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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,078
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I just had this thought driving the other day, and it stuck with me for a couple of days.
Theres a lot of cars that just sort of fade away from people's attention. What sparked it, was seeing a VY Commodore. Sure theres thousands of them on the road. But it was the reasons why the VY and VZ are so forgettable. The VT and then the VX were smash hits. Total game changers in the late 1990s. At that point in time, the AU was a horrible example of a Falcon from a styling point of view. The AU was too well known for all the wrong reasons, The BA put the Falcon back on the map, then one upped it with the BA mkII and the BF and finally, the FG. By 2007, it had all changed again for the Commodore, the VE was introduced and a huge who-haa was made about the thing, it reinvented the Commodore and made every model prior look old. The VY VZ years became the transition period for the Commodore, and were completely forgettable.
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#2 | ||
King of the Fairy's.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CeeeeeTown.
Posts: 5,093
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I don't agree, I think the VE made the VZ look 100x better.
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 601
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The VY looked good, until you drove it. By far the worst car I have ever owned.
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#4 | ||
Trusted Seller
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Franganastan
Posts: 909
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snake pliskin, now that you mention it i have to agree with everything you said mate.
though you might get the AU mob fired up, even from a styling point of view if you know what I mean ;-) |
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#5 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7
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im sure ford would like to forget the AU
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#6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,730
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I wouldn't say the AU was a horrible example of styling. At the time, the AU was too "out there" for most people, including me. Sure, it was a massive departure from the well-proportioned and even graceful E-series, but it's aged brilliantly. I've really come to like the AU styling, and I love the way they harked back to the XY with little styling touches. By comparison, the VT/VX looks to me like a blown up Hyundai Excel, even though I preferred it back then.
You are dead on the money about the VY being a forgettable car though. It was a decade behind the BA tech-wise and the sheet metal and styling changes from the VX were very slap-dash. I'd say it would be more of an equal competitor to the AU/AU2. |
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#7 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,421
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Quote:
Most forgettable model, I think is a Holden - the HB Torana. Who even knew it was built? |
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#8 | ||
Loving The Blown Goodness
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Toowoomba, Qld
Posts: 2,258
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The AU was a car that Ford Australia was forced into styling wise. The hurried styling is evident and it is testament to them for fixing it towards the end. I still love the TE50, the XR utes and that wonderful stroked motor. They showed the models full potential but then came the BA...wow.
What I would like to see however is the original concepts for the Falcon before the styling was changed to the edge design. Would be interesting to see what the AU could have been.
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Gone To Wrecking Heaven 2007 BFII XR8 Sedan Ego Previous 2003 BA XR8 Ute Phantom Ford Forum Build Thread The Project 1991 EB XR8 Sedan Monza Red Project Build Thread
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#9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,270
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#10 | |||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,553
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#11 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,481
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what about the 4 cyl VB commodore & in not talking about the 6 or 8's that run on 4 cyl's lol
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#12 | |||
Flairs - Truckers Delight
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Brisbane Northside Likes: Opposite Lock
Posts: 5,731
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Quote:
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Current: Silhouette Black 2007 SY Ford Territory TX RWD 7-seater "Black Banger"
2006-2016: Regency Red 2000 AUII Ford Falcon Forte Automatic Sedan Tickford LPG "Millennium Falcon" |
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#13 | |||
Chasing a FORD project!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: adelaide
Posts: 5,114
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The AU might not have been everyones cuppa tea but heck it was (and still is) a fantastic Aussie car. Robust, strong and capable of heavy abuse, it has certainly aged well and still gets looks in the XR versions and tickfords especially. I think everyone who bags it out needs to get over the past and remember what was good about it.
As for forgotten models? VR commodore in my opinion. They are almost as nondescript as camrys and corollas.
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1996 BMW 740iL V8. TV, phone, leather, sunroof, satnav, all as standard. Now with 19" TSW Brooklands, 2 1/2" stainless steel exhaust, plus more coming soon. |
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#14 | |||
Computer Torque Control
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ballarat East
Posts: 546
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Quote:
The AU Falcon is a fine car. It's a shame that the public didn't recognise it as such. Surprisingly, I even prefer the styling to that of the VT Commodore. Last edited by 4.0i OHC; 01-12-2010 at 11:09 PM. |
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#15 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,636
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The AU when first released was a shock and public opinion reflected this.
The one thing AU had on its side was build quality and reliability when compared to the fashionable VT. When you look at the shape of the rear of the FG, taillight shape, rounded boot, you can see where the AU was 10yrs ahead of its time, had Ford released the FG in 98 i believe it too would have failed. The VT styling was spot on for its era and the whole package flowed, i was never fond of the tear drop lights or the rear bar which looked like the reflectors were a forgotten extra on the VX. The VY/Z however always seemed wrong with the chiseled ends on the round VT body. |
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#16 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,270
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Quote:
Down to 2,000 odd sales and lots of unplanned down days when sales were going up earlier this year, not sure what has changed but I feel glum especially when hearing delays on new Tech Ecoboost and LILPG may not turn up until Q3..... Don't beat me up but I have a feeling that Ford has taken far too long with diesel Territory, can't help feeling that some permanent die back is happening with Falcon and Territory... God I hope not. |
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#17 | |||
Computer Torque Control
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ballarat East
Posts: 546
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#18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,270
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whether they would have lead with something like Series III nose and BA tail... Things might have been completely different... |
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#19 | ||
I ♥ EDM
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,141
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Being a Ford fan, its hard to see how our cars could be forgotten. But the older they get, the easier it is to forget. Ive come up with a few:
- Holden Camira (Wheels Car 1985 I think) - Mitsubishi/Chrysler Sigma - Ford Corsair & Meteor - Various Holdenwoo models: epica, cruze (the first one), Viva, Zafira. - That diesel gemini... - Ford Probe (looked awesome, and that was it) Models id like to forget: - VE Commodore (An astra after eating only maccas for 10 years) - EA Falcon, mainly for the shocking engine & gearbox choices - Corolla & Camry, single-handedly responsible for the mundane, A to B motoring society we have today - FPVs sticker specials. Can we get on with the job properly please? Im sure theres plenty more out there...... |
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tanunda S.A
Posts: 1,037
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I love the VY/VZ HSV Clubsport were beautiful as were the WK/WL statesman and caprice. The AU was a shock to every one when released but they are so good to drive and the xr6/8's look brilliant
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#21 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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#22 | ||
Flairs - Truckers Delight
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Brisbane Northside Likes: Opposite Lock
Posts: 5,731
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Yeah there was a ZZ/Z sport variant of the gemini but it wasn't diesel. There was however a diesel SL gemini.
![]() This article goes to show that if you drive an old heap of junk around for long enough a new heap of junk seems great by comparison
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Current: Silhouette Black 2007 SY Ford Territory TX RWD 7-seater "Black Banger"
2006-2016: Regency Red 2000 AUII Ford Falcon Forte Automatic Sedan Tickford LPG "Millennium Falcon" |
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#23 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 487
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Quote:
Personally I won't forget the AU, might even try to shed and retire an upper spec or XR version (how's the AUI XR body kit? Wild!) As a result of the sales, I don't think Ford (or Holden, who were watching) will ever try a mainstream product as 'out there' as the AU again. Pity but understandable. |
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#24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,421
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Not the KE20 and KE25 Corollas though, they were classics!
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#25 | ||
Flairs - Truckers Delight
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Brisbane Northside Likes: Opposite Lock
Posts: 5,731
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Bent 8 you're dead on the money and mick 1010, the VY really was an equal for the AU2/3 apart from the dash. I had a VYII as a fleet car many moons ago and whilst it was thoroughly agricultural, at least it had throttle response, something the VZ that replaced it sorely lacked.
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Current: Silhouette Black 2007 SY Ford Territory TX RWD 7-seater "Black Banger"
2006-2016: Regency Red 2000 AUII Ford Falcon Forte Automatic Sedan Tickford LPG "Millennium Falcon" |
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#26 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,580
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I too respect Ford releasing the AU. At least they were bold and willing to do something different. Come up with some real creativity and difference to the rest of the manufacturers (especially Holden)
Now days I think they don't have the same initiative or boldness. I say this mainly with the FG in my mind and think they have just conformed with the rest of the market. |
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#27 | |||
I ♥ EDM
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,141
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Quote:
As for the 1.4 million km Gemini, this guy (and Autoblog) needs to be introduced to the AU.... Last edited by SSD-85; 02-12-2010 at 12:21 AM. |
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#28 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Quote:
The VY update also made the Commodore look smaller and lighter, and thanks to dumb luck this was just as fuel prices were jumping, against the just-released BA which looked larger and heavier than the identically sized AU. VY and VZ will never win design awards, but its sales win over the much improved BA shows it was a success. |
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#30 | ||
app diesel mechanic
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: far north coast,NSW
Posts: 322
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the one car that stands out in my mind was the au coupe concept called the 'arrow'. that's what made me want an au. awesome looking car.
on the holden issue, i think the vt-vx were the best models. yeah there holdens, but they've got LS1's in the ss models. god they sound excellent.
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daily driver: au series 1.5 forte sedan mods: clarion head unit, 15" alloys, ex police sump guard, futura grill,clear side flashers, AU s2 tailights,BA xr6 spoiler, kenwood 12" sub, kenwood 250W amp, kings sports lows, 2.5" lukey catback. mods to come: rims!! |
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