EL & AU Series Falcons

[Alan Jones]

Hello the forum, and currently considering buying at auction either a 98 EL Futura Wagon / Sedan or the early AU and AU11 Futura in wagon or sedan and wondered if any of you aussie members of the forum have any stories you'd share on these models. So far my research hasn't found any major reasons not to and the NRMA seems to think they are a good thing and value for$$$.

I have seen at auction 99 AU Futura's for around 19 000- $20 000 with 20 to 30k on the clock. Looks like a bargain.
I would appreciate any replies, thanks.

[DNQ]

Well, no first hand experience (hell, haven't even got a license), but I think the early AU's represent good value for money - because they were taken so poorly by the public, resale values are so low. And, I don't think the AU's any fundamental flaws, other than pretty average brakes....and of course, the weird styling?

Probably not my help, just thought I'd add my views

[DNQ]

Actually, just to follow up on that, I was at the Q-Fleet auctions (Brisbane), and there were LOADS of AU's in that bracket - and they had trouble shifting what was there, so you'd most likely get a nice price, as opposed to, say, a Commodore.

[Alan Jones]

Yes, I have heard they wear brakes out fairly quickly DNQ. thanks for the input, most appreciated.

[StuiE]

get the EL, the is too much i can ***** about the AU

[Alan Jones]

Originally posted by gtr69
get the EL, the is too much i can ***** about the AU

Can you go into a little detail GTR69, or do you just dislike the look?Please explain.

[Airhead]

Get an EF2

Man's car!

[mtpanorama]

AJ,
There are still a few EF XR6 wagons floating about. Now thats what you want.
If you buy an AU make sure it is built after May 1999. Thats when they upgraded them and fixed all the early build problems. The upgrade ones come with the front power windows in the forte.

[mtpanorama]

AJ, check this out
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...dge_id%20in%20(67)&set_order=%20make_name,%20model_name,%20release_year,%20price

[StuiE]

ok, (really)poor build quality, brakes, ugly, the interior is about as ugly as the car, oh yeah and really bad resale value

[Alan Jones]

Thanks to you all for your replies.I am still searching but have narrowed the field slightly. It's either a x commonwealth AU Futura for 19,000 with 22k on the clock( 10/99) or a au wagon, 54k on the clock with 16alloys, rola roof racks, cargo barrier, Black in colour( wife is already calling it the hearse!)CD and all futura options.That has 19,900 at a dealers on it. Tomorrow I'll go see him, answer original questions from salesman like " What do I have to do to get you into this car FRIEND?" and try and drop 2000 off the price!Thanks to Mt for the link there on the XR6, I would love one but way too high on the kilometres for me.
Thanks also to gtr69, yes the resale isn't high but for a buyer thats a good thing!!I keep my cars for at least 6 years so the resale isn't a big deal for me, more look at all this car I can get for so little money.By the time I'm ready to sell, it should have evened out IMO.As a further note, have you guys heard of variable interest car loans?
I checked it out yesterday with a credit union, 7.4% but no guarantee that it will stay at the same rate. Little too scary for me, the variable bit and after a little more shopping around, the best i could find was around 8% fixed. The last time we got ac car loan we paid 16%.......7 years ago. Thank god times have changed!!!!!

[DAVID PATERSON]

AJ, I have a series 2 Au Futura wagon, June 2000 build and it is a very good car. Well equipped, smooth, quiet powerful and reliable. My only gripe is that the rear suspension needs to be retightened every service! Oh, and it is also very thirsty, much more than the VT Commodore i had before it.

[Alan Jones]

Thanks for the response David.Most appreciated. I bit the bullet and bought a Black AU, built 12/99, first reg 3/00, futura wagon with tow ball, factory roof racks, 16 alloys and 60k on the clock. Full NRMA check revealed only 2 problems, small leaks of power steering fluid and a little leak in the diff.The car is straight,never been in accident and in extremely good nick.It also has a 6 stacker Kenwood and 20% black tinted windows.I should also add, after swearing I would not go thru a yard, I did exactly that due to a very realistic price and a normal dude at the yard instead of a slimy ,supersalesman who lays on the BS.
The price was fair as was the trade I got on my VL berlina Wagon which we are sad to say goodbye to.For a FORD lover, the VL was a great car with a fantastic NISSAN motor.So, with a little luck, I pick it up this afternoon and everything will be hunky dory.As a final note, after playing the finance game with about 6 different brokers we have arranged finance for a great interest rate. Do yourselves a favour and shop around, we saved around 2000 on the final payout figure from our first quote.

[DMC]

My old man has an AU Series 1 Forte and it's absolutely bulletproof. It's spent three years driving between Wollongong and Newcastle weekly with a boot full of machine parts as well as towing his race car all over NSW and Victoria. The IRS is a dream for towing and the brakes are fine. The only thing the VT Commodore has on the AU Falcon is styling which means more to the general public than handling etc thus the resale values.