Xr6 Or Xr8

[replicant]

I drove both cars (albeit in BA Mark II Form) - when I was choosing my recent car changeover - back to back and here are my observations:

The XR8

The big eight has a great engine note even at idle, reminiscent of the rumbling push rod small block V8s that still brings a grin to my face. When let loose, that rumble turns to a bellowing roar - sounds like you are in a playstation game driving V8s around Mount Panorama. It's intoxicating and it's easy to launch consistently than the XR6T too.

But then there's the bad news, because the engine is a mish mash from the parts bin at Ford there are compromises. The deep breathing quad cam 4 valve heads don't have variable cam timing (which the Barra inline sixes do) - so whilst they breathe well at the higher part of the rpm band, they don't have a lot of torque down low, the torque is there but it's very peaky. Down at the bottom end of the engine, there's a big hunk of cast iron that is essentially a truck block and it doesn't really like a lot of rpm.

Because of this Frankenstein mixture of parts, you end up with a very narrow band of joy... nothing much happens below four thou' and it's essentially time to change up at just over five and a half thousand. Which is fine if you want to row the gearbox (even in the auto) and there's that sonorous sound... but in the real world it gets annoying.

But wait there's more, because of that engine possessing that hefty cast iron block you have around 80-90kg more weight directly over the front axle so due to inertia it doesn't necessarily like directional changes like the XR6T. It's not a pig to steer by any stretch, just that in comparison to the XR6T, it doesn't appreciate quick changes in direction (like traffic calming chicanes in suburban streets) but settle into it and it's a better front end than the folk from the General.

You do drive it differently from the six more about that later but you'll find that you need to brake before the corner, settle the nose and then try and get early on the throttle to bring up your exit speed.

Aesthetically, that engine again makes it self visible with a big bulge in the bonnet. Serving as some differentiation from pudding Falcons, it does make it's mark and has echoes of the Phase III shaker not to mention so many Aussie muscle cars of the past. Personally, it reminds me of a kids tobaggon that's fused onto the bonnet - not helped by my test car's mandarin exterior paint work.

Fuel economy wise, not that it matters that much but the V8 will use more gas (and I'd be looking for a six speeder auto or manual - I prefer the auto for the driving I do although the Tremec box is not a bad one if not the slick rifle bolt feel that you get in say an MX-5 but this is bloke's car not a sheila's one)

The brakes on the XR8 were standard and I have to say you may want to hunt down the performance brake option in pre-BF machines - but you're an enthusiast driver so you'd be looking for that.

The XR6T

In contrast, the Rapid Yellow XR6 doesn't have the aural quality of the thundering Boss 290 V8 out of the XR8 but I don't mind the noise either. It doesn't have the taxi drone of the naturally aspirated Barra 183s in the mid part of the range and the deeper note (courtesy of the dual exhaust) is a little more understated - which is appreciated on longer trips where comfort and efficiency are paramount.

Talking about efficiency the Barra 240T (and now in BF 245T) is one helluva unit. Okay so it doesn't have that spine tingling roar when you press the loud pedal right to the firewall but it has this massive wall of torque available at all speeds all of the time. Using a single low pressure turbo minimises lag and the 4 litre inline six is responsive and is full of pulling power. It's making maximum torque in BF form just on two grand all the way to four and a half with the engine still pulling like a locomotive when you touch the cut out around six thou.

It's a lighter unit than the eight so see comments about the handling. On a windy country road, the XR6T is the smart driver's choice - that mountain of torque means choosing your own gear is optional but you can dine out on the wall of torque in third gear as you nip in and out of the corners. Against the XR8, you'll be carrying in more entry speed, there's a real difference in mid corner speed (or if something happens adjustability, it's more defy and nimble in the 6) and you don't have to nail it coming out as your corner speed is there compared to the 8 which is playing catch up.

Exterior wise, it looks just the same as the na XR6s, which means it's a bit of a sleeper until you decide it's time for a big boost attack as you head onto the onramp and want to dance with the traffic.

Again performance brakes are the way to go not because of the weight but because of the performance potential. Gas consumption is better in the XR6 too but you only get 17s std in BF for the XR6T whereas the 8 gets 18s std.

As a GT cruiser, either car works I prefer the adjustability of the XR6T and the fact that the pennies I saved in purchase price bought the XR Luxury Pack so I didn't have to put up with the 'tire tread' interior finish, got dual zone... and the reverse sensing sensors that are std in the Ghia. Means I got a car acceptable as a company car, not over the top, very quick, no worries about the gas bill with the comfort to match and still came in under budget... who'd have thunk that?

[saleen]

I drove both cars (albeit in BA Mark II Form) - when I was choosing my recent car changeover - back to back and here are my observations:

The XR8

The big eight has a great engine note even at idle, reminiscent of the rumbling push rod small block V8s that still brings a grin to my face.  When let loose, that rumble turns to a bellowing roar - sounds like you are in a playstation game driving V8s around Mount Panorama.  It's intoxicating and it's easy to launch consistently than the XR6T too.

But then there's the bad news, because the engine is a mish mash from the parts bin at Ford there are compromises.  The deep breathing quad cam 4 valve heads don't have variable cam timing (which the Barra inline sixes do) - so whilst they breathe well at the higher part of the rpm band, they don't have a lot of torque down low, the torque is there but it's very peaky.  Down at the bottom end of the engine, there's a big hunk of cast iron that is essentially a truck block and it doesn't really like a lot of rpm.

Because of this Frankenstein mixture of parts, you end up with a very narrow band of joy... nothing much happens below four thou' and it's essentially time to change up at just over five and a half thousand.  Which is fine if you want to row the gearbox (even in the auto) and there's that sonorous sound... but in the real world it gets annoying.

But wait there's more, because of that engine possessing that hefty cast iron block you have around 80-90kg more weight directly over the front axle so due to inertia it doesn't necessarily like directional changes like the XR6T.  It's not a pig to steer by any stretch, just that in comparison to the XR6T, it doesn't appreciate quick changes in direction (like traffic calming chicanes in suburban streets) but settle into it and it's a better front end than the folk from the General.

You do drive it differently from the six more about that later but you'll find that you need to brake before the corner, settle the nose and then try and get early on the throttle to bring up your exit speed.

Aesthetically, that engine again makes it self visible with a big bulge in the bonnet.  Serving as some differentiation from pudding Falcons, it does make it's mark and has echoes of the Phase III shaker not to mention so many Aussie muscle cars of the past.  Personally, it reminds me of a kids tobaggon that's fused onto the bonnet - not helped by my test car's mandarin exterior paint work.

Fuel economy wise, not that it matters that much but the V8 will use more gas (and I'd be looking for a six speeder auto or manual - I prefer the auto for the driving I do although the Tremec box is not a bad one if not the slick rifle bolt feel that you get in say an MX-5 but this is bloke's car not a sheila's one)

The brakes on the XR8 were standard and I have to say you may want to hunt down the performance brake option in pre-BF machines - but you're an enthusiast driver so you'd be looking for that.

The XR6T

In contrast, the Rapid Yellow XR6 doesn't have the aural quality of the thundering Boss 290 V8 out of the XR8 but I don't mind the noise either.  It doesn't have the taxi drone of the naturally aspirated Barra 183s in the mid part of the range and the deeper note (courtesy of the dual exhaust) is a little more understated - which is appreciated on longer trips where comfort and efficiency are paramount.

Talking about efficiency the Barra 240T (and now in BF 245T) is one helluva unit.  Okay so it doesn't have that spine tingling roar when you press the loud pedal right to the firewall but it has this massive wall of torque available at all speeds all of the time.  Using a single low pressure turbo minimises lag and the 4 litre inline six is responsive and is full of pulling power.  It's making maximum torque in BF form just on two grand all the way to four and a half with the engine still pulling like a locomotive when you touch the cut out around six thou.

It's a lighter unit than the eight so see comments about the handling.  On a windy country road, the XR6T is the smart driver's choice - that mountain of torque means choosing your own gear is optional but you can dine out on the wall of torque in third gear as you nip in and out of the corners.  Against the XR8, you'll be carrying in more entry speed, there's a real difference in mid corner speed (or if something happens adjustability, it's more defy and nimble in the 6) and you don't have to nail it coming out as your corner speed is there compared to the 8 which is playing catch up.

Exterior wise, it looks just the same as the na XR6s, which means it's a bit of a sleeper until you decide it's time for a big boost attack as you head onto the onramp and want to dance with the traffic.

Again performance brakes are the way to go not because of the weight but because of the performance potential.  Gas consumption is better in the XR6 too but you only get 17s std in BF for the XR6T whereas the 8 gets 18s std.

As a GT cruiser, either car works I prefer the adjustability of the XR6T and the fact that the pennies I saved in purchase price bought the XR Luxury Pack so I didn't have to put up with the 'tire tread' interior finish, got dual zone... and the reverse sensing sensors that are std in the Ghia.  Means I got a car acceptable as a company car, not over the top, very quick, no worries about the gas bill with the comfort to match and still came in under budget... who'd have thunk that?

Tell me that was a copy and paste, please.

[Deaks]

Yikes your posts are long. I hope for your sake if they arent cut and pasted that you can touch type at 600 words a min.

Oh and go the XR6T, really what did you expect the majority to say? This is the XR6 Turbo Forums after all.....

[Blonk]

Excellent review..

Do you write for a living.. If so you should go for Jesse Tailors Job at Motor Magazine... I think the Clubby v's Typhoon (second opinion statement) goes to remove any doubt as to how much wa*ker he really is..

Thanks for the post

[doublek]

sign him up motor or wheels magazine.

if that doesnt convince the guy to buy the t nothing will.

[djgelling]

Casey,

Both cars are great but the T is more fun and handles and steers better. A trade-off for that wonderful exhaust note though

Totally agree. The poise and performance of the "T" are such that you don't realise how good they are until you suddenly realise the ease with which most cars are dissapearing in the rear mirror. All done without the bellowing "look at me, LOOK AT ME!!" of the V8 which also dissapears in the rear mirror around the twisty bits. Every magazine I have ever read comparing the "T" to the 8 says that the handling of the "T" is all over the 8 due to the lower weight over the front wheels and it being mounted lower in the engine bay ("T" engine is not as tall), and normally has the performance edge as well. THe "T" is extremely deceptive in its quickness because of the lack of fuss with which it does the job. Maybe I am in the OLD MAN brigade (how old do you need to be to be in that?? I'm 44.......) but when the BA came out and I started reading about the "T", I knew that for me V8's for the time being were history in my garage.

Go the "T", you won't get the smile off your face!!

[replicant]

Nope not a cut and paste just my drive impressions. Not a professional writer - have a day job that funds my other interests/passions in life including cars - although long ago in my chequered past I did train as a journalist.

[Envi_XR8]

I test drove both the T and the 8 (both 6 speed manuals) and it was the 8 that won my heart I do love the T(and very close to buying one) but the 8 did it for me.I just fell in love with that exhaust note above 4 gorillas(still gives me half a wood)it might be all over by 5 1/2 but its there and its something the T will never be able to sound like.I didn't just not buy the T cause of the Exhuast note it toke my and the misses 2 weeks to decide(and a lot of test drives) and it was the 8 that won 51% XR8 favor but that's what we found more enjoying to drive. it just comes down to what you'll find more enjoying to drive for some it will be the T and for others its the 8 like me a old man at the age of 25 according to lighting strike (XR8 = old mans car,XR6= young mans car)

[hrb93]

If you are going to leave the car standard or happy with mid 13's, go the V8, the noise is what it's all about.

If you want to go quick, get the Turbo.

[hafadude]

Hey replicant, that was an excellent post. Makes my one-liner above look p***weak

Fully agree with your comments and yes, YOU should be writing for the motoring mags! And T's are not just for youngies-I'm on the wrong side of 50 and I've never had so much fun driving a car before (Of course it helps living in NT where we can stretch a T's legs when we are out of the main city areas)