Thanks for a great review on it. My AU2 XR8 is certainly my favourite and still going strong at 312,000km. She's only the 4 speed auto but got me to and from work for 7 years doing a 200km a day round trip, and comfortable too. I miss her, she's having a rest but will be back on the road later this year for her 20th anniversary. Keep up the great work.
This was a Nice surprise to wake up to. Again thanks for the shout out for patron. Nice car, This is actually my favorite front end of the AU Falcon. Always liked the Double headlights on the XR models. Even more so then the front lights of the Tick ford TS50.
mate i love the TE and TS headlights the quad XR8 ones.. i dont mind it on the ute.. but on the sedan i much prefer the TE TS style.. but have to admit the AUs were a bloody good car especially for back in the day
Another good one mate. You know I must have been the only one who thought these things looked good back in the day. You got another thumbs up from me ...
I have a series 3 XR8 ute and can't get enough of it. Currently going through a restoration because it deserves to be returned to its former glory. They're amazing cars and they really did have the best combination of engine, suspension and braking by the time they were retired
Good work mate glad you’re taking the time and money to bring it back to former glory.. they are worth it to bring back to scratch🇦🇺👌 great all round cruiser
The AU design really grew on me! I love the arc of the boot with those triangular taillights at each end! The contemporary VT/VX Commodores look dated and bloated to me. Id defo say yes to an AU series III XR6!
@@RossReviewsau The big AU can lift its skirt and make light work of the twisty stuff! ruclips.net/video/VU7Sm4fFcao/видео.html Keep up the good work Rosco!
I have both Utes....s2 xr8 auto......s3 xr6 vct manual.......I think pound for pound the xr6 is better and sounds great......but the v8 just turns more heads, especially when you kick it over,and it's more fun to drive,and the sound of it idling is music to my ears.....the v8 is 10/10 for fun.....and the xr6 10/10 for performance and economy....both sound amazingly great....
Definitely one of my favourite falcons of all had four of them and the best part is still have two of the AUs ones a 2002 series 3 wagon on factory gas and the other is a 2002 AU ford falcon sedan that was a Ex Vicpol car definitely goes hard with the LSD differential
great video! Never realised how iconic the falcon was as a muscle car here in Aus, until now. Now with the inflated used car market, these are becoming collectors items. That white one at 6:51, was actually 20min from my house here in Melb. I looked at it in person, and told the owner I'd need time to think about it. 2 weeks later, he sold it to someone else. They dont make v8 sedans or utes like these anymore!
Each to their own bro 😂 I’m turned off from it I think because of the Ford Taurus we had growing up in Canada 💀 horrible looking car had similar 4 eyed headlight design
Good review. AU's were underrated for an an family Aussie sedan and price point. Yes AU stands for Australia. They are becoming collector/desirable for good examples - not P plater skid pigs that unfortunately have been wrecked by kids.
The AU , and yes I do own one for coming up on 18 years is ridiculously reliable , It's that good . I would pretty confidently say that there would be more AU's plying the roads for it's age than any other car bar none . They are literally everywhere , And they are very loved by anybody who knows them . My series 2 Futura with the all black interior except the headlining of course still looks good , bloody comfortable and rides beautifully on pretty much any road . She needs a paint job because the Liquid Silver has faded somewhat in recent years but everything works . The SOHC Intech 4.0 inline 6 has tons of pull and the BTR Auto never does anything wrong . I did take out the factory Radio /CD and put in an aftermarket one with USB for devices but that's about it for mods . She's got the classy 18 spoke factory alloys and the spare is exactly the same ..And I do love the look of the AU and they have aged rather well in my humble opinion ...Great review as always ...keep them coming .. See if you can get hold of a AU Fairmont Ghia ...They are really nice ..
Good percentages old old Toyotas still running too of course too. For people who can no longer afford the venerable old AU series. Try the wagon and ute versions of the BA and BF, they have similar durability and are still cheapish.
Hi, enjoying the AU reviews. Sold my Series 2 XR8 manual ute to my neighbor in 2016 when i bought a BF F6 auto ute, i bought the AU back 18 months later for $1500 less and sold the F6. The AU handled better (same kms) than the F6 which surprised me. F6 is way quicker but i preferred the old school feel of the V8 and manual.
Great video Ross. 👍 I picked up a totally stock series 1 XR8 ute with 5 speed manual in Silhouette black about a month ago. It's not as quick as the warmed over 302 Cleveland (1978 XC engine) I had 20 years ago, but it has much better manners. It's a great cruiser and drives so well. I'm thinking it needs a twin exhaust now though. 🤣 Also, I'm using an app to track my fuel usage. So far, on the minimal data I have , the average on the 185kw 5 speed is 13.37L/100km. Keep it up with the videos 😁
thats it mate its the drive and sound.. just make the car feel special.. don't need crazy speed to have fun just let that V8 sing and drop the windows :p
Love it brings back the memories! Love the sound of the Windsor. Should never have sold mine back in 2018, who would've known they would triple in value!
Probably my favorite. Although I do have the FG R-spec Pursuit Ltd I also have 2 AU XR8 utes (both manual) in this colour (Galaxy Blue). I also have an XR6 ute but hey... not the same. I also have a matching trailer with tool box & electric brakes. I just love the look of the AU XR8 ute & the way they 'feel' & look inside just has soul.. personality.. something. Great utes. Can't wait to show them off once they're painted & 'finished'.
Thanks for sharing! got to agree with the soul aspect and character.. i think thats why so many people love them because they are different :) ps love the Rspec pursuit👌
@@fredfungalspore depends on condition & seller I guess. They sell for more than BA's now & the AU XR's are appreciating in line with their growing popularity. Mine only has 147K km & runs mint but paint has faded all over. I was going to paint & turbo it but have too many other commitments now.
Good review ,I liked them from day one only in xr not std and they have a big following now ,i race one 185 kw chipped and thats it and she is so reliable and strong under some good thrashings and street circuits :)
I had 1.3m km on my AUII Fairlane and sold it running with no faults (cost a bomb in maintenance over the years I had it though). They really were well engineered and some of the best Aussie made cars! Would love to see a review on a TL50 but they are almost impossible to find now.
1.3 mill! God damn!😂 nice work keeping her going that long.. would kill to get a TL50 but I think there was only like 20 or 30 made? Is that correct 😅 was some insanely low number can’t remeber
@@RossReviewsau I think it depends on the series you're looking at. FTE made a few of the T1's but the T3 is the desirable 250KW version. From memory, they only sold a number of those (single digit) so would be extremely rare yes!
Theres a T Series club online that covers the te50, ts50, tl50 and pursuit 250 registry and details of each car, wouldn't have a problem test driving one of the members TL50, the T1 and T2 TL50 numbers low but available, the most rare is the T3 TL50, only 3 made! They would get you into a T3 TL i reckon....... Theres a silver series 1 TL50 on gumtree on lpg! Has been trying to sell it for 4 yrs.
Great review Jono! Even though I said last night I'd tune in for the live viewing, life got in the way, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. That particular example is a credit to the owner, its been wonderfully looked after. Not everyone is a fan of the AU, but give them a choice between a forte and a XR? Pretty sure XR's will triumph! Cheers for sharing mate.... Leafs
@@RossReviewsau I worked in a dealership many moons ago, and had access to whatever we wanted to take home for the night, and for some reason always took home a bog stock XLS cab,chassis 5 litre, 5 speed manual ute! Until some lucky barstard took it home! Good times had by all, and many great wishes to our beloved teams!
Good honest review👍. The exhaust has a nice bark & note to it. I don't mind the Quad lights on the AU ute, it looks better than a stock AU. I might be a little biased too, because my first car, a Ford laser tx3 had Quad headlights & I like the Celica GT-Four also.
If the front end of the AU was better designed it would have been a winner in it's day. The whole design is actually quite reasonable when you take the time to ponder it. But the legacy of the AU is in it's front end more specifically the lights, not in it's rear or any other aspect of the design. The front end can be made to look good (TE50 kit for example) but ultimately if the base model is not pleasing to the eye, the car's reputation is gonna suffer. It didn't help that at the time the VT Commy was cruising around, which I admit is a comparatively great design. I still love my AU though!
completely agree the AU was the best falcon out at the time and was superior to the Commodore i feel.. its just the weird design they went with.. really hurt peoples opinions on it straight away.. n to be fair it wasnt much to look at but mate it drove well
I’m the lucky one who recently bought 2010 FG Falcon XR8 Ute, it’s got purple vinyl wrap which is done by the previous owner, it’s only travelled 83k odometer so far and I’m very enjoyed driving it daily, yes the gas price today is crazy but still like to drive it everyday to work, I have to say this is a great car built in this country but a few disappointed things I would like to say, the engine is boss 290 5.4L NA but it DOES NOT make you feel it’s a fast and powerful car, acceleration is bit of slow to its stock power, I have to smash down to the gas paddle every time but it still feel bit of slow, second thing I would say is the sound and exhaust is very Quiet, again it doesn’t make you feel that you are driving a big V8. I guess I am used to it since I bought it. You a lot of attention and appreciation from other people when I behind the traffic light 😂 but again to my opinion I would say it should come more aggressive for car like that, especially the engine name is called Boss 290 you know. But overall it’s a lovely car to drive and it’s very reliable.
I live in Europe and Australian cars were always a bit of a mystery to me. This is the first time I'm seeing this AU XR8. It looks truly unique. I could imagine it rolling in the streets of Europe, it would be a real head-turner. Great video.
I have a AU 2002 Series 2 XR8 in Congo Green just ticked over 102,000 kms. I' ve had it 6.5 yrs and had 78,000 when i bought it off a cool older dude who was about 74 yrs old then, awesome car. Only mod i've done is after market extractors and exhaust other than that the thing is stock.
I used to own one of these in the exact same colour. I fitted a powerdyne supercharger, bigger injectors, fuel pump, water/methanol spray, extractors and exhaust with an SCT Flash tune. It certainly woke the lil Windsor up! It wasn't crazy power (around 250kw at the wheels), but fark it was fun to drive! Hell dangerous in the wet around corners!
@Some One 7lb pulley - low boost as the internals were standard (keep it safe for a daily driver). The 5ltr Windsor just isn't a powerful engine (we just saw Ross get 0-100 in 8 seconds - my wife's camry could get that lol). The torque is what makes it fun.
@@RossReviewsauI have a 2018 Jeep SRT 6.4ltr Hemi. You should do a review on one - best daily driver I've ever driven. It will put a grin on your face - trust me.
@@RossReviewsau just watched it! The ultimate dad car haha. Crazy power! The Jeep Cherokee SRT (naturally aspirated 6.4ltr) is super fun to drive and has plenty of power - I can get 0-100 in 4.2 secs! That's factory standard! Most of all, it is a great daily driver and when driven sensibly, I can get an average 14ltr per 100km. Love your reviews bro - keep them coming!
There's a few AU utes I have seen over the years with Fairlane front clips on also fitted with Fairlane wood trim and clock cluster must have had a Fairlane donor..
Very Nice Video showing the good and bad points of the AU, I have the exact model you were driving in the video. Just under curiosity, what exhaust system is installed on that bad boy? That system gives it a nice note.
Great one Johnny,sounds great goes pretty good & in mint condition & they go forever,but I still don't like their look lol,but I will say the front end on the Ute looks more suited than on the sedan as you've stated,each to their own but the best looking later model Fords in my opinion is the BF & FG MK1,Mk2 still nice but a bigger bottom grille full of plastic,FGX looks like a platypus front on lol,don't get me wrong though I'd own a turbo sprint tomorrow if I could & you're killing it mate best show on the net buddy.
great vid Ross! great car! It was actually all Aussie which is great. I also laugh at the ba fans because the pilers, windows and doors are the same lol and the 5.o litre sounds unreal! the AU has certainly agre the best imo. thanks again for the vid mate.
I'm a Holden Man but i don't care what anyone says i like the AU & it's front end and yes your right it was ahead of its time even graig Lowndes said the same some years back, my only grumble is ford fucked up getting rid of the Cleveland and yes i no but im just a Cleveland 4V HEAD lover when it comes to ford power. Did you visit brockys memorial while you where out there and the actual crash site, i was out there just two weekends ago with my neighbor for a visit while visiting a friend. I recognized two water tanks where you parked and some other markers. Nice road A MATE. Hope im right. It was giggi yeah. 😎👍😁✌👊🇦🇺
hey mate too right! we pass brockies memorial almost every review.. my fav road to take the cars up in giggi.. the au is great country cruiser i enjoyed it a lot
I have a series 3 xr8 sedan in an auto. I have personally done the 0 to 100km it does do it as ford have claimed in 6 and half seconds. The utes have traction issues due to the leaf suspension setup. Great video buy the way. 👍
Here in Sydney and regional NSW you don't see many equivalent VT/VX Commodore on the road but still heaps of AU Falcon (I, II & III) still on the road doing there thing, overall the AU Falcon was the better of the two in the long term but that has always been the case with Falcon since the at least XE Falcon of 1982 onwards over the now decades even with the FG and FGX (due to Police force in each state/territory).
the AU was just ahead of its time.. was easily the best falcon upon release! but just that front end design messed it up for them... thats why them AU falcons are still running because they were super reliable and loved the aussie roads
I've got an el Fairmont Ghia with a 5 L only 173000km on her. Full stainless steel from headers...... U can't beat the throaty sound they put out a real head turner....
Au xr models look great still i personally luv the look of em.and there comfortable ive owned one in ute form.my drive now is fgx xr6 turbo ute but still luv the look oof these things
I had an XR8, zero issues in 5 years before I sold it. Other than some Koni's it did everything very well. It handled insane. Sure power was very mild but the little Windsor with not much effort can be a mighty mouse. They should always wear a girdle. I have a BA GT now but I've considered getting an AU V8 ute as a driver.
My Utes a 2001 AU XR8 stoked to a 347 cammed and running a vortec supercharger at 7psi Little more than 200kw haha Oh and full T series seats interior/momo wheel/knob etc
Never had thought the AU was ugly myself, have liked them since i first saw them. First time i was in one, was a series 2 or 3 AU Futura sedan a relative of mine had 20 years back. Then in about 2009 or so i think, one of my cousins had a red AU XR8 ute, not sure what series it was but went for a run in it one day with him, and it certainly was a good time that day. So yes, some might not like the look of it as much, but i've always thought it's a nice one. And this ute certainly is a nice one as well.
fair call my friend.. seems to be very 50/50 on the looks either people love them or hate them.. i can def appreciate this ute tho in how well its been cared for and loved.. fantastic driving car
Neat vid! Love an AU. I have an AU ute that I've turned into a police divvy, sillitoe down the side, 4 external cameras, lights, sirens, gadgets, laptop inside, painted a lot of it gloss black too :) Falcon_147 for the full build. Keep doing vids mate!
Do people actually find the AUs ugly other than series 1 forte? I think the xr's look super tough. Xr8 trayback utes look awesome. The interior is a bit lame that's all. In my opinion the VT looks like a big ugly bubble.
I liked the Tickford pack Fairmont Ghia too, they looked nice. Just the dash layout and materials on the AU were crap, I'd say a step backwards from the e series.
damn!!! i was really hopeful of my Au xr8 ute filling the slot as the first of this model to get reviewed on here... :-( Mr Reviews when are you looking to do some reviews in the eastern states if at all? i had been contemplating getting a small group of friends together whom are interested in having you review their rides. Those of whom that are also partial to the notion of throwing in on a sort of support package type scenario that could possibly eliminate or at least help to alleviate the bulk of the expense of your travel and stay were you to actually visit us in our town. Regardless of weather said support is in the form of a direct input toward the total expenses of your stay or even an offer of personal support to provide accommodate to you for the duration of your stay completely free from any charge, or even the possibility that one could be very capable of supplying you with some mode of transportation for you to use as your wheels during your visit. Either way I know that id be able to get the guys/girls with the right connections and understanding attitudes on board with it in order to make it all happen. Question is however is this something you would be open to? Regards Jayp.
@@RossReviewsau yeah my mate just recently bought a T2 TE50 in black has a mild Cam in it we think but omg 🤤🤤 it is just so sexy and goes so hard for what it is can’t get enough of it😂
gotta love the sound of a Winsor 'Baby 8' On start up owned mine since 2012 bought it with 104ks currently on just under 130ks yep i dont drive it much, only regret is it didnt recieve the 220kw like the sedans got, Oh well 200kw isnt to bad i guess.
They already fetching some good coin these days. Not many AU XR8's selling under 10k now and they're only going up too. The funny thing is the AU in general will become a collectors item in years to come. The very left wing abstract approach Ford took that made everyone hate the model is the same reason everyone wants them now. They definitely aged gracefully and these days i'm so happy Ford actually released this model, when back in the day i hated the fact lol.
@@RossReviewsau Wouldn't surprise me mate. Their value has shot up through the roof in recent years. There is a mechanical joint down the road from my place, who had one parked on the road for about 5 years, solely to advertise his business. He's only just moved it, from the road to behind the gates about 6 months ago... Another ten years and people will be wanting them like the old GT's
It's mainly that they actually handle pretty well and the build quality is quite far ahead of the B series. The ones with the 5.6 are really when they got everything right, fluid body kit, good power ect
I actually loved the look of the au xr8 as a kid. Loved that twin headlight look
you either loved it or hated it eh haha
Twin headlight and grill has a bit of Escort RS2000 about it. 👍
Same here. And I’m not a Ford guy. Was a Nissan guy as a kid.
au is a pos, worst car ever made its what killed the falcon
I absolutely love the front end too, it’s very different and unique
Funny how the VT looked so much better in 1998, yet in 2021 I think the AU has aged better?
HAHA your probably right.. it is crazy how time changes and so do are perceptions of what looks good
Yeah funny how the base model VT Commodores look like crap now. Although the VT Monaro is timeless.
nope i still think au xr6 and xr8 are the only decent lookers in the line up au still looks bad .... better after a few beers lol
Absolutely. VTs are as boring as bat shit. Don't see many now as most have been destroyed by housing commission bogans.
@@SassyXR6007 ...."Housos"....😅👍
Who cares what it looks like when it sounds like that. These videos keep on getting better top work fella.
thanks mike! got a great couple of reviews lined up next week so lots of content coming!
Good reply nolzy!
Old mate that put the dislike in has no money to buy one lol
always has to be one eh...
Thanks for a great review on it. My AU2 XR8 is certainly my favourite and still going strong at 312,000km. She's only the 4 speed auto but got me to and from work for 7 years doing a 200km a day round trip, and comfortable too. I miss her, she's having a rest but will be back on the road later this year for her 20th anniversary. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for sharing thats awesome to hear! they are such reliable cars.. just seem to love eating up them KMs on the good old aussie roads!
This was a Nice surprise to wake up to. Again thanks for the shout out for patron. Nice car, This is actually my favorite front end of the AU Falcon. Always liked the Double headlights on the XR models. Even more so then the front lights of the Tick ford TS50.
mate i love the TE and TS headlights the quad XR8 ones.. i dont mind it on the ute.. but on the sedan i much prefer the TE TS style.. but have to admit the AUs were a bloody good car especially for back in the day
Another good one mate. You know I must have been the only one who thought these things looked good back in the day. You got another thumbs up from me ...
thanks mate! by the comments you are not the only one by a long shot haha.. lots of luv for the AU today :)
no way thr only one. they look great! the headlights look tuff as and the triangle tail lights look the part.
I have a series 3 XR8 ute and can't get enough of it. Currently going through a restoration because it deserves to be returned to its former glory. They're amazing cars and they really did have the best combination of engine, suspension and braking by the time they were retired
Good work mate glad you’re taking the time and money to bring it back to former glory.. they are worth it to bring back to scratch🇦🇺👌 great all round cruiser
Thanks to the owner for letting Ross Reviews sharing it ! Nice fun Ute to drive !
for sure.. it was his baby so felt privileged to take it out and share it with all of you
The AU design really grew on me! I love the arc of the boot with those triangular taillights at each end! The contemporary VT/VX Commodores look dated and bloated to me. Id defo say yes to an AU series III XR6!
i really want to try a AU XR6 now haha.. lets hope i can find a clean one
@@RossReviewsau The big AU can lift its skirt and make light work of the twisty stuff! ruclips.net/video/VU7Sm4fFcao/видео.html Keep up the good work Rosco!
I have both Utes....s2 xr8 auto......s3 xr6 vct manual.......I think pound for pound the xr6 is better and sounds great......but the v8 just turns more heads, especially when you kick it over,and it's more fun to drive,and the sound of it idling is music to my ears.....the v8 is 10/10 for fun.....and the xr6 10/10 for performance and economy....both sound amazingly great....
@@thylacine1004 Nice one! The AUs have character! Something sorely lacking in most cars these days.
@@thylacine1004 keen to try a XR6 AU... gotta love that V8 sound tho eh
Definitely one of my favourite falcons of all had four of them and the best part is still have two of the AUs ones a 2002 series 3 wagon on factory gas and the other is a 2002 AU ford falcon sedan that was a Ex Vicpol car definitely goes hard with the LSD differential
nice work mate.. they seem to just keep going and going eh these AUs just love tackling them kms
great video! Never realised how iconic the falcon was as a muscle car here in Aus, until now. Now with the inflated used car market, these are becoming collectors items. That white one at 6:51, was actually 20min from my house here in Melb. I looked at it in person, and told the owner I'd need time to think about it. 2 weeks later, he sold it to someone else. They dont make v8 sedans or utes like these anymore!
Glad you liked it! they really dont make em like this anymore.. the AU is just godly for its ability to just keep going and going.. they never die
I never understood why people didn’t like the front end. I always liked the generic AU and this one with the 4 eyes. Looks cool to me.
Each to their own bro 😂 I’m turned off from it I think because of the Ford Taurus we had growing up in Canada 💀 horrible looking car had similar 4 eyed headlight design
Me too brother Oo===oO
Good review. AU's were underrated for an an family Aussie sedan and price point. Yes AU stands for Australia. They are becoming collector/desirable for good examples - not P plater skid pigs that unfortunately have been wrecked by kids.
great cars that seem to just keep going and going! can fully see them becoming collector cars very soon
The AU , and yes I do own one for coming up on 18 years is ridiculously reliable , It's that good . I would pretty confidently say that there would be more AU's plying the roads for it's age than any other car bar none . They are literally everywhere , And they are very loved by anybody who knows them . My series 2 Futura with the all black interior except the headlining of course still looks good , bloody comfortable and rides beautifully on pretty much any road . She needs a paint job because the Liquid Silver has faded somewhat in recent years but everything works . The SOHC Intech 4.0 inline 6 has tons of pull and the BTR Auto never does anything wrong . I did take out the factory Radio /CD and put in an aftermarket one with USB for devices but that's about it for mods . She's got the classy 18 spoke factory alloys and the spare is exactly the same ..And I do love the look of the AU and they have aged rather well in my humble opinion ...Great review as always ...keep them coming .. See if you can get hold of a AU Fairmont Ghia ...They are really nice ..
i would say your right.. you still see AU work horses all around the job sites getting shit done! lol they love to eat up them kms
Good percentages old old Toyotas still running too of course too. For people who can no longer afford the venerable old AU series. Try the wagon and ute versions of the BA and BF, they have similar durability and are still cheapish.
Hi, enjoying the AU reviews. Sold my Series 2 XR8 manual ute to my neighbor in 2016 when i bought a BF F6 auto ute, i bought the AU back 18 months later for $1500 less and sold the F6. The AU handled better (same kms) than the F6 which surprised me. F6 is way quicker but i preferred the old school feel of the V8 and manual.
there is something special about a good old V8 (the noise especially) i can fully understand your point
Love the S1 lip on the S2 front bar. Nice one Johnny
thanks mate.. glad you enjoyed it :)
Great video Ross. 👍 I picked up a totally stock series 1 XR8 ute with 5 speed manual in Silhouette black about a month ago. It's not as quick as the warmed over 302 Cleveland (1978 XC engine) I had 20 years ago, but it has much better manners. It's a great cruiser and drives so well. I'm thinking it needs a twin exhaust now though. 🤣 Also, I'm using an app to track my fuel usage. So far, on the minimal data I have , the average on the 185kw 5 speed is 13.37L/100km. Keep it up with the videos 😁
thanks for sharing your story! totally agree they are fantastic cruisers.. (def go a set of twin exhaust pipes :p)
ive got the series 3 sedan version ...it aint pretty or that fast but the sound fro the little Windsor is nuts ...cant wait for this one mate
thats it mate its the drive and sound.. just make the car feel special.. don't need crazy speed to have fun just let that V8 sing and drop the windows :p
Love it brings back the memories! Love the sound of the Windsor. Should never have sold mine back in 2018, who would've known they would triple in value!
Glad you enjoyed it.. i know right who would have guessed a triple increase lol great cars
Probably my favorite. Although I do have the FG R-spec Pursuit Ltd I also have 2 AU XR8 utes (both manual) in this colour (Galaxy Blue). I also have an XR6 ute but hey... not the same.
I also have a matching trailer with tool box & electric brakes.
I just love the look of the AU XR8 ute & the way they 'feel' & look inside just has soul.. personality.. something.
Great utes. Can't wait to show them off once they're painted & 'finished'.
Thanks for sharing! got to agree with the soul aspect and character.. i think thats why so many people love them because they are different :) ps love the Rspec pursuit👌
What do you pay for a good au XR6 ute now I'm looking
@@fredfungalspore depends on condition & seller I guess. They sell for more than BA's now & the AU XR's are appreciating in line with their growing popularity.
Mine only has 147K km & runs mint but paint has faded all over. I was going to paint & turbo it but have too many other commitments now.
@@fredfungalspore depends how lucky you are lol id say 3-5k hard to find a ute tho
Good review ,I liked them from day one only in xr not std and they have a big following now ,i race one 185 kw chipped and thats it and she is so reliable and strong under some good thrashings and street circuits :)
they seem that way eh.. you can just hammer them and they just keep going and going..
Ummm what. I literally had a dream last night that you reviewed this and here we are
Today 3pm!!! 😂👌 your a mind reader mate🔮
Hahahah love ur vids man
I had 1.3m km on my AUII Fairlane and sold it running with no faults (cost a bomb in maintenance over the years I had it though). They really were well engineered and some of the best Aussie made cars!
Would love to see a review on a TL50 but they are almost impossible to find now.
1.3 mill! God damn!😂 nice work keeping her going that long..
would kill to get a TL50 but I think there was only like 20 or 30 made? Is that correct 😅 was some insanely low number can’t remeber
@@RossReviewsau I think it depends on the series you're looking at. FTE made a few of the T1's but the T3 is the desirable 250KW version. From memory, they only sold a number of those (single digit) so would be extremely rare yes!
Theres a T Series club online that covers the te50, ts50, tl50 and pursuit 250 registry and details of each car, wouldn't have a problem test driving one of the members TL50, the T1 and T2 TL50 numbers low but available, the most rare is the T3 TL50, only 3 made! They would get you into a T3 TL i reckon....... Theres a silver series 1 TL50 on gumtree on lpg! Has been trying to sell it for 4 yrs.
Love our Au3 Xr8 Manual ute, great review! 👍
Good choice!
Great review Jono! Even though I said last night I'd tune in for the live viewing, life got in the way, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. That particular example is a credit to the owner, its been wonderfully looked after. Not everyone is a fan of the AU, but give them a choice between a forte and a XR? Pretty sure XR's will triumph!
Cheers for sharing mate.... Leafs
gald you enjoyed it mate.. yeh XR def looked better still not a huge fan of the sedan tho the T series was HOT! GO SENS GO lol
@@RossReviewsau I worked in a dealership many moons ago, and had access to whatever we wanted to take home for the night, and for some reason always took home a bog stock XLS cab,chassis 5 litre, 5 speed manual ute! Until some lucky barstard took it home!
Good times had by all, and many great wishes to our beloved teams!
@@Brendan.Wheatley that would be one awesome perk of the job! haha.. great while it lasted eh.. gotta love a V8 manual ute
i HATED the look of the au when it first came out but they've really grown on me
agreed they do slowly start to look better and better eh haha..
Anything other than the XRs in that range still give me the hives...
One of my favourite videos that you've uploaded. The sound of that Windsor is so good. Keeping my eye out for one in New Zealand. Cheers Ross
Good honest review👍. The exhaust has a nice bark & note to it. I don't mind the Quad lights on the AU ute, it looks better than a stock AU. I might be a little biased too, because my first car, a Ford laser tx3 had Quad headlights & I like the Celica GT-Four also.
Glad you enjoyed it mate was a good ute 🇦🇺🤙
I got a 220 KW x cop car with a calibratable speedo dash, not the XR dash.
Good torquey motor its waiting for a nice cam and a tidy up.
I like it.
@Some One = Still runs.
Sounds great!
If the front end of the AU was better designed it would have been a winner in it's day. The whole design is actually quite reasonable when you take the time to ponder it. But the legacy of the AU is in it's front end more specifically the lights, not in it's rear or any other aspect of the design. The front end can be made to look good (TE50 kit for example) but ultimately if the base model is not pleasing to the eye, the car's reputation is gonna suffer. It didn't help that at the time the VT Commy was cruising around, which I admit is a comparatively great design. I still love my AU though!
completely agree the AU was the best falcon out at the time and was superior to the Commodore i feel.. its just the weird design they went with.. really hurt peoples opinions on it straight away.. n to be fair it wasnt much to look at but mate it drove well
COMING NEXT: Au 6 cyl wIth original plastic wheel covers and 215s!!
haha HELL YES IM KEEN!
I’m the lucky one who recently bought 2010 FG Falcon XR8 Ute, it’s got purple vinyl wrap which is done by the previous owner, it’s only travelled 83k odometer so far and I’m very enjoyed driving it daily, yes the gas price today is crazy but still like to drive it everyday to work, I have to say this is a great car built in this country but a few disappointed things I would like to say, the engine is boss 290 5.4L NA but it DOES NOT make you feel it’s a fast and powerful car, acceleration is bit of slow to its stock power, I have to smash down to the gas paddle every time but it still feel bit of slow, second thing I would say is the sound and exhaust is very Quiet, again it doesn’t make you feel that you are driving a big V8. I guess I am used to it since I bought it. You a lot of attention and appreciation from other people when I behind the traffic light 😂 but again to my opinion I would say it should come more aggressive for car like that, especially the engine name is called Boss 290 you know. But overall it’s a lovely car to drive and it’s very reliable.
Great review johnny👍 the AU XR model's are awesome in my opinion but surely it will do 7s my old EB XR6 does it in 7.8 seconds
im sure we could push it more.. but manual and on a back road so its def not ideal conditions lol.. she aint the fastest but was still a load of fun
@@RossReviewsau it sounds pretty good too m8 but yeah you dont want to push it too hard when your not the owner lol
@@ls1hinchy546 100% i could tell it was his baby
I live in Europe and Australian cars were always a bit of a mystery to me. This is the first time I'm seeing this AU XR8. It looks truly unique. I could imagine it rolling in the streets of Europe, it would be a real head-turner. Great video.
so glad your enjoying the Aussie content.. the cars here are so weird and wonderfull!
I have a AU 2002 Series 2 XR8 in Congo Green just ticked over 102,000 kms. I' ve had it 6.5 yrs and had 78,000 when i bought it off a cool older dude who was about 74 yrs old then, awesome car. Only mod i've done is after market extractors and exhaust other than that the thing is stock.
Thanks for sharing sounds like a great example you got!
You should review a FPV F6X
ive been so keen! very hard to find!
I used to own one of these in the exact same colour. I fitted a powerdyne supercharger, bigger injectors, fuel pump, water/methanol spray, extractors and exhaust with an SCT Flash tune. It certainly woke the lil Windsor up! It wasn't crazy power (around 250kw at the wheels), but fark it was fun to drive! Hell dangerous in the wet around corners!
would love to review a modified one to see how well they go opened up! lets hope one day
@Some One 7lb pulley - low boost as the internals were standard (keep it safe for a daily driver). The 5ltr Windsor just isn't a powerful engine (we just saw Ross get 0-100 in 8 seconds - my wife's camry could get that lol). The torque is what makes it fun.
@@RossReviewsauI have a 2018 Jeep SRT 6.4ltr Hemi. You should do a review on one - best daily driver I've ever driven. It will put a grin on your face - trust me.
@@MrHeath1971 ive reviewed a track hawk! was honestly one of the best cars ive driven..
@@RossReviewsau just watched it! The ultimate dad car haha. Crazy power! The Jeep Cherokee SRT (naturally aspirated 6.4ltr) is super fun to drive and has plenty of power - I can get 0-100 in 4.2 secs! That's factory standard! Most of all, it is a great daily driver and when driven sensibly, I can get an average 14ltr per 100km. Love your reviews bro - keep them coming!
Imagine if the pursuit Ute 250 got the T3 front 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
Thank god it didn’t. If it had I wouldn’t have bought mine
@@craiggarside7878 I would have
i reckon it would have looked cool AF! haha im a huge fan of the TE TS50!
There's a few AU utes I have seen over the years with Fairlane front clips on also fitted with Fairlane wood trim and clock cluster must have had a Fairlane donor..
A good example of not judging a book by its cover.
100% the looks had me going meh.. the drive had me smiling the whole time :)
Very Nice Video showing the good and bad points of the AU, I have the exact model you were driving in the video.
Just under curiosity, what exhaust system is installed on that bad boy? That system gives it a nice note.
Thanks mate glad you enjoyed it.. I’m not sure sorry tho I think the owner answered in one of the comments already
Great one Johnny,sounds great goes pretty good & in mint condition & they go forever,but I still don't like their look lol,but I will say the front end on the Ute looks more suited than on the sedan as you've stated,each to their own but the best looking later model Fords in my opinion is the BF & FG MK1,Mk2 still nice but a bigger bottom grille full of plastic,FGX looks like a platypus front on lol,don't get me wrong though I'd own a turbo sprint tomorrow if I could & you're killing it mate best show on the net buddy.
thanks Pete! appreciate all the support.. gotta love a BF ;)
You still gotta try an Au tickford v6 they just seem to deliver extra power at 4 grande revs, they are very fun to throw around.
you dont say.. well if anyones got one im keen to see :)
V6 Ford damn what engine is it
@@angus823 haha true i'm sure he meant 6cyl
@@angus823 inline 6 sorry whoopsie
Sohc vct
love it mate.. got a black one myself on the build.....
Love em
Can you try to get au1 xr8 sedan. Wanna see if it’s worth it for me because I want it on my p’s. in nsw we have limits. Au1 only has 185kw
will do my best to find one mate.. always keen on a AU
great vid Ross!
great car! It was actually all Aussie which is great. I also laugh at the ba fans because the pilers, windows and doors are the same lol and the 5.o litre sounds unreal! the AU has certainly agre the best imo. thanks again for the vid mate.
The XR Ute def looks good now more so than ever before I think 🔥
I'm a Holden Man but i don't care what anyone says i like the AU & it's front end and yes your right it was ahead of its time even graig Lowndes said the same some years back, my only grumble is ford fucked up getting rid of the Cleveland and yes i no but im just a Cleveland 4V HEAD lover when it comes to ford power.
Did you visit brockys memorial while you where out there and the actual crash site, i was out there just two weekends ago with my neighbor for a visit while visiting a friend. I recognized two water tanks where you parked and some other markers. Nice road A MATE.
Hope im right. It was giggi yeah.
😎👍😁✌👊🇦🇺
hey mate too right! we pass brockies memorial almost every review.. my fav road to take the cars up in giggi.. the au is great country cruiser i enjoyed it a lot
@@RossReviewsau
👍😁👊
@@RossReviewsau
R.I.P Peter Brock ⚰🚘🇦🇺
@@RossReviewsau Midland Mitsubishi /2012 FG ford pursuit 315 ute with mods over 600hp, Black with Red highlights $79.990.
Looks yummy 😎👍😁
Man , had my chances to buy one but never pulled the trigger 😱Kicking myself. Nice review bro.
would have been a great thing to buy when they were like $1000 HAHA
Best looking au by far imo love these utes. And the Ford 5ltr engines sound so good
Glad you like them! love that windsor V8 sound
I still love the front of these, ever since I seen the VT and AU on the Need for Speed High Stakes game on PS1
Its grown on me eu
I have a series 3 xr8 sedan in an auto. I have personally done the 0 to 100km it does do it as ford have claimed in 6 and half seconds. The utes have traction issues due to the leaf suspension setup. Great video buy the way. 👍
glad you enjoyed it mate! gotta love an AU
GODDDDDDDDD THE XR8 SOUNDS SOOO GOOD I HAVE A RED XR6 CAN NOT WAIT TO BE 18 TO DRIVE IT
haha! great stuff mate! you will be driving her in no time :)
Nice one , my XR auto 4 speed works for a living, hasn't missed a beat in about 5 years great tow truck 285000 km no sign of giving up yet,..
the AUs love it.. they have sold me i want one lol
I've got an all original au xr6 tickford with only 119.000ks in really good condition in white what you reckon could sell it for sedan
Here in Sydney and regional NSW you don't see many equivalent VT/VX Commodore on the road but still heaps of AU Falcon (I, II & III) still on the road doing there thing, overall the AU Falcon was the better of the two in the long term but that has always been the case with Falcon since the at least XE Falcon of 1982 onwards over the now decades even with the FG and FGX (due to Police force in each state/territory).
the AU was just ahead of its time.. was easily the best falcon upon release! but just that front end design messed it up for them... thats why them AU falcons are still running because they were super reliable and loved the aussie roads
The xr Au falcons always look great even back when they come out in my opinion
it seems to be a love or hate haha.. great utes tho no doubt
I've got an el Fairmont Ghia with a 5 L only 173000km on her.
Full stainless steel from headers......
U can't beat the throaty sound they put out a real head turner....
nice work mate.. sounds like a beauty
@@RossReviewsau that she is!! Lives under a car cover atm because I'm worried about it being stolen although it's locked up in my garage 😪🙄🙄
Great review dude. Makes me appreciate the XR8 AU more.
up the AU mate
Love both my AU's. Great video Ross.
Right on! glad you enjoyed it mate
Au xr models look great still i personally luv the look of em.and there comfortable ive owned one in ute form.my drive now is fgx xr6 turbo ute but still luv the look oof these things
Right on gotta love a Barra.. but for a V8 the windsor was a really nice driver!
just look at the new Mercs, they finally caught up in design and have same body shape.
I had an XR8, zero issues in 5 years before I sold it. Other than some Koni's it did everything very well. It handled insane. Sure power was very mild but the little Windsor with not much effort can be a mighty mouse. They should always wear a girdle. I have a BA GT now but I've considered getting an AU V8 ute as a driver.
they are just great fun eh.. not stupid fast but who cares when they sound this good
My Utes a 2001 AU XR8 stoked to a 347 cammed and running a vortec supercharger at 7psi
Little more than 200kw haha
Oh and full T series seats interior/momo wheel/knob etc
thats epic!
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it mate :)
Such a cult car.. I agree that s2 utes should have had the 220.. great review on a even better ford.. I believe they haven’t hit there peak yet..
really should have got the 220kw engine like the sedan.. but oh well still a great ute and drove brilliantly
Never had thought the AU was ugly myself, have liked them since i first saw them. First time i was in one, was a series 2 or 3 AU Futura sedan a relative of mine had 20 years back. Then in about 2009 or so i think, one of my cousins had a red AU XR8 ute, not sure what series it was but went for a run in it one day with him, and it certainly was a good time that day. So yes, some might not like the look of it as much, but i've always thought it's a nice one. And this ute certainly is a nice one as well.
fair call my friend.. seems to be very 50/50 on the looks either people love them or hate them.. i can def appreciate this ute tho in how well its been cared for and loved.. fantastic driving car
fun fact these r p plate legal in nsw
great!
What do ya rekon Ross, sound and performance wise? Your old ute or this one?
i reckon my old ute would have it but not by much lol.. the one thing that stood out better on the AU tho was the handling
Neat vid! Love an AU. I have an AU ute that I've turned into a police divvy, sillitoe down the side, 4 external cameras, lights, sirens, gadgets, laptop inside, painted a lot of it gloss black too :) Falcon_147 for the full build. Keep doing vids mate!
thats awesome mate.. haha glad you enjoyed the vid :)
the Tickford and XR AUs looked great
love them eh
Does that have the GT40P heads
not sure sorry
Do people actually find the AUs ugly other than series 1 forte?
I think the xr's look super tough. Xr8 trayback utes look awesome. The interior is a bit lame that's all.
In my opinion the VT looks like a big ugly bubble.
I agree bud :)
I liked the Tickford pack Fairmont Ghia too, they looked nice. Just the dash layout and materials on the AU were crap, I'd say a step backwards from the e series.
i dont really like the sedans.. but the TE and TS50 i REALLY LOVE
What day was this vid shot?
oh man no idea lol was a good 3 weeks ago maybe 4
Dude my dad loves au’s he’s always looking for More
Good stuff mate.. they are great vehicles n those that love the looks really seem to want more and more 😂
You need to review the 250 pursuit Ute
I know I had one lined up but unfortunately it sold before I could get to it
got my 2000 model au xr8 ute, manual for $4000 in great condition not a scratch on it in january 2020 just before covid took off
very nice buy mate!
damn!!! i was really hopeful of my Au xr8 ute filling the slot as the first of this model to get reviewed on here... :-( Mr Reviews when are you looking to do some reviews in the eastern states if at all? i had been contemplating getting a small group of friends together whom are interested in having you review their rides. Those of whom that are also partial to the notion of throwing in on a sort of support package type scenario that could possibly eliminate or at least help to alleviate the bulk of the expense of your travel and stay were you to actually visit us in our town. Regardless of weather said support is in the form of a direct input toward the total expenses of your stay or even an offer of personal support to provide accommodate to you for the duration of your stay completely free from any charge, or even the possibility that one could be very capable of supplying you with some mode of transportation for you to use as your wheels during your visit. Either way I know that id be able to get the guys/girls with the right connections and understanding attitudes on board with it in order to make it all happen. Question is however is this something you would be open to?
Regards Jayp.
mate that sounds very kind :) are you able to message me on FB or insta? would love to talk more about some of the cars we could possibly line up
I loved how the tick fords you reviewed looked, tbh im the same, I prefer the standard au look over the XR kit
love these AUs
Great vid as always, up the au
Glad you enjoyed it
Here in Auckland where I'm from mate when that Falcon AU XR8 drive pass on the street the oldies be like yeah bro mean car brother
thats mean🤣. up the AU brotha.. i used to live in Auckland before moving to perth.. love NZ
According to Wheels magazine back when the AU was released, the original AU design by Ford Aus was a stunner before Ford USA got involved!
This was a universal look for tried to do.. very similar to the US Taurus
Swapped a shitty magna and $4500 to get a series 3 ute in great condition 2 years ago. Got it cammed, new exhaust and i fucking love it!
worth every penny mate! great utes
I always liked the XR front , but always disliked the rear of the sedans . And the dash was a shocker with that big circle in the middle
yeh was never a fan of the sedans.. the utes look much better
Au means gold in the periodic table
shes pure gold mate
Try to get a EB/ED xr8 to review
cheers mate will hope someone contacts me with one
Pretty good fuel economy on the freeway. Not so much around town.
I get 800kms out of every tank 99% freeway at 110kmh. Mines manual too
Thanks for the info
The xr models ghia models and T series models I personally think looked great
i love the T series.. some of the coolest fords i reckon
@@RossReviewsau yeah my mate just recently bought a T2 TE50 in black has a mild Cam in it we think but omg 🤤🤤 it is just so sexy and goes so hard for what it is can’t get enough of it😂
@@RossReviewsau had any luck finding a barra 220 or 230 V8?
@@boss302frostyfordfan2 no not yet..
@@boss302frostyfordfan2 hell yes nice find mate! rare cars
Ya cant spell beautiful without AU!
🇦🇺🔥
Love the sounds. Too bad you can’t drive v8 in your p plates (at least in qld)
someone was saying they are P plate legal haha.. but in WA all V8s are ;)
series 2 xr8 utes were only 185kw, it was the series 3 ute that got the 200kw
You're spot on!
wikipedia lied to me haha.. very well could have been 185kw.. tho the owner did not pick up on that either🤷♂️
Scored myself a S3 AU XR8 flat tray thanks to my dad 👍 Resto soon. She's black to
My dad was as a tradie bought his Ford au brand new in 2001 he sold in 2011 with 400000k’s great ripper of a Ute fuckin flys too
That’s epic man! Gotta admit they are freaking bullet proof eh
gotta love the sound of a Winsor 'Baby 8' On start up owned mine since 2012 bought it with 104ks currently on just under 130ks yep i dont drive it much, only regret is it didnt recieve the 220kw like the sedans got, Oh well 200kw isnt to bad i guess.
Love a good Windsor 🤌
AUII XR6 VCT's are equally as expensive right now as well.
yes they are quite desirable too..
Own a black Au2 01 xr8 ute, just wondering what exhaust set up this bloke has?
gotta love the utes eh.. im not 100% sure sounded good tho..
The dash and controls are brilliant
Au is the best ford they made
i will just say its good haha... (hhhmm Typhoon... cough)
They already fetching some good coin these days. Not many AU XR8's selling under 10k now and they're only going up too. The funny thing is the AU in general will become a collectors item in years to come. The very left wing abstract approach Ford took that made everyone hate the model is the same reason everyone wants them now. They definitely aged gracefully and these days i'm so happy Ford actually released this model, when back in the day i hated the fact lol.
when i looked before reviewing this car i couldn't find a AU XR8 for under 17k!!!
@@RossReviewsau Wouldn't surprise me mate. Their value has shot up through the roof in recent years. There is a mechanical joint down the road from my place, who had one parked on the road for about 5 years, solely to advertise his business. He's only just moved it, from the road to behind the gates about 6 months ago... Another ten years and people will be wanting them like the old GT's
@@Twenty_Six_Hundred its true man.. will be a collector car soon
It's mainly that they actually handle pretty well and the build quality is quite far ahead of the B series. The ones with the 5.6 are really when they got everything right, fluid body kit, good power ect
@@corviniago6456 agreed the handling stood out to me
What’s even more crazy is these have gotten up in value now
they have
I had a series 3 AU. Very comfy and solidly built. Just weird design. Everything was round and bubbly inside.
Correct weird looks but great car👌🇦🇺
"quite a nice AU going by" is something I never thought I would hear.
haha trust me i never expected that either lol.. but had to appreciate this one :)