About to convert to a Blue Oval.....

ENEMY · 17-08-2006, 07:19 AM

G'day gentlemen, how's things?

Well the faithful old VS SS ute is on it's last legs, so it's time for another work ute for me.

I've found 2002 AU XR8 250 Pursuit Ute. Looks and drives like a beast.... i love it. But i'tackling all of the issues before forking out the cash.

I've been reading the site, and i'm a tad worried as to the reliability of the AU falcon.

I'm coming from a car that i serviced every 10,000 kays, didn't drive it too hard, and in 300,000 k's all i've needed to replace is a starter motor, altenator, and power steering pump (so $2000 repairs in 5 years).

What's the general consensus on the AU XR8's reliability wise?

I'm not going to have $5000 disposable cash if a repair comes about, as this is the 3rd vehicle that is just used to get me from site to site etc.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated lads, as i dont want to make the wrong decision!

Cheers,

Grant

Falcon Freak · 17-08-2006, 07:25 AM

Well to the light son. Hope your stay is long one.

FF

Rob · 17-08-2006, 07:30 AM

I can only speak for the AU 6, but given that much of the componentry is similar, I'd say fears of unreliability are unfounded. I used to give my AU a good bollocking, nothing let go...

Theres a sticky thread here regarding the reliability of AU's, give it a go.

Good luck!

ENEMY · 17-08-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLC

I can only speak for the AU 6, but given that much of the componentry is similar, I'd say fears of unreliability are unfounded. I used to give my AU a good bollocking, nothing let go...

Theres a sticky thread here regarding the reliability of AU's, give it a go.

Good luck!

Bugger, new i should have searched more.

I'll check it out

Cheers BLC

Falcon Freak · 17-08-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

Well to the light son. Hope your stay is long one.

FF

That should have said 'Welcome to the light.....

FF

GCFordChic · 17-08-2006, 08:48 AM

Pursuit 250, excellent choice, even if i am a little biased myself....hehehe

we only got the 250 in March(ish) but havent needed to spend a cent...even though we decided to, but that was all optional...(there is a link to it in my signature).

Ours was in top condition when we bought it, so i guess it totally depends on the individual car. I would be personally more comfortable knowing it is a handbuilt quality engine with tickford enhancements, so it sort of is in a class of its own from the AU.

Mind you, by the time Ford got to the AUIII it had sorted out most of the problems that you probably have heard about the AU series...

Ours is totally reliable, if only we had it more often that the body kit blokes/exhaust fellas/every other person we take for something extra to get added to it... lol

**Polyal** · 17-08-2006, 08:52 AM

well in general the 5.0 is pretty bulletproof, more reliable that the I6 over time I would have thought. But like you obviously know, if somehting lets go its a bit dearer.

The AU in general is a very reliable car, on forums you only ever read about the bad stuff because we are all bitches deep down that love a winge...lol

**Polyal** · 17-08-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

well in general the 5.0 is pretty bulletproof

Bit weird quoting myself, but I know its a 5.6 before someone points that out; tomato, tomatoe.

MoreHPformyXR6 · 17-08-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

The AU in general is a very reliable car, on forums you only ever read about the bad stuff because we are all bitches deep down that love a winge...lol

That has some truth in it people will talk up a storm & shout from the roof top if there is a problem with there car. They will tell everyone & anyone who cares to listen. But there is many more owners that are very happy with there car. But in general they often want talk about quite as much if there happy with it or have no issues. If I had of read the thread on what problems you have had with your BA I "may not have bought it". What a great car I would have missed out on.

JD86 · 17-08-2006, 10:58 AM

Welcome to the other side ENEMY.

Hope you enjoy this forum as much as all us blue oval fans.

Ghiadude · 17-08-2006, 01:20 PM

:welcome.
I dont think you should have a problem with a pursuit.

Gaz · 17-08-2006, 05:54 PM

using a pursuit 250 to just go between sites?

i wanna bash ya over the head :P

reasonably rare ute? only 500 or so made wasnt there?

ENEMY · 17-08-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaz

using a pursuit 250 to just go between sites?

i wanna bash ya over the head :P

reasonably rare ute? only 500 or so made wasnt there?

LOL, it sounds bad when you say it like that, i'll also use it as a tow car if that makes the purchase more justified

:

Thanks for the welcome Lads.

Many meetups in QLD with other Pursuit owners?

GCFordChic · 17-08-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENEMY

LOL, it sounds bad when you say it like that, i'll also use it as a tow car if that makes the purchase more justified

:

Thanks for the welcome Lads.

Many meetups in QLD with other Pursuit owners?

Just Pursuit 250 owners? well there is me and brett....

If you are on the GC you could join our car club and come to club events, lots of good cars, not necessarily pursuit's... (That is, once you have the ute)

where is it being sold from, ill go grab it so Brett and I can have matching ones!!!

8pAc · 17-08-2006, 06:54 PM

The 5.0's are very good, but you will probably break a valve spring in it eventually if it is a 200 or 220. I did one recently with the car only having done 68,000 km's but the do have 1.7 ratio rockers in the 220 which is what i have. Very good engine in a very good car.

ENEMY · 17-08-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8pAc

The 5.0's are very good, but you will probably break a valve spring in it eventually if it is a 200 or 220. I did one recently with the car only having done 68,000 km's but the do have 1.7 ratio rockers in the 220 which is what i have. Very good engine in a very good car.

Ouch, what was the repair bill on that mate?

**DJM83** · 17-08-2006, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8pAc

The 5.0's are very good, but you will probably break a valve spring in it eventually if it is a 200 or 220. I did one recently with the car only having done 68,000 km's but the do have 1.7 ratio rockers in the 220 which is what i have. Very good engine in a very good car.

Pursuit 250= 250kw 5.6L stroker. Nice ute they are definately different and very sexy ute, although i wouldnt use it as a "site to site" ute but if you want to thats your choice. Hope you enjoy the site (Fordforums) and hopefully your new ute, Long live the AU

8pAc · 17-08-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE50 056

Pursuit 250= 250kw 5.6L stroker. Nice ute they are definately different and very sexy ute, although i wouldnt use it as a "site to site" ute but if you want to thats your choice. Hope you enjoy the site (Fordforums) and hopefully your new ute, Long live the AU

Whoops soz ignored the fact the first post said Pursiut lol

Jsmilie:

: my bad still Awesome car, awesome to the max...

: :ymca:

8pAc · 17-08-2006, 07:18 PM

It would have been cheap and quick but i had my heads swapped for some alloys and ran into some dramas. Cost would depend if you did all the springs or just the broken one. No other damage occured though to the piston/head valve etc very strange.

GCFordChic · 17-08-2006, 10:50 PM

Werent there 250 made?

I also remember reading somewhere that the pursuit wasnt certified for towing...hmmm..ill try track down where i read that for you some time tomorrow...it may or may not be true/a reliable source....

Jennifer

ENEMY · 18-08-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCFordChic

Werent there 250 made?

I also remember reading somewhere that the pursuit wasnt certified for towing...hmmm..ill try track down where i read that for you some time tomorrow...it may or may not be true/a reliable source....

Jennifer

I think you just need to upgrade the auto cooler...

If not... BUGGER

GCFordChic · 18-08-2006, 05:11 PM

Well i couldnt remember where i found it, so i Googled it and found some interesting links for you to read the editorial/reviews on it from when it was first released...

this is the one that says it isnt certified for towing...
(2nd last paragraph)

Pursuit 250 review 1

Pursuit 250 review 2

I am not really too sure at all whether it can tow or not, because in my searching i found someone on another forum used the 250 to tow his show car around...so maybe you can..."It must be true, its on the internet!"... I would go look through the owners manual for you, but ours is in at the body kit shop at the moment...anyone else got an answer?

WRP11 · 18-08-2006, 07:05 PM

Welcome ENEMY... you seem to be on a learning curve, good stuff.. firstly, the holden to ford decision, the only way is up, and the "Gentlemen / lads" thing... hmmmmm :voldar02:

turboute · 18-08-2006, 07:14 PM

Hi mate, nice to see you crossing from the dark side into the light...

Have you considered a BA/F XR6T Ute? Aparently there have been taxi's that have clocked up 300'k's with those engines (part of Fords engine testing) with no major problems - also a bit newer and has a few more go-fast bits around if you do want more power.

The Pusuit 250 Is a great bit of kit though and I am sure that when tickford were hand building those engines they made sure they would last...