Worst/best Ford Falcon

[andrewts]

Originally Posted by Paxton

I for one (and I know I'm going to get flamed for this) am looking forward to the V6

<---- Ahem.

Haha nah just kidding. If the V6 Falcon rips apart everything else on the road like the I6 Falcon does, who cares if it is snapped in half and glued together in the middle!

I think he is just sentimental about the I6.

EDIT: beaten.

[seXE]

Ive only ever driven an XE, EB and an AU (series 1). I am judging them by...'drivability'. you know, comfort, enjoyment, ease, that type of thing. i dont know much about any of them mechanically. The best one to drive for me, was my XE. nothing, nothing EVER will take that car off the top of my list of "cars i love", i am so confident about that. the EB is next. I love it, but its not the XE. and i have to say it, my dad's AU is just terrible. everythign is so... soft. the accelerator and brakes, its like pushing clouds. which might be good for some people, but not me.

[Justin@]

best ever xw falcon
worst ever au falcon...damn they are ugly but they do drive nice

[XR8-260]

The AUII and AUIII XR8s look very appealing imo. It's amazing what a few cosmetic changes can do for visual appeal. The base and luxury model AUs are just fugly though...

[apolloxbgt]

Out of all the falcon's I've owned,the few xf's have been my least favourite ( and one was the most unrelaible falcon I've owned),BUT,I've found something to love about every falcon I've owned.

My s1 au forte was one of my favourites.

[RIPGMH]

AU for styling, XF for the lack of V8 option. As to the best falcon, so far its obviously BA/BF. The best looking falcon is a matter of opinion but I think the X A/B/C hardtops are hard to pass.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by RIPGMH

AU for styling, XF for the lack of V8 option. As to the best falcon, so far its obviously BA/BF. The best looking falcon is a matter of opinion but I think the X A/B/C hardtops are hard to pass.

My mate has an XC.

One of the best looking cars out there, bloody loud though!!!

[Deadman]

Worst - AU
Best - BA

just my 2c. I haven't been around forever and don't know much about the older series falcons, but at the end of the day, the thread is about opinion, and that's mine

[MYLO_XR6]

worst...XF

best...XY

...quality wise for what you paid for from new

[JG66ME]

At the risk of hurting peoples feelings

Worst:

No 1 vote XF and EA for appeal, no performance model. Dull as dishwater.
No 2 vote AU Forte for looks, looks like a very unhappy frog. Having said that, my AU2 XR6 ute was the best Ford I have ever owned as a practical work horse. Still miss it.

My sentimental favorite is the XA GT Hardtop. Always will be. Most would vote GT HO III.

The best though is probably the BF FPV GTP.

Hope no one feels hurt, didnt intend to.

Steve

[fordAU]

Havent really had a bad run with any falcons I have owned over the years,
no doubt thats the reason i keep buying them.

XD 351 cleveland, great car for its day, used to tow a heavy boat I had at the time, not that fast by todays standards but it was a gem.

XE fairmont, great car, really comfortable and a nice cruiser.

EB fairmont the same, good solid motoring.

EL XR6, loved it to bits, imo the EF/El's were/are a fantastic vehicle, possibly the best to date.

AU XR8 220, love it, no better bang for the buck except for a T3, a car that demands to be driven hard but has great character, rewarding comes to mind.

[Jayden]

Talking stock (because all falcons are just platforms on which greatness is built.)
Personal preference. I think the EA is just uninspiring to drive and look at. The taxi spec AU is pretty damn ugly, lets face it. You cant take the * out of a hyundai then put one of those next to it and defend it to death. I love them modified though. Then my fav is an XB coupe, unbeatable toughness. I love em all though.

[DOC]

I Don't know if was the worst or best in ranking, but i had a XY / XW ? ( can't remember the model now ) station wagon, the back was decked out with sterio / one way curtains etc and the complete back was always folded down.

These were in the days of drive in theatre's, The beach boys were the in thing along with Suzi Q, hush, the sweet etc. I remember backing it in and you could watch the movie laying down in the back, to this day i probably could not tell you much about any movie i went to see except that they were good old days and that old wagon was one Rockin Car.

[uranium_death]

I know the XF isn't popular from a styling point of view. We had an XF Wagon for 13 years and it wasn't comfortable, reliability was pretty poor for the first few years in which many niggly little things occurred and it was a tractor in which its turning circle was about 3km and it accelerated like a bag of wet wheat.

However, I think the set up of the console was brilliant and it was a good workhorse car. Compare an XF to the VL. 5 people driving to Queensland in a VL would be squashed...even for 3 7-10 year olds in the back seat. The XF gave us all enough room, had air-con, could fit all of our stuff in the back...did the job.

What is best and what is worst is highly dependent on what you purchase a car for. My father, being among the most boring people ever just wanted the XF for its size and space. He is not a person who believes in enjoying anything or riding in luxury.
If you want performance, a stock XF is not a good car. However, as a daily driver that did the job, I loved the XF, even if it is not as comfortable as the VTII.

I also like the look of the XD-F Falcons, provided they are not rust-buckets with dirty interiors.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by DOC

I Don't know if was the worst or best in ranking, but i had a XY / XW ? ( can't remember the model now ) station wagon, the back was decked out with sterio / one way curtains etc and the complete back was always folded down.

These were in the days of drive in theatre's, The beach boys were the in thing along with Suzi Q, hush, the sweet etc. I remember backing it in and you could watch the movie laying down in the back, to this day i probably could not tell you much about any movie i went to see except that they were good old days and that old wagon was one Rockin Car.

You dirty dirty old man! I hope you know they were someone's daughters!! Goy any daughters yourself now have you???

[|||]

worst: AU. So ugly and so hopeless on the race track that it made being a Ford fan very difficult for quite a few years

best: XA. A Falcon that didn't look like it was a ripoff of a US based car. 2 Bathurst wins.

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by |||

worst: AU. So ugly and so hopeless on the race track that it made being a Ford fan very difficult for quite a few years

best: XA. A Falcon that didn't look like it was a ripoff of a US based car. 2 Bathurst wins.

I'm pretty sure the XA looked very similar to a Ford Torino.............

Worst: EA Falcon-going from a muscular XF shape to a awkward EA, crap quality, lack of V8 and the HUGE performance gap between the VN and EA.

Best: Easily the BA, Finally Ford was again shiteing all over Holden with Ford briefly holding the horsepower title and the sixes WAY ahead with a base model Falcon having more power than the top of the line Holden supercharged six. Add to that Ambroses domination and the XR6 Turbo becoming the next cult car it was a golden time.

[vanman_75]

me me self and i like xd old modernb if ya like and i dont have a worst maybe sigma 2.6 [lol]

[vztrt]

My opionion (not really worth much)
BF would be the best overall Falcon as mechanically its very good and the looks are there.
EA would be the worst simply because of the problems its had.

AU, s3 one of the best mechanically around but the looks let it down, saying that the performance models (TE, TS, etc) actually look good and I would consider buying one.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by |||

worst: AU. So ugly and so hopeless on the race track that it made being a Ford fan very difficult for quite a few years

best: XA. A Falcon that didn't look like it was a ripoff of a US based car. 2 Bathurst wins.

The AU was anything but useless on the racetrack. It was absolutely fantastic; unbelievable in fact. With less than 20% of the downforce on the front axle compared to the opposition it was amazing that it was able to compete at all - even more amazing that it actually won a couple of races. If you took 80% of the downforce off the current Commodores how many races do you think they would win against the BA/BF?

The XA was all-American. WTF would make you think otherwise?

The XD was the first "Aussie" car from Ford. But only to the extent of body panels and interiors. The AU was the FIRST ALL-AUSSIE design from floorpan up. Which is in fact why Ford Australia designated the model "AU" - the world-wide accepted identification for Australia.

PS. The AU utes flogged the Commodores in the Brute Series and the AU sedans are currently still flogging the VTs in the Saloon Cars.

[MITCHAY]

Purely from personal taste on design I would say the AU was the worse and the BF is the best. I have never owned nor driven either so could not comment on that ;)

I would not consider owning anything before the B series.

[andrewts]

Originally Posted by T3man

The XA was all-American. WTF would make you think otherwise?

On the 75 Years of Ford Australia DVD I got from the Ford Discover Centre, they said that the 1972 model (XA) was all Aussie designed and built.

Falcon Facts says that the same thing, although with help from the US.

Wikipedia seems to agree that it wasn't all American either, although it looked like a Ford Torino.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by andrewts

On the 75 Years of Ford Australia DVD I got from the Ford Discover Centre, they said that the 1972 model (XA) was all Aussie designed and built.

Falcon Facts says that the same thing, although with help from the US.

Wikipedia seems to agree that it wasn't all American either, although it looked like a Ford Torino.

Yeah I know that. But Ford like to exagerrate - bit like Holden really. Now who really believes that Holden is "Australia's Own"???

The XA was based entirely on the existing sub-frame carried through from the XR. Just the front was widened with different locating points for upper and lower arms. The panels were re-worked from American pressings. The doors and glass were interchangeable with the American models I believe although I've never actually tried to do it. The interior bits were also copied but with "Australianised" materials ie. cloth instead of the American vinyl and better quality coverings in most instances for the Aussie heat conditions. Remember at this time virtually all American cars had A/C whereas Aussies were only just starting to get it. The running gear was still all-American. OK, the parts were mostly made in Australia but with "plant" brought across from USA and Canada. The Borg-Warner gearboxes were about the only thing "truly" all Aussie. But even they were only used on some models through the XA series. It wasn't until XB/XC that the top-loaders were dumped.

[bingoTE50]

Hi guys and gals ,

I own a AU TE and apart from a bloody commodore that hit me in the bum :evil3: today it is a nice car ,but plenty of rattles. I would have to say the AU in std form was pretty ordinary , but I think it is looking more and more modern as time goes on. I think at the time of release it probably rated the worst for looks ,but like HQ Holdens you either love em or hate em . For those who can remember the XL (1960)falcon was a nightmare for Ford as the suspension was not up to speed for our roads , hence the reliability run by ford on the next model to boost consumer confidence. ( I think the Zepher was rated a better car).. So my vote is the XL ...

[andrewts]

Originally Posted by T3man

Yeah I know that. But Ford like to exagerrate - bit like Holden really. Now who really believes that Holden is "Australia's Own"???

The XA was based entirely on the existing sub-frame carried through from the XR. Just the front was widened with different locating points for upper and lower arms. The panels were re-worked from American pressings. The doors and glass were interchangeable with the American models I believe although I've never actually tried to do it. The interior bits were also copied but with "Australianised" materials ie. cloth instead of the American vinyl and better quality coverings in most instances for the Aussie heat conditions. Remember at this time virtually all American cars had A/C whereas Aussies were only just starting to get it. The running gear was still all-American. OK, the parts were mostly made in Australia but with "plant" brought across from USA and Canada. The Borg-Warner gearboxes were about the only thing "truly" all Aussie. But even they were only used on some models through the XA series. It wasn't until XB/XC that the top-loaders were dumped.

That's pretty interesting to read! There you go, the things you learn. ;)

Heh Commodore, was based of two rather average Euroboxes, and even sold as a Deawoo Royale at one point. What a crock, Australia's own. Bring back the Kingswood I say!

[T3man]

Originally Posted by bingoTE50

Hi guys and gals ,

I own a AU TE and apart from a bloody commodore that hit me in the bum :evil3: today it is a nice car ,but plenty of rattles. I would have to say the AU in std form was pretty ordinary , but I think it is looking more and more modern as time goes on. I think at the time of release it probably rated the worst for looks ,but like HQ Holdens you either love em or hate em . For those who can remember the XL (1960)falcon was a nightmare for Ford as the suspension was not up to speed for our roads , hence the reliability run by ford on the next model to boost consumer confidence. ( I think the Zepher was rated a better car).. So my vote is the XL ...

Actually it was the XK you're thinking of - XL saw a major re-work of the front end, front and rear springs and shocks, steering boxes and idler arm mounts etc etc. In short, heaps of running changes to try to keep the things together.

[BENT_8]

My personal opinion would see the NA Fairlane as the worst Ford built.
All the crappy interior plastics of the EA, the 3.9l donk, infact i'd call it an EA in bushpigs clothing to be polite.

Judging by the no. of AU taxis still on the road i'd say they were a well built car although not too easy on the eye, each to his own there i guess.

My two faves however would be the XF Spak for it's smooth styling of its era and easy to use controls and the EF/L XR's

[nugget378]

Geez you picked some great ones there Bent8,but as you say each to there own

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Worst: EA Falcon-going from a muscular XF shape to a awkward EA, crap quality, lack of V8 and the HUGE performance gap between the VN and EA
.

Well I must say I have never heard an XF described like this???? :hihi:



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[Falcon Coupe]

At the time of it's release the EA looked space age !
I remember trying to get a look at them while driving, will be the same with Orion next year.