Mine is an interesting story, as I'm not quite a "Falcon" kind of guy, usually: I currently own an Explorer LTD and had to get a few bumps and scrapes repaired (yeah, I do actually take it off-road). When I got it back from the crash repairers, they'd done such a good job, I figured it was the best time to check out my trade-in options. Anyway, did a little shopping around and discovered the Peugeot 206cc coupe convertible. Gorgeous little beast. Hardtop convertible like the Merc SLK, though much better priced. Went through all the motions of test-driving and whatnot, until I took my partner to look at it too. He loved it, problem was: He couldn't fit in it. He's 6'5" and the Peugeot is just too small. He kept hitting his head on the roof! Right. Scratch that option. Grrrr. Anyway, that's Saturday and Monday I decide to go look at more "normal" cars -- Volvo S40, BMW 328i, that kind of thing. I was looking for an upmarket ride, comfortable but fun to drive. My partner had seen an XR6 in a magazine somewhere and kept pestering me to go look at it, but I didn't until I'd gone through all the German options first. However, I walked onto my local Ford dealer's floor, took one look at the XR6 and said, "Man, I could drive that, no problem." -- Two hours later, my XR6 was ordered. My partner STILL can't believe I actually bought a Falcon and neither can I. But, its possibly one of the most comfortable cars I've driven that still packs a punch when I want it too. It has definitely inherited a lot of European styling but retains an Aussie flavour. And, after 4 years of Explorer Goodness, I'm quite glad to be sticking with the Blue Oval for at least another 3 years. Who knew when I moved to Australia I'd become a Ford Man?