AU2 - is this a good deal or not?

[b2tf]

As anyone who has bothered to read my posts both on here and former FF would know, i am pretty well itching to get out of my EFII Futura for good, and it will be happening very soon - July in fact.

My parents have an AUII Fairmont, I6 with the 17" Tickfords. Dad has fussed over this car since the day he bought it and for that reason i know it is immaculate, bar a few small paint chips which are bound to happen when you live in a country area, and every 2nd road is being worked on.

He has offered to take my EF, and trade it for his new Territory which he'll be buying in July (once he gets his retirement payout). Once this is done, I will be given the AU (at a reduced price with no time limit to pay it off).

Now while thats a bloody good deal, and i appreciate my parents helping me out with cars etc, the AU has close to 85,000 on it already, by July i reckon it'll be pushing 90. So, is it worth keeping and doing up? My only plans for it would be to Ghia-ise the interior a bit, and the faactory bodykit, exhaust etc and thats about it. Wont be a weapon, but a nice car all the less.

I will do either one of two things:-

* Keep the AU and do it up
* Use the AU as a trade on another vehicle

So, which one would you do, and why?

BTW: Im not a spoilt kid, i am paying off the AU regardless of whether i keep it or not. I just thought i should add that in to save people feeling the need to mention it in their posts. out:

[MickyB]

I would keep the AU as they are such an under-rated vehicle except by those of us in the know. With servicing and some care there is no reason why it can't do 250,000km plus. The added bonus for you is that you are getting a great deal and you know the history of the car, I would say that if it hasn't given your Dad any problems yet then I doubt it will in the future.

[b2tf]

Yeah, i should add that - always been serviced at the proper intervals by the Ford lot (specially picked by Dad cos he knows the DP lol, so he got the choice of who he wanted to work on his car), and its never had any problems at all apart from a burnt out muffler, which was replaced under warranty. The climate control screens have also been changed.

[MickyB]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

.........and its never had any problems at all apart from a burnt out muffler, which was replaced under warranty.....

I would hope that you will be replacing all that anyway with a nice 2.5 inch system. Sounds like a great deal if you can swing it.

[outback_ute]

You've said all that and you still need to ask the question???

[FordFan86]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

You've said all that and you still need to ask the question???

Im with his guy.
Exactly.

[GlennBA]

Keep the AU

def keep the AU, there a weapon in disguise!

[Dr Z]

Keep the AU, turn it into a weapon with one of these superchargers...

http://www.capa.com.au/kits_ford.htm

..repeatedly press the loud pedal and have fun! :

Safe and happy driving...Dr Z.

[DivHunter]

Trade it in on an AU XR

[Bucknaked]

You too are spoilt.

Just kidding. Fairmonts are a great package. Nudge has an AU Fairmont, and it looks pretty good. I would like an AU Fairmont Wagon V8 for myself. History of the car, you know, so theres really no guessing as to the treatment of the car. And if your folks are given you the car on an extended payment arrangement, then I would have to say that you mum and dad wouldn't steer you wrong. If there was a problem with the car, they would tell you. Especially if its a saftey issue. If it was a problem, they would trade it in a second, or at least let you make your own mind up. And Country K's. Can't go past that.

If I was you, I'd take the Fairmont and give your old man the futura. My first car I got from my parents was a clapped out 69 HT holden. They didn't love me enough to give me an AU. Of course the AU wasn't made in 1987, but still, they didn't love me. *****Sniff Sniff***********

What colour is it?

[lv619]

Do her up however much you please and keep it for a year or so and see what happens...

[Olympus]

Mate, how can there be any doubt in your mind ?
Go for it mate ! There are no downsides !
Keep the AU and 'individualise' it !!!

[BlueRaven]

AUs despite what many people considered the ugly duckling are a really great car to drive...but you will definately want to work it if you intend on keeping it.

[Steffo]

AUII Fairmont! Now! If you don't take that awesome opportunity... argh!

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by Steffo

AUII Fairmont! Now! If you don't take that awesome opportunity... argh!

Agreed! Your mad for even thinking about doing different

[SVR73]

Agreed. 90,000 km's is not really that many kilometres and if your dad is like the common father, he has driven it quite sedately.
Nothing wrong with fairmonts. They have the high series dash/interior of which I really like. It annoys me that they have more switches and buttons than a tickford xr

If you take the car, watch for power steering fluid leakage and rack failure. The forte's rack went at 115,000 which is where some start to play up.
You could be fortunate and have no probs

Best of luck with it

[Sunburst50]

Keep the AU II !!!! Best car ever (except maybe the BA).

[b2tf]

Thanks guys for all the input, id say its a unanimous decision.

Dwayne, it is liquid silver in colour - very nice looking car, but too damn high. Nothing a set of Kings wont fix though. Btw, who owns/owned that AUII Mont with the bodykit in the ACT Club - its Meteorite in colour?

Plans for it would be to put the fairmont factory bodykit on, lower it, exhaust system, some nice leather seats, MOMO wheel and a few other interior touches. 3.45 LSD and T/C are factory fitted so im reasonably happy with how it goes.

And then the payments begin........

[carratt]

Liquid silver is definatley one of may favourite colours on the AU.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Dwayne, it is liquid silver in colour - very nice looking car, but too damn high. Nothing a set of Kings wont fix though. Btw, who owns/owned that AUII Mont with the bodykit in the ACT Club - its Meteorite in colour?

Not sure. I'd have to see some pics. If you have any, can you send them too me. Thanx

[Olympus]

Better change your nick to back2thefairmont too !

[Smoke Pursuit]

grab it!

They not only look good, but gezz they run good and they are bloody good on petrol!!!

[MO]

Go for it the AU is the most underated Ford of all time,except maybe the model T,they start to come into their own at around 100,000. so unless you do something really stupid you can't break'em.

[GTP 320]

AU11 for sure they were a great car and are upto date except with the BA of course, they look even better with a rear spoiler though it gives it a better stance from the rear.
Cheers John

[b2tf]

well John as luck would have it, it does have a rear spoiler. _2:

[Smoke Pursuit]

GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT...

Would have to be the best deal you could ever get, good car and good payment terms!

[DJM83]

yeah get the AU lowerin is all it needs which tickford wheels does it have assuming its an AUII id say they rnt the machined 5 spoke but the other ones correct me if im wrong sounds like a nice car especially in liquid silver nice catch well done

[Dark Horse]

Hrmm, what a tough choice. What can I say?

Not much more than what's been said already. I wish we had the luxury pack option in AU XR days.

[loxxr6]

Like the others said, grab it.

However....if you were gonna trade it in, what were you looking at getting instead ?

There's nothing worse than getting something you don't like. You do like the Fairmont don't you ??