BA XT vs AU Forte

onfire · 03-03-2009, 05:29 PM

Its been just over three years since I bought my 1999 AU. So its getting to the point, Im asking myself, whether or not I need and/or want a new car.

I'll give you some background info. Iv currently got an AU Series 1 Forte, in Oxford Green, colour coded grill, I6 auto with 94600kms on the clock. Apart from a pro. lowering job, some mags, exhaust, xplod system, tail lights and a pod in box set up, its stock.

As much debate over the S1 as there is, its been a great car from day one. Never missed a beat, never had anything go wrong with it, its a dream to drive on the highway, and suprisingly for its size, easy to drive in town.

Long story short as possible, how does the base model BA compare? Styling aside. Should I keep the AU on the grounds its been a loyal and trust worthy car, with little k's on the clock.

JC · 03-03-2009, 06:06 PM

Base model BA gets 23 more kw, but it also gets 200 odd more kg (around 1550 vs 1750).
4 speed is the same - though the XT gets the SSS shifter. BA gets control blade IRS rear suspension vs live axle in the Forte. BA gets throttle by wire; AU is cable from pedal to TB (I have throttle by wire in the explorer, and don't particularly like it).

Your car is probably worth around 3k. A BA with the same kms as yours would be around 8k or so, so you have to ask if the 5K additional is worth it. The good thing is your wheels will bolt straight up to the BA, so you won't lose them, but your susepnsion etc will not, so if you want to get the BA to the same specs you have in the AU, you will need to mod much of it again.

At the end of the day, it's up to you. On a personal note, I just had the chance to buy a 1998 AU1 Fairmont with a few mods & 180000km for $7200; I also looked at a 2003 BA Fairmont (stock) with 190,000 for $7850. I chose the 5 year older car as I trust AUs more (less to go wrong with them compared to the BA). Doesn't mean that's the way you should go; it's just what I chose that suits me (Remember, I'm coming from a background of 5 AUs and 3 E series in the last 9 years).

T3man · 03-03-2009, 06:50 PM

I'm with JC - is the "new" one worth $5k above what you have now??? It sounds like you have a good one - if it were me I'd keep it until it dropped. So sometime around 2049 you will probably be on the lookout for a newer car I expect. By then it will have just over half a million kms on it at your present rate and may be almost ready for an engine rebuild. LOL.

THR347 · 03-03-2009, 07:03 PM

The amount of kays you have on the AU is enough reason to keep it for a little while longer i think! If you were to get a BA you will be paying a premium for it only to decrease in value to the amount of the AU within another year or two. Your call mate..

GS608 · 03-03-2009, 07:17 PM

if anything just update to a newer AU, S2 or 3 then you can use the suspension as long as its not IRS and any other bits and pieces.

the XT is pretty basic, very bland inside and out, and looks very conservative, atleast the AU has its subjective looks :p

**Polyal** · 03-03-2009, 07:44 PM

Im in the same boat, looking for a family sedan and BA's are everywhere and alarmingly cheap.

I dont trust an BA1 as far as I could kick it, couldn't get care less if it was a XT or GT; even a BA2 is pushing it.

An AU3 Forte/futura with a liquid injection LPG setup is what I plan on doing, was looking at getting a T series but it will be a daily driver so last thing I want to do is ruin a T. Plan is to have a toy by the end of the year anyway.

The issue I have at the moment is seeing whether or not a S3 is worth the little extra over a S2.

Falcon4L · 03-03-2009, 07:54 PM

There's nothing wrong with BA1's as long as they were built after oct 03 as that was the first major update.

I like both AU and BA. The BA is faster but the AU IMO handles better (stock vs. stock). You really need to drive both and find out which one you like.

LeadFoot81 · 03-03-2009, 08:07 PM

For the price of a BA XT, you could get a nice AU2 XR6. Personally Id go for one of those as its much more of an 'enthusiasts car'

However considering the low kms on your AU, why not spend a little $ on it to smarten it up a bit? Maybe a Tickofrd bodykit, or a Ghia leather interior?

**Polyal** · 03-03-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

For the price of a BA XT, you could get a nice AU2 XR6. Personally Id go for one of those as its much more of an 'enthusiasts car'

However considering the low kms on your AU, why not spend a little $ on it to smarten it up a bit? Maybe a Tickofrd bodykit, or a Ghia leather interior?

AU2 XR6? Maybe one that has 200+k's. You should be able to pick up a shmick AU3 Forte for $5500-6k

A decent XR is around $9k from what I have found so far.

JC · 03-03-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

AU2 XR6? Maybe one that has 200+k's. You should be able to pick up a shmick AU3 Forte for $5500-6k

A decent XR is around $9k from what I have found so far.

AU2 Fairmont Ghias (XR6 running gear, full luxury pack) go for between $7 to $10k roughly - that would be my pick if I had that sort of budget (ie Base BA XT, or AU2 Ghia?)

**Polyal** · 03-03-2009, 08:54 PM

Yeah the Ghia's are very nice, only reason I would go XR would be for a manual. But as soon as you do that the price goes up.

If I cared id get a Ghia and put a manual in it, but way to much effort for a family hack car. Add to that I think AU's actually look better without chrome bits on the outside, dont know why though.

mik · 04-03-2009, 01:21 AM

i`m a bit partial to the series 1 just for the fact the live axle is nearly maintenace free (other than diff oil) compared to the irs models , and also not a fan of electronic throttle, perhaps take the later model for a drive and see if it is really worth the extra dough.

Cookie-XR8 · 04-03-2009, 12:55 PM

just do it up a little and make it a new car

LeadFoot81 · 04-03-2009, 01:12 PM

Yeah 9ish for an AU2 XR6, how much can you get a good BA XT for these days? About the same?

AU2 Ghias are very tempting at 7-10k, but: nose cone, performance V8, manual...I had to go the XR8!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

AU2 XR6? Maybe one that has 200+k's. You should be able to pick up a shmick AU3 Forte for $5500-6k

A decent XR is around $9k from what I have found so far.

**SSD-85** · 06-03-2009, 08:22 PM

I had a BA XT as a courtesy car for a while. IMO it was a mixed bag, the SSS auto is a hoot to use, but i found its steering to be cumbersome, it felt like de-tuned and "de-handled" sort of car. Given i've taken a BA GT for a drive, i found that to be the only one that was on parity with an AU's steering (Note Steering, NOT handling).

Also the AU is a cheaper to fix, combined with the seeming fact that far less seems to go wrong with them compared to a BA, they are also just as upgrade friendly as a BA too

Of course go with what you like. But as everyone is saying, you can grab an AU2 xr6 for the same price as a BA XT, that's probably been treated a little better too. But keeping your existing AU is just as good a plan, if your happy with it.

Stattic · 08-03-2009, 12:10 AM

mate i am telling you an AU with under 100 000ks is worth more than 3k... personally i love AUs and to get one with such low kays is awesome, you could spend a bit on it and keep it for ages before its really time for an upgrade