Ex-Chaser

[XR8AU2121]

Hi All!

Long time reader and now retired, so I thought I should formalise things in order to add my two bobs worth in respect of some of the issues raised from time to time. I have been an XR8 owner since September 2000 so I think I am now qualified to make the occassional comment, etc.

The XR is an August 1999 AU Ex-HWP, black in colour, purchased from the NSW Govt auctions in September 2000 with 41,000 klm. It was a Regional Supervisors unmarked car with only a radio in the glove box and a phone, so only a couple of holes in the trim to be filled and only used by one person to drive to and from work, and the occassional meeting etc. As the driver new I was going to buy when it went back, he took particular care of it and made sure it was well serviced before it was handed back in.

It is stock apart from a K&N filter, exhaust and a set of 18" XHP chrome Sabres. Under warranty in 2001 it had the diff and the two drive shafts replaced to get rid of the clunk. Since then I have replaced the front rotors with DBA's, the exhaust with sports mufflers, replaced the resonator with pipe and two chrome tips, so it still looks standard from the rear, a new battery, front and rear brake pads. The only time it let me down was a couple of years ago when it refused to kick over and had to make one of its very rare visits to a Ford dealer. What had happened was that the lead to the starter motor had come adrift and was touching the exhaust where it eventually burnt through. Thats it. I change the oil every 5,000 k's and as its only got 121,000 k's it still drives like new. Paint is still 95 out of 100 which is not to bad for an 8 year old black car used every day. No rattles or squeaks, the transmission is still very smooth and only thumps occassionally when the adaptive shift gets caught out. Same handbrake noise problems as everyone else, but you live with it and just make the adjustments when necessary.

Had every intention of moving up to a BA but wasn't really that impressed, it felt a lot heavier to drive particularly in and out of traffic around the suburbs. Besides, BAXR8's and particulary XR6's are now in plague proportions and with no real differentiation between all the variants, they all look much the same at first glance. Whereby the AU xr's still clearly stand apart from the other models and certainly don't look their age.

I have driven many different vehicles but I find the XR still gives me the most driving pleasure.

The family also has two Magna's, a 2000 TH Advance now the domain of one of my daughters and an ex-police 2004 VRX AWD which my wife drives. A fantastic value for money car at the current secondhand prices for all those who do not want sheer power but like excellent safe handling, etc, particularly those manufactured after December 2004 as they have the 5 year 130,000k warranty. Only wish the AUXR8 had the same braking performance as the VRX.

Cheers for now.

[The Monty]

Gotta love the AU. Thanks for the story, looking forward to more of your contributions.

[JC]

Welcome to AFF. Another ex HWP car. Mine is also ex-police, not sure if it's GD or HWP. Mine has very few mods (lol), but still drives really well too.

[XR8AU2121]

Just playing with the photo attachment tools to see if I can upload a current pic.