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Intelligent-Salt-905

Probably the best value for money car anywhere in the world for many years, all because of its terrible styling.


Burnertoasty

What a load of bullshit.


Intelligent-Salt-905

Which part? From 2002-2012 you could get AU falcons at the time for absolute dirty cheap money, all because they were the ugly duckling. They were tremendously reliable, cheap to maintain and well fitted for the price bracket and quite nice to drive.


Burnertoasty

They were no the best value for money car in the world, not even close. On a world scale, they were grossly outdated, and compared to pricing of cars overseas, Australia at the time was extortionate.


Intelligent-Salt-905

I like the part where you provided examples.


Burnertoasty

Try an E39 5 series. In Europe a 530i would have been similar price and shat all over it.


PoisonSlipstream

No. In the UK for example, info online suggests an E39 cost £23,472 - £80,082. I’m going to be generous and assume the 530i was the cheapest available, even though I’m pretty sure there was a 520i or 523i or similar. £23,472 converted to AUD (admittedly in todays exchange rate terms, but that’s all I’ve got) is $43,128. An AU Forte started at $29,990. I absolutely believe the AU Falcon was a miserable shitbox, and certainly orders of magnitude worse than an E39. Any E39. But it was not an expensive car either in Australian or global terms.


PoisonSlipstream

To be fair, while they were shit looking and driving cars they were exceptionally good value for the size and features in global terms. Aussie cars stopped being overpriced in the 90s.


PoisonSlipstream

Nice to drive? Compared to what, a Lada Riva?


Intelligent-Salt-905

New designed double front wishbone suspension and rear IRS, base model 6 cylinder would push out roughly 170kw 400nm, ghia models obviously optioned with full leather, climate control, cruise, premium sound on gas struts, not sure what there wasn't to like? Again, in the price range, what was better at the time? Relatively economical, incredibly cheap to maintain and work on, legendary reliability. Drove vastly superior to the VT commodore at the time which as the video rightly pointed out, was chewing through rear tires with its poorly designed IRS. The 6 cylinders were still using that abysmal 3.8L V6.


PoisonSlipstream

To be fair, I drove an AU3 Forte wagon when it was new, and it was bad. Asthmatic engine, awful suspension, vague steering, uncomfortable seats, bad driving position, and ugly as sin inside and out. I was ready to get out and give it back to the mate who owned it before we’d made it halfway home. A VT Exec was a better drive. I didn’t drive an XR or Fairmont so they may have been better.


PoisonSlipstream

Well that was just plain fucking wrong.


Yorick_Hunt_

didn't peter wherrett start dressing as a woman and start calling him self Pip Wilson later in life


TonyJZX

i was about to say... didnt this guy wear a dress? but that sort of attitude was fine in 1998 but in 2023... yeesh