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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 551
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Hey guys. Just wondering if an au1 is a much better car than an el Falcon? I'm thinking about reliability here also. Anyone know if there were any worthwile changes between au series 1, 2 and 3. Many thanks...
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#2 | ||
Uterus M.I.A.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 1,459
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Au1 to au 2
Different bonnets all models excpet xr Brake upgrades all models (au1 brakes are BAD) Dash upgades Different body styling kits Different front grills and tail lights
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#3 | ||
not here much anymore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sthn NSW
Posts: 22,918
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ooo, been done to death lol.
Given the choice id go with an EL, or an AU2 if can stretch. I wouldnt have an AU1 if it was given to me, they just seem so half-assed it's not funny.
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#4 | ||
_Oo===oO_
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1,471
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Test drive an EL and AUI back to back.
AUII to AUIII (Glorified AUII) Dot matrix pattern on windscreen Series III badging on boot Clear side indicators
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COURAGE - ENDURANCE - MATESHIP - SACRIFICE
Last edited by Dark Horse; 20-01-2005 at 12:29 AM. |
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#5 | ||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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Looks aside, you'll find the AU Series I a much better drive than an EL in almost every respect. Performance, NVH and overall build quality. AU II was what the AU should have been. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the AU, apart from its hideous styling which remained until BA.
Series II and III were a little better on the eye, but still a nasty peice of work.
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer |
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#6 | ||
not here much anymore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sthn NSW
Posts: 22,918
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Ive done the AUI and EL back to back actually, thats why i said what i said (if i hadnt have driven one i wouldnt have said anything).
IMHO, EL was just that much better for some reason - The AU just felt half finished and the interior in it was foul.
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 2,434
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The motor was changed, and improved.
Also AU1 to AU2, got some suspension changes. AUs look hot, and they look even better with a nice set of wheels and a bit of lowering - as with any car.
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AUIII Falcon Forte, with SIX Appeal |
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#8 | |||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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Quote:
I think the interior alone turned off 50% of prospective buyers.
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer |
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#9 | ||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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[QUOTE=LG]The motor was changed, and improved./QUOTE]
Vastly improved. Was the first thing I noticed when I first drove one from Syd to Melb. For once the Ford 6 almost seemed willing to rev. It was far superior to any Ford 6 that came before it. The driving position in AU was also much better. For the first time you sat inside a Falcon, rather on it.
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer |
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#10 | ||
not here much anymore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sthn NSW
Posts: 22,918
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I like the AUII Fairmont Dash, but i can see where the baboon thing would come from lol. The woodgrain makes it look a lot better, even if it is fake.
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#11 | ||
V8 Ghia & BF2 XR6 + Wagon
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,569
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EL interior looked better than AU Falcons/futuras (not Fairmonts) I hate how BIG the centre pod/ big round thing is in the AU falcon, it's smaller in the Fairmonts and an AU Fairmont with wheels/body kit looks great outside & in.
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#12 | ||
Viper FG XR6 Turbo
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 858
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AU's handle soo much better eventhough they are actually heavier then EL/EF they feel like a car with half the weight, drive both and you will see the EL/EF handles like an old boat compared to the AU, also the much free reving AU engine also contributes to the lighter feeling of the car as it doesnt seem to work as hard as a EF/EL engine, ive driven both and i own an EF. Also AUs are so much quieter its not funny, my car gets wind noise when driving 80km/h+, with an au you dont know whats going on outside.
Drive both and you will see that the AU feels like a car light years ahead of an EL |
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#13 | ||
Last warning
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria HeadCount: 3
Posts: 11,194
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I'd take an EL over an AU1
I'd take an AU II over both if i could afford it. but i'll keep my EF ![]()
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FALCN6 - Turbo, Air Bag Suspension - Hibernating EL GT - Supercharged NASCAR - 83 Thunderbird , Bagged DAILY - BA Fairlane Ghia, Boss 260 Turbo OFFROADER - Ford Explorer ![]() |
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#14 | ||
FORMER T3 OWNER
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,241
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simple get an EL2 with the AU engine in it
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Mischief.TV you can sleep in your car, but you cant drift your house... ![]() |
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#15 | ||
T3/Sprint8
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,332
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This is like comparing apples with pears !
Same for AU to BA , different cars to different times/eras............ EL's were great in their times but nothing compared to the AU I drive.
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#16 | ||
XB in parts...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,890
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Given the choice id go with an EL, or an AU2 if can stretch.
I think most people will be of this opinion. My AU1 has been one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. The XR spec interior isn't as shabby as the base models... Given the knowledge I have now I would have gone the series 2 but I guess I wasn't on the forums back then to know better. I can't compare the AU to an EL (never driven one) but against my old ED Fairmont I think its much better. As for the brakes well they've kept up pretty well. For everyday use I think they're fine. They could be better but I hear of a certain performance shop which is doing AU2 conversions reasonably cheap so that might get a look in later on.
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#17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,918
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Quote:
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#18 | ||
THCC Motorsport member 1
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the ghetto....no im being serious!
Posts: 1,139
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ive driven both an EL and an AU or actually a few of them, even though they were taxis :P
and i have to say that imo, the AU's engine and throttle didnt appeal to me as much as the EL falcons, i always felt that teh AU's were a bit too spongy for me whereas the EL's ahd more of a response and feel through the pedal. Whether one was faster than the other im not sure, but it just came across to em as the EL's engine being more robust and the AU as being a bit lifeless. i know there will be alot of people out there who disagree which is fine as everyone has a different veiw on all things, but this is just the way i see things : ![]()
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#19 | ||
Two > One
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 7,063
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Late EL's only got AU head, they didnt get the AU bottom end, and thus they only spin as freely and as smoothly as an EF/L motor.
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1978 LTD - 408ci - 11.5@120.6mph - 2004 S4 - 4.2 - M6 - quattro - |
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 551
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Thanks for the great response guys. You've given me something to think about. Having had some unreliable cars in the past, reliability is one thing I need to consider too. Anyway I will let you know what I go for when I can afford to update.
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