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18-01-2006, 11:56 PM | #1 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 13
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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. |
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18-01-2006, 11:57 PM | #2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,083
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Another one falls for the AU.. such a common occurance.
Welcome.
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Older, wiser, poorer. Now in Euro-Trash. VW Coupe V6 4motion.
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19-01-2006, 08:45 AM | #3 | ||
BA Xr8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 917
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My AU's have gone AU1 Futura, AU1 Cobra XR8, AU2 XR8. Guess I'm hooked.
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19-01-2006, 09:36 AM | #4 | ||
BOSS 5.4L Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,937
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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. |
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19-01-2006, 10:13 AM | #5 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 13
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I find it wierd. I found the AU shape almost laughable....now I'm hooked.
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19-01-2006, 11:02 AM | #6 | ||
Winter all year round
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 671
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So would I be classed as strange because I have liked the AU shape since it was released!!!!!!
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Some people drive sports cars on the weekend....I drive my AU! It's not what you drive...it's how you enjoy it. Recommend trading with Mechan1k, Offyaguts, EDMONTY, PhantomXR8, HOTC2R, Partie & JC |
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19-01-2006, 11:05 AM | #7 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,552
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Good stuff and welcome to the Brightside lol...........
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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19-01-2006, 11:35 AM | #8 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,083
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Quote:
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Older, wiser, poorer. Now in Euro-Trash. VW Coupe V6 4motion.
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19-01-2006, 11:40 AM | #9 | ||||
AU DIE HARD
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Between 2nd and 5th gear
Posts: 5,073
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Quote:
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :thebirds: :thebirds: Whoosha
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........Age and treachery will ALWAYS overcome youth and skill....... CORTINA 250 2V POWER soon to be AUXR8 Windsor pwrd .............WINDSOR WARLORD WHO CARRIES THE CLEVO MAFIA AND BROKEN BOSSES... .................................................. Quote:
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19-01-2006, 12:34 PM | #10 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Beaumont Hills
Posts: 2,536
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Quote:
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. |
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19-01-2006, 12:36 PM | #11 | |||
BOSS 5.4L Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,937
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Quote:
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19-01-2006, 02:45 PM | #12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,633
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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. |
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19-01-2006, 03:50 PM | #13 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 134
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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. |
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19-01-2006, 03:59 PM | #14 | ||
My kids think I'm cool
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 7,880
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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
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2011 FPV GT 335 >My Build Thread< (Posts 3511-3515 has a compilation of most of the pics, page 118 @ 30 posts per page) BLUESTREAK built 5.2L flat-plane-crank VOODOO with 3.2L Intercooled Kenne Bell blower, 1000rwhp/746rwkw @ 8000rpm @ 20psi on E85. Built ZF with BLUESTREAK 2C Circle D converter. Unbloodybelievable... 2018 Ford Ranger RAPTOR 2013 Audi SQ5 |
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19-01-2006, 04:00 PM | #15 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,954
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sucked in.....
and welcome aboard matey, ENJOY! rob |
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19-01-2006, 08:57 PM | #16 | ||
Living the dream
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 1,795
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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............
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19-01-2006, 09:23 PM | #17 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Is that your face, or did you neck throw up
Posts: 3,041
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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....
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19-01-2006, 09:27 PM | #18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,042
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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 |
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19-01-2006, 10:05 PM | #19 | |||
Audi S3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney.
Posts: 8,307
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Quote:
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19-01-2006, 11:00 PM | #20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 723
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I was the same, even hated the shape inside when looking out of the car but now all other cars seem strange.
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SZ Territory Titanium |
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19-01-2006, 11:25 PM | #21 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,516
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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 |
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19-01-2006, 11:55 PM | #22 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,954
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^^ 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. |
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20-01-2006, 03:54 AM | #23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Narangba QLD
Posts: 4,338
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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!! |
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20-01-2006, 04:47 AM | #24 | ||
DJR TM#54
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: on my p.c now with internet! ok i'll still use works internet too.
Posts: 2,248
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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.
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When traveling to V8 Supercar rounds, i book through KYLEE MOLE Travel agents, She Goes, She Goes, She Goes & I just went. Now Zetec Powered. 1.6lt of madness. But the XR8 still remains |
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20-01-2006, 02:00 PM | #25 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 78
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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.
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A Foot In Both Camps...... All Go.......VXSS.....380bhp All Show...2001 AU2 SR...210bhp...SOLD! |
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20-01-2006, 02:20 PM | #26 | ||
Built Ford Tough
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: State of Euphoria Mod: F-Series
Posts: 3,035
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The AU shape was so 'ahead of it's time', that Mercedes waited a few years - then copied it!
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Black on white '83 SWB F100 C6 auto 351C on gas and on the ground --> Project Thread '55 F100, just a roller at the moment, new project Silver MY12 Volkswagen Amarok |
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20-01-2006, 05:01 PM | #27 | ||
Walking with God
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 7,321
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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 |
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20-01-2006, 08:09 PM | #28 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: searching for cubes
Posts: 6,672
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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! |
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20-01-2006, 08:12 PM | #29 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,083
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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)
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Older, wiser, poorer. Now in Euro-Trash. VW Coupe V6 4motion.
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21-01-2006, 07:56 AM | #30 | ||
Formally Kia Chaser
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 2,493
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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.
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Kia Grand Carnival (2006) Silver, Grill Mesh, Tints, Sidesteps (with lights), Towbar, 7" Touch Screen DVD Tuner with intergrated GPS & Bluetooth, Roof Mounted Flip Down 15.1" LCD Screen, Reverse Camera - 184Kw HSV Clubsport R8 VY (2003) Black, 6sp Manual, Coulson Seats, Red on black interior, Pacemaker extractors, Twin 2.5" exhaust, Custom Red 20" VE GTS Rims, Custom Red Stitching
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