Ideas On First Car.

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 08:28 PM

Hello,
(I'm kinda new on fordforums.com so be easy)

Just thinking about what kind of car you would recommed for someone whos looking for their first car and what with a realistic budget I could do to improve that car.

I've only got two rules.
1. It has to be a falcon.
2. It can't be a commodore.
Anyway what cars would you recommend?

sgt_doofey · 07-03-2007, 08:32 PM

A Falcon.

Cruise · 07-03-2007, 08:35 PM

how much are you budgeting for?

6, V8? or maybe Duel fuel?

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

A Falcon.

More details?

sgt_doofey · 07-03-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

More details?

Going by the criteria you posted, that was the answer I came up with.

Seriously, post some more details like how much you are looking at spending for the purchase, and how much for mods and such and then someone will come up with something. Also might want to check the for sale section of the forum and see if there is anything there you like...

xt3valve · 07-03-2007, 08:41 PM

Haaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaa SGT DOOFEY your first post was sooooo funny.

Sorry. Um I got an EL fairmont for my first car when I was 18 im 20 now. It was a 6 cyl so wasnt very powerful which is a good thing I think. Thaught about it and more power is better hehe. I got mine for 10 000 and there cheaper now I imagine. Great car all you need is an exhaust and lowereing and a good set of mags wont go a stray.

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 08:48 PM

No taxis I think. The EL seems like a good package but the styling really puts me off, Same with Au.

Looking at earlier model E-series or late model X-series. Any thoughts?

xt3valve · 07-03-2007, 08:53 PM

What do you mean the styling puts u off. The EL series are one of the best looking late model falcons arfter the BA ford has produced.

XR8-260 · 07-03-2007, 08:56 PM

What's your budget? 20K will get you an XR6T if you look around. :sm_headba

Skooter · 07-03-2007, 08:58 PM

man you could easily find a ea or eb for that as long as its not from a car yard. or find a nice xf for that money.

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 08:40 PM

Looking for a Six. V8's a little to thirsty for a student. Budget would be around $1000 plus double that for upgrades.

sgt_doofey · 07-03-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

Looking for a Six. V8's a little to thirsty for a student. Budget would be around $1000 plus double that for upgrades.

An ex-taxi then? EL or AU, duel fuel, nice and cheap for a student.

pauljh74 · 07-03-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

Looking for a Six. V8's a little to thirsty for a student. Budget would be around $1000 plus double that for upgrades.

If you buy a car for $1000, the $2000 for upgrades is more likely to be spent on repairs, aim a bit higher and start with a car that actually will make it out the driveway of the seller.

bonspeed · 07-03-2007, 08:43 PM

Phase 3 gtho.

**Fordman1** · 07-03-2007, 08:46 PM

A 1.2 litre 2 door LC Torana.

Someone else deserves the hell I went through...

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

A 1.2 litre 2 door LC Torana.

Someone else deserves the hell I went through...

What Holden's 4 cylinder wasn't what was expected?

:

DoreSlamR · 07-03-2007, 08:51 PM

EL-AU for a thousand dollars?! better get youuself an XF!

nitroman · 07-03-2007, 08:53 PM

For a thousand bucks you will get an xf to el with lots of k's At least you have the right idea (a Falcon). If you are a first car owner you will find the power more than adequate and all you might want is lowered springs and shocks and bigger wheels. You are better off concentrating on keeping the thing running, roadworthy and safe if you are on a tight budget though.
Good on ya!

XR8-260 · 07-03-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

I've only got two rules.
1. It has to be a falcon.
2. It can't be a commodore.
Anyway what cars would you recommend?

Lol. I don't think anyone on this forum is going to recommend a Commodore

:. That being said, I think the 3.8L commo uses slightly less fuel than the 4.0L falcon.

nos_james · 07-03-2007, 08:59 PM

get yaself an xe they are indistructable and with a few mods look awsome and can be made to go quite well also they are realy cheap

nitroman · 07-03-2007, 09:06 PM

You've offended me now, I own an el and and au and love them both!(well the au more) You just have to understand the progression of ford styling and love them ALL.
You are obviously young and stupid so I will forgive you this one time!
At least you don't want a riceburner or a bloody holden...

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 09:14 PM

Yeah I don't want a Toyota Corolla. I'm leaning towards a XF at the moment while if i see a Ea, Eb i'll snap it up for the right price.

@nitroman sorry for offending you. I think we all can agree that a taxi spec AU series 1 is pretty ugly though.

Is the XF worth getting with the carby or EFI?

Miller · 07-03-2007, 09:08 PM

Carby XF. Can tune them with a flat head screw driver, can run into things (not recomended) and leave little to no damage, lots of room etc etc

walker · 07-03-2007, 09:18 PM

I would have to say an EB-ED falcon (auto or manual) slammed on stockies and a exhaust you can't go wrong with that as well as i will not brake the budget

nitroman · 07-03-2007, 09:21 PM

Don't touch an injected XF, they are a pain to tune. The carby ones go great if the carby diaphragms aren't leaking (cheap to fix) Hey have you ever DRIVEN an AU?
They are fantastic and as soon as you drive/own one they become beautiful!

Serial_Fool · 07-03-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitroman

Don't touch an injected XF, they are a pain to tune. The carby ones go great if the carby diaphragms aren't leaking (cheap to fix) Hey have you ever DRIVEN an AU?
They are fantastic and as soon as you drive/own one they become beautiful!

Yeah my big brothers got an XR8 Au series 3 auto (not sure on which series) and hes got a series 1 for a race car. I've driven them both.

Ok lets say i do get the XF is their any later model engine swap overs that are recommended?

geohatrick · 07-03-2007, 09:50 PM

I got a carbi xf i had a drive of a mates auto xf and they really are poor get a manual one with disc brakes and put a nice cat back exhaust on it and they sound great. Also try and get one with rear disc breaks (drums are better for burnouts but thats about it) and look for one with a straight body the rest is easy to fix up. Spend your mod budget on springs to lower it and a decent set of shocks and some nice wheels.

Cheers Zac

P.s im 17 and as much as id love a fast car the only real performance mods i'd ever do to it would be extractors and a cam and start to save for a 351 conversion.

[Tonko] · 07-03-2007, 11:09 PM

EA 5 speed, can pick one up cheap as, wont cost much for RW either, parts are everywhere....
and with your 2k, superlows, stockies, tint, Ghia interior, HU and some good speakers...

Allen · 07-03-2007, 11:16 PM

You can spend $1000 on buying a car, and double that ($2000) on upgrade??

Why not just spend the $3000 on a decent car in the first place?

Have you factored in rego, insurance and stamp duty? And RWC if required...

I bought an immac ED Gli, RWC 12 months reg, with 67,000k's on it for $4000... Good cheap cars are out there, you just have to search for them.

Deceased estates are good for little used, unwanted cars

ads · 07-03-2007, 11:37 PM

I bought my EB GLi in January 2003 for $4,700 with 160,000 k's on it, back when falcons still managed to maintain some sort of retained value. I've been pleased with it overall, but don't expect to get away with no repairs.

- Fan belt went (easy fix).
- Leads and distributer needed replacing. Was still running on original leads. (mate helped)
- Replaced rocker cover gasket. (mate helped)
- Water pump replaced. Did that at home.
- Brakes, tyres etc. (did brakes at home)
- Needs the occassional wheel alignment. No factory cambor/castor is a pain.
- Tail lights bulbs go quite often, especially when battery is disconnected. Easy fix.
- Mid exhaust replaced. Home job.
- First head went at 210,000. Mate fixed that.
- I change oil, check coolant, air filter etc. myself.
- Expect lazy lifters, engine drone on hot days, front end wear, a dead cat converter and air-con that will eventually bite the dust. I've learned to live with them but if I wasn't a poor student like yourself I'd definately have them fixed.
- No mods.
- Tail exhaust section has developed a hole which I need to fix.

Overall I think it's costed me around $2500 in maintenance and about $3500 in depreciation, not including fuel costs (around $6500 for 50,000 k's). I've had it for 4 years now. Other guys might have done better or worse. Just make sure you expect these things will crop up, find a good one, don't be too proud to pay the value of a good car and you'll be fine.