markxr6t

Fantastic time with just a tune - well done! That's what I call bang for your buck! Just for comparison, I recently ran consistent 12.7s at 112.5mph and 2.2 60fts with 262rwkw. However - I've got injectors + tune. I was initially disappointed with my rwkw, but happy with the times! Dunno if bigger injectors allows more torque to be dialled in down low???? Just got back from a country run today and got 9.4L/100km (measured). Gotta be happy with that!

Yes - its certainly possible as I've done it packaged through MacMillan Shakespeare and financed through CBFC. Only potential disadvantage is that the financed amount is minus GST when purchasing through a dealer, but if you're registered for GST and you can provide the financier with a tax invoice this will be just as good. Almost anything is possible with novated leasing if your employer allows you to make some of your own choices and decisions. Last year I got a 1 year lease with a 55% residual through Capital Finance(yes it was ATO compliant) and I know 2 guys who novated leased 1970s classic sports cars (TR4 and a 911), both through Macquarie Leasing. I guess the financier knows that residual won't be an issue!

Hi mustangman - that's a great looking Stang! In its Falcons, Ford Australia started using the 289W in 1967 and then the 302W and 351W in 69 and 70. Then it was all Cleveland from 1970 to 1982 at which point they ceased offering V8s for a while. Then in 1991 Falcons became available with the 165kw (220hp) 5.0 from the US Mustang. This continued in various guises until 2002 - Australia was the last market to sell the 302W in a new car as Ford here stockpiled the last of the "Explorer" 5.0L engines and offered them in their AU Falcons from 1998 til 2002. The last and best Aussie 5.0L Windsors included a hand built (by "Tickford" - do a search) 300hp engine with mildly ported GT40P heads, roller rockers, a cam, 70mm throttle body and about a 9.5:1 (??) comp ratio. I had one of these in an AU Falcon and loved it. Correct me you disagree, but the 346 (5.6L) stroker offered by Ford Tickford Engineering (FTE) is recognised as the finest 302W based engine offered in a factory car, even though it still had GT40P heads. Some owners replaced these with AFR 165s to great effect. These cars (TE50, TS50 came with TR3650 5spd manual trans as the T5 was too weak or a BTR 4spd auto. I'd love to see one of these engines in a Fox Body Mustang - nice and light! The Ford modular V8s just don't do it for me, but a nice Windsor still makes me want another one! There we go - a brief summary of the 5.0L in Oz! Good luck with your quest to get an XR6T engine Stateside. Mark

Pickles Perth has an 06 BF ex chaser with 100000km that's passed in twice for $19k. I reckon they'd take $19500 - I haven't seen it but that's a potential bargain...

Simon's (Xtreme) "Project BF" ran a 12.5 with tune only and 255 rwkw I ran 12.7@112.5 with 262 rwkw. On the same night, Thundabird ran 13.0 with a BPT custom generic tune only. Therefore I think your times and trap speed are entirely feasible for a "fit" and well driven stock BF auto. Well Done!

I've just imported an M35 Stagea (4wd, turbo, leather etc..) which took a long time but had no problems. I'm so impressed with the quality, condition and value, I'm getting a V35 Skyline for my wife. I used an import broker ($1000 fee up front) to guide me through the process and thought I'd do that and learn the ropes then do it myself. I've changed my mind - good import brokers know the auctions, know the cars, know the RAWS workshops and freight / customs issues back to front. If a glitch occurs, they also know what to do. Its money well spent and I wouldn't bother trying to do it myself. And I usually try to do everything myself! Both j-spec and prestige Motorsport have been around for a long time, have good reputations as import brokers and I can recommend both of them from my dealings so far. I wish my XR6T had Japanese build quality......

Good on you Hanra - nice work. You'll comfortably belt your mate's Monaro now! Now get some decent tyres and its time to head down to the strip! Enjoy!

I've got Goodyear Eagle F1s and find them very grippy indeed.

Yes I agree with you Brian. I deliberately oversimplified the Maths to demonstrate why I wouldn't fix for 5 or 10 years at 10%+, and not to to deter anyone from buying property (see my earlier post). If the claim that property doubles in value every 7- 10 years remains true, then property will increase by an average of 7% a year to double in 10 (which is close to your 6% break even). So I just think that a variable at 8.7% is a better option. I guess we all have opinions based on our experience (and I've gathered your experience is based on running successful businesses so please don't think I'm trying to say I'm right, you're wrong - I'm just a salaried employee and occasional property investor whose learnt from my mistakes). In 93 I bought my 2nd investment property and fixed interest at 10% for 5 years. It was a good move for 2 years, but for the last 3 years when rates were around 7 - 8% I regretted it and vowed that I would only fix again at a "bottoming" of a cycle and for 3 years maximum. After that 5 years, the property I bought for $76k was worth $85k. A poor investment and poorly financed, but what a fantastic lesson and I've only improved as an investor since. Like you, I use lines of credit to support cash flow when things are tight which is my buffer for choosing to go variable. And yep - I also agree that buying premium property and holding onto it is a no brainer

112.5mph @ 262rwkw 6sp auto

I know that Mal is buying a family home, but fixing at over 10% still doesn't make good financial sense to me. Purely from a business sense, if I fix at over 10% interest for 5 years, I am betting on better than 10% growth per annum on my property for the next 5 years to be in front (assuming that shortfall in rent is negated by tax benefits - which it rarely is). I don't think we will see 10% growth pa in property values in the next 5 years in Australia. Fuel will go up, rent will go up (we're still a growing country remember - not like Western Europe and other economic quiet areas) and spending will resultingly (and hopefully) reduce in other areas to neutralise net inflation. Are you now suitably confused with our varied opinions Mal? :banghead:

It had extractors mate! That was pedal to the metal though......

Thanks - I know everyone says you get used to the power and in no time you'll want more, but I never wanted a car with which I can't floor it on the road. Even now I'm limited to 3 or 4 second bursts of fun on public roads, depending on the posted limit. Even now, I floor it less than when it was stock because of intensity of the acceleration, it loses traction but not ridiculously and as I said I'm not sure if I'd use any extra grunt anywhere but the strip. Oh - and I haven't had a speeding fine for 12 years and only ever had 2 in my life. One when I was 17 (92 in a 60 zone in my 120Y with extractors) and a few years later in my Charger. Just call me Nanna..........

I don't think it'll be that bad. We'll certainly be in a buyers market for a while, but there's an Australia wide housing shortage, people always need a roof over their head and their home is the one thing they're not willing to take a loss on. If they do sell it cheap, investors buy in and the sellers still have to live somewhere which drives up the rental market and hence investor activity. This cycle coupled with record wages growth and reduced consumer spending (finally!) will maintain property prices. Also, the top end of the market which I assume ZAP is talking about isn't as strongly affected by economic cycles. Here in Perth $1m+ property sales are sailing along like nothing has happened to interest rates and economic growth. Nice houses in unique locations always have been and always will be in short supply and those with $ buffer themselves against economic downturns.

hey ZAP Definitely stick with variable for now. Consumer spending is showing signs of slowing, and whilst fuel food and housing will always go up, inflation should steady in the next year or two. Because its in their own best interest (pardon the pun) banks are particularly good at predicting future interest rates. Look at their long term fixed rates - they aren't expecting the cost of money to increase dramatically and none of their fixed rates include you being better off than them. I'm no seer, but I reckon rates will be between 8 and 10% for the next 5 years. As soon as banks see reductions in inflation and spending they'll reduce their long term rates effectively pre-empting RBA decisions. I have significant debt at the moment and I'm variable all the way - the only fixed I'd touch is pre paying interest in advance for 1 year (about 8.4% now, but I did it June 30 last year at 7.1%!) As soon as fixed rates are a % point or more below the best variable I can get, I'll consider fixing for 3 years maximum. In the 90s I fixed at 10% for 5 years thinking I was clever - but never again at that rate. Fixing at 6% for 5 years is clever, but that opportunity left us in 2005. Definitely variable for now IMHO - you can always fix later. And I also strongly believe that fixing for 10 years is madness. Remember the govt is talking about introducing legislation to stop banks charging huge fees when you re-finance? Imagine how easy refinancing could be in 5 or 10 years... Just my opinion based on what I've done with my loans. Mark

Hi All Some here may recall I had an edited BA XR6T manual that I loved, but on my journeys to the strip I discovered that I was farked at driving a manual car. Never even got it into the 13s… I sold that, bought an AUXR8 220 and after seeing Xtreme’s “Project BF”, I decided I wanted one of them! I never wanted 14 billion rear wheel kilowatts, all I wanted was a 12 second family car that my wife could drive the kids around in during the week, that still gets 10 litres per 100km on a trip and runs 12s all day with no fuss or bother. I’m also a tight arse, so value was always a factor. I patiently waited for a May 06 (F6 bottom end) build XR6T auto or later to come on the market at the right price. Found an ex NT Police, May 06 build in Shockwave with only 38 000kms in February. Drove it for a few months to iron out warranty claims, then did the following mods: • Capa Flash Tuner (kept it from my BA) • Siemens Deka Injectors ($400 from a Headsex group buy on here) • F6 Intercooler ($150 - thanks ZMAN) • Typhoon style 2nd CAI ($40 - thanks IH8TOADS and Mat for his stockie) • Magnaflow Metalcore Hi Flow Cat ($222 on ebay. $80 to fit. I regret buying this. Should have got an X Force or Catco) • Custom Tune by Blackmac - convenience was the main factor - I could drop my car off there, walk home and drive to work. When I picked my car up after the tune, I was sorely disappointed. What? 262rwkw? With a metal core cat and F6 cooler? “Spewing”, I thought. “I should made the extra effort (and expense) and got an Xtreme tune”. I genuinely thought it would go 280 – 290rwkw, but Jarrod at Blackmac said the cat was installed on a funny angle and he only really does a 10 psi tune with a brief 12 psi peak down low. And I think it’s the down low that counts. I took it to the Motorplex the following week (which was last Monday night). I had 6 runs. First 2 with no stalling were 13.1 and 13.0. I then tried stalling to 1200-1500 revs and ran four 12.7s in a row with a best of 12.72 with consistent 112.5mph. The best bit was, of the 6 races I won them all, mostly against V8s, mostly Holdens, some stroked, some cammed, some with slicks (and 2 with front runners). They were all noisy and did monster burnouts. I idled up to the line with little or no burnout and stalled up a little and belted them all. A bit of a silent assassin. Minimal wheelspin off the line – I think Goodyear Eagle F1s helped a lot and everything just felt right. 60fts were around the 2.2 mark, with a best of 2.1. So I’m over the rwkw figure now – it’s a safe, relatively economical, tractable and almost sensible family car that still has all of its power useable on the road. Jarrod at Blackmac has been great at fixing little tune related things like Emmissions lights coming on and I’m happy with his tune and his service. I know its no monster in the 300+rwkw club but its all I want my car to be. Well, for now anyway…….

Thanks - but no effort required. It could have done it all night. No fuss, no bother and consistently beat cammed (even stroked!) V8s, some with slicks and one with front runners. No burnout, minimal stalling and great grip off the line. Its everything I want my car to be - subtle but swift -given my wife drives the kids around in it during the week!

That rings a bell and sounds like a good reason, but would the base N/A 4.0L have an oil cooler too?

Geez - they look pretty bloody similar. Who would think that one flows much better than the other. I have the Magnaflow (+injectors + F6 Cooler) in my BF auto and was disappointed that it only got 262 rwkw with an (obviously) conservative 10 psi custom tune. The tuner said that the cat was installed on a noticeable angle and that could affect flow. Whilst I was initially disappointed with the power, I ran 12.7 four times in a row at 112mph on Monday night so I'm happy with my 12 second family car....

Nope. I put the AFL-1 (Ryco Z9) and AFL-101 side by side and they're different size and different thread. Not interchangeable in any way. Dunno why they changed it just before ending a 40 year tradition of having the same filter.....

I agree with kaldek. I had a Forester X and was deciding whether to upgrade to either a Forester XT or an XR6T. I'm now on my second XR6T...... Fuel economy won't differ much but you'll really notice the lack of rear seat width (the Ford will easily fit 3 baby seats, the Subaru won't) and rear seat legroom. On a trip the XR6T is roomier and more relaxed (quicker too!) I miss the build quality and mild off-road ability of the Subie but the XR6T makes me smile every time I drive it. So while the Subaru is a satisfying car to own, the XR6T is a fun (and very practical) car to own. Ridiculously cheap to mod, too...... My 2c.....

Hi Bonza Does it have to be a Caterham, or would you consider an original Lotus 7 (many are in better than new condition), Westfield, Birkin or other low volume Clubmans? They're such a simple design many of the low volume ones are very well built and I think they all have potential to fulfil your needs. Here's a Google search of "Lotus Clubman" which could get you started. http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&...=cr%3DcountryAU

My owners manual for my BF says 6.6 litres of oil to fill including new filter????

Oh Geez - now you tell me. You win. If I knew X-Force cats flowed 570cfm and cost $175, I would have bought one in a flash! Well my Magnaflow is being fitted now, so I'm too far committed. Get my tune on Monday so we'll see how it goes. You're right - those flow figures are the only ones I've seen quoted anywhere for the 54309M. Its interesting that many of the 3 inch (4 inch body) metal cats look very, very similar on the inside, the catalyst material and welds. I'll just cross my fingers and hope they're all made in the same factories in China!

Simon's (Xtreme) cat flow test found the stock cat flows 300cfm. I think the 54309M's 408cfm for $300 fitted is actually pretty good value and I think bf xr6t's personal experience (above) is evidence enough that it improves things. It's probably not a great option if you want to go well above 300rwkw (better off with Ballistic, SBM(???), Metalcat, Catco or Xtreme's own) but its certainly better than stock. I've got a 54309M going on tomorrow and a tune on Monday - I'll let you know how it goes.