Info needed (I may be swapping camps!)

[FordFan86]

I'm bored with my car, rather than throw money at it, i'll put myself into debt and get something newer, with a better base to start from.
I've been looking around at AU/DU LTD's. One that has crossed my mind a few times is a 2001 model with ~130k, dual fuel and $23k asking price.
2001 would be series II wouldn't it? What did series 2 get over series I. Bigger/better brakes I've read.. and what is it missing that series III got?
The IRS, what's the ride and handling like compared to live axle?
Has anyone driven/owned an AU 'lane/LTD, do they feel like big boats? I'd imagine they'd be up around 1900 kg??
I had more, but it's late..
Your thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.
I'm not looking at doing it that soon, though you never know (I've got a massive HECS debt in the works and there are only 7 days in the week, I'm currently squashing 8 in between work and uni.)

[MRJUCY]

For that sort of money I'd get a T-series with less kays & money left for mods but maybe that's just me.

[blackers10]

23 seems overpriced...

i paid 18k for my 99 S1 fairlane 6 cyl
they are 1700kg
handle quite well
irs is good
get understeer but thats due to the soft suspensin...lower and it handles great!!

S2 got different climate control display colours etc.. and had a ugly dash cluster from memory.. and has bigger brakes than S1 (which had same as EL)

im unsure what else is different
they are a damn nice car tho!!
the V8 uses as much juice as the 6 ive found too!!

[Dark Horse]

FF86, why don't you finish your uni first and then when you're on a full-time job upgrade???

[AU-MUSTD]

Seems alot of people are descovering the sheer good looks of the au fairlane : You will definately get one with low kays for well under $15,000 and have the choice of an 8 or 6 and even one on gas , so 23 is way over priced. For that you could get a low kays tl50 : Check out ebay as there are always bargain fairlanes there.

[HLC]

my mums 2001 Fairlane rides great. but i think thats a combination of the 17" wheels and T3 springs.

fantastic car. i would buy it off her in a heartbeat

[FordFan86]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

For that sort of money I'd get a T-series with less kays & money left for mods but maybe that's just me.

See current car... I kinda like the whole LWB luxury thing.
a TL did cross my mind, but with an LTD I wouldn't feel AS guilty driving it 400+k's a week, and the LTD did get the series 1 AUXR8 motor from what I've read, 185kw. Also found out there was no series III fairlane or LTD for the AU.

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

FF86, why don't you finish your uni first and then when you're on a full-time job upgrade???

Because I'm young and stupid. I'd like a house but that isn't going to happen for quite some time. I can probably afford repayments on it & the dual fuel and better breathing engine will probably make it a bit cheaper on the fuel than my current car anyway.

Just testing the water for the moment.
EDIT: Just spoke with the fatherrrrrrr.
I'm 20 with 2 disqualifications against my name already, my insurance is stuffed for another 5 yrs... I don't think I'll be able to afford the insurance on the car :( and dad won't let me drive it without full comp (and fair enough) Currently paying ~$50 a month... I'd say that'll triple atleast.

[blackers10]

im 20 and with just cars i am paying $1300 a year

when i was 18 i was paying $2500 for the year with RACQ
so dont complain hehe..
insurance should be cheaper now as the market value has dropped

[peterban]

Mine is a series 2 LTD and is is Dec 2000
The main difference is that series 2 got Sat Nav as standard equipment and the climate control has grey display instead of orange.
Other small cosmetic changes include different chrome strips at top of door.
I only found this out after damaging one and ordering a replacement, apparently they changed in October 2000.
Brakes were upgraded as well.
The V8 does a good job of moving the car along and suspension is pretty good but is starting to be a little clunky now, apparently the ball joints!!
Mine is dual fuel and I average 6 Km to the litre ( about 450 km per tank ) on city and freeway driving. Longer runs give about 7.2 Km to the litre ( about 520 Km per tank )
You should pick up a AU2 Ltd for under $20000. Expect to pay $2500 for gas system if it hasn't already been converted.

[CAMS290]

There is a tidy looking AU Lane for $10k at a yard near me atm.....nice cars !
I would own one in a heart beat.

[FordFan86]

mmm damnit...
Few nice G220's around...

[blackers10]

you would not believe how many people confuse an AU lane with a BA!!
all because of the square *** end and the squarer front end!!
silly uneducated people hehe

[GK]

Originally Posted by blackers10

you would not believe how many people confuse an AU lane with a BA!!
all because of the square *** end and the squarer front end!!
silly uneducated people hehe

It's clear the AU Lane gave some of the inspiration for the BA! I reckon the AU Lane's look really good!

GK

[BPXR6T]

Yep, they certainly are a nice car. Dumped with a set of wheels and exhaust equals very sweet ride. I vaguely remember looking at a tickford version. But $23K seems a little steep to me.

[XR6-VCT-2000]

yes , ouch , i saw a 2001 ltd with a v8 and gas setup for 14,000 before i vought my auii xr6 vct, although it wasn't as clean as the car i got .

Plently of cheap car out there to be had with a bit of looking aound ;) .

[Dauphin]

Hi FordFan86!

Nice to see an increase in AU Fairlanes recently.

That price does seem a bit high for the vehicle with that mileage. Keep looking around and you'll find something better. As far as it feeling like a big boat - not at all, if you have the right suspension happening. It will go around corners on rails and grip the road quite eagerly. With a bit of mod help the inline six really comes alive so the V8 must be even better.

Originally Posted by peterban

Other small cosmetic changes include different chrome strips at top of door.
I only found this out after damaging one and ordering a replacement, apparently they changed in October 2000.

I'm just curious as to which part is this exactly?

Thanks,

Andrew.

[S3SR]

Originally Posted by blackers10

im 20 and with just cars i am paying $1300 a year

when i was 18 i was paying $2500 for the year with RACQ
so dont complain hehe..
insurance should be cheaper now as the market value has dropped

whoa!!!! thats an arm and a leg!
im paying $1672 last year with AAMI, this year $1279

anyways take a look around ive seen a few fairmonts here in tville for about the 7k-15k and fairlanes (I6 models) for 6k-15k but if your after a V8 model try some of the bigger cities/towns they usually sell them off dirt cheap (damn them)

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

For that sort of money I'd get a T-series with less kays & money left for mods but maybe that's just me.

i second that

[FordFan86]

The car's actually 22k. It's in the trading post if you feel like searching, it's at "trentarc motors" in vic, which is the next problem. SA seems to have no series II AU LTD's around, few BA's around but I'd rather a windsor on gas as I haven't seen any BA V8's on gas yet.
22k is [very] steep, I might call the place tomorrow and see if they can knock it down to 15k with a trade on my car, or if that fails, see if I can get a 15k personal loan and offer to pay a deposit over the phone and some cold hard cash when I get there, leaving me with ~4k worth in my car to sell.
Decisions decisions.

Originally Posted by GK

It's clear the AU Lane gave some of the inspiration for the BA! I reckon the AU Lane's look really good!
GK

Spot on... they're awesome

[blackers10]

i saw on carsales or carpoint(either or) there was a BLACK AU fairlane V8 with a heap of herrod gear in it.. it was like $26k or somthin
it had a respray.. black leather interior.. herrod exhaust.. rims..few herrod engine bits.. etc... have a look for it

just looked for it
it was on carpoint
here is the url
carpoint ad

it seems pretty nice and is only 27k and is in vic

[OZFORDAU]

Originally Posted by TE50 056

i second that

If it where me i'd be looking straight past a Fairlane and going striaght for either a TE50, TS50 or even....Yup im going to metion it a TL50....A much better investment...And you'll be a hell of alot happier with a T-series car!

Having saying that the lane is on gas so i guess its cheaper in that point of view but if that isn't the issue id be going a T-Series!

Cheers

Simon

Thats just my 2c worth! :monkes:

[GreenMachine]

Although this is an AU thread, I'd consider an NL Fairlane By Tickford. You can get an awesome one for around $15-17k (including a forum member's car in your state), and being a limited edition, there's a small chance it'll retain its value over the next 5 years, which an AU Fairlane will NOT do.

Just my $0.02...

[FordFan86]

Greeny boy. I'd do that but I drive the car every where, get's parked outside, goes through frost and hail and then cooks under 40 degrees. I wouldn't want to do that to something so nice.

I called the car dude today, "15k cash". "no, no mate, 2001 model, on dual fuel, can't do for 15k" ok, thanks bye.. good luck to him and $22k.

Ahwell, keep looking.
That AU LANE by herrod looks nice... I think that'd chew the juice tho haha.

[FordFan86]

Why can't I find any info on the TL50's through fpv.com.au anymore? :S

[MRJUCY]

A few links on it are dead but you can get most of the info here http://pandora-test.nla.gov.au/parch...meset2542.html

[blackers10]

here is a page with a comparo of the Ford TL50 VS the Holden WH Grange

grudge match TL50 vs Grange

really good article

the ford comes out ontop JUST!!

[janek]

Wah, theres a te50 for sale here for that price man!

[auvct]

I think what it comes to is that au fairlanes have been "overlooked" and considered an ol' mans car with a bowling hat on the back shelf.
But as said, when done nicely with big wheels and a lower stance it stands out because of its different shape.
I pull up to the traffic and some have a long uncle merve at it because its something you dont see much.
And with all that room!!

[Dauphin]

Around my area I've seen an increase in enthusiastic people driving them in the past six months. There's a meteorite grey one with a TL grill and stickers all over it, a white one with MUMMY'S BEAST written across the back window and a silver V8 number that sounds like a real old school rumbler, very nice. Maybe its time has come.

[FordFan86]

How much should a TII TL50 go for? .... ;)