Cant choose

[Jack91]

Well, I have officially about 10K to spend on a nice car but would rather spend $7000 or so and have some left for mods.

Ive narrowed my search down to:

EL xr6/8
XH xr6/8
AU high series (mont, mont ghia)
AU xr6/8 sedan
AU xr6/8 ute
BA xt sedan

Ive been stewing over these for the past month or so and I know that as soon as I buy one Im gonna think "dammit, should've got this instead". Im at the point now where I really dont know what I want.

All I know is its got to be comfortable, good looking, super reliable and cruise control as standard is a plus but not essential.

I know a BA would be perfect for highway (what it'll be primarily used for) but I keep reading about lemons with major diff problems, gearbox, paint etc etc.

Then theres AU, again, perfect for highway, maybe better than BA even, but Im not sure I can live with that non xr look just yet.

The AU xr's seem like a wise choice for a few reasons: power, reliability and looks and they will probably have good resale for a while yet. The only problem is all the ones on ebay just feel dodgey, like so cheap you have to wonder why its cheap.

The problem is they all have their good and bad points and being in Tassie Im going to have to go to the mainland to pick it up but dont want to go any further than Victoria.

So can some of yous tell me what youd do in my situation?

[Lightning Strike XR6]

Find a good BA.

Most likely lower KM's and it is more powerful.

[Fairlane]

AU Fairmont/Ghia.

Most reliable, best equiped, and i think the best value.

Other than that well, the EL Xr6's would have likely to have been thrashed- AU XR would mean probaly a 1st series XR6 which is fine if you find one you like, but yeah they are a bit poverty spec. BA XT well youd have to find a good one, because I would really would not like to buy a 2002 BA1 XT with over 120k on it.

AU series 2/3 SR, aint a bad piece of kit- and are dirt cheap. Subtle body kit and alloys, nicer dark charcoal interior, that would another one to check out.

[Jack91]

AU SR, hadnt thought of those but come to think of it I do like them, but having a quick look on ebay, where are these cheap ones you speak of?

As I said though, I like the BA's but they sound like a world of trouble from what Ive read on here and seen and heard from people (parents own a ba ute, leaks oil and I think Im too fat for the seats, (bolsters are hard up against my cheeks))

[Racecraft]

off that list and your budget:- AU Ghia all day...

You get the good gear, reasonable price and the left over mod money

[Iggypoppin']

Stuff a BA. Filth when you could have an AU XR6 in better nick. I'd personally go an EL XR6 however, love the shape and feel of them. Plus white kitted xr's in the ef-el look great

[Fairlane]

Cant find any nice SR's in Tassie at the moment, but what about something like this, I know you find the styling of the AU a bit confronting, but with some mags and subtle lowering, thats a nice car.

Ebay Link

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Personal opinion,

Find a prestine un-molestered AU1 XR8 sedan (99 build if possible) with the full bodykit and bi-plane spoiler + factory machine 17's in a manual and you will have an absolute ball.
IRS makes it fun and relative lightweight compared to todays falcon makes it very fun to play around corners. Get one under 120k on the clock in hot Chilli Red or Galaxy.

[PepeLePew]

I LOVE EL's. I havent had a close look but there is a gunmetal grey kitted EL XR on Heaslip Road for sale here in SA, unusual colour and looks extremely good. Did they come out in that colour???

[AdzT3-146]

EL Ghia?

Comfy to drive and still look reasonably modern considering the age of the cars now and have good creature comforts.. leather/climate control etc.

Even better if you can find one with a few options, Tickford kit/Sunroof etc.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Cant find any nice SR's in Tassie at the moment, but what about something like this, I know you find the styling of the AU a bit confronting, but with some mags and subtle lowering, thats a nice car.

Ebay Link

I appreciate you looking around for me. Ive seen that car there for, well, at least the last 3 months, but I think he's asking too much for it. Keep the suggestions coming though, I am liking the AU ghias so far, is the in dash GPS any good in them? I may have to do a little bit more research. If anyone who reads this comes accross a good deal preferably in Vic or Tas, can you please post a link in here, much appreciated. Thanks.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by AdzT3-146

EL Ghia?

Comfy to drive and still look reasonably modern considering the age of the cars now and have good creature comforts.. leather/climate control etc.

Even better if you can find one with a few options, Tickford kit/Sunroof etc.

Well see thats the predicament. For a nice EL ghia, I'd pay the same for an AU XR, then for $1000 more I can get an AU ghia, then for another $1000 I can get a nice BA. If only ba xr's were in this price range.

[GT69]

Originally Posted by DAVO_EF

Well see thats the predicament. For a nice EL ghia, I'd pay the same for an AU XR, then for $1000 more I can get an AU ghia, then for another $1000 I can get a nice BA. If only ba xr's were in this price range.

Thank god there not though! Imagine the irrate BA XR owners

[Jack91]

They're getting close to it though.

[alter_EGOXR]

get an au..for 10gs you can pick up a decent non base model au...

[FreddyDUZ747]

what about professor farnsworths ba?$9300 with a few extras,or something similar.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

Personal opinion,

Find a prestine un-molestered AU1 XR8 sedan (99 build if possible) with the full bodykit and bi-plane spoiler + factory machine 17's in a manual and you will have an absolute ball.
IRS makes it fun and relative lightweight compared to todays falcon makes it very fun to play around corners. Get one under 120k on the clock in hot Chilli Red or Galaxy.

That would be my choice, then an EL XR8 with a full kit aswell

[XR6_190]

I personally wouldn't think you would get a good enough BA for under 10k, you will get one, but most likely with high kilometers, and shakey reliablilty. If it were my money, i would be leaning towards a AUIII Fairmont. A nice comfy tourer, with superior fuel economy and reliability over anything else on your list.

[IH8HSV]

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...llpartial&D=ba

There are a couple of good BA's on car sales in Tasmania for just under $10000 with good kilometers. Most of them are through dealers, so you are garanteed to pick up a cheaper one privately.

If it was me I would go the BA. More modern and everything should still be working in it. BA's with over 100000km should have most of the bugs ironed out of it.

A couple of minor mods like a rear spoiler and a nice set of mags you will have a nice looking car.

[SSVPom]

Get an AU2 or AU3 Ghia or XR for around $8k, and spend the remaining $2k on fixing the broken 6 stacker, leaking steering rack, oxygen sensor, dodgy window switches... etc

More car for your money than a taxi pack BA, so I'd still go for the higher spec older car !

You can buy mine if you want in fact !

[Black XR]

EL XR8 5 speed would be my pick

[Jack91]

Ok well thanks for all your suggestions, I think Ive settled on an AU XR6 VCT, simply because it suits all my needs. I am still looking at HP's but they are a bit more under equipped than Id like. IRS is a huge plus as is cruise and power windows.

[DJM83]

Sounds like a top choice Davo, i had an AU2 XR6 HP. It was a fantastic car.

[b2tf]

There's a lot of difference in those choices - you're ranging from a base model sedan through to a performance one, or even a ute.

Think maybe you need to actually work out what you want from the car first - if you want to mod it, what sort of mods are you/do you want to do?

FWIW I would be after a Series II/III AU XR8 - even with highish km's they are still a very good car with all the fruit.

[GTP owner]

A mint conditon el xr8 with the 185kw motor. That's my pick by far. Fastest of the lot, comfy, reliable, fun, sounds horn, and easy to hot up.

AU - hit by the ugly stick (except in t series form)

BA - you would only get trouble for that kind of money.

[The Monty]

AU High series for sure, S2/3 Fairmont/Ghia/Fairlane.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by b2tf

There's a lot of difference in those choices - you're ranging from a base model sedan through to a performance one, or even a ute.

Think maybe you need to actually work out what you want from the car first - if you want to mod it, what sort of mods are you/do you want to do?

FWIW I would be after a Series II/III AU XR8 - even with highish km's they are still a very good car with all the fruit.

Im looking for a car thats fun and easy to drive, not too bad on fuel, reliable and good looking. Cruise control is also now a necessity which rules out all the cheaper AU xr's. The only mods would be mags and a bodykit if needed,(AU xr's wouldnt need either IMO) and then accessories like a car bra, better tyres etc etc. An xr8 is tempting but I can go the xr6 with lower kays, better condition and not as flogged for cheaper. And as per the wanted thread, if anyone see's any AU xr6's preferably VCT with low kays in VIC or TAS, can you please pm me or post the link in here.

thanks,