Used To Hate 'em, Now I Love 'em. Go Figure

c_rock · 18-01-2006, 11:56 PM

I've been a long time holden devotee and remember thinking when the AU came out that there was another excuse for me to hate fords.

Brought about by a seriously cheap deal on a vehicle in immaculate condition, last week I purchased an AU series 1 forte sedan...no mods, just plain factory:

I've gotta say...I'm hooked. What a great car. I've even grown to love the body shape.

Very very happy with this car.

Casper · 18-01-2006, 11:57 PM

Another one falls for the AU.. such a common occurance.

Welcome.

sbcb · 19-01-2006, 08:45 AM

My AU's have gone AU1 Futura, AU1 Cobra XR8, AU2 XR8. Guess I'm hooked.

FPV8U · 19-01-2006, 09:36 AM

Parent hated the AU's. when they came out, then dad bought two "Work Cars" a Red AUII XL Trayback and a White XL Ute, both 4.0L A4, the tray was column Auto, since then he progressivly got turned to a one eyed Ford Man.

Now mums Daily driver is an AUII XR8 a car she once wouldn't have evan looked at, but the AU shape grew on them.

c_rock · 19-01-2006, 10:13 AM

I find it wierd. I found the AU shape almost laughable....now I'm hooked.

Au2falcons · 19-01-2006, 11:02 AM

So would I be classed as strange because I have liked the AU shape since it was released!!!!!!

**FTE217** · 19-01-2006, 11:05 AM

Good stuff and welcome to the Brightside lol...........

Casper · 19-01-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Au2falcons

So would I be classed as strange because I have liked the AU shape since it was released!!!!!!

nope, I fell in love with the AU XR the first time I saw one in 1998

**Whoosha** · 19-01-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Au2falcons

So would I be classed as strange because I have liked the AU shape since it was released!!!!!!

Yeah what he said .Welcome, now let the fun begin. I had three in the family till #1 son turned and went BAd on me............
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :thebirds: :thebirds: Whoosha

stiddy · 19-01-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

nope, I fell in love with the AU XR the first time I saw one in 1998

Me to, the AU XR is the only reason im a ford man, if there wasnt an AU XR released I would NOT have a Ford.

FPV8U · 19-01-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Au2falcons

So would I be classed as strange because I have liked the AU shape since it was released!!!!!!

Weirdo!, nah mate your not on your own i loved the AU when it came out but only really the XR's, but being Umm 10 at the time and living in a Holden Family (Besides myself and my Brother who couldn't care less) the AU didn't get much positive attention from the old man, now they have seen the light thanks to the AU and BA.

OzJavelin · 19-01-2006, 02:45 PM

In common with most here, I too hated the AUs where they first came out ... UGLY! Now I like my AU ute, I LOVE AU XRs (esp the "pure" lines of the AU1), and am starting to really appreciate AU Fairmonts, Fairlanes, etc ..
Even a "fan-grille" Forte with a body coloured grille is starting to look good!
Rod.

jspec_sti · 19-01-2006, 03:50 PM

Agree with Casper. Have been a fan of the AU XR shape since 1998.

The AU XR range at the time, and probably still is one of the meanest looking range of cars to ever be released from the Ford factory. Even now, whenever you see one from a distance there is no doubt as to the identity of the car.

jimt3te50 · 19-01-2006, 03:59 PM

certainly have liked the AU's from day one- much the same as everyone else though. it was the XR's that appealed to me the most.....

from humble beginnings as the AU1 Forte through to the mightiest of the final T series, an awesome page in Ford's book- ironically it could have well been the death of Ford in this country.

Ahead of it's time in overall style....... had it been released 5-10 years ahead of what it was it would have been more accepted I think, but we'll never know.

I for one, am a big fan

sfr rob · 19-01-2006, 04:00 PM

sucked in.....
and welcome aboard matey, ENJOY!

rob

Rob · 19-01-2006, 08:57 PM

I know the feeling... I joined here about 2 months ago. Was a die-hard holden man (with a secret fetish for AU falcons), and when time came to replace the VP, i couldnt resist, and fell in love with a narooma blue AU3............

jabba · 19-01-2006, 09:23 PM

C Rock.... What is it about the car that you love so much, and how it compares to he Commodore. There must be some thing special about it, because it is obvious that it has made quiet an impact on you....

clontarf_x · 19-01-2006, 09:27 PM

Gota say out of the X, E, A and B series cars the AU's win hands down... except the forte... god damn thats a face not even its mother could love.

It's funny coz my mate keeps going aww BA's are so sexy, looks much better than yours. Then I park the AU alongside the BA and he quickly shuts up

AU XR's forever! :P

*edit* when I say X series I mean XD and newer. God damn I love the early X-series :P I think everyone dreams of an XB Coupe in gloss black

HLC · 19-01-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Even a "fan-grille" Forte with a body coloured grille is starting to look good!
Rod.

the will never grow on me... the look like whales teeth (baleen- to be precise)

davocol · 19-01-2006, 11:00 PM

I was the same, even hated the shape inside when looking out of the car but now all other cars seem strange.

Falcon Freak · 19-01-2006, 11:25 PM

I still hate everthing about the AU's appearance. But if I had my old AU Falcon Forte lined up next to current BA Falcon XT, I'd take the AU everytime. The AU was a much nicer car to drive than the BA.

FF

sfr rob · 19-01-2006, 11:55 PM

^^ you must have a lemon of a BA then mate!^^

my BA ghia cr@ps all over my AU, but i still LOVE the look of my AU!!!
go figure.

blackers10 · 20-01-2006, 03:54 AM

my AU fairlane i think is a cross bred AU BA..
its got the squarer ***.. the square front
its just so much squarer than the regular AU.. which makes it so much more like the BA!!!

go figure..

but i definatly love the AUs nowadays
always a ford man!!

82 KA laser(sold)
85 ZL fairlane(stripped for parts for mums boyfriends XF ute)
90 NA fairlane(traded in for AU)
99 AU fairlane(current)

pattern emerging?
and im only 19!!

AUIII XR8 MAN · 20-01-2006, 04:47 AM

Yer i've always like the AU from the frist day,but not the XR it was the Fairmont Ghia. I remember walking into the dealer when the AU was just release & seeing a XR & Ghia park next to each other. The Ghia had 17" wheel, full body kit, lowed & dark glass. It look so sweet that i want one there & then. But over the years the XR range grow on my more & more, them when Ford starting running out the AU for the BA that when i went & brought the XR as i was told the new BA XR was not going to be as wild looking as the past XR & they weren't wrong.I perfer the wilder looks of the AU over the plan jane looking BA.

DailyDriver · 20-01-2006, 02:00 PM

I too didn't like the AU shape when they came out, but now that I have one, I prefer it to the basic BA models....even if they are dirt cheap themselves now.

Mark351 · 20-01-2006, 02:20 PM

The AU shape was so 'ahead of it's time', that Mercedes waited a few years - then copied it!

GK · 20-01-2006, 05:01 PM

I really like the shape, stong and bold. I guess most of the public weren't ready for it though! The S1 Forte grille was horrible though, easily replaced.

In fact the first AU I saw up close was a blue 5 speed, one of the very first off the line, a Forte which had the grille replaced with a Futura one. Simple mod and very nice.

What also impressed me was the alloy underneath and a host of other technical advances, such as failsafe cooling, things that made it so far ahead of the Holdens of the time.

Now I own 2!

Go Au, Go Ford!! Oi, Oi, Oi!
(Sorry, have been watching far too much cricket and tennis! LOL)

GK

T3man · 20-01-2006, 08:09 PM

Yes, the AU was almost the death of Ford in Australia. BECAUSE it was five years ahead of it time and the Australian motoring YOBBOS couldn't recognize it for what it was. Now we have so many vehicles copying the design features of the AU (well, except for the MkI Forte grille) and everybody accepts them without question.

I have loved the XRs from the very first - definitely a statement design and set it apart from the lesser models, unlike the poor BA XR which is just a poor cousin by comparison.

And the culmination of AU was of course the T3 - still haven't seen anything from FPV that stirs me as much as the T3 did when I first saw it at the Sydney Motor Show in 2001. The moment I saw it I knew I had to buy one. My first new Ford for 20 years. Up till then I hadn't been impresed enough by anything in the Ford stable to rush out and buy one since my XC Cobra.

LONG LIVE THE AU!

Casper · 20-01-2006, 08:12 PM

Well, for all those that love the AU... come to the AU BBQ in April.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=29959

We have AU RACECARS coming!! (Homer Simpson voice)

AWD Chaser · 21-01-2006, 07:56 AM

I admint - i hated them when they first came out. My dad has been driving ford taxi's for over 10 years, and now has an AU3. I went to the auction house to look for a VY commodore and walked out my beast AU3! It really is a design that i find once it has grown on you, you'll love it.

BTW, at least Ford was willing to take the design risk and add a whole new aproach to the look and designed it (the look) from ground up.

Unlike the commodore which the front looked the same from the VR, VP, VS, VT, and VX (the VR/VP rear did look different from the later models). And mind you, the VY has really only just squared of the lights, and.... Copied the AU taillights - hoiw bout that

_ Inside is all much of a muchness.