No more Aussie cars- starting to really notice it

[bb_zetec]

You have to wonder whats happening to them all really.

I would imagine Prior to FGII has mostly gone to the wreckers by now.

FGII an FGX really are what i see, FGX very rarely.

GMH Wise i dont see much other than the odd VE and VF now, id suspect the same fate has happened to them too.

The prized models of FoA and GMH i guess are being stored away now as future classics.

I worry about my FGX now but i still drive it as a weekender mainly due to the fact of parts availability is getting scarce and they are written off if damaged.

[Rallye Sport]

I could have been mistaken for thinking the glory days were over this afternoon.
Pulled up at a set of lights in the XR50, G6ET in front of me, a G6 to his right and then on cue a base XT slipped in next to me.

Mine will be on the road for some time yet, I'm going into preservation mode and starting to replace shocks, bushes, arms and other perishables before they become a problem. Theres just nothing else out there that interests me to upgrade too. I've got a few years yet before I buy a Landcruiser and do the big lap in retirement so the Falcon is staying until then.

[Ben73]

I remember going to Melbourne in 2014 and thinking "wow, so many Australian cars here"
We barely had Falcon taxis in 2014 let alone now.

Every car on the road seems to be a hatchback, medium SUV or 4x4 ute. If Australia made any of these vehicle types they would have had a higher chance of still being around these days.

[Late braker]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

It’s funny, I’ve been daily driving my ssv redline since I bought it new in 2017 and you can certainly see them disappear little by little… I get comments on my car all the time, and there is a bloke in my estate with an FGX XR8 who I’ve never spoken to, but we give each other a wave when we pass each other in the road, I think there is a certain kinship between those of us who love our Aussie performance sedans and keep them on the road…. whether they are blue oval or the lion….


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Totally. They are really awesome cars. It’s on a long trip that you really discover their worth. They cover distances in Australian conditions so effortlessly. Powerful and spacious, comfortable with A/C and heaters designed for Australian heatwaves and ACT/TAS/ViC winters. You can’t beat these cars. The Ford/Holden divide softens and blurs amongst us as the years pass and we know we’re in the “club”.

[Late braker]

Originally Posted by bb_zetec

You have to wonder whats happening to them all really.

I would imagine Prior to FGII has mostly gone to the wreckers by now.

FGII an FGX really are what i see, FGX very rarely.

GMH Wise i dont see much other than the odd VE and VF now, id suspect the same fate has happened to them too.

The prized models of FoA and GMH i guess are being stored away now as future classics.

I worry about my FGX now but i still drive it as a weekender mainly due to the fact of parts availability is getting scarce and they are written off if damaged.

My BF II XR6 is still going along alright. I actually love driving it. Every chance I get I take it. I think some things like brake boosters may be getting tricky according to what my mech said once but there is an aftermarket industry that is making things still for them.
I went to the (shock, gasp, don’t hate me) All Holden Day over the weekend (like seeing an ex- I had a VS Acclaim in the past) and was interested in checking out the odometers on some of them, particularly the Commodores. Quite a few well into the 200s and one I saw had about 260 on it which was the highest I saw there. It was in very, very good condition.

[Late braker]

I also agree with the comments prior about having zero care factor in what to buy new if it’s for me as my own car. Life’s too short to drive boring… There’s really not anything which I like that I would buy that is driven by a passion to own and drive that is affordable. If pushed I’d consider a Swift Sport, Abarth 595 or Cerato GT but really I want a Mustang (the Herrod/DJR one), an HSV W1 or an RS500.

[hackney]

Neighbours a couple of houses down have two Territories(one is a donor/ parts vehicle) husband has a Commodore one tonner, he also bought a BA Fairmont Ghia 5.4 litre V8, as he is ‘supposedly’ going to ‘do it up’.The thing hasn’t moved in all the time we have moved here.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by Late braker

So I’m sitting in a bunch of traffic at the lights and just looking blankly around in the zombiefied way you do waiting to go and it is gradually becoming more apparent to me- I’m completely surrounded by Japanese, Korean and Chinese vehicles. I’m the only one in a group of 10-20 cars in either direction in an Aussie-made car. And it’s only increasing (obviously…) I’m kind of proud about it actually. I even got a compliment recently from the console operator at a servo. Made me feel quite good.
Anyone else “feeling it”? (lol Toyota…)

I noticed this quite a while ago - it is a goddam shame

I took my '97 Fairmont Ghia to Melbourne last week and I swear I was in the only Aussie made car

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Late braker

My BF II XR6 is still going along alright. I actually love driving it. Every chance I get I take it. I think some things like brake boosters may be getting tricky according to what my mech said once but there is an aftermarket industry that is making things still for them.
I went to the (shock, gasp, don’t hate me) All Holden Day over the weekend (like seeing an ex- I had a VS Acclaim in the past) and was interested in checking out the odometers on some of them, particularly the Commodores. Quite a few well into the 200s and one I saw had about 260 on it which was the highest I saw there. It was in very, very good condition.

Dont worry, im fond of a nice late model (90s onward) commodore, although i never was in years gone by.
Whilst i was out for a ride this morning. I spotted a nice VS Exec wagon that had i would assume a manual conversion, although i think manual was an option on cars like that i think as was falcons, IIRC you could get a manual 5L Falcon and commo that wasnt an SS/XR8.

[T3rminator]

Frequently get a few nods and the occasional thumbs up driving my b series around daily. Not sure if its because its a falcon or because they hear a v8 and see no hump and feel confused.

Or maybe they think I have some meth on me.

Actually still see quite a few falcons going around, AUs and B series, and the FGs. Very very rarely see any F series XR8s though.

[DJM83]

Yeah FG XR8s, you dont see many of them thats for sure. Wonder why.

[kevino]

How many of the FGX R8 sold were police cars?
Here in Qld the police used them.
Subject to a hard life and ran up high kms probably quite a few of these ex police units are r.i.p.

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah FG XR8s, you dont see many of them thats for sure. Wonder why.

Reckon owners are garaging them for future sales.

Another model I don't see often is the BF II of any kind. Love the look of them.

Have seen a couple of territory turbo ghias in this area lately, during school runs, driven by mums with child seats in the back.

[Glen 5150]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah FG XR8s, you dont see many of them thats for sure. Wonder why.

Low production numbers, they stopped making them in 2010. In 2015 I looked for 6 months for an FG XR8, but just couldn't find a low km well cared for example I would be happy with an ended up buying a new FGX XR8. In hindsight, I regret not expanding my search and just buying an FG FPV.

[fgpsi]

Nothing will ever beat the feeling of just purchasing my manual silhouette black FG XR6 turbo ute back in 2010 and going on an XR8 bonnet hunt in it to ford dealers across Melbourne

[ford71V8]

Plenty of Territorys driving about.
They do get lost amongst all the suvs, ravs, etc though especially when every car on the road is white, black, or a shade of grey...... how did we get so booooring?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by kevino

How many of the FGX R8 sold were police cars?
Here in Qld the police used them.
Subject to a hard life and ran up high kms probably quite a few of these ex police units are r.i.p.

I dont think FG XR8's made it to HWP cars, could be wrong though

FGX XR8 maybe, i know in NSW they had a couple.

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Nothing will ever beat the feeling of just purchasing my manual silhouette black FG XR6 turbo ute back in 2010 and going on an XR8 bonnet hunt in it to ford dealers across Melbourne

I was a little late to the party, i got mine in 2017. Bit of a love hate relationship with it

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Plenty of Territorys driving about.
They do get lost amongst all the suvs, ravs, etc though especially when every car on the road is white, black, or a shade of grey...... how did we get so booooring?

Im Agree, I still see plenty of them on the Roads. perhaps as a former owner I notice them.

Despite the few issues they can have they are still a very Practical vehicle to own.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by DJM83

I dont think FG XR8's made it to HWP cars, could be wrong though

FGX XR8 maybe, i know in NSW they had a couple.



I was a little late to the party, i got mine in 2017. Bit of a love hate relationship with it

way more T's than XR8 in NSW HWP.
Infact I never spotted a XR8.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by FTE217

way more T's than XR8 in NSW HWP.
Infact I never spotted a XR8.

I think i seen 1 or 2 FGX XR8's but yeah mostly Turbos for sure.

[eb2fairmont]

Actually GM international rang up quite a bit in debt and GM china bailed them out.

As part of the deal China took all the IP and produced the same product either better but cheaper

Volumes tanked and the rest is history

[kevino]

Think you are right. Qld prob had fgx turbo six police cars not xr8 s.
I can still remember last time I saw one sitting idling away on a 35 degree day while the occcupants fxxxd round in the bp getting coffee etc. they always just leave the engine running hard on a car but necessary for all the police tech I guess

[Swordie]

Originally Posted by DJM83

I dont think FG XR8's made it to HWP cars, could be wrong though

FGX XR8 maybe, i know in NSW they had a couple.

Maybe they had more more FG XR6Ts over FG XR8.

[Gothefalcon]

I still drive my BF2 AWD Falcon Wagon almost every day.
I've got a BA Wagon as well... and a BA Ute... and a V8 NL Fairlane. So if I'm not driving the AWD, I'm still driving an Aussie Ford.

My neighbor went to buy a brand new car, but couldn't find anything to replace his AU3 Falcon SR Wagon (owned since new)... so he bought a new smaller car and kept the AU3 for his Wagon needs.

Another neighbor down the road has a low K BA2 Futura he dailies, and loves it.

There are no Holdens left in the street, and hasn't been for years now. Used to be quite a few homes in the street with one or more.

I too, notice that quite often I'm driving the only Aussie car in the traffic around me.
I sometimes watch the traffic on the other side of the road go past (when I'm "parked" in peak hour traffic) and play spot the Aussie car.
Sadly... I don't need many fingers to count them.

Like some here, I haven't seen any new vehicle that I would rush to buy, to replace the BF2 as my new daily... so I'll just keep it going as long as I can.

I've been driving Falcons/Fairmonts/Fairlanes for 40yrs... and as I got older, I never considered there'd come a day when the next new model wouldn't be released. I was very disappointed when that day did come along.

[Late braker]

Originally Posted by Gothefalcon

I still drive my BF2 AWD Falcon Wagon almost every day.
I've got a BA Wagon as well... and a BA Ute... and a V8 NL Fairlane. So if I'm not driving the AWD, I'm still driving an Aussie Ford.

My neighbor went to buy a brand new car, but couldn't find anything to replace his AU3 Falcon SR Wagon (owned since new)... so he bought a new smaller car and kept the AU3 for his Wagon needs.

Another neighbor down the road has a low K BA2 Futura he dailies, and loves it.

There are no Holdens left in the street, and hasn't been for years now. Used to be quite a few homes in the street with one or more.

I too, notice that quite often I'm driving the only Aussie car in the traffic around me.
I sometimes watch the traffic on the other side of the road go past (when I'm "parked" in peak hour traffic) and play spot the Aussie car.
Sadly... I don't need many fingers to count them.

Like some here, I haven't seen any new vehicle that I would rush to buy, to replace the BF2 as my new daily... so I'll just keep it going as long as I can.

I've been driving Falcons/Fairmonts/Fairlanes for 40yrs... and as I got older, I never considered there'd come a day when the next new model wouldn't be released. I was very disappointed when that day did come along.

My sentiments entirely

[ford71V8]

Driving behind a 310 Walkinshaw Commodore this morning.
Its Day 1 of Adelaide500 so probably the reason its out

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

Still plenty of Aussie built cars up here in Brisbane/Ipswich. Not nearly as many, but yes there are less and less. I really love seeing the Falcons/commodores/Territorys that are in really good condition getting around as they look as good as their newer and more modern counterparts when looked after.

I'm really grateful to have 2 turbo charged Aussie icons in the fleet!

Yep absolutely.

We've been getting the AWD Terry mechanical up to spec after the last Nullarbor run and the mechanics have been great and are almost there. 15 years old, 325,000. I gave it a wash and it shined like new, and it drives like new, just so solid and straight on the road. No rattles yet. Never been in an accident.

If you've followed my posts you might notice that we are considering how to replace it. Been to Subaru and Toyota now. For the money, very little impresses. The closest so far is the fully loaded Outback - a turbo version will be coming with about 200kw/420Nm so similar to Barra outputs. My ultimate benchmark is driving the Terry home - did these cars feel as good as this? And so far it hasn't been pipped.

If you see a good Aussie, put it away and take care of it.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by lra

Today is the 13th anniversary of our Territory. It still looks good amongst the convoluted curves and weird shapes of the latest model cars from places that are not Australia.
I am happy that I do not need a new car, as the days of walking into a Ford or Holden showroom and seeing something that I just had to buy are gone.
There is nothing that gets me envious. If I see something that does look interesting, the interest wanes when I find out it has a tiny engine, DCT, and a bewildering connectivity with annoying 'safety' driving aids, that take the pleasure out of driving.

Only have to visit the local supermarket, or Bunnings, car park to notice that Australian built cars are in the minority, completely outnumbered by SUVs and dual cabs.
And the worst aspect is that the majority of younger drivers don't care.

Completely agree Ira.

As an aside, the connectivity/tech, eg. the huge screen with menu-driven X mode selection in the new Outback, I hope it doesn't age like an iPhone does; for if so the car will be unfunctional within a couple of years.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Dont worry, im fond of a nice late model (90s onward) commodore, although i never was in years gone by.
Whilst i was out for a ride this morning. I spotted a nice VS Exec wagon that had i would assume a manual conversion, although i think manual was an option on cars like that i think as was falcons, IIRC you could get a manual 5L Falcon and commo that wasnt an SS/XR8.

Yep.

Dad's VY wagon (2003, bought new in early 2004) is still with the family and now has a stately 112,000 original kms on it, and is tight as in the body. It's immaculate, and mum has enquiries on if she would sell it every time it's at the garage. It's a keeper. When you see just how much usable space are in those wagons, everything I just saw in the yards is slightly to totally compromised. The wind-up windows on this Aussie base-model are working perfectly. Dad picked it up for 27k btw, he was thrilled at the bargain he got. Aussie cars ftw

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

…As an aside, the connectivity/tech, eg. the huge screen with menu-driven X mode selection in the new Outback, I hope it doesn't age like an iPhone does; for if so the car will be unfunctional within a couple of years.

This has long been a gripe of mine, but from the other angle. Why not build the cars to interface with both Android and iOS tablets, so the customer BYO’s the control centre?

If something happened to the B-Series ute to kill it, I would buy another. Even with the cost of a refit/refresh there is nothing comparable I’ve seen.