AU or BA Wagon for backpacking around Oz?

[BluesClues]

Hi

My in-laws want to buy a vehicle for driving around the coast including dirt roads. They don't feel safe in cab-over vans so considering a wagon then fitting it out with bed etc. I suggested the VT/VZ commodores etc (from memory they were mechanically solid and plenty of parts).
They however have looked into Magna's and Falcons. The vehicles in their price range (~$1500-$2k) have over 200k on the clock.
I own a BF and am quite disappointed with the suspension; front control arm bushes, diff bushes etc. Do the BA wagons share the same woes?
I thought perhaps a AU3 might be better? I thought they had more robust suspension?

What would you suggest?

[Mont5.0]

B series wagon all day.
No rear suspension woes, barra I6 up front, good looks.
What else could you ask for?

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

What else could you ask for?

Au reliability

[BluesClues]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

B series wagon all day.
No rear suspension woes, barra I6 up front, good looks.
What else could you ask for?

Did they have a different diff mount to the sedan?
I assume same front suspension with the oil filled bushes?

[pottery beige]

you can leave the keys and a full tank in an a/u

still be there in the morning

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by BluesClues

Did they have a different diff mount to the sedan?
I assume same front suspension with the oil filled bushes?

Very different diff mount, looks more like this;



Front is the same, more or less AU = BA.

[xeeclipse]

BA-BF are tanks and therefore have suitably engineered shocks and springs, why spend $800 on brand new replacements for your AU? When you can waltz down to your nearest junkyard and for the meagre sum of $150 have the full BA-BF kit that will last 500,000klm.

As for POTTERY BEIGE, only ford's make it beyond the thunderdome!

[Crazy Dazz]

If you want bulletproof reliability, its hard to go past the Intech 6 in the AU.
I'd also choose the AU because the interior controls are a bit more old school, and therefore cheaper and easier to fix. Plus easy to replace the standard factory radio (if not already done) with something more modern, DAB, sync, etc.

And they are as cheap as chips.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by xeeclipse

BA-BF are tanks and therefore have suitably engineered shocks and springs, why spend $800 on brand new replacements for your AU? When you can waltz down to your nearest junkyard and for the meagre sum of $150 have the full BA-BF kit that will last 500,000klm.

As for POTTERY BEIGE, only ford's make it beyond the thunderdome!

*where they belong

VTs are a far superior product for the more refined motoring folk among the rabble and driving on dirt roads is for peasants!

#vtlyfe

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

If you want bulletproof reliability, its hard to go past the Intech 6 in the AU.
I'd also choose the AU because the interior controls are a bit more old school, and therefore cheaper and easier to fix. Plus easy to replace the standard factory radio (if not already done) with something more modern, DAB, sync, etc.

And they are as cheap as chips.

Agree ...I'm biased though because I have an AU sedan as everybody knows , probably too well ..A good BA though would be fine if she's in good nick to start with .

Re the Intech 6 ...Geez it's a good donk . They just go forever .

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

If you want bulletproof reliability, its hard to go past the Intech 6 in the AU.
I'd also choose the AU because the interior controls are a bit more old school, and therefore cheaper and easier to fix. Plus easy to replace the standard factory radio (if not already done) with something more modern, DAB, sync, etc.

And they are as cheap as chips.

Agree ...I'm biased though because I have an AU sedan as everybody knows , probably too well ..A good BA though would be fine if she's in good nick to start with .

Re the Intech 6 ...Geez it's a good donk . They just go forever and you don't have to pull covers off to access the plugs..Then again the Barra plugs are good for 150,000 k's os something ridiculous anyway ..

Just buy a Ford wagon ..either /or ...Both AU or BA/BF will be great .

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

*where they belong

VTs are a far superior product for the more refined motoring folk among the rabble and driving on dirt roads is for peasants!

#vtlyfe

They might start off more refined, they don't end up that way whereas "durability" in any dictionary says "See Falcon wagon".
XP, XW, XE, XF, EL, BA...all the wagons in my life and all used also as work vehicles.

[BENT_8]

I'd be looking for a Magna wagon personally and if the budget can stretch a little but further, look for a TL VR with the 3.5l/5sp Auto, should be able to get one for under the $3k mark now.

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...-5664308/?Cr=0

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

They might start off more refined, they don't end up that way whereas "durability" in any dictionary says "See Falcon wagon".
XP, XW, XE, XF, EL, BA...all the wagons in my life and all used also as work vehicles.

VT either sedan or wagons by now have suffered the ownership of several single mothers (shazzas) and still going strong

if single mothers drove around in ugly cars (a/us) they would be out of business

#vtlyfe

[Rallye Sport]

Sold my old BA wagon to a backpacker at 400 000km. Had heaps of calls from tourists about it. No doubt its still going strong albeit a bit smellier.

[xeeclipse]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

VT either sedan or wagons by now have suffered the ownership of several single mothers (shazzas) and still going strong

if single mothers drove around in ugly cars (a/us) they would be out of business

#vtlyfe

Shazza's driving commodores are like greyhounds cause their always having to
do running repairs. Never any time for business cause their always dirty.

Ford shazza's are usually morbidly obese cause they have plenty of time to indulge in the finer things in life. They prefer getting dirty after hours once the business is done.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by xeeclipse

Shazza's driving commodores are like greyhounds cause their always having to
do running repairs. Never any time for business cause their always dirty.

Ford shazza's are usually morbidly obese cause they have plenty of time to indulge in the finer things in life. They prefer getting dirty after hours once the business is done.

ford shazzas have given up on life

her life is full of tim tams and barry

her (looking for work) partner

[marty351]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

VT either sedan or wagons by now have suffered the ownership of several single mothers (shazzas) and still going strong

if single mothers drove around in ugly cars (a/us) they would be out of business

#vtlyfe

So you're saying vt's are welfare wagons? Sounds bout right.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by marty351

So you're saying vt's are welfare wagons? Sounds bout right.

im on the dole at the moment and i thank you for your support

#vtlyfe

[xeeclipse]

ECOTEC, BUICK V6........... ROUGH, OILY, GUTLESS

Absolute travesty and sacrilege that these PIECES OF **** ever outsold any falcon let alone the AU.

The AU was a victory for functionality over aesthetics..... the fallen, the blackened, the down trodden.....but never forgotten.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by xeeclipse

ECOTEC, BUICK V6........... ROUGH, OILY, GUTLESS

Absolute travesty and sacrilege that these PIECES OF **** ever outsold any falcon let alone the AU.

The AU was a victory for functionality over aesthetics..... the fallen, the blackened, the down trodden.....but never forgotten.

have you been drinking again??

[xeeclipse]

Never seen an INTECH drop its guts even when completely neglected. On the other hand the mighty BUICK has snapped rods, spun bearings and lost oil pressure on many occasions. I replaced about 5 in total back in the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avGbis23h0M

[Sox]

Originally Posted by BluesClues

Hi

My in-laws want to buy a vehicle for driving around the coast including dirt roads. They don't feel safe in cab-over vans so considering a wagon then fitting it out with bed etc. I suggested the VT/VZ commodores etc (from memory they were mechanically solid and plenty of parts).
They however have looked into Magna's and Falcons. The vehicles in their price range (~$1500-$2k) have over 200k on the clock.
I own a BF and am quite disappointed with the suspension; front control arm bushes, diff bushes etc. Do the BA wagons share the same woes?
I thought perhaps a AU3 might be better? I thought they had more robust suspension?

What would you suggest?

I would avoid the Commodores at any expense, not in the running for those duties and reliability.

AU/BA/BF wagons are solid things, and can handle OZ really well.
The suspension systems on all 3 are essentially the same and very rugged.

The most significant difference between them is the engines and dashboard.
Both engines are solid workhorses, with the AU slightly easier for repair, but the B series slightly more powerful.

Dashboards are significantly different, AU being old school and less to go wrong, and B series much more modern but more to go wrong. Neither are considered to be unreliable though.

I personally would choose an AU because I prefer them over B series...
...However, age is catching up on them and even the newest AU is 16 years old and will most likely have high k's.
BF wagons were made until 2008(?) or thereabouts so you have more chance of getting something quite a bit newer and with less k's, so it may be a better choice for your in-laws.

Good luck...

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by Sox

I would avoid the Commodores at any expense, not in the running for those duties and reliability.

AU/BA/BF wagons are solid things, and can handle OZ really well.
The suspension systems on all 3 are essentially the same and very rugged.

The most significant difference between them is the engines and dashboard.
Both engines are solid workhorses, with the AU slightly easier for repair, but the B series slightly more powerful.

Dashboards are significantly different, AU being old school and less to go wrong, and B series much more modern but more to go wrong. Neither are considered to be unreliable though.

I personally would choose an AU because I prefer them over B series...
...However, age is catching up on them and even the newest AU is 16 years old and will most likely have high k's.
BF wagons were made until 2008(?) or thereabouts so you have more chance of getting something quite a bit newer and with less k's, so it may be a better choice for your in-laws.

Good luck...

You feelin ok fella.......................

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I'd be looking for a Magna wagon personally and if the budget can stretch a little but further, look for a TL VR with the 3.5l/5sp Auto, should be able to get one for under the $3k mark now.

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...-5664308/?Cr=0

You'll need a bigger budget after you get one of them for fuel................
You'll need a fuel tanker to follow you on your trip.............

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by xeeclipse

ECOTEC, BUICK V6........... ROUGH, OILY, GUTLESS

Absolute travesty and sacrilege that these PIECES OF **** ever outsold any falcon let alone the AU.

The AU was a victory for functionality over aesthetics..... the fallen, the blackened, the down trodden.....but never forgotten.

A bit of fun here guys ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR6sKfaBlGM ..

Go the mighty Intech inline 6 ..Those engines will survive religion as once commented somewhere on another thread .

[Maka]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

You'll need a bigger budget after you get one of them for fuel................
You'll need a fuel tanker to follow you on your trip.............

Also dont forget the 40 gallon drum of 15w40 engine oil for top ups, ha ha! :yelrotfl

cheers, Maka

[LG17]

A mate had the same decision to make for going around Australia.
He is towing a caravan though.
I tried to talk him into a BA/BF wagon but he reckoned the AU would be better as it would be easier for him to fix should it break down.
So far he's fixed the engine (5L) 3 or 4 times, including 2 engine swaps, the auto box, the diff, the brakes...
I think the suspension is ok.

[Falcon SXR8]

Au all day, 60% of the time it gets you home every time

[Maka]

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

Au all day, 60% of the time it gets you home every time

A little bit better than 60% if its in good nick & looked after imo. More like 90%+ lol realistically.

cheers, Maka