Which model falcon?

[Ace]

Hi all, the laser is just to damn small so we are selling it at xmas and getting a falcon and either putting it on gas or getting one with gas. My question is what model should i be looking at we are only looking at spending a couple of grand, 3 at the most as we will only get 1500 or so for the laser, so we are putting a bit away. I have been told the EA's are peices of crap, but as i have always owned commodores i wouldnt know. I am looking at models after the XF so the newer shape. Matt

[Scouse]

Hi all, the laser is just to damn small so we are selling it at xmas and getting a falcon and either putting it on gas or getting one with gas. My question is what model should i be looking at we are only looking at spending a couple of grand, 3 at the most as we will only get 1500 or so for the laser, so we are putting a bit away. I have been told the EA's are peices of crap, but as i have always owned commodores i wouldnt know. I am looking at models after the XF so the newer shape. Matt

My dad has a "fleet" of EB-EFs & loves them.

I'd avoid the EA & go for the best EB or later you can afford.
Check the auto transmission for smooth, quiet changes & make sure it's not noisy in a particular gear, usually 4th.
Fuel pumps often give a bit of warning before packing it in.
Head gasket leaks are common but it's usually oil not coolant leaking.

He quite often gets up to 400000 - 500000 before touching the motor. By that time, everything else is dead or dying on the car & it goes to the bottom of the paddock for retirement.

[numpty]

We once had an EA Wagon. It WAS crap Get something else. Why not a Commodore Wagon if you like Holdens? Or a newer car...if you like the Laser then why not a Mazda Astina hatchback? We are really happy with ours, which we bought to replace a Laser hatchback. They also keep their resale value better than things like the Falcon.

Numpty's Missus

[Discobunny]

Hi Ace , I ran an XF on gas for 300000kms and they are great (it had 278000kms before I converted it). From looking at the company cars at work the EA-ED were pretty average, EA's worse, ED better (the commodores of equivalent vintage seemd a better car IMHO). The EF's and EL's were significantly better. A friend has and EF on Gas and loves it (had a few issues with backfiring initially, but a backfire valve and better tuning sorted it). Get the latest model you can is generally a good rule.

[George130]

Some of the AU's are cheap as everyone hated them. Otherwise look for something like ours NL fairlane. Everything unders the sun and quite cheap to repair. When looking be more concerned with the body and drive train as a good engine is easy to find. The gearbox issues are where you spend the money. There are some parts you just can't get without spending hundreds to thousands when you only wanted the little seal.

[Mud_Bogger6]

If you want a car with gas, just sit in it with a few cans of baked beans

[George130]

If you want a car with gas, just sit in it with a few cans of baked beans

[rangieman]

just go the el-ef and if you can spare the bucks go the au they are all fairly cheap

i know a wholesaler if you pm me i might be able to help you out
it might mean a trip down south , hey we could do that relay thing and get it to the boarder for you . have drinks camp the night and shoot thru the next day

[Redback]

Get a V6 Camry, best family car on the road, economical plenty of go and very very very very reliable, we have one and it's never been touched in anger

[dobbo]

Mat you could get a mid to late 90's magna in a V6 dirt cheap (avoid the 4cyl), they cost nothing to service, parts are relitively cheap, check the gearbox though.

I have a 95 in a v6 manual, never had any real problems with it, it's now done us close to 200k and is just starting to burn oil.

Averages around 10l/100km (not bad for a 11 yr old car)

They are going for up to $5000 now.