than the Turbo sedan we had at the same time. Throw bumps in and no contest, but on smooth tarmac the leafs seemed better. But it could just be that way due to a better track measurement or whatever than the sedan.