10th Anniversary

[Hords]

Does anyone know the release date of the Series I. ie. when they became available from the dealerships to the public?

[Mr Hardware]

I was about to post this too hords
it was the start of september was the first models made wasn't it
i know i certainly have looked after an august 98 EL

[Hords]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

i know i certainly have looked after an august 98 EL

I have a Sep 98 AU Fairmont (still going strong) but I'm sure I've heard of a 08/98 build AU. Maybe the transition was mid Aug?

[Mr Hardware]

Well drive.com.au tells me the introduction date of the AU's was 01/09/1998, so it'd be funny to find an 8/98 AU. Who's got the oldest AU here aside from hords?

[EvilChief]

AU engines were buildfrom july onwards, chassy from august onwards, release to public was in september, hence you can find the odd el with an au engine from factory. there were several demo models released to dealerships/tour prior to september if i remember correctly

[GUTLES]

Wow, 10 years has gone so quick.

I've gotta say, an AU is one of the cheapest & most reliable cars to own. So much simpler then B series but so refined from the earlier E series.

If I didn't have a company car I'd be looking at a AU Ghia on LPG to get me to & from work.

[Whoosha]

And just as a side bit of trivea December will see the last of the AU taxi fleet decomissioned as the S 111 will be 6 years old and past there use by date for Taxis. So look out for some cheap bargins coming up :

[Mr Hardware]

Hi Woosha
I was going to post this too.
I think you'll find the last AU was built in August 2002. (unless the wagons went on longer?)
confirm/deny anyone?

[Bobman]

Be after February, 2009 here in Melbourne. We get 6 and 1/2 years.

The disabled cabs get even longer. Still a few EF/EL disabled taxi wagons around. Plenty of AU3s still on the roads.

I picked up an AU2 (2001) ex cab at the end of 2004 for $2800. People still try to sell 6 year old ex-cabs for that money. I wouldn't pay more than 1k these days.

A few BA cabs coming off the road too.

[Dark Horse]

AU production started in August 1998 and ceased in September 2002.

[SSVPom]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Be after February, 2009 here in Melbourne. We get 6 and 1/2 years.

The disabled cabs get even longer. Still a few EF/EL disabled taxi wagons around. Plenty of AU3s still on the roads.

I picked up an AU2 (2001) ex cab at the end of 2004 for $2800. People still try to sell 6 year old ex-cabs for that money. I wouldn't pay more than 1k these days.

A few BA cabs coming off the road too.

Have to say, you see some shocking condition early BA cabs around Melbourne - mismatched faded yellow paint, scuffs and dints and worn-back-to-raw-foam steering wheels etc etc!!

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by FairmontPom

Have to say, you see some shocking condition early BA cabs around Melbourne - mismatched faded yellow paint, scuffs and dints and worn-back-to-raw-foam steering wheels etc etc!!

Yeah, I'd much prefer an AU3 dedicated ex-cab to a BA one.

[Mr Hardware]

depends on the condition bobman
if they've been a cab for life and are a taxi-pack (yellow from factory, hose-out interior) then i wouldn't pay much more than a grand either.

but painted back to its original colour, interior detailed, in perfect running order, only been a cab for 3 years, i'd be happy to pay 4 grand or so.