Ford Falcon FG XR6 - opinions?

[Pommygranite]

Been discussing with Dev recently a potential purchase of a Ford Falcon FG XR6.

What's the view on them?

I have to shortly buy a works vehicle and for about $24k a 2009 XR6 with about 30k kms seems great value.

I need an auto with a bit of grunt, modern and well equipped and can't think of anything else.

Opinions?

[Colonial]

What will it be used for? If mostly highway/country stuff then good call. If you do more city based stuff, not so good a call.

[deviant]

Little bit different in Perth though. The CBD is only a couple of blocks long The rest of the time you are on the freeway and no matter where you are going it always seems to take 45 minutes.

[Colonial]

In that case, good move

[motomk]

Try and get one with the 6 speed ZF Auto as those gearboxes are very good. I have only driven one on the previous BF Falcon and I reckon it was still ahead of my newer VE Commodore. I don't know much about the 5 speed. The 6 speed might have been an option on the earlier XR6 so might be hard to find on the non-turbo version. I think it became standard in 2009??
I am guessing it will be an ex fleet car. The price differences come about because of the different trinkets inside. Premium sound is a good one to get as a lot of stuff is hard to retrofit, but not impossible.
Whatever you do, don't drive a turbo version, You will then only regret not getting one!

[Pommygranite]

City driving here is merely a few sets of traffic lights and the odd suicidal pedestrian (along with absolute wker bus drivers )

I did drive the FG and it was ok, quite cruisy. Pokey enough for 95% of the time. Good point on the Turbo as I really want one but a)it's about $33k for one and b)would lose my license and then job fairly quickly!

Tried to find the premium pack ones but there are none for sale in WA and if I could find one it would be about $30k

I do appreciate the VE comment as was tempted to drive one but it looks dated and all the reviews had the Ford ahead.

Here's what I did also consider (must be an auto due to knackered knee):

BMW 120d Steptronic (2007) Tempting, one available here for about budget. If still for sale at weekend will go see it.

HSV Clubsport Z series: much want but big running costs

Subaru Liberty 3.0R B-Spec 2007: looks dated

VW Golf GTI MKv 2007: looks dated with the mk6 out as well as pricey

Holden Commodore VE: see above

Holden Calais: tempting but pricey

Toyota: None appeal

Nissan Skyline 350gt Coupe: dated but tempting.

Any other ideas?

Edited by Pommygranite on Thursday 10th March 05:39

[Pommygranite]

Edited by Pommygranite on Thursday 10th March 05:37

[motomk]

Pommygranite said:

City driving here is merely a few sets of traffic lights and the odd suicidal pedestrian (along with absolute wker bus drivers )

I did drive the FG and it was ok, quite cruisy. Pokey enough for 95% of the time. Good point on the Turbo as I really want one but a)it's about $33k for one and b)would lose my license and then job fairly quickly!

Tried to find the premium pack ones but there are none for sale in WA and if I could find one it would be about $30k

I do appreciate the VE comment as was tempted to drive one but it looks dated and all the reviews had the Ford ahead.

Here's what I did also consider (must be an auto due to knackered knee):

BMW 120d Steptronic (2007) Tempting, one available here for about budget. If still for sale at weekend will go see it.

HSV Clubsport Z series: much want but big running costs

Subaru Liberty 3.0R B-Spec 2007: looks dated

VW Golf GTI MKv 2007: looks dated with the mk6 out as well as pricey

Holden Commodore VE: see above

Holden Calais: tempting but pricey

Toyota: None appeal

Nissan Skyline 350gt Coupe: dated but tempting.

Any other ideas?

Edited by Pommygranite on Thursday 10th March 05:39

mmm...you have a lot of cars that would be on my list!
Don't get me wrong the VE commodore handles very well. If you drove a VE SS, you wouldn't get a VZ Clubsport! To me, the only minor fault on the VE is the A pillar which is badly postioned for roundabouts if the car to your right is approaching the intersection at the same speed.
There are some rare VE Calais with the V8 for under $30k. These are not the V luxury version. A nice Q car I reckon. If you get the V6 version...look for the newer 210kw SIDI engined one.
Ok bias hat on now!
Golf GTI MK V....one of my favourites too. Haven't driven a Golf Mk VI. The EV0 9 is nice!
The old shape Falcon BF series II was still built into 2007. Obviously the design is old but a Turbo one of them would be in your price range. Only thing that put me off them was the top of the windscreen was near my head! I was too tall for it really. But the Typhoon versions of the BF I have driven were very nice.

Edited by motomk on Thursday 10th March 07:31

[deviant]

Premium pack Falcons are seriously rare in Perth (same for finding a manual), everyone just goes and orders the most basic car but at the rate they depreciate I dont blame them!

A bloke the other half works with is a massive badge snob so he just had to buy a 1 series but he got shot of it within weeks. If you took the badges off of it then it could be any number of generic bland hatches unless its first owner chucked the options book at it....which this bloke did not.

The Liberty is a good call, a little bit dated but the spec on it puts it ahead of its time. Electric everything and a stereo system with something silly like 15 speakers. Bit of a Q car to.

I like how you are two days in to a new job yet have clearly spent the entire time on carsales.com.au

[sensible]

There is a 2008 BA G6E Falcon at Range Ford for around 26ish

But for that you get full leather all the premium options and a TURBO

[Brisvegas]

Falcon is a good choice if you want comfort , room, road safety with a lot of car around you. Drives easy around town. Thrirsty compared to smaller cars on your list. Plenty of get up and go when needed. I'm currently driving one as a to and from work, quoting etc vehicle. Plenty of them on the road, value will take a bit of a hit, should't be to bad if it's already a couple of years old. The BMW not a bad choice, bit of euro cred, could be last of the rear wheel drive 1series. Diesel will be a good economy choice. Value will hold up for quite a while when picked up 2 or 3 years old. My weekend car is a 135i, drives really nice, is twin turbo though. Sevice on beema's can get a bit expensive. If the one you are looking at has run flat tyres they can cost the best part of $700 to replace each.
A lot of Aussies spend to much time on carsales, you've already started acting like one by the sound of it. Don't forget the golden rule of used car buying, once you buy a vehicle - STOP LOOKING!
Tony