AUII Fairmont Ghia Daily

gossy · 28-12-2016, 10:15 PM

G'day Ladies and Gents,

I'm a new AU convert after reading all the good about them in this forum, but really have no experience with them.

I'm after a new daily driver and was considering this:

http://www.davidsonwholesale.com.au/...edan/12485435/

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cherm...dan/1130710419

What do the experts think? Gas certificate just done, RWC and rego till March.

Are there better buys out there? I'm not in a hurry but have been looking for a few weeks now and it seems like a good deal.

Thanks in advance.

Gossy

**Cav** · 28-12-2016, 10:46 PM

I like the AUII Ghias, must be the orange blinker built into the headlights.

You need to see it of course, and check that the service book agrees with the kilometres.

It would seem a bit silly to put gas on a vehicle that does hardly any kilometres.

If it checks out OK pull out $2500 cash and do the deal.

ronwest · 28-12-2016, 10:51 PM

I had an AU3 F/Ghia for 5 years and I really liked it.

Hard on fuel around town but a great car on a trip.

I prefer the black interior to the grey but a couple of things I'd check on that one.

1. Sagging roof lining (it may have already been redone)
2. Fading paint - I can't really tell but the roof looks thin in one of the pics
3. Aftermarket head unit may mean that steering wheel buttons won't work (unless it's got a cat unit or similar).

There's a bunch of info in here regarding AUs so look at what probs peeps have had and satisfy yourself on whichever car you choose.

Good luck with it...

gossy · 29-12-2016, 12:20 PM

Just had a look at the car, pretty impressive, but as ronwest said, I prefer the black interior. So I am still on the lookout.

Now a friend mentioned why don't I get a BA/BF? Newer car and all that. I have mainly heard negative reports re: the BA/F centre bearing, diff clunk etc. I really am swayed toward the AU, but really just want a reliable daily.

Forgot to mention $5000 limit.

Cheers

gossy · 07-01-2017, 05:31 PM

Geez, how hard is it to find an AU Ghia in SE QLD?

I've narrowed my requirements down to an AUII or III with black interior, 6 cyl. Nothing around. I've been looking on Gumtree/ Carsales and eBay, anywhere else to look online?

BA/BF Ghia on the other hand, there are about 30 vehicles at the moment.
Remind me why I don't want to get a BA/BF please lads?

Cheers

.:4:. · 07-01-2017, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

Geez, how hard is it to find an AU Ghia in SE QLD?

I've narrowed my requirements down to an AUII or III with black interior, 6 cyl. Nothing around. I've been looking on Gumtree/ Carsales and eBay, anywhere else to look online?

BA/BF on the other hand, there are about 30 vehicles at the moment.
Remind me why I don't want to get a BA/BF please lads?

Cheers

Dunno. The au guys reckon the au was created by God, but I've never had any major issues in the almost 7 years with the bf ghia. Apart from both front wheel bearings (2 years of only going to the shops on a Sunday to keep it running) and the time it decided the back of the ignition barrel wasn't welcome (cable ties and electrical tape fixed that with some backyard engineering, still passes rego years later) the thing has been bulletproof. Tows like a champ, has fat guy seats, never been to the mechanics (wheel bearings were a driveway job). I reckon people buy the problems as an option when they buy a bf because so far I've never had any critical misfortunes

78xcgxl · 07-01-2017, 06:25 PM

BF ghia would be my pick. Especially the MkII ones, they look awesome. 6 speed auto and Barra makes for a far superior car over an AU any day of the week.

.:4:. · 07-01-2017, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

BF ghia would be my pick. Especially the MkII ones, they look awesome. 6 speed auto and Barra makes for a far superior car over an AU any day of the week.

Mine is an 08 mk 2. They do look the goods. Anyhow, personal preference is up to the person choosing. I'm pretty biased when it comes to the bf. I still have no time for the fg 2 the wife has.

commodorenutt · 07-01-2017, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

BF ghia would be my pick. Especially the MkII ones, they look awesome. 6 speed auto and Barra makes for a far superior car over an AU any day of the week.

They do, but I think his budget will limit the option of going this route (and getting a decent buy).

Tickford. · 08-01-2017, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

Geez, how hard is it to find an AU Ghia in SE QLD?

I've narrowed my requirements down to an AUII or III with black interior, 6 cyl. Nothing around. I've been looking on Gumtree/ Carsales and eBay, anywhere else to look online?

BA/BF Ghia on the other hand, there are about 30 vehicles at the moment.
Remind me why I don't want to get a BA/BF please lads?

Cheers

Pretty clear I would have thought.
Not many AU owners selling, but plenty of BA/BF owners wanting to get rid of them.

Nuff said.

gossy · 08-01-2017, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxg

Pretty clear I would have thought.
Not many AU owners selling, but plenty of BA/BF owners wanting to get rid of them. image Nuff said.

That does make sense, or is it just bad timing on my behalf?

This is why I want an AU, the last of a certain breed. As I read elsewhere, they are the newest old car. e.g. as in easy to work on, better build quality, great reputation, need I go on considering it's an AU forum and I'm preaching to the choir?

BuuBox · 08-01-2017, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

Geez, how hard is it to find an AU Ghia in SE QLD?

I've narrowed my requirements down to an AUII or III with black interior, 6 cyl. Nothing around. I've been looking on Gumtree/ Carsales and eBay, anywhere else to look online?

Fairly picky!

I was looking for a similarly specific AU down in Victoria, after looking for ages decided to be more flexible and picked up a nice and tidy AUII XR6.

Can always change the interior... ;)

78xcgxl · 08-01-2017, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxg

Pretty clear I would have thought.
Not many AU owners selling, but plenty of BA/BF owners wanting to get rid of them. image Nuff said.

LOL pretty flawed way of looking at it IMO. The older the model gets the harder they are to find and fewer left on the road. I've been trying to find a mint EBII/ED fairmont ghia for a while. They are hard to come by and i rarely even see a EB/ED, let alone a ghia on the road. Doesn't mean that not many EB owners are selling... just very few left.... Same principle applys.

gossy · 08-01-2017, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

I've been trying to find a mint EBII/ED fairmont ghia for a while. They are hard to come by and i rarely even see a EB/ED, let alone a ghia on the road.

Funny you say that as there was a mint EB Ghia for sale up here 2 weeks ago on Gumtree, Was about a 9/10, in just about showroom condition, he was asking $1500, must have sold as it's not listed anymore.

Always the way, the car we want is miles away. I see heaps of suitable cars for me elsewhere in Australia but not in my backyard.

ronwest · 08-01-2017, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

Always the way, the car we want is miles away. I see heaps of suitable cars for me elsewhere in Australia but not in my backyard.

I'd travel for the right car.

I'm not sure where you are but flights from Bris to Syd and Melb are pretty cheap.

Could make a nice weekend - fly down Friday afternoon or Sat morning then a lesiurely drive back home.

The rider of course is that you don't end up with some pos that leaves you stranded at Dubbo...

78xcgxl · 08-01-2017, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

Funny you say that as there was a mint EB Ghia for sale up here 2 weeks ago on Gumtree, Was about a 9/10, in just about showroom condition, he was asking $1500, must have sold as it's not listed anymore.

Always the way, the car we want is miles away. I see heaps of suitable cars for me elsewhere in Australia but not in my backyard.

This the car ? http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/inala...ont/1133460020

There was a mint one owner car in Melb 92,000km, sold for 5k. Crazy i wouldn't pay that much. $1500 much more reasonable. Something local and reasonably priced will eventually pop up.

**Uncle_Ken** · 08-01-2017, 09:55 PM

Take a quick trip up to Cairns maybe??
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bunga...ual/1130984347
UK

Tickford. · 08-01-2017, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

LOL pretty flawed way of looking at it IMO.

Pretty flawed comparing EB-ED numbers to AU2-BF numbers IMO. There's what... a 10 year difference between production dates?? AU2-BF was 2001-2004 and you're talking about EB-ED which was 10 years before that! Of course there's going to be less numbers on the road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

The older the model gets the harder they are to find and fewer left on the road.

Ummm... correct.

But there's a 3 year difference between AU2-BF. Do you really think 3 years will make that much difference to the numbers available for sale? And Which model do you think sold more? AU or BA-BF?

edit: Go look at the AU to BF Falcon forums and just have a look at the threads posted there. How many are related to AU issues, and how many are related to BA-BF problems?

78xcgxl · 08-01-2017, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxg

Ummm... correct.

But there's a 3 year difference between AU2-BF. Do you really think 3 years will make that much difference to the numbers available for sale? And Which model do you think sold more? AU or BA-BF?

Just had a quick look on carsales for a rough idea to prove my theory.

Fairmont Ghias and G6Es currently for sale in Australia:

EA-ED - 4
EF-EL - 16
AU- 22
BA-BF - 54
FG - 122

gossy · 08-01-2017, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Ken

Take a quick trip up to Cairns maybe??
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bunga...ual/1130984347
UK

Nah, really want a GHIA.

gossy · 08-01-2017, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78xcgxl

This the car ? http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/inala...ont/1133460020

No, it was Ice Mint Metallic and was mint, but is not available anymore.

Tickford. · 10-01-2017, 07:14 PM

Also, why AU2/3 gossy? Not sure if you're aware but the AU1 Fairmont's/Fairmont Ghia's had more features than AU2/3. The bean counters got to the AU2&3's. The orange dash illumination in AU1's looks much better too. Only plus to AU2/3 was the front brake calipers were 2 pot to AU1 single. If you find a AU1 Fairmont Ghia you'll be very impressed I think.

A few AU Fairmonts/Fairmont Ghia'son Gumtree in QLD ATM:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/under...dan/1123928163

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/railw...001/1134938262

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cashm...dan/1124613116

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/burpe...dan/1135207366

gossy · 10-01-2017, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxg

Also, why AU2/3 gossy? Not sure if you're aware but the AU1 Fairmont's/Fairmont Ghia's had more features than AU2/3. The bean counters got to the AU2&3's. The orange dash illumination in AU1's looks much better too. Only plus to AU2/3 was the front brake calipers were 2 pot to AU1 single. If you find a AU1 Fairmont Ghia you'll be very impressed I think.

A few AU Fairmonts/Fairmont Ghia'son Gumtree in QLD ATM:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/under...dan/1123928163

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/railw...001/1134938262

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cashm...dan/1124613116

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/burpe...dan/1135207366

xxxg, the reason I want II or III is because of the brake upgrades you mentioned, plus I think they they added some more insulation to improve NVH but I'm just being picky. I would take any model, as long as it has the black interior, and the car is original and unmolested.

What extra features did the AU have over the II and III? I am unaware of this.

All those cars you listed are Fairmonts, very nice cars and thanks for searching, but I really do want a Ghia.

The search continues.

Lucky I'm not in any great hurry

**GasoLane** · 10-01-2017, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

xxxg, the reason I want II or III is because of the brake upgrades you mentioned, plus I think they they added some more insulation to improve NVH but I'm just being picky. I would take any model, as long as it has the black interior, and the car is original and unmolested.

What extra features did the AU have over the II and III? I am unaware of this.

All those cars you listed are Fairmonts, very nice cars and thanks for searching, but I really do want a Ghia.

The search continues.

Lucky I'm not in any great hurry

Have you considered a Fairlane ?

mcfly94 · 10-01-2017, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Have you considered a Fairlane ?

a sportsman or ltd would be a nice fit!

gossy · 10-01-2017, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Have you considered a Fairlane ?

Yes, been looking at Fairlanes and LTD too.

mif73 · 11-01-2017, 05:41 PM

Hi Gossy,
Do try to get a s2 or s3 as the s1 brakes are too small for the weight of the car, or you could spend a day converting over to s2 -BF brakes.

I think the NVH was improved with s2 with a laminated firewall and hydraulically dampened engine mounts ( 6 cyl only?).

The other nice touch with s3 was the side skirts as standard.

Good luck.

gossy · 11-01-2017, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxg

Not sure if you're aware but the AU1 Fairmont's/Fairmont Ghia's had more features than AU2/3. The bean counters got to the AU2&3's.

Anyone know what extra features the AU has over II and III?

ronwest · 11-01-2017, 09:15 PM

Bit of info here:- http://australiancar.reviews/reviews...irmont&gen=232