The first Commodore the VB was based on a German Opel as was the Holden VT, I saw 2 dead SA police officers once in Thebarton after a Chrysler Sigma side impacted their Holden VB, I prefer Ford Falcon over Holden, safer, and they had better motors. Also the Holden VB had an atrocious safety record, if you hit a stobie pole your car would be crushed quicker than a can of VB bitter!
I love how the AU has become a meme and in a way has ascended from just the Aussie audience and is recognized by the Americans and even Europeans for the meme car legend it has become
Its not holdens fault ford sold an I6 to the same market.. You would just have the ford v8 losing to the ls1 and the holden six losing to the ford six.
I was certain that this video was going to start some kind of flame war between the Ford and Holden tribes, but everyone commenting has been pretty polite. Maybe this was because you presented a truthful and balanced assessment.
Only losers who don't own either model tend to make the stupid ignorant comments. Most who have some mechanical understanding and have actually owned one of these cars will be positive about them and truthful.
The one thing I dislike in the Holden is the cruise control. In the Falcon you control it from the steering wheel once it is activated but in the Holden you have a stalk and have to take your hand off the wheel.
Have to say, I used to think I was a Holden man if I had to choose. Grew up with Mitsubishis and Mazda's but when asked to decide Holden or Ford I'd always say Holden. I've owned a VZ and driven VTs. Thought they were tops. But then through necessity I bought a falcon ute. And everything you described was the case, chassis felt stiffer, steering quicker with better feel, an air of better build quality (despite the Commodore's better plastics) a sublime straight six over the v6. More intuitive cruise control, I could go on. And the Falcon's looks even grew on me. These days I drive a BF ute and SY Territory and love them both. Aussie cars rock but I've pitched my tents further north of Hadrian's wall and am now in the Aussie Ford camp.
I had a TE Cortina and an XE Falcon. They were both a piece of crap. Poor dust sealing, excessive fan noise and a stalling problem in the TE, and excessive rust, snapping clutch cables, and an oil light switch that failed a hundred km on the other side of nowhere in the XE. I often hired a newish car if i was going on a long trip as i no longer trusted them. I now drive a 2012 Corolla sedan, and other than with regular servicing, its never been off the road. Oh what a feeling......Toyota!
@@Flying_GC Fair point, but the later EA Falcon and the early Territory's were also riddled with issues. The car should serve you, not the other way around...... particularly if you're doing everything you should be doing regarding maintenance and responsible ownership.
I've had my AU for sixteen years On the other hand my good friend who's a Holden nut has gone through three Commodores. He does way less kilometres than me but he's had two cars develop catastrophic engine issues and his current Commodore has an electrical problem and all three have required ignition switch replacement. I've had to replace the rotors on the AU because they warped
@@doug-core8850 . Certainly did but they weren't worn out they warped due to shit metal. Replaced them with DBA slotted and cross drilled items. Which improved the braking because it's a series one which don't have the best brakes out of the factory. Rear ones are almost worn to minimal specification now and will require replacement again
@@MotoringBoxTV speaking as a bit of a semi professional metalurgist and professional heat treatment specialist, ford cheaped out with rotors. They weren't thick enough and couldn't dissipate heat fast enough. And when these thin rotors get worn down enough, they'll move around like all buggery. They increased the weight of the cars but didn't increase the braking efficiency. The introduction of minimum rotor thickness and thicker sized solid pieces is a quick fix. Its funny reading about how long it took ford to engineer a fix as it shows they didn't have anyone that knew much about cast iron metallurgy. Its very niche. But what we saw all the way up to the very end was ford being too cheap to make big well designed brakes as standard across the board. Even their highest performance rotors are quite frankly, dogshit. They probably just copied high performance manufacturers and did a cheap version. Cause they didn't give these brakes a proper stress relief cycle after full machining. All these drilled holes crack once the cast iron heats and cools, which means they're relieving stresses on their own. Sorry for the long rant but it just annoys me how cheap companies are with brakes.
@@MotoringBoxTV . I heard it was still an issue with the BA. It's not the size of the rotor it was the quality of the metal. The DBA rotors are the exact same size but are superior quality metal.
Both great cars. One thing to note is that as far back as anyone can remember, there’s always been three or four Falcon taxis for every one Holden. That tells you everything you need to know about long term reliability.
AU's were built like panzar tanks, how many of these clocked up well over 500,000 and more as taxis and were still in service is something to be commended.
@@MotoringBoxTV when they first came out I saw one towing a caravan trying to go up a hill, it had a blown head gasket and was blowing steam like a steam train, it was running on three or four cylinders, but on the other hand I knew people that owned them and never had any problems.
Hello from Slovenia. From my point of view both look good given the age. The only thing I dont like about Ford are those sad eyes/headlights. Both represent the design postulates of that era.
I found I do hit my head getting in and out of the AU more than the VT. That goes for front and back. But I do love my fords after owning numerous holden v8's. Never owned a v6, test drove a few but there noisy harsh characteristics made me buy a v8. Then I discovered fords magical inline and auto gear box. Had those for a few years. But now proud owner of a s/c ba gt and a g220 fairlane.
@@gavinb9627 I've never had any problems with access, I've heard people saying it's easy to bang your head but I don't really understand how? Maybe they were comparing the AU to boxy cars from the 90s. I've not had any issues with the wheel - if it is off centre it mustn't be by much.
@@MotoringBoxTV I was always banging my head, e series weren't a problem at all but the ba was better than the Au but way behind the e series. the joys of us all being different shapes and sizes
As a Ford guy, I'm going to have to go with the AU but the VT is a great car and had its advantages. I like both as they each have there own unique quirks and features. Great video mate keep it coming.
I have a VX Series 2 which improved on the VT quite alot. I think you nailed the comparison. I found parts availability and price for the VT/VX are plentiful and think that should be a part of your list considering they are old classics. But i guess there is less that breaks on an AU as it is more of a civilised car. I have had 2 Ford Falcons with the EL and EF, i felt the AU was a massive step above, but after i test drove the VX Series 2 i was won over. And how easy they are to modify made it a journey for me. I went to a driving day and drove against an AU falcon and you can see the difference ruclips.net/video/rFTKnWtbA2M/видео.html and the sound of the LS1 is pretty brings me back to the V8's at bathurst during the golden years of ford and holden ruclips.net/video/_BbKfFMiz0w/видео.html . I will eventually get another falcon but not decided in an AU or BA.
I've owned many Falcons and Commodores and what stood out to me is that with the Falcon is the I6 engine is formidable but let down by the transmission and the rough interior. The Commodores always felt faster, lighter but more "tinny" and had the better V8 option. Both great cars and we need them back.
Outstanding job mate. I’m not really a Ford or Holden guy and I would have picked the Holden back in the day but think the Falcon is more interesting now
Both are winners, both are legends. Ive only owned a au forte wagon and just got a au fairlane ghia last week, but really want to find a clean Vt one day too.
I personally have owned both cars And both have great quality , but l must admit the vt is a really good looking car but I found that the au is my favorite as I now have 3 of them, they are so reliable and are well built, the overall drivability of the au has a no nonsense feel about it. And I depend on their reliability, and after 15 years of driving au fords , I have nothing but praise for them both v8's and the 6's
I loved my AU right up until I lost compression in 3 cylinders. Mine was lowered and It always felt tighter and more agile then my ex partners VX Calais through the Twisties. It was dual fuel and 5 times a year I would fill both tanks, hit the highway and drive 1000 kilometers to Bathurst without needing to stop once. Such a great cruiser!
Hell yes he's back, just after I plugged in my new TV and grabbed the spare recliner out of our storage shed. Please no more snapping VT fuel filler flaps the last one nearly made me cry. 😅
Sean - another cracking vid mate - very enjoyable! Bang on about the AU being the more 'Memeable' - it has defiantly become a legend online in recent years! Also, surely you need to mention the rear styling of the early CLS Mercs (which many consider very sexy) was either inspired by, or stolen from the AU lol!
I believe the AU fuel filler was designed more 'naked' to accommodate the LPG filling port in factory dual fuel models, or LPG only, not sure if they had LPG only AUs.
@@chrisbenton3365 . Yeah, personally I couldn't give a shit what it looks like inside of the fuel filler flap. You only see it a little while anyway but Holden had to make the inside look better because they knew that they were going to fall off
Even as a Holden fan I have to agree with the AU's win. The AU is just a more dependable car and it's quirks really have made it into the legend it is. A great video as always mate! Love the content and how in-depth you get. Stay safe. Look forward to the next video.
I have owned many of them both over the years, totally agree with what you say. The VT looks way better but they have heaps more body flex, and the doors feel like they don’t line up properly. My AU ute was a “genuine one owner” with service history & recipes, I drove it to 550 thou kms on the original motor, complete respect to the mighty AU
The vt back seats don't fold down like the au which is required to haul long items from the hardware . The au is cheaper to buy and also cheaper for parts that lasts longer There was a reason nearly all taxis were fords -reliability
Something to ponder: The word Falcon is way more popularly used than the word Commodore, quite apart from the cars they're attached to. That may sway the Google numbers. Otherwise - spot on. ;)
As someone who has been brought up in a family with two 2005 falcon xt's (the station wagons) the fairmont just looks a little funky. I love everything else about it. Still going to stick with the wagons though because the practcality is unbeatable.
I mean, you can either pick a VT because they’re pretty good value, reliable, still good looking...or.....the ugliest car in human history, I wouldve been straight to the Ford dealership to be apart of history back in the day
@@TheTeeroy32 it's actually a shame we didn't get those here. I really wanted one after watching Breaking Bad. I guess we always have the SsangYong Rodius.
This is rubbish.A few journos made these comments at the time and I’m pretty sure the myth grew from there.Absolutely zero aesthetically wrong with the AU.
The au is a legend. I’ve owned many sedans and wagons and they’ve all given me trouble free driving. The commodores I’ve had however didn’t even get close.
I love my AU, I am onto my second one. They cannot be beaten doing the long highway stretches I do living in the country. First one: 465 000 km and still going as a paddock basher. Second: currently 340 000 km and still driving beautifully up and down the highway. I couldn't stand the Commodore on the highway and were 40% more expensive than the AU. AU for me all day.
You see way more AU s on the road these days than the VT commodore. Even though the VT had huge sale success over the AU at the time. The AU is Just a better quality car all round in my book. I worked at both dealerships when these cars were new. Even looking underneath the AU you will find allot of cast alloy part, suspension, sub frames etc compared to the VT with its steel stamped welded parts. The VT would have been cheaper to build than the AU on these grounds.
I'll be honest here I had one of the nicest au falcons with a full C2R body kit and a full respray on Oxford green and I miss it dearly. I now have a FG falcon and I love it to bits but it just didn't feel like my au did, simple but efficient.
Another great video mate! My AUII XLS 4.0 5 speed ute which I've had since new is still running strong at 260000km. It's had a few minor upgrades along the way and still drives like a dream especially on the open road. Nothing major has gone wrong with it, just normal wear and tear stuff and serviced every 10000 kays. The AU was easily the most reliable Falcon Ford Australia ever made, I'm on a mission now to hang onto it for another 10 years so I can get NSW historic rego!
Just curious to know if you’d be interested in reviewing a 2002 CV8 Monaro manual all original except for exhaust and Mafless tune and perfect paint and also a 1971 HQ Monaro LS 253 Manual 4 speed 2 door
In my opinion Holden seemed to go the extra mile with sleaker styling especially from the 70s, when they both became homegrown designs. Kingswood to Commodores styling was more polished than Falcon to me and the Falcon always felt a bit bulbous and and their revisions were often half baked because of cost cutting and attempting to put a corporate face on a local design that was too far removed from Ford internationally. Because of this and overall reliability and cost of repairs especially in their more complicated suspension of these and latter models, I couldn't make myself buy a Falcon despite it being better in other departments.
Had one for a few years. Brilliant car especially with the ZF 6 speed. But it was such a guzzler. Whoever has it now would be enjoying the sub-$1.00 petrol prices though!
Get the Falcon, it’s way more robust. Plus the I-6 and 302 are very easy to get performance parts for. The only good thing about the VT was the available LS1.
Thank you for this clip, I have a 1999 Falcon Forte AU sedan & I've had many opportunities to upgrade. But to what?. Had a few problems like window stick & central locking. But in all this time it has never let me down apart from one time on the freeway , can't remember what, but made it home in Limp Home Mode, had to keep her under 80ks but got there, amazing. It handles so ,well & the steering is so precise. You can drive for long periods & it's a relaxed drive. When you need the extra speed, it's immediate & a fantastic gear box. I've noticed more & more that the new cars have actually followed the AU design, even the new Mercedes, got to admit I had a giggle. To me the Ugly Duckling has turned into a beautiful Swan. Loved your comments, so interesting, thanks.
I was waiting for labor difficulty, doing anything on the sohc straight 6 easy as, help my mate with some help on his v6 commodore, just a small gasket change, felt like lighting the thing on fire for him to get the insurance money.
Very nicely done video mate. I actually got a bit emotional during the end credits, the period between 1997 and 2006 was such an exciting time for Ford and Holden. Such a great loss.
I just can't see a reason to relace my 2002 AU wagon, over 300,000 k's and still as smooth as silk. I bought it for $2,500 6yrs ago with all paperwork going back to new. A fantastic Aussie car that will live on as a classic workhorse.
I think you gave a pretty fair review. Well done! I'm a Ford man but I have come to appreciate Holden over the years. I do think the AU was ahead of its time styling wise. I have a 99 Black AU XR8 with full Tickford bodykit and non car friends are shocked when I tell them it's 21 years old. They think it is way more modern.
Just found this channel. Aussie car guy. Really good job mate. When you said the Commodore was better than the Falcon thought you were wrong. Then I found out that the Commodore had an LS. Oh boy even after seven late model Mustangs (2015 on) the LS is my favourite engine. but overall your review was really good. Great work mate great work and all those people who are dissing you I’d love to see their channels.
Thanks a lot mate. Some people love to throw shit in my direction, but pretty much every one of them didn't have a single video. I think it says a lot.
Not too bad. I wish I was able to get that sort of economy from my old EF 6cyl back in the day, normal driving was about 13L/100km, 2000rpm at 100km/h didn't help. Weren't the 6cyl Commodores fairly fuel efficient?
The seats in my vt spac are stitched I've owned it for 18 years it still has the original exaughst, alternator, power steering pump and fuel pump. It's on it's 2nd starter motor, steering rack and set of brake pads. It's never left me stranded
Really, really enjoyed this review! Much better than some of the professional reviews I've seen, and I always seem to get through the full duration of your videos with ease. Never really appreciated the VT or AU before, but this video gave me a lot of insight and appreciation for them - Keep up the incredible work!
The gearbox in the VT shouldn't be clunky. The L60E gearbox are smooth. Try changing the transmission oil and check the tailshaft couplings. They may be worn out. Also check diff backlash. Change the diff oil. Slightly thicker viscosity.
Not a fan of either but my thoughts on this growing up in that era are all based the looks. At the time I feel that the VT was by far the better looking car with the AU looking like an aborted mess. However when it comes to aging, i feel the AU looks a lot better these days where as the VT to me looks and feels extremely dated. I'm also getting generic bogan vibes looking at the VT which might be impacting my feels :)
Agreed. I have a black '99 AU XR8. My friends that don't know about cars are shocked when I tell them it's 21 years old. It was way ahead of its time, not to mention it's bullet broof.
I have owned both commodores and falcons, currently own an AU Fairmont with the Tickford 6Cyl. Absolutely love it, comfortable to drive (I'm 6'3") and great to cruise on the hwy and good on fuel.
I bought an FGX XR8 and was going to trade in my AUII XR6, but couldn't do it. I'm glad I kept it as I would have regretted getting rid of it. Still brings a smile to my face when driving it!
These 2 cars are incomparable.They are 2 very different beasts.The commodore is suited to high speed cruising/long trips where as the falcon is your Sherman tank ready for any dirty work you can throw at it.
The beauty of this review is that it’s totally independent. There are no marketing dollars attached to the advertising around the article that influence a Journo’s review.
When I was a 8years old the VT came out and when I 9 years the AU came out, my brother and both said that we would own one , he own a VT and I own an AU we love both cars
Falcons were great cruisers. Set them in a straight line and they would eat miles at any speed. But they were never as happy going around winding corners. The commodores I've owned simply loved to corner and felt very competent at it. But straight line highway undulations always required more concentration and felt less planted. I think which one was the better driver completely depended on the type of roads you drove on. Both of them were good cars. Its such a shame they've gone.
Great vid mate. Just got my au forte back on the road after 6 months sitting in the front yard. Youve given me insperation to keep going with it. And no more riding my motorcycle at night in winter to work. Cheers, Don, Sturt , South Australia.
I have an AU series 3 six cylinder 5 speed, purchased new 18 years ago and it still looks as good as the day I took delivery! Awesome car and has never let me down!
Great video, as always. I’d have to agree with the verdict. I inherited an XG Falcon Ute a few years back that had been sitting in a shed for a decade. Completely original, had to do some work on the engine but now use it almost daily, very smooth to drive and I’m constantly surprised with how reliable and enjoyable it is. Thanks for appreciating these soon to be classic Australian motor vehicles.
I'm not sure if you still reply to comments anymore, but I've been slowly getting into cars more and more. I never noticed how many of those ford falcon AUs are around, and I think they've grown on me, especially the bug eye headlights variations XD. I loved how the video was based on personal experiences and not just looking at the car and going "Yeah I think this one is nice". Definitely subscribed! And hopefully, once my old Barina TK bites the dust, I can find my own project car to tinker up and try be a mechanic like my sister :D
@@MotoringBoxTV As a big bloke, those are my two top priorities! If I can sit in there without feeling like a sardine, I'm happy as larry lol. Now I just need to find one that's affordable and doesn't look like it came out of a lake after 30 years of submersion, facebook marketplace is crazy where I live XD. Thank you for replying! It's nice to see you still comment on these videos!
The trend for rear spoilers in th 00's wasnt for looks it was to enable visibility when reversing.90% of the cars had these fitted for this reason. Once the boot line was raised they almost completly disappeared.
Love the AU, I have three other cars, a Y62 Patrol, Nissan Navara and a Hyundai I30, all modern, then I have a AU Fairmont. The AU has only 40k on the clock but although I don’t often drive it I so look forward to it. It’s so comfortable and beats all our other cars hands down although they range in sizes and functionality.
I remember when Ford released the Kuga and Ka and thinking how their design team had done a really good job on the styling of both vehicles. Then along came the AU. If I hadn’t had he pleasure of owning one and experiencing how bombproof they are I’d probably still be feeling a sense of repulsion towards the ugly ducking. The fuel filler flap on the Commodore pretty much sums the whole vehicle up...
I loved the video! I understand you've purchased these two cars hence you're able to compare them properly although a similar cylinder count would have make sense. As your channel expands I hope you'll be able to borrow cars (similar to Doug Demuro) and directly compare similar models? These videos are bringing back memories of reading Wheels magazine from this era. It's such a tragedy what has happened with both of these cars (and Holden dieing out completely!!) :(
I would like to look at a VE one day, obviously compared to an FG. But yes, looking at the differences between it and the VT would also be pretty interesting.
I've owned both these models back in the day but they were both 6 cylinders, I currently have a LS1 commodore so do know how good that engine is. I agree with most of what you said, I found the AU was better and more refined from engine to driveline where as the calais was better built, equipped and drove nicer on the road (yours has suspension mods where as mine was stock. I agree that both models were actually great cars and it's hard to chose between the 2, to me the AU styling was a bit before it's time but I like how both look. My final thought on them was the Calais was actually a nicer car to drive daily, there was something about how it got down the road where as the AU felt boring even though it did drive nice also. When you start getting into mods though the Holden is always more bang for your buck especially with the V8 and the LS1 is a great engine when you start working on it, it really does respond to mods so it's a win to the Calais, if we were talking the Barra then it's Ford but sadly the Barra wasn't available back then. P.S. the door latches on the Holden have a rubber on them which breaks off after time and results in the door moving, have been through that myself, replace the latches and the doors sit tight. Keep up the great work, love the channel
I owned a 2000 AU series 2 Forte and after giving that thing a 300,000 Km work out driving up and down the Bruce Highway for 10 years the only problem I ever had with it was the paint work fading from it being out constantly in the hot Queensland sun. Apart from the usual replacement stuff like Fluids, oils, tyres and brakes I had absolutely no major mechanical problems what so ever. I traded it in 2010 for an FG falcon XR6. As much as I love the new FG, The AU was one of the best value and most reliable cars I ever owned. As a mechanic I was astonished at the amount of VT commodores that were coming into the workshop with major problems. How can something with so many problems be a no one seller. For my money the AU wins hands down and I don't care what anyone else says. If I ever had to go back to an old cheap car again I would buy the AU without hesitation.
Also add the following categories: 1) Outback/the bush - the AU wins as it is a much better car in the outback and has better ground clearance. 2) Towing, the AU had a higher tow ball rating as the arse end of the Ford was stronger than the VT. 3) Holiday time - Mum, Dad + the kids, with a bootfull of luggage, the AU wins. 4) Repair time, the AU is generally much cheaper on parts and easier to work on and I have to add this, my (6 cyl) AU loved long distance, the longer the run the better, she just seemed to stretch her legs and just cruised, effortlessly and the fuel consumption was the old adage: the longer the better. I also had 1 inch of water over the bonnet in my AU when going through a "puddle" she made it but it did make her cough a bit. Drained the water from the air cleaner housing and removed the sodden air cleaner paper element and she was straight back into it, a great car, a bit fugly for sure, but a bit like Oysters, its an aquired taste! BTW, the best review of the VT/AU I have ever seen. Well done mate.
Bloody good shit lad. Only thing I would say is I think the au interior is much nicer with the climate control interface and wood grain that stretches throughout the car.
It's an acquired taste for sure. When I was editing the video I couldn't help but notice that the shots of the AU dash looked better (to my eyes anyway).
my lil brother was an au fan ,myself the vt ,we raced our cars alot , it all really depended on ball size along shit country roads, he passed away last week . the last car we owned and drove together was the vt , his au shat it pants literally , requiring a whole rear cradle to fix a rear axle problem , which he couldnt afford ... rest in piece lil bro , the passenger seat of my VT will always be yours xx
he had he ghia fairmont with he vct itd womp my ass on take off 6v6 it had botom end but 150 kph onwards falcons hate bumps or corners , the vt always ate him at speed
Awesome video, loved the review! When I was at uni I had a VX Berlina with the 3.8L V6 which was virtually identical to your VT Calais, so that car will always hold a spot in my heart. Looking forward to seeing what's coming up next on your channel!
I love them both, get a good well looked after example of either and you can't go wrong. I own an AU Fairmont in stunning nick and love it. I can get my hands on a mint 115 thousand original Ks VT, previously owned by a retired doctor for a steal and have been trying to persuade my son to buy it Would buy it myself but no real need for it. If I didn't have the AU would buy it in a heartbeat
Having owned both AU Fairmont and VT commodore both 6 cylinder versions I can honestly say the AU in my opinion was a far better car in terms of power, build and reliability, The AU just kept on going with minimal fuss and needed very little repairs whereas the VT always needed repairs either the O2 Sensor, Crank angle sensor or some other sensor as well as various other complaints.
Right on the money. I am a Holden person, but the AU and BA cars I really like the comfort of a drive on the long highway 🛣. But they’re starting to increase their value now as so many were sent to the scrap gods. I will get one to keep in the shed just to say I have one when I am older. Great job yet again with the detail of visual and audio styling. Your as most confident like John on his channel. Keep it up! Awesome job yet again!!
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The first Commodore the VB was based on a German Opel as was the Holden VT, I saw 2 dead SA police officers once in Thebarton after a Chrysler Sigma side impacted their Holden VB, I prefer Ford Falcon over Holden, safer, and they had better motors. Also the Holden VB had an atrocious safety record, if you hit a stobie pole your car would be crushed quicker than a can of VB bitter!
I love how the AU has become a meme and in a way has ascended from just the Aussie audience and is recognized by the Americans and even Europeans for the meme car legend it has become
Truly a sign of greatness.
@@MotoringBoxTV I have an AU Fairmont Wagon and can't find anything to replace it with as I don't like SUVs.
Doesn't say much for Americans and Europeans, but I cant complain I made a small fortune out of fixing them.
Vt is better Au is just been made a joke.
@@Jo_Wardy I mean the AU specwise is actually superior to the VT
I feel this would have made more sense if it was 6cyl vs 6cyl.
Most definitely.
Yup, unfortunately I couldn't find the right car for a decent price. I wanted a supercharged one.
@@MotoringBoxTV The used car market doesn't come with the full options list
@@MotoringBoxTV Like a calais with a supercharged L67?
Its not holdens fault ford sold an I6 to the same market.. You would just have the ford v8 losing to the ls1 and the holden six losing to the ford six.
I was certain that this video was going to start some kind of flame war between the Ford and Holden tribes, but everyone commenting has been pretty polite. Maybe this was because you presented a truthful and balanced assessment.
I'll probably still be accused of bias, but I tried my best. They're both great, so in the end it comes down to small things.
Only losers who don't own either model tend to make the stupid ignorant comments. Most who have some mechanical understanding and have actually owned one of these cars will be positive about them and truthful.
The one thing I dislike in the Holden is the cruise control. In the Falcon you control it from the steering wheel once it is activated but in the Holden you have a stalk and have to take your hand off the wheel.
@@ianmontgomery7213 the stalk is very fiddly too, the way they've crammed three buttons onto the end of it.
Have to say, I used to think I was a Holden man if I had to choose. Grew up with Mitsubishis and Mazda's but when asked to decide Holden or Ford I'd always say Holden. I've owned a VZ and driven VTs. Thought they were tops. But then through necessity I bought a falcon ute. And everything you described was the case, chassis felt stiffer, steering quicker with better feel, an air of better build quality (despite the Commodore's better plastics) a sublime straight six over the v6. More intuitive cruise control, I could go on. And the Falcon's looks even grew on me. These days I drive a BF ute and SY Territory and love them both. Aussie cars rock but I've pitched my tents further north of Hadrian's wall and am now in the Aussie Ford camp.
Thanks for the comment mate, it was a good read. The cruise control is a really good point, the AU's is fantastic.
@@MotoringBoxTV Love your videos mate, they scratch an itch that nothing else does. Keep up the good work. :-)
I had a TE Cortina and an XE Falcon. They were both a piece of crap.
Poor dust sealing, excessive fan noise and a stalling problem in the TE, and excessive rust, snapping clutch cables, and an oil light switch that failed a hundred km on the other side of nowhere in the XE. I often hired a newish car if i was going on a long trip as i no longer trusted them.
I now drive a 2012 Corolla sedan, and other than with regular servicing, its never been off the road. Oh what a feeling......Toyota!
@@noelgibson5956 you're basing newer vehicle's off 70s and 80s era vehicle's? Makes sense.
@@Flying_GC
Fair point, but the later EA Falcon and the early Territory's were also riddled with issues.
The car should serve you, not the other way around...... particularly if you're doing everything you should be doing regarding maintenance and responsible ownership.
i may have made up 1 mill of the searches
I may have also been responsible for many of the results.
I've had my AU for sixteen years
On the other hand my good friend who's a Holden nut has gone through three Commodores.
He does way less kilometres than me but he's had two cars develop catastrophic engine issues and his current Commodore has an electrical problem and all three have required ignition switch replacement.
I've had to replace the rotors on the AU because they warped
Rotors are service items so I'd hope you replaced them along with some of the fluids and other consumable parts.
@@doug-core8850 . Certainly did but they weren't worn out they warped due to shit metal.
Replaced them with DBA slotted and cross drilled items.
Which improved the braking because it's a series one which don't have the best brakes out of the factory.
Rear ones are almost worn to minimal specification now and will require replacement again
Warping was a common issue on Series 1's. I think Ford up-sized them for Series 2 onwards.
@@MotoringBoxTV speaking as a bit of a semi professional metalurgist and professional heat treatment specialist, ford cheaped out with rotors.
They weren't thick enough and couldn't dissipate heat fast enough.
And when these thin rotors get worn down enough, they'll move around like all buggery.
They increased the weight of the cars but didn't increase the braking efficiency.
The introduction of minimum rotor thickness and thicker sized solid pieces is a quick fix.
Its funny reading about how long it took ford to engineer a fix as it shows they didn't have anyone that knew much about cast iron metallurgy. Its very niche.
But what we saw all the way up to the very end was ford being too cheap to make big well designed brakes as standard across the board. Even their highest performance rotors are quite frankly, dogshit.
They probably just copied high performance manufacturers and did a cheap version.
Cause they didn't give these brakes a proper stress relief cycle after full machining.
All these drilled holes crack once the cast iron heats and cools, which means they're relieving stresses on their own.
Sorry for the long rant but it just annoys me how cheap companies are with brakes.
@@MotoringBoxTV . I heard it was still an issue with the BA.
It's not the size of the rotor it was the quality of the metal.
The DBA rotors are the exact same size but are superior quality metal.
Both great cars. One thing to note is that as far back as anyone can remember, there’s always been three or four Falcon taxis for every one Holden. That tells you everything you need to know about long term reliability.
AU's were built like panzar tanks, how many of these clocked up well over 500,000 and more as taxis and were still in service is something to be commended.
Saw an AU ex-taxi advertised with over 800k on it a few months back... would have been an interesting one to look at.
@@MotoringBoxTV when they first came out I saw one towing a caravan trying to go up a hill, it had a blown head gasket and was blowing steam like a steam train, it was running on three or four cylinders, but on the other hand I knew people that owned them and never had any problems.
Plenty close back to 0000000 as well haha
I drive a AU that has 571,000 kms on the clock and still runs perfectly.
Many clocked over a million.They go through the transmissions every 300k but the engines last forever,bulletproof.
Hello from Slovenia. From my point of view both look good given the age. The only thing I dont like about Ford are those sad eyes/headlights. Both represent the design postulates of that era.
Thanks for watching Elvis!
Gotta say they're both legendary cars, but I'll always like the AU just that little bit more. Great video once again :)
Thanks for watching!
I found I do hit my head getting in and out of the AU more than the VT. That goes for front and back. But I do love my fords after owning numerous holden v8's. Never owned a v6, test drove a few but there noisy harsh characteristics made me buy a v8. Then I discovered fords magical inline and auto gear box. Had those for a few years. But now proud owner of a s/c ba gt and a g220 fairlane.
The AU should definitely have won in the interior styling department because of the mobile office! 💻📟📠💾📲💻
For innovative accessories the Ford definitely get top marks. But I do like the feel of sitting in the VT better.
@@MotoringBoxTV So how did you find getting into and out of the AU? Does not having the steering wheel right in front of you bother you at all?
@@gavinb9627 I've never had any problems with access, I've heard people saying it's easy to bang your head but I don't really understand how? Maybe they were comparing the AU to boxy cars from the 90s. I've not had any issues with the wheel - if it is off centre it mustn't be by much.
@@MotoringBoxTV I was always banging my head, e series weren't a problem at all but the ba was better than the Au but way behind the e series. the joys of us all being different shapes and sizes
@@gavinb9627 That's strange, because the BA roofline and doors are identical to the AU - no changes!
As a Ford guy, I'm going to have to go with the AU but the VT is a great car and had its advantages. I like both as they each have there own unique quirks and features. Great video mate keep it coming.
Totally agree, both should be celebrated.
I have a VX Series 2 which improved on the VT quite alot. I think you nailed the comparison. I found parts availability and price for the VT/VX are plentiful and think that should be a part of your list considering they are old classics. But i guess there is less that breaks on an AU as it is more of a civilised car. I have had 2 Ford Falcons with the EL and EF, i felt the AU was a massive step above, but after i test drove the VX Series 2 i was won over. And how easy they are to modify made it a journey for me. I went to a driving day and drove against an AU falcon and you can see the difference ruclips.net/video/rFTKnWtbA2M/видео.html and the sound of the LS1 is pretty brings me back to the V8's at bathurst during the golden years of ford and holden ruclips.net/video/_BbKfFMiz0w/видео.html . I will eventually get another falcon but not decided in an AU or BA.
I have test driven a v8 vt and a 6 cyl au manual wagon. Both great cars.
I've owned many Falcons and Commodores and what stood out to me is that with the Falcon is the I6 engine is formidable but let down by the transmission and the rough interior. The Commodores always felt faster, lighter but more "tinny" and had the better V8 option. Both great cars and we need them back.
Sounds about right. I think Ford were really gunning for fuel economy with the auto gearing. It does cruise very well.
Outstanding job mate. I’m not really a Ford or Holden guy and I would have picked the Holden back in the day but think the Falcon is more interesting now
Yup, sounds about right to me as well. Aged pretty decently.
Both are winners, both are legends. Ive only owned a au forte wagon and just got a au fairlane ghia last week, but really want to find a clean Vt one day too.
Nice little collection you're building there.
I personally have owned both cars
And both have great quality , but l must admit the vt is a really good looking car but I found that the au is my favorite as I now have 3 of them, they are so reliable and are well built, the overall drivability of the au has a no nonsense feel about it.
And I depend on their reliability, and after 15 years of driving au fords , I have nothing but praise for them both v8's and the 6's
Thanks for the comment mate - always great to hear the opinions of others based on their own personal experiences.
I loved my AU right up until I lost compression in 3 cylinders. Mine was lowered and It always felt tighter and more agile then my ex partners VX Calais through the Twisties. It was dual fuel and 5 times a year I would fill both tanks, hit the highway and drive 1000 kilometers to Bathurst without needing to stop once. Such a great cruiser!
Hell yes he's back, just after I plugged in my new TV and grabbed the spare recliner out of our storage shed. Please no more snapping VT fuel filler flaps the last one nearly made me cry. 😅
Had to be done for historical documentation, I don't like hurting cars though :)
Sean - another cracking vid mate - very enjoyable! Bang on about the AU being the more 'Memeable' - it has defiantly become a legend online in recent years! Also, surely you need to mention the rear styling of the early CLS Mercs (which many consider very sexy) was either inspired by, or stolen from the AU lol!
I think the CLS looks a lot better from the back, plenty of inspiration from the AU though of course. Whether it was intentional or not!
I believe the AU fuel filler was designed more 'naked' to accommodate the LPG filling port in factory dual fuel models, or LPG only, not sure if they had LPG only AUs.
Plus with this design you dont end up covering the rear quarter panel with petrol stains.
@@chrisbenton3365 . Yeah, personally I couldn't give a shit what it looks like inside of the fuel filler flap.
You only see it a little while anyway but Holden had to make the inside look better because they knew that they were going to fall off
@@NewstartGarageOZ Haha spot on
arokh72 yes they did. They had green tops back then. Mostly in the taxi pack.
Oh, makes sense then. Plenty of space in there for the LPG port.
Even as a Holden fan I have to agree with the AU's win. The AU is just a more dependable car and it's quirks really have made it into the legend it is. A great video as always mate! Love the content and how in-depth you get. Stay safe. Look forward to the next video.
Nice to see some more mutual appreciation going on, Australia needs more of it! Thanks for the comment.
Their longevity has now revealed itself. We were very fortunate to have a home industry that provided us with these.
I have owned many of them both over the years, totally agree with what you say. The VT looks way better but they have heaps more body flex, and the doors feel like they don’t line up properly.
My AU ute was a “genuine one owner” with service history & recipes, I drove it to 550 thou kms on the original motor, complete respect to the mighty AU
Still a fairly solid car, but you're right. The AU feels like a bit of a tank in comparison.
i owned an EL and it outlasted about 3 mates commodores and now i own an AU and it has out lasted the entire Holden company lol
Haha, touche.
You know the falcon has gone the same way as the commodore, right?
@@vandecayear10 hes referring to Ford are still here, Holden isn't.
@@Flying_GC yeah but the only good ones are from the US. Not much of a win
His AU still outlived the name Holden. True statement.
The vt back seats don't fold down like the au which is required to haul long items from the hardware .
The au is cheaper to buy and also cheaper for parts that lasts longer
There was a reason nearly all taxis were fords -reliability
lol the middle parts does at least , you trying to haul the whole shelf back home ?
The rear seat surprised me, when I bought the car I had no idea they were fixed. Seems kind of strange to me.
Something to ponder: The word Falcon is way more popularly used than the word Commodore, quite apart from the cars they're attached to. That may sway the Google numbers. Otherwise - spot on. ;)
Also AU is the chemical symbol for gold and an abbreviation for Australia.
Yep, that category was a token win for the AU lol
I said the same and he says you can filter out results in google by adding quotes around it
Yup, searching using quote marks "AU Falcon" can filter out all the other results, still wins though.
MotoringBox the childhood Holden fanboy in me refuses to accept this ☺️
As someone who has been brought up in a family with two 2005 falcon xt's (the station wagons) the fairmont just looks a little funky. I love everything else about it. Still going to stick with the wagons though because the practcality is unbeatable.
I do love the wagons. I may get one on the channel one day, just need to decide which make and model I go for...
I mean, you can either pick a VT because they’re pretty good value, reliable, still good looking...or.....the ugliest car in human history, I wouldve been straight to the Ford dealership to be apart of history back in the day
Plenty of uglier cars, even Australian ones. The XF springs to mind.
Only the s1 Forte is ugly....The rest of the range looks fine, and is actually a much better car than the VT.
Pontiac Aztec says " Am I a Joke to you?"
@@TheTeeroy32 it's actually a shame we didn't get those here. I really wanted one after watching Breaking Bad. I guess we always have the SsangYong Rodius.
This is rubbish.A few journos made these comments at the time and I’m pretty sure the myth grew from there.Absolutely zero aesthetically wrong with the AU.
The au is a legend. I’ve owned many sedans and wagons and they’ve all given me trouble free driving. The commodores I’ve had however didn’t even get close.
Both are great if looked after in my opinion, but yes the AU is a solid thing.
I love my AU, I am onto my second one. They cannot be beaten doing the long highway stretches I do living in the country. First one: 465 000 km and still going as a paddock basher. Second: currently 340 000 km and still driving beautifully up and down the highway.
I couldn't stand the Commodore on the highway and were 40% more expensive than the AU.
AU for me all day.
You see way more AU s on the road these days than the VT commodore. Even though the VT had huge sale success over the AU at the time. The AU is Just a better quality car all round in my book. I worked at both dealerships when these cars were new. Even looking underneath the AU you will find allot of cast alloy part, suspension, sub frames etc compared to the VT with its steel stamped welded parts. The VT would have been cheaper to build than the AU on these grounds.
I do see more AUs on the road these days. But the number is definitely dropping on both!
I'll be honest here I had one of the nicest au falcons with a full C2R body kit and a full respray on Oxford green and I miss it dearly. I now have a FG falcon and I love it to bits but it just didn't feel like my au did, simple but efficient.
The C2R kits look good, but do you know if they were they plastic or fibreglass?
Another great video mate! My AUII XLS 4.0 5 speed ute which I've had since new is still running strong at 260000km. It's had a few minor upgrades along the way and still drives like a dream especially on the open road. Nothing major has gone wrong with it, just normal wear and tear stuff and serviced every 10000 kays.
The AU was easily the most reliable Falcon Ford Australia ever made, I'm on a mission now to hang onto it for another 10 years so I can get NSW historic rego!
Timestamps:
0:18 - Overview
0:59 - Exterior Styling
2:21 - Build Quality
4:40 - Interior Styling
6:57 - Interior Functionality
9:04 - Best Engine
10:13 - Best Gearbox
11:16 - Best Cruiser
12:35 - Best Thrasher
13:37 - Value for Money
14:37 - Motorsports
15:37 - Internet Notoriety
16:26 - Conclusion
Just curious to know if you’d be interested in reviewing a 2002 CV8 Monaro manual all original except for exhaust and Mafless tune and perfect paint and also a 1971 HQ Monaro LS 253 Manual 4 speed 2 door
In my opinion Holden seemed to go the extra mile with sleaker styling especially from the 70s, when they both became homegrown designs. Kingswood to Commodores styling was more polished than Falcon to me and the Falcon always felt a bit bulbous and and their revisions were often half baked because of cost cutting and attempting to put a corporate face on a local design that was too far removed from Ford internationally. Because of this and overall reliability and cost of repairs especially in their more complicated suspension of these and latter models, I couldn't make myself buy a Falcon despite it being better in other departments.
@Kirk170153 maybe, depending where you're based.
@Ebo Chi I do love the Kingswoods.
Would you be interested in an AU Fairlane for review?
Love ur videos mate keep up the good work
Thanks, will do!
I love how futuristic and unique both of these cars looked in this era
A very fair and solid review, really enjoyed watching this👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it.
Time for you to get a BF XR6 Turbo - Addresses all the shortfalls of the AU and builds upon its strengths.
Not gonna lie, I'd love one mate.
Had one for a few years. Brilliant car especially with the ZF 6 speed. But it was such a guzzler. Whoever has it now would be enjoying the sub-$1.00 petrol prices though!
BF ahead in every way except IRS lol
I’m definitely buying a VT Commodore when I move to Australia. Or a AU Falcon.
Aye, onya mate. They should come standard with every visa.
@@MotoringBoxTV That would be awesome dude! When I get there I'll pay you a visit!
Get the Falcon, it’s way more robust. Plus the I-6 and 302 are very easy to get performance parts for. The only good thing about the VT was the available LS1.
The seat trims in that Calais look like a Fat Pizza tracksuit.
Haha, I guess so!
Thank you for this clip, I have a 1999 Falcon Forte AU sedan & I've had many opportunities to upgrade.
But to what?.
Had a few problems like window stick & central locking.
But in all this time it has never let me down apart from one time on the freeway , can't remember what, but made it home in Limp Home Mode, had to keep her under 80ks but got there, amazing.
It handles so ,well & the steering is so precise.
You can drive for long periods & it's a relaxed drive.
When you need the extra speed, it's immediate & a fantastic gear box.
I've noticed more & more that the new cars have actually followed the AU design, even the new Mercedes, got to admit I had a giggle.
To me the Ugly Duckling has turned into a beautiful Swan.
Loved your comments, so interesting, thanks.
I was waiting for labor difficulty, doing anything on the sohc straight 6 easy as, help my mate with some help on his v6 commodore, just a small gasket change, felt like lighting the thing on fire for him to get the insurance money.
Lots of space around an Intech for sure. The LS is really crammed in there, so that's a good point.
Even though the au was basically a failure I feel like it was still the most iconic falcon made
The only failure on the AU is the looks
Very nicely done video mate. I actually got a bit emotional during the end credits, the period between 1997 and 2006 was such an exciting time for Ford and Holden. Such a great loss.
If you know me, I love nothing better than chopping onions during the credits.
I just can't see a reason to relace my 2002 AU wagon, over 300,000 k's and still as smooth as silk. I bought it for $2,500 6yrs ago with all paperwork going back to new. A fantastic Aussie car that will live on as a classic workhorse.
You can't spell beautiful without AU
You can't spell slaughter either.
I think you gave a pretty fair review. Well done! I'm a Ford man but I have come to appreciate Holden over the years. I do think the AU was ahead of its time styling wise. I have a 99 Black AU XR8 with full Tickford bodykit and non car friends are shocked when I tell them it's 21 years old. They think it is way more modern.
Ahead of it's time, but at the same time they didn't get everything right with it. Still, looks pretty decent today from some angles.
Just found this channel. Aussie car guy. Really good job mate. When you said the Commodore was better than the Falcon thought you were wrong. Then I found out that the Commodore had an LS. Oh boy even after seven late model Mustangs (2015 on) the LS is my favourite engine. but overall your review was really good. Great work mate great work and all those people who are dissing you I’d love to see their channels.
Thanks a lot mate. Some people love to throw shit in my direction, but pretty much every one of them didn't have a single video. I think it says a lot.
I do love how enamoured you are with that office table!
To be honest I feel very privileged to own it.
My mom had a gen 1 au forte for 7 years and never serviced it once, she bought it used for 600$ those cars are invincible
Powerful Ranger mate that’s dismal, you could have changed the oil for her!
The oil is cheap considering the benefits it brings about. Still, impressive effort despite the neglect.
Yeah I think the AU's styling has aged reasonably well, except maybe the S1 Forte.
What about fuel economy? I'm assuming the Falcon would win there?
I'm not sure about the VT, but the AU fairmont I own with the Tickford 6Cyl gets about 750km to a tank of hwy driving with the cruise control on.
The Falcon wins in economy obviously. At the moment it's something like 10.9 vs 12.3L/100km.
I recently drove from adelaide to lexton vic 670 kays , 50 to fill the tank got there with exactly half a tank vt 6 or 8 wouldnt have a chance
Not too bad. I wish I was able to get that sort of economy from my old EF 6cyl back in the day, normal driving was about 13L/100km, 2000rpm at 100km/h didn't help.
Weren't the 6cyl Commodores fairly fuel efficient?
@@deanstyles2567 VT V6s could easily do 9L/100km. I drove from melb to sydney on one tank.
One man show! Better then those who have bigger and better budgets. Mate, for sure you're going places. Enjoyed every minute of it as usual. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed! My budget is shit haha.
The seats in my vt spac are stitched I've owned it for 18 years it still has the original exaughst, alternator, power steering pump and fuel pump. It's on it's 2nd starter motor, steering rack and set of brake pads. It's never left me stranded
Original exhaust? Doing very well then.
@@MotoringBoxTV Yeah, I don't know why my device changed exhaust to be spelt that way. At least it spells tyre correctly lol.
You can’t compare an Ls1 to a six...
take a ecotec V6 for a spin the ford wins hands down...
Well I can say which one I like best, so...
Can say that v6 ecotecs are absolutely brilliant, can achieve over 450,000ks and can still keep up.
@@braydenhunt2090 Pity they sound like a chainsaw
@@jetson2075 oh they aren't that bad if they are properly modified, same goes for all cars i guess.
The reviewer slightly favoured fords inline over the ls1. So I would imagine he would favour it even more over Holden's harsh, noisy v6.
Either you love the AU, or you are wrong!🤣🤣
Hahah, I guess so.
Really, really enjoyed this review! Much better than some of the professional reviews I've seen, and I always seem to get through the full duration of your videos with ease. Never really appreciated the VT or AU before, but this video gave me a lot of insight and appreciation for them - Keep up the incredible work!
Thanks mate. I know my videos are long, so thanks for sticking with them.
The gearbox in the VT shouldn't be clunky. The L60E gearbox are smooth. Try changing the transmission oil and check the tailshaft couplings. They may be worn out. Also check diff backlash. Change the diff oil. Slightly thicker viscosity.
I may have exaggerated - it's a smooth gearbox. Just not as smooth as the AU's - the differences are small, but nonetheless they are differences.
I dont really like either lol. Strangely I like the EB Series 2 Falcon and the VE Series 2 Commodore best. I may be the only one. 👌
My first Falcon was an ED, my first Commodore was a VF2 LS3
I do have a soft spot for the early E-Series Falcons!
EA turbo anyone?
Not a fan of either but my thoughts on this growing up in that era are all based the looks. At the time I feel that the VT was by far the better looking car with the AU looking like an aborted mess. However when it comes to aging, i feel the AU looks a lot better these days where as the VT to me looks and feels extremely dated. I'm also getting generic bogan vibes looking at the VT which might be impacting my feels :)
Agreed. I have a black '99 AU XR8. My friends that don't know about cars are shocked when I tell them it's 21 years old. It was way ahead of its time, not to mention it's bullet broof.
From certain angles the AU looks amazing. Like at 18:11 for example. Probably my favourite shot of the car, ever.
Never been a Holden man but that VT is starting to look desirable. Nice hips and stance.
They're beautiful cars
Jaguar X Type looks similar lol
I have owned both commodores and falcons, currently own an AU Fairmont with the Tickford 6Cyl. Absolutely love it, comfortable to drive (I'm 6'3") and great to cruise on the hwy and good on fuel.
They're truly in their element in the highway. Even with the 3.45 diff the VCT's had.
the AU modernized Aussie looks and paved the way for BA-FG and VY-VE
The later cars do have a lot to thank the AU for.
I have a low km AU series 1,,,I can't say enough good things about it,,it's going to be a classic in the future,,,great personality it has
The VT cup holder disks were removed in the VX.
I bought an FGX XR8 and was going to trade in my AUII XR6, but couldn't do it. I'm glad I kept it as I would have regretted getting rid of it. Still brings a smile to my face when driving it!
Couldn't think of two better cars to have in the garage - enjoy them mate.
These 2 cars are incomparable.They are 2 very different beasts.The commodore is suited to high speed cruising/long trips where as the falcon is your Sherman tank ready for any dirty work you can throw at it.
In saying that,the AU definitely benefits from the addition of a transmission cooler.
The VT didn’t have the right chassis for high speed anything.
The beauty of this review is that it’s totally independent. There are no marketing dollars attached to the advertising around the article that influence a Journo’s review.
When I was a 8years old the VT came out and when I 9 years the AU came out, my brother and both said that we would own one , he own a VT and I own an AU we love both cars
That's awesome, nice to hear!
Very well done video, as per usual mate. Your style continues to encourage engagement and enjoyment. Very well done comparison and filmography.
Falcons were great cruisers. Set them in a straight line and they would eat miles at any speed. But they were never as happy going around winding corners. The commodores I've owned simply loved to corner and felt very competent at it. But straight line highway undulations always required more concentration and felt less planted. I think which one was the better driver completely depended on the type of roads you drove on. Both of them were good cars. Its such a shame they've gone.
Great vid mate. Just got my au forte back on the road after 6 months sitting in the front yard. Youve given me insperation to keep going with it. And no more riding my motorcycle at night in winter to work. Cheers, Don, Sturt , South Australia.
I have an AU series 3 six cylinder 5 speed, purchased new 18 years ago and it still looks as good as the day I took delivery! Awesome car and has never let me down!
Nice, owned from new! Look after it!
Great video, as always. I’d have to agree with the verdict. I inherited an XG Falcon Ute a few years back that had been sitting in a shed for a decade. Completely original, had to do some work on the engine but now use it almost daily, very smooth to drive and I’m constantly surprised with how reliable and enjoyable it is. Thanks for appreciating these soon to be classic Australian motor vehicles.
Nice, you don't see XG's around that often anymore - wishing you many years of happy motoring.
I'm not sure if you still reply to comments anymore, but I've been slowly getting into cars more and more. I never noticed how many of those ford falcon AUs are around, and I think they've grown on me, especially the bug eye headlights variations XD. I loved how the video was based on personal experiences and not just looking at the car and going "Yeah I think this one is nice".
Definitely subscribed! And hopefully, once my old Barina TK bites the dust, I can find my own project car to tinker up and try be a mechanic like my sister :D
If you like big comfortable cars they're great. Pretty simple and reliable too, which are good traits to have in a car 👍
@@MotoringBoxTV As a big bloke, those are my two top priorities! If I can sit in there without feeling like a sardine, I'm happy as larry lol. Now I just need to find one that's affordable and doesn't look like it came out of a lake after 30 years of submersion, facebook marketplace is crazy where I live XD. Thank you for replying! It's nice to see you still comment on these videos!
The trend for rear spoilers in th 00's wasnt for looks it was to enable visibility when reversing.90% of the cars had these fitted for this reason. Once the boot line was raised they almost completly disappeared.
Love the AU, I have three other cars, a Y62 Patrol, Nissan Navara and a Hyundai I30, all modern, then I have a AU Fairmont.
The AU has only 40k on the clock but although I don’t often drive it I so look forward to it.
It’s so comfortable and beats all our other cars hands down although they range in sizes and functionality.
I remember when Ford released the Kuga and Ka and thinking how their design team had done a really good job on the styling of both vehicles. Then along came the AU. If I hadn’t had he pleasure of owning one and experiencing how bombproof they are I’d probably still be feeling a sense of repulsion towards the ugly ducking. The fuel filler flap on the Commodore pretty much sums the whole vehicle up...
I reckon a few people's heads must have rolled after that whole debacle.
SS VY, VZ and VE are similarly valued to the BA XR8 which shows how good the BAs became. I think the refreshed look after the meme era really helped.
That AU table option is something. 👍
Even though the videos take a long time to come out, you put lots of quality time into them. Keep it up!
Glad you like them!
I loved the video! I understand you've purchased these two cars hence you're able to compare them properly although a similar cylinder count would have make sense. As your channel expands I hope you'll be able to borrow cars (similar to Doug Demuro) and directly compare similar models? These videos are bringing back memories of reading Wheels magazine from this era. It's such a tragedy what has happened with both of these cars (and Holden dieing out completely!!) :(
oh and as a former AU1 Forte owner, I agree. It was well built but looked terrible (AU1 much more so than the AU2 which looked a lot better).
I’d have to agree, but they both have respectfully earned the Aussie legend badge
i would LOVE to see you compare both your VT and a VE. Both were Holdens love cars.
I would like to look at a VE one day, obviously compared to an FG. But yes, looking at the differences between it and the VT would also be pretty interesting.
I've owned both these models back in the day but they were both 6 cylinders, I currently have a LS1 commodore so do know how good that engine is. I agree with most of what you said, I found the AU was better and more refined from engine to driveline where as the calais was better built, equipped and drove nicer on the road (yours has suspension mods where as mine was stock. I agree that both models were actually great cars and it's hard to chose between the 2, to me the AU styling was a bit before it's time but I like how both look. My final thought on them was the Calais was actually a nicer car to drive daily, there was something about how it got down the road where as the AU felt boring even though it did drive nice also. When you start getting into mods though the Holden is always more bang for your buck especially with the V8 and the LS1 is a great engine when you start working on it, it really does respond to mods so it's a win to the Calais, if we were talking the Barra then it's Ford but sadly the Barra wasn't available back then.
P.S. the door latches on the Holden have a rubber on them which breaks off after time and results in the door moving, have been through that myself, replace the latches and the doors sit tight.
Keep up the great work, love the channel
Thanks for the comment mate - I think you're on the money with most of it!
LS1 is a greasy low life Turd... The INTECH is the best Ford 6 ever built.
@@paulkarwacki1654 your wrong in so many ways. the Barra is better than the Intech.
I always thought the VT was a copy of the Eunos 500, but bigger. The resemblance is uncanny.. (Ex Eunos Salesman here...)
The AU doors were used until 2011 in the Bfii wagon.
Very fair, much respect and love.
Yup, in fairness both are great.
Great video and great cars too. Can't help feeling this was a foregone conclusion though. Viewers already knew how much you loved the AU!
Thanks! 👍
I owned a 2000 AU series 2 Forte and after giving that thing a 300,000 Km work out driving up and down the Bruce Highway for 10 years the only problem I ever had with it was the paint work fading from it being out constantly in the hot Queensland sun. Apart from the usual replacement stuff like Fluids, oils, tyres and brakes I had absolutely no major mechanical problems what so ever.
I traded it in 2010 for an FG falcon XR6. As much as I love the new FG, The AU was one of the best value and most reliable cars I ever owned. As a mechanic I was astonished at the amount of VT commodores that were coming into the workshop with major problems. How can something with so many problems be a no one seller. For my money the AU wins hands down and I don't care what anyone else says. If I ever had to go back to an old cheap car again I would buy the AU without hesitation.
It seems like every AU colour was susceptible to paint fade. Bit of a shame really.
should put tickford skirts and rear spoiler on the au to make it look better 👌
Wouldn't mind it. If I ever repaint the car I may do that.
I've got a au xr8. Been bullet proof for the 12yrs I've owned it
That's a long innings with a car. Wishing you many more years of motoring ahead.
Also add the following categories: 1) Outback/the bush - the AU wins as it is a much better car in the outback and has better ground clearance. 2) Towing, the AU had a higher tow ball rating as the arse end of the Ford was stronger than the VT. 3) Holiday time - Mum, Dad + the kids, with a bootfull of luggage, the AU wins. 4) Repair time, the AU is generally much cheaper on parts and easier to work on and I have to add this, my (6 cyl) AU loved long distance, the longer the run the better, she just seemed to stretch her legs and just cruised, effortlessly and the fuel consumption was the old adage: the longer the better. I also had 1 inch of water over the bonnet in my AU when going through a "puddle" she made it but it did make her cough a bit. Drained the water from the air cleaner housing and removed the sodden air cleaner paper element and she was straight back into it, a great car, a bit fugly for sure, but a bit like Oysters, its an aquired taste! BTW, the best review of the VT/AU I have ever seen. Well done mate.
Bloody good shit lad. Only thing I would say is I think the au interior is much nicer with the climate control interface and wood grain that stretches throughout the car.
It's an acquired taste for sure. When I was editing the video I couldn't help but notice that the shots of the AU dash looked better (to my eyes anyway).
@@MotoringBoxTV i've been in both and just prefer the fairmont's style, apart from the multi coloured greys in there.
@@angus823 mine is all colour matched. Did the regular Fairmont have the warm charcoal colour like my Ghia? From memory I don't think they did.
I really want to go and buy an old Falcon. Every time I watch one of your videos Im straight onto carsales lol
They should sponsor me.
my lil brother was an au fan ,myself the vt ,we raced our cars alot , it all really depended on ball size along shit country roads, he passed away last week . the last car we owned and drove together was the vt , his au shat it pants literally , requiring a whole rear cradle to fix a rear axle problem , which he couldnt afford ... rest in piece lil bro , the passenger seat of my VT will always be yours xx
if u bother to look at my profile youll see a shit vt skid he recored in his voice
he had he ghia fairmont with he vct itd womp my ass on take off 6v6 it had botom end but 150 kph onwards falcons hate bumps or corners , the vt always ate him at speed
Sorry to hear mate. Hang onto the memories, it sounds like he made his years count. Do you still have his AU? Might be a nice project to work away on.
@@MotoringBoxTV sadly he sold it for 500 which is what he paid , good deal , watching your vid made me fel closer to himt o ty dude
id love to ge it back and try to convert my vt to its motor
Awesome video, loved the review! When I was at uni I had a VX Berlina with the 3.8L V6 which was virtually identical to your VT Calais, so that car will always hold a spot in my heart. Looking forward to seeing what's coming up next on your channel!
Thanks mate! I drove my parents VP Exec back in my uni days so I share a similar sentiment.
I love them both, get a good well looked after example of either and you can't go wrong. I own an AU Fairmont in stunning nick and love it.
I can get my hands on a mint 115 thousand original Ks VT, previously owned by a retired doctor for a steal and have been trying to persuade my son to buy it Would buy it myself but no real need for it. If I didn't have the AU would buy it in a heartbeat
If you've got space for it, wouldn't hurt!
I've seriously considered a manual AU XR6 with the IRS and NA Barra swapping it.
I don't think that'd be would be worth it unless it was a Barra turbo.
Having owned both AU Fairmont and VT commodore both 6 cylinder versions I can honestly say the AU in my opinion was a far better car in terms of power, build and reliability, The AU just kept on going with minimal fuss and needed very little repairs whereas the VT always needed repairs either the O2 Sensor, Crank angle sensor or some other sensor as well as various other complaints.
Right on the money. I am a Holden person, but the AU and BA cars I really like the comfort of a drive on the long highway 🛣. But they’re starting to increase their value now as so many were sent to the scrap gods. I will get one to keep in the shed just to say I have one when I am older. Great job yet again with the detail of visual and audio styling. Your as most confident like John on his channel. Keep it up! Awesome job yet again!!
Thanks a lot mate. But I don't think I'll ever get to Cadogan's level.