What to buy: AU XR8 or BA XR6/XR6T

[*rayman*]

So i'm wanting to trade up from my grandpa spec AU 75th Anniversary falcon. It's really tidy, drives nice, low 130k/m's on it, but it just doesn't excite me.

I'm looking to use it for daily driver duties, and not wanting to spend more than about 7k.

I've been looking at BA XR6's, with about 150-160k's on them. Can be had for anywhere between 4-7k for somewhat tidy ones.

I've seen a few turbo ones come up in the same price range, but am i asking for trouble buying a turbo one with these sorts of k/m's on it?

I've come across a Series 3 AU XR8 220kw with 160k on it. Auto and leather for $4500. Just needs tyres, and a bit of cosmetic tidy up. I'm more than capable of doing these types of things.

BA's are so cheap now, i'm guessing they won't be worth much in a couple of years time. I'm hoping the AU would retain some value, but they really are the ugly duckling, and somewhat of an acquired taste.

So what should i buy?

I'd buy a manual, but the missus couldn't buy it....

[Mont5.0]

The xr8 sounds the goods. Low ks v8- Nuff said.

[revcore]

AU XR8 for sure...Gotta love the Windsors.

[*rayman*]

I'm no stranger to the windsors, i've had few in different guises over the years. mustang, eb fairmont, ef xr8 etc.

How do the auto's hold up with these sort of k/m's on em? I don't feel like paying to rebuild another auto... Got burnt on the VT R8 i had that shat the auto.

[Vincenzo]

I am an inline six man through and through ....... but given the choice between what you have stated, I would go with the AU over the BA without a second thought. As an owner of an AU you already know how reliable they can be and how easy they are to work on.


Cheers Vincenzo

[nstg8a]

Where do you guys find these 4-6k ba xr6s? All I ever see for that price is high Kay xt's

[b2tf]

XR8 all the way. Ive had 2 now and am on the hunt for a third.

[EgoFalcon]

I would go with the BA XR6 Turbo, I know everyone says AU's are reliable. But our AU XR6 is a bit of a lemon. Our AU fairmont ghia is starting to show it's age though... especially with 350k's on it. It is giving us hints that it's on it's way out.

Turbo for the speed.
XR8 for the noise.

[nstg8a]

I personally wouldn't touch a cleap xr turbo, just too much to go wrong

[sbcb]

Get the 8

[Mr Brooksy]

NA BA XR6 will not really put a smile on your face. Great car don't get me wrong but if the AU is boring you then is unlikely to change much with the BA. If I were in your position I wouldn't take any of your options, I'd simply live with what you have and save for the XR6T with lower kms for a higher price than it seems you can actually afford at the moment.

If the 75th Ann is still running fine and costing you nothing then why do a half cooked upgrade if you are looking for some excitement in your next car?

Simply save for what will excite you that is not nearly as much of a compromise as your current options suggest. And for the love of Pete don't go blowing more money on a loan, patients pays huge divided ends!

[*rayman*]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Where do you guys find these 4-6k ba xr6s? All I ever see for that price is high Kay xt's

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cobur...car/1025798519

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261332032...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/251372572...84.m1435.l2649

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gold-...xr6/1031883865

Quick search in the usual places...

There are a couple of others i have my eye on, so i won't share them though.

[*rayman*]

NA BA XR6 will not really put a smile on your face. Great car don't get me wrong but if the AU is boring you then is unlikely to change much with the BA. If it I were in your position I wouldn't take any of your options, I'd simply live with what you have and save for the XR6T with lower kms for a higher price than it seems you can actually afford at the moment.

If the 75th Ann is still running fine and costing you nothing then why do a half cooked upgrade if you are looking for some excitement in your next car?

Simply save for what will excite you that is not nearly as much of a compromise as your current options suggest. And for the love of Pete don't go out blowing more money on a loan, patients paths huge divided ends!

I have a big dollar 68 big block camaro to excite me.... just looking for a daily that doesn't look/feel like grandpas car. I bought the AU earlier in the year while we were putting money together for our new house, out of necessity when there wasn't much else available immediately. It's a very good car, just not my thing.

[madmelon]

I currently own an AUIII XR8 manual (4 years) and a BF XR6 ZF Auto (2.5 years). Both have similar km (131 vs 126) and I've put about half those km on each of them.

As much as I love the XR8, it is quite obviously a previous generation car. That said, bits of the BF feel and look of poorer, cheaper build quality. Some examples are power window switches and silver door handle trims that don't fit snugly and are starting to bubble. Still, the B series is more refined.

The BF drive line feels superior to the AU, but it would- the ZF is awesome.

If you're thinking about performance- tuners have been all over the B series since day 1 and the AU has been forgotten a bit.

If I was you, I'd be saving to find something with a ZF 6 speed in it- having had one, there is no way I'm going back to a BTR 4 speed (mum has a BFIII wagon and it doesn't have a patch on the ZF). There seem to be a few available in QLD for less than $10k.

[ZGM86]

I would definitely go for the AU if I were you. Exciting to drive, more unique styling, the bullet proof Windsor in its best form (non-stroked, anyway), and more reliable and well-built.

That said, if you really want a B series Turbo, I was cross-shopping them against AUs only last month and there were several low klm (between 100-120) BA & BF Turbos for $8-10K around Brissy/Gold Coast. If you must get a turbo, I'd be saving a bit more and getting one with the lower klms.

[Crazy Dazz]

Given that you're on a tight budget, and don't want to get stung for major maintenance costs, just go with the BA XR6. The Barra engine is plenty powerful, relatively economical, and that package will cost you less to maintain

[Falcon SXR8]

Au xr8 all day and that's coming from someone who has had both. Especially if your looking for a reliable daily, don't touch a ba.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by EgoFalcon

I would go with the BA XR6 Turbo, I know everyone says AU's are reliable. But our AU XR6 is a bit of a lemon. Our AU fairmont ghia is starting to show it's age though... especially with 350k's on it. It is giving us hints that it's on it's way out.

Turbo for the speed.
XR8 for the noise.

Most other cars probably would have never lasted long enough to make that distance. At that distance it has almost traveled the circumference of the globe 9 times.

[mik]

tough call, the cheap modability of more modern clean looking b series turbo or simpler AU XR8 with the extra two cylanders ,,,, that sound and excellent driving feel.............

[ebv8]

i have been looking for the same cars but more BA XR8's, i have not seen any turbo's in your price range that are worth looking at,
BA XR6's are a great car but boring!
AU XR8's are also great but anything under $7k will be clapped out, i sold mine for $7k last year (220,000km, blueprint, leather, auto and momo bits), i had to replace auto and suspension in the 12 months i had it but every single 1 i have seen does not have a service history, the owner can't tell me when the auto was last serviced, and the suspension and diffs are noisy.
the best value AU is a 5.0l ghia, $4k will get a nice one
the best value BA is a NA XR6
don't rule out an AU3 XR6 HP with a 5speed, they are fun and just as quick as a BA XR6 but most are clapped out now

I'm going for an XR8 but they are double your budget and use double the fuel but i just want the smile on my face when i drive a manual V8

[Vincenzo]

Originally Posted by ebv8

don't rule out an AU3 XR6 HP with a 5speed, they are fun and just as quick as a BA XR6 but most are clapped out now

Get 'em breathing with a good suspension and you are set. While you don't have the same power 164Kws V 195 Kws you are also carrying around several hundred Kilos less in weight

AU 6 1470kg
AU 8 1510kg
BA 6 1660kg
BF 6 1710kg
.... but I digress.


Cheers Vincenzo

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

Get 'em breathing with a good suspension and you are set. While you don't have the same power 164Kws V 195 Kws you are also carrying around several hundred Kilos less in weight

AU 6 1470kg
AU 8 1510kg
BA 6 1660kg
BF 6 1710kg
.... but I digress.


Cheers Vincenzo

AU 8 is nowhere near 1510kg. My XR8 on the weighbridge at Eastern Creek was 1690kg with a full tank but no mats, no spare, no jack.

A non-IRS version would be lucky to be under 1600kg.

[Sharka]

Originally Posted by madmelon

AU 8 is nowhere near 1510kg. My XR8 on the weighbridge at Eastern Creek was 1690kg with a full tank but no mats, no spare, no jack.

A non-IRS version would be lucky to be under 1600kg.

And compare that to a BA Xr8 ...200-300 kilos more min

personal got my eye on a Au2 220 manual 80kms on the clock... Brembo brakes ..leather for 10k same owner for the last 11yrs

was very impressed with my AU2 XR8 manual ute after I lowered handle was next to amazing better than any BA XR8 I've ever driven (far to unbalanced nose heavy truck motor)

Performance wise the the little 220kw windsor is a very nice little motor that will never let you down and if you treat it good will do easy 300-400kms+

Also I remember getting 650kms out of tank of fuel in my AU2 XR8 highway
that's way better than my 3lt boxer motor Subaru I currently own but want to upgrade to the AU2XR8 most under-rated Falcon ever IMHO

[FalconXR6]

This : "but it just doesn't excite me" is what you will be saying if you buy a 6pot... if there's even just a small part that wants a V8 , then get a V8. Nothing else will excite you more and KEEP you excited.

I had an fg xr6 turbo and now have a ba xr8. The XR8 is FAR more "exciting" to drive !

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Tapatalk

[HULK_I6T]

For the money your looking at spending, i say keep the au 75th anniversary model. Id prefer a good condition grandpa spec car than a roughie xr6/xr8.

its better the devil you know. Unless you spend a bit more and get a low km mint condition car.

Not saying cars with higher km are no good but if you have done the km yourself then all good but buying a car after 120-130000km is running the gauntlet..

there are things you can do to your au to give nightmares to ba xr6 n/a owners and au xr8 owners.

1. Extractors and exhaust system
2. 3.45 diff gears
3. Slightly lowered springs
4. Nice set of wheels
5. Audio upgrade.
6. Intake upgrade
7. Look on ebay for bits n pieces trim upgrades from ghias/fairlanes etc
8. Maybe a small cam upgrade.

your car sounds nice keep it and just get a few of the mods done.

[CyberWasp]

I haven't had anything bad happen to my XR6T and it is pushing up into the 150k area.

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

I haven't had anything bad happen to my XR6T and it is pushing up into the 150k area.

My point being that if there is nothing wrong with it you would keep it. (As you arent selling yours). However as soon as a few things start giving some trouble and some costly issues loom up it goes for sale..

hence the cars with some km on them are usually for sale because the maintenance / repair costs start racking up. The cars with more km that are good are usually not for sale. (Why give away a good car for cheap)

to the OP if your au is good keep it, dont inherit someone elses problems with a higher km car.

[Blem]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

This : "but it just doesn't excite me" is what you will be saying if you buy a 6pot... if there's even just a small part that wants a V8 , then get a V8. Nothing else will excite you more and KEEP you excited.

I had an fg xr6 turbo and now have a ba xr8. The XR8 is FAR more "exciting" to drive !

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Tapatalk

V8 has less killerwasps & less torque so totally disagree with your comments.
Guessing you have never driven or ben a passenger, OR READ stats on how these car perform.
Yes I own a FGF6 but fairly confindant a BA turbo will eat a xr8

[BHDOGS]

get the au xr8 less around more noticable if you get the turbo you'll be just another guy in a turbo with 300 fullysick kilowatts nobody can tell the difference with because they all look alike and every second man and his dogs got one.

[93EB_SXR6]

Go the V8. Windsors sound way better than any I6. The turbo is faster but let's face it, you'll never be able to use the power on public roads any way.