Holden v's Ford

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Originally Posted by Outback 1

but have you owned a ba :D different car altogether:D

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Bloody well needed to be. I spent more $$$ towing my 1997 XH ute to the Ford dealership than I had spent in total on maintenance on my CM Valiant ute in 13 tears. The Ford was an unreliable uneconomic pile of puss. A long litany of electronic failures and electrical problems, head gasket failure, brake disc wear, fuel consumption, holes worn in seat squabs simply from getting in and out, all made me look for a simple non-electronic work horse, a Land Rover County-Isuzu.

The keen sales staff at the Ford dealer would 'phone me from time to time suggesting it was time for a new one. I always replied that I have had 2 Falcons, the first and the last.

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Originally Posted by Outback 1

but have you owned a ba :D different car altogether:D

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I think you might want to do abit of research on that . all they change on the BA from the AU was the head lights and tail lights . The rest of the car is the same. same shell and all parts bolt onto each model and the ford six is still a guzzler . And yes have driven one and have mates that own them and wish they didn't . I think the ford will be a better car with the V6 in it ;)

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Originally Posted by BigJon

I still contend that comparing a "Holden" salisbury diff to a "Ford" 9 inch diff isn't comparing apples to apples. The construction of the 9 inch is truck like (extra bearing to support pinion, sheer size) with the associated weight penalties.

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I was comparing the Chev/holden 10 bolt Salisbury type diff to the Ford 9", NOT the B/W salisbury Holden diff to the 9"'er. What about comparing the Muncie "Rock crusher" Chev g/box to the Ford Top Loader, Ford wins again.
Regards Frank.

We have an AU 99 sedan. It replaced an ED 94 wagon.
Both were/are reliable.

The ED cost bugger all over its 300,000k life.
The AU has been here for 2 years, has done 60,000ks since the missus leadfoot got it, and over the past few months has cost a grand or so in fixes.
Battery, tyres, exhaust, (go the new Lukey!), air filter and one component failure to do with the computer sensor system for $240....oil/filter in the tranny.
It does more than 600ks a week and these are general runningcosts, (I change the engine oil and Z9 filter every 10kks)...

It cost just $7k a few years back and I wasn't expecting a Benz or a Roller...and it still looks neat...

Nice car for the bucks.

GQ

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Originally Posted by wannalandy

I think you might want to do abit of research on that . all they change on the BA from the AU was the head lights and tail lights .

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Err, not really.

BA engine is DOHC.
Rear suspension is the "control blade" IRS.

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Originally Posted by Tank

I was comparing the Chev/holden 10 bolt Salisbury type diff to the Ford 9",

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So was I.

I don't have much knowledge of those old gearboxes. I am only 32 years old! :D

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Originally Posted by wannalandy

I think you might want to do abit of research on that . all they change on the BA from the AU was the head lights and tail lights . The rest of the car is the same. same shell and all parts bolt onto each model and the ford six is still a guzzler . And yes have driven one and have mates that own them and wish they didn't . I think the ford will be a better car with the V6 in it ;)

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better check out some specs !ba's have vct engine {dohc} au's didn't also this change alone altered fuel economy as i own and drive one i should know it has been a reliable and brilliant car for the last 60000 kms:D

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Originally Posted by wannalandy

I think you might want to do abit of research on that . all they change on the BA from the AU was the head lights and tail lights . The rest of the car is the same. same shell and all parts bolt onto each model and the ford six is still a guzzler . And yes have driven one and have mates that own them and wish they didn't . I think the ford will be a better car with the V6 in it ;)

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Graham Smith

There are times you have to ask yourself why you would buy a new car when secondhand ones are so much more affordable. Take the BA Falcon for instance. A used car dealer mate recently bought a 2004 Mark 1 BA Futura wagon at auction for $16,000. It had done a mere 30,000km and was in unmarked condition.

That same car retailed at almost $40,000 when it was new.

Now, my dealer mate added his profit to the price before he retailed it out of his yard at $20,500, but even then it was still just a tick over half the original sticker price.

The BA Futura used here is just an example of the bargains out there in near-new cars, particularly the Falcons, Commodores, Magnas and Camrys.

MODEL WATCH

The BA Falcon was a make-or-break car for Ford. After the disastrous AU the BA had plenty of ground to make up if the company was going to be viable going into the future.

Thankfully for all of us it turned out to be a pretty decent car, far and away better than its disappointing predecessor.

Ford pumped lots of new features into the BA, far more than it really would have, had it been a normal upgrade.


The 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine was given a major overhaul with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder with infinitely variable valve timing. In base form the Barra engine put out 182kW at 5000 revs and 380Nm at 3250 revs, more than sufficient to give the BA plenty of zip. There was the choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed auto, the latter having sports shift.
The suspension was also revamped, particularly the rear suspension.The overhaul continued inside as well with an all-new layout focused around a central control console. Standard features in the base XT included airconditioning, CD sound, power driver's seat, power front windows, trip computer, cloth trim, dual front airbags, anti-skid brakes, 60/40 split-fold rear seat.

In addition to that, the Futura had cruise control, power rear windows, 16-inch (40.64cm) alloy wheels, rear centre armrest, cup holders, grab handles and courtesy lamps.

Make the next step up to the Fairmont and you also drove away with dual-zone airconditioning, velour trim, six-stack CD, woodgrain dash, leather-trimmed steering wheel, side airbags, and traction control.

The last step, sporty XRs aside, was to the Fairmont Ghia which had the added features of a six-way driver's seat with memory for settings, adjustable pedals, 17-inch (43.1cm) alloys and fog lamps.


IN THE SHOP

With just 30,000km or so under its wheels there should be little that's gone wrong with the Falcon. To date there is none of the head gasket, radiator, power steering problems that were a regular occurrence on the AU. And rental car agencies say they're having a better run out of the BA Falcon than they are with the equivalent Commodore or Magna. In reliability terms they are rating it as high as the Camry.

Mechanics working on roadside assistance are reporting an annoying BA problem.

It seems they simply stop and can't be started again without being towed to a Ford dealer where the electronics can be checked.


CRUNCH TIME

With decent handling from independent suspension front and rear and anti-skid brakes the Falcon delivers quite good primary safety.

On the secondary level it has dual front airbags, and on the Fairmont, side airbags.


HOW MUCH

There are lots of compelling reasons for buying used large cars, but saving money is the best one. At auction, BA Falcon XTs are being knocked down for as little as $14,500 on average. At retail prices, the

same car will sell for $3000 more. The Futura sedan retails for about $18,500 and the equivalent wagons will cost about $18,500 and $19,500.

The Daily Telegraph

:D:o

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Originally Posted by BigJon

Err, not really.

BA engine is DOHC.
Rear suspension is the "control blade" IRS.

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Ok so they added the extra cam but my fairmont had IRS ???

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Originally Posted by Outback 1

better check out some specs !ba's have vct engine {dohc} au's didn't also this change alone altered fuel economy as i own and drive one i should know it has been a reliable and brilliant car for the last 60000 kms:D

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AU's did have the VCT just not the DOHC and the fuel economy is still not that crash hot

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Originally Posted by CraigE

Wrong, Ford did not build the 9", they had some input on specs but the diffs were supplied to them by the same company that made Detroit Lockers. Ever wondered why a detroit locker will fit and is almost identical. Found this out when pulling down a mates F100 some years ago. Amazing what a bit of research will uncover. The original doccumentation even stated it was a 9". One of the ones that got through apparently that was not stamped as a Ford, supply issues for a while we believe.

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Detroit lockers are built to suit numerous diff's not just the 9";)