Buying car for my son - 2006 LS Focus Zetec (Manual) VS BA Series 1 Fairmont Ghia

[Vesper Martini]

Focus!
ex relatives car so better the devil you know
Fairmont fits too many mates for a night out..
chicks will dig the focus more, Fairmont's an old mans car
strangely my parents have an 03 Fairmont & Focus Zetec.
the focus still feels like new to drive although lacks grunt for a 2.0L
but the Fairmont feels like an old car with only 120K on the clock

[Magna]

if he's after a Ghia get him a Ghia. get him a car he doesn't want and it will either get thrashed or sold.

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by kypez

Just a thought, I'd look at a BF for the stability control. I think its the greatest invention ever in car safety and a must for younger drivers who are still learning the ropes. The price difference be
tween BA and BF cant be that much these days. A wet day and BA Falcon can make for an interesting mix as is the case with my BA. Also the BF has the 6 speed box which is a better box.

Just a thought...

BA Ghia can be had for 5-6k with under 180,000 kms.. Anything BF with the ZF is around 8-10+ and about 11+ for fairmont ghia unmolested

[EFFalcon]

Go the Ghia!

[kypez]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

BA Ghia can be had for 5-6k with under 180,000 kms.. Anything BF with the ZF is around 8-10+ and about 11+ for fairmont ghia unmolested

Oh wow. I stand corrected then

Edit: Did a quick search on carsales. There are a few with only couple of grand more than the BA's and have the extra safety/6 speed.

Here is an example:
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de.../?Cr=1&sdmvc=1

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Alan D Segal]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

he wants a Ford

What's that? You're looking for a decent quality almost 10 year old car for your son?

He wants a Toyota? Good choice.

[zilo]

I would look at the 380...it's probably still under warranty till 2018.

[NX74205]

If this car is for him, why not just buy what he wants?

[Blem]

Sort of off topic but JUST look at ANCAP ratings / airbags.
When your son is older & hopefully more responsible & capable, then guide him towards a "better" car.
Until then...try to keep him / her safe !
Typed by a parent who wrote off a few cars as lad but thankfully managed to not hurt anyone.

[flooded one]

BA Falcon. plenty of parts for them. as said before parts will be dearer for the Focus. In saying that there isn't nothing bad in the Focus that I have heard of. they are good little cars and have good fuel economy. the BA will be heavier on fuel but parts will be cheaper. just get a decent external transmission cooler for the auto, Diffs aren't the best in the BAs unfortunately (ours went at 100,000km, car was always serviced and wasn't hoon and didn't tow) and the door lock actuator went and wouldn't lock the left hand rear door. thou one thing to consider with the Focus is you know the history!! so that makes it a pretty good buy!!

good luck with which car he picks

[HULK_I6T]

this might sound silly to some but a very relevant question to a young guy...

whats the respective 0-100km/h times of each of these cars? Young guys (assuming the condition/km of both is comparable) will always want the quicker car and better base for mods.

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by f6_benito

this might sound silly to some but a very relevant question to a young guy...

whats the respective 0-100km/h times of each of these cars? Young guys (assuming the condition/km of both is comparable) will always want the quicker car and better base for mods.

If that be the case I wouldn't even bother with the Focus unless it was one of the more sportier versions like an XR5 turbo etc, they were a two litre that was "zippy" in the city but wasn't really breath taking in terms of performance.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by zilo

I would look at the 380...it's probably still under warranty till 2018.

10 year warranty was for original owner only.

[KAM120]

Quite hard to pass up on a falcon i reckon and like others have said try and get a bf which can be had for pretty much the same amount of money as a ba.

I've still got a ba and I've had it for nearly 6 years. I'm a young bloke so the old girl doesn't get an easy life and i get around 10ltrs/100ks round town so fuel economy isn't horrendous like some people seem to think.

The only issue i've had with it so far was a bit of rust under the windscreen which wasnt as bad as it sounds, $300 latter to fix and it was as good as new.

[mechanic]

Originally Posted by zilo View Post
I would look at the 380...it's probably still under warranty till 2018.
10 year warranty was for original owner only.

We bought a 2004 Mitsubishi Verada AWD with 30,000ks in 2007, I assumed at the time that the 10 year warranty was for the original owner as per XR6 Martin post.

In August 2009 Mitsubishi contacted me to complete some forms which continued the warranty untill August 2014.
There are a few exceptions, weirdly enough disc brake rotors aren't covered.
No problem getting other bits and pieces done under warranty though.

On Topic
Why have a 4 cyl FWD when you can drive a 6cyl RWD pay the same and get the same fuel economy in a safer car?

[_Ben]

Can you do skids on a 380? :P

[T-Pak Addict]

I love my BA Egas, its an awesome car...
Cheap and easy to find parts, plenty of aftermarket gear available too.

Brother in law has a 2013 Focus 2.0 Turbo Diesel 6 speed auto and I must say drives very well. I was gobsmacked at how quick it was. Now to convince him to let me borrow it for a hills run.. lol

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by wildrider

If that be the case I wouldn't even bother with the Focus unless it was one of the more sportier versions like an XR5 turbo etc, they were a two litre that was "zippy" in the city but wasn't really breath taking in terms of performance.

Yes the 2.0 is like Milo - not Quik.

but seriously id be doing my best to keep them out of fast cars.
I did enough Dumb things in the past when cars weren't so fast.

[fgpsi]

My cousins 06 Zetec is actually very zippy. Is that cos it's manual ?

[Silver Ghia]

A good, well kept and low km AU Fairmont Ghia is a better car than a BA Ghia.

I've had both.

Unless you can stretch to a BF2 Ghia.

The Focus is an entirely different car, so really it depends on what he really wants.

[Stefan]

I reckon he'll get laid more if he owned a Zetec.

[GingerAle]

The Fairmont is such an old mans' car. However, each to their own opinion.

If i were choosing a car for my son, I would get him what ever is cheaper, reasonably reliable with basic safety features such as ABS and Airbags.

[v8der]

I'd say Fairmont GHIA all day...but I'd go an AU.

Low kms, all the gear, looks good:

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de.../?Cr=2&sdmvc=1

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by v8der

I'd say Fairmont GHIA all day...but I'd go an AU.

Low kms, all the gear, looks good:

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de.../?Cr=2&sdmvc=1

not a bad car. tickford motor is nice

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by v8der

I'd say Fairmont GHIA all day...but I'd go an AU.

Low kms, all the gear, looks good:

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de.../?Cr=2&sdmvc=1

Thats what I had in mind when suggesting AU. Sparkling Burgundy just like my AU. Best AU colour.

[Auslandau]

Wonder if fgpsi regrets asking .......


"He wants a Ford ..... "

"Get him a Corolla or a 380 ...... "

Buy him what he wants and you can afford. Fairmont would be my pick but I am not that tall and not as young. Fairmonts though are not old peoples cars and with some wheels and in the right colour! DONE!

OMG ...... if I bought my son home a Corolla or a 380 I could imagine the discussion. Nice offer to buy one for him but before someone whinges free is free so suck it up, still needs to like it, enjoy it and no doubt, pay it back.

[Franco Cozzo]

Focus isn't quick by any means, but take it into the twisties and its real fun, I've got a few handling mods on mine:

Bilstein B8 shortened shocks all round
Eibach Pro-kit 30mm lowered progressive springs
22mm whiteline rear sway bar
Continental ContiSportContact 2 tyres

Now the thing handles like its on rails and its not such a rough ride either as the shocks are matched to the lowered springs (and it still has IRS too), I might not be fast in a straight line but mountain pass is fun.

The petrol engined Focus would handle even better than my diesel one too.

If you can't go fast in a straight line the next best thing is going fast in corners.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Comes down to how many kms they have.

The LS Focus's can be expensive when it comes time to replace things.

Personally I would look at neither and go for something like a 2006 Corolla, Camry 4 cylinder or even a Mitsubishi 380 if you are looking for reliability.

Seriously he did say it was for his son and he is 6'2", not for his daughter.

A 380, at 6'2"???I have driven one and I am 6'2", not fun, I hated it and felt like I was in a sardine can, as we had one for a company car, we also had BA's, I would take a base model BA over a 380 any day, and at our work there was always first in best dressed for the BA's (we had a few), the 380, was mostly parked up and driven when no other vehicle was available.

I have driven Falcons for the last 25 years and will always own a few Falcons and love driving a full sized sedan, a H3 Hummer is not bad either the only car I drive apart from Falcons….

[ZGM86]

I find it amusing the number of people saying that Fairmonts are "old people cars". Fairmont as a name has plenty of heritage.

Would you consider an XR Fairmont 289 to be a boring old person's car? Are XY Fairmont GS 351s, XA and XB Fairmont GS Hardtops, XC Fairmont GXLs, XD and XE Fairmont Ghia ESPs, and EL Fairmont Ghias (with their Tickford XR6 motors) all boring old people cars? Were BF2 Ghias with their aggressive styling an old person's car? No way!

Fairmont was a great badge. Maybe I'm slightly biased though, my parents had a couple of V8 Fairmonts when I was young (an XW 302 and an XC 302 wagon)...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by ZGM86

I find it amusing the number of people saying that Fairmonts are "old people cars". Fairmont as a name has plenty of heritage.

Would you consider an XR Fairmont 289 to be a boring old person's car? Are XY Fairmont GS 351s, XA and XB Fairmont GS Hardtops, XC Fairmont GXLs, XD and XE Fairmont Ghia ESPs, and EL Fairmont Ghias (with their Tickford XR6 motors) all boring old people cars? Were BF2 Ghias with their aggressive styling an old person's car? No way!

Fairmont was a great badge. Maybe I'm slightly biased though, my parents had a couple of V8 Fairmonts when I was young (an XW 302 and an XC 302 wagon)...

Agree.

My first car was a Barossa Red AU III Fairmont sedan with Tickford wheels. Not much police attention in the three years on my P-Plates.
If I had gone a XR6 on other hand.....