CJF077 The Noble Leader Administrator 4,786 Member For: 22y 2m 26d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Australia Posted 02/01/03 11:31 PM Share Posted 02/01/03 11:31 PM Reading the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) Newspaper this morning it states:Ford's Comeback Kid, The BA Falcon has continued its sweep of awards today winning the News Limited Star Car Award.The Award voted on by the motoring writers of News Limited papers throughout Australia was first presented in 1997.Congratulations once again to Ford :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superoo Member 340 Member For: 22y 2m 6d Gender: Male Posted 02/01/03 11:53 PM Share Posted 02/01/03 11:53 PM The Herald-Sun card guide also has a write up on the XR6 T today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJF077 The Noble Leader Administrator 4,786 Member For: 22y 2m 26d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Australia Posted 02/01/03 11:54 PM Author Share Posted 02/01/03 11:54 PM What does it say fill us in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superoo Member 340 Member For: 22y 2m 6d Gender: Male Posted 03/01/03 12:10 AM Share Posted 03/01/03 12:10 AM It says what we've come to expect. Can't find a URL though.Article is titled "Turbo Man is terrific"They liked performance, value and boot spaceDidn't like it's weight and some driveline shunt in the manual.Quote:"The bottom line? Turbo Man is the best of the barra bunch and a car that's going to make a lot of long term friends"Worst bit about the article is the shocking mistake that states - Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo $43,965 as tested (five-speed automatic).Hmmm mine isn't built yet but I'm ringing my delaer now cause I want this new tranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJF077 The Noble Leader Administrator 4,786 Member For: 22y 2m 26d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Australia Posted 03/01/03 12:29 AM Author Share Posted 03/01/03 12:29 AM Worst bit about the article is the shocking mistake that states - Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo $43,965 as tested (five-speed automatic).Hmmm mine isn't built yet but I'm ringing my delaer now cause I want this new tranny. I think its just a print mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Member 249 Member For: 22y 1m 6d Location: Sydney Posted 03/01/03 07:36 AM Share Posted 03/01/03 07:36 AM That sounds like the base price before on roads, dealer delivery etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superoo Member 340 Member For: 22y 2m 6d Gender: Male Posted 03/01/03 01:04 PM Share Posted 03/01/03 01:04 PM That sounds like the base price before on roads, dealer delivery etc. It is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagabond Bored Member Administrator 35,722 Member For: 22y 1m 24d Gender: Male Location: Dé·jà vu Posted 03/01/03 02:08 PM Share Posted 03/01/03 02:08 PM FORD FALCON XR6 TURBO Verdict: four stars A swift new starRoad test: Ford Falcon XR6 TurboBy PAUL GOVER03jan03A NEW-AGE superhero has joined the Barra Falcon family. Turbo Man doesn't wear his underpants on the outside or rumble and grumble like a V8, but he has brought new muscle and power to the XR sports sedans.The force-fed family fighter also gives Ford a much more youthful approach to performance motoring and is more in tune with the enthusiasts who have turned the Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo into Aussie cult cars. Twentysomethings are more likely to turn to a turbo than a V8, and even older drivers will appreciate the turbo choice of on-demand power without guzzling too much fuel. Turbo Man has already created a rare waiting list at Ford dealers, matching that of Holden's SS Commodore hero, and is likely to become a long-term star for the blue oval. The XR6 Turbo will be overtaken soon by the pumped-up XR8 with its race-style looks, old-fashioned V8 thump and 260kW of power. But Turbo Man looks sharp and is well equipped, comfortable and surprisingly swift. It can take some taming if you're rushing down a winding road, and the driveline is a bit primitive, but there is a lot to like about the car. The basics of the latest BA Falcon package were more than good enough to win this year's Star Car award from the News Limited motoring team, and to ease the latest Ford -- dollar for dollar and model for model -- to a narrow lead over the latest updated VY Commodore. Holden has done a very good job on its latest showroom update, but Ford has gone further and harder to bank a future for its Falcon. Turbo Man was always part of the plan and does well from the latest body and cabin changes. The XR now looks a lot more refined but still has a muscle-car edge and the signature four-lamp front end, while the interior's supportive front buckets and new dash do a good job. But it's the suspension tuning, the better brakes and, of course, the 240kW twin-cam turbo six that do the best work for the XR6 Turbo. Ford's engineers actually had to detune the motor and cut its power to ensure there was still space for a "King of the Hill" V8 GT this year and to keep to the step-by-step model lineup which every carmaker uses to bring customers up through its showroom family. Turbo Man is great value at $43,965, which puts it right up against the WRX at $42,490 and between Holden's latest Commodore SV8 "starter" sporty and the benchmark SS at $49,490. It also competes against the enjoyable but overdone Ralliart Magna at $48,990. The other most likely rival, Nissan's turbo 200SX, is now dead and gone, but the XR6 Turbo -- particularly with the latest touch-change automatic -- could be a contender against a sweep of imports, including BMW and Audi, the souped-up MG ZT sedans and some cheaper choices from Alfa and Jaguar. It's well equipped with aircon, electric assists, anti-skid brakes, traction control, alloy wheels, spoilers and quality CD sound. All this should put Turbo Man on a lot of shopping lists, but not if you're considering a hero car from Holden Special Vehicles. They're a different breed, as well as more costly and quicker, and a job for Ford's forthcoming and long-overdue GT. On the road WE WERE fans of Turbo Man from the first time we dropped into the XR6 -- even earlier, actually, when we got our first look at the latest XR body treatment. The new nose is more restrained, far less "I'm a bad boy", but it still trips the XR circuits with car enthusiasts. Even non-believers should notice the chunky alloys and spoilers, but Ford has made the badges a bit bigger in case they're not convinced. So it should work with WRXers and also with older buyers who want something seriously fast but less obvious. The driving experience in the XR Turbo is terrific. It is a seriously quick, straight-line car that will sprint to 100km/h in less than six seconds and is great fun when you take the turbine to speed and the needle towards the red. The latest twin-cam six is commendably smooth and vibration-free, even in the XT, and the turbo conversion makes a good motor better. A lot better. It has enough basic torque to get things rolling and you can feel the turbo boost from less than 3000 revs. It's even eager for a top-end surge, which is great fun in second and terrific for overtaking on country backroads. Negatives? The gearshift is slow and a driveline shunt means you feel the forces being fed through the gearbox, tailshaft and back end. It's not a clunky creaker, but a hard-run car could feel pretty old by the time it hits 80,000km. The BA Falcon has a great ride and a nice handling balance, so you'd expect the same in the Turbo. It delivers. Usually it's a turn-and-go sort of car, with good steering feel and a nice balance you can adjust with the right-hand pedal. It can be braked hard and late without turning nasty. But . . . if you are hustling, and you get violent or rely too much on the front-end bite, it can get very busy. It is a heavy car, and that weight will eventually take over, despite the sound suspension. We really enjoyed the latest Barra cabin, and the chance to finally sit down "in" the car instead of perching up above the wheel. The multi-adjustable wheel and well-shaped seats are as good as almost anything short of a Recaro upgrade. The new controls are well designed, feel good and work well. The dials are nice, too. The XR also comes with great headlamps, real room for five adults and a huge boot -- as you'd expect in any Falcon -- and is noticeably quieter and more refined, even with the noisier Dunlop sports tyres. The bottom line? Turbo Man is the best of the Barra bunch and a car that's going to make a lot of long-term friends. Herald Sun Key facts Price as tested: $43,965 as tested (five-speed automatic) Engine: 4.0-litre turbocharged inline six with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder Power: 240kW at 5250 revs Torque: 450Nm at 2000-4500 revs Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Body: Four-door sedan Dimensions: Length 4917mm, width 1864mm, height 1444mm Weight: 1672kg Fuel tank: 68 litresConsumption: 13.4 litres/100km (average on test) Suspension: Independent double wishbone front end and independent control blade rear, with anti-roll bars Steering: Power assisted rack-and-pinion Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear discs Wheels: 7.5Jx17 alloy Tyres: 235/45 R17 Warranty: Three years/100,000km How it comparesSubaru WRX **** (from $42,490) Holden Commodore SV8 **** (from $40,490) Holden Commodore SS **** (from $49,490) MG ZT *** (from $56,990) Click for reviewClick for the 2002 RoundupIf i read the word TURBO MAN 1 more time in that review i think i would have puked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJF077 The Noble Leader Administrator 4,786 Member For: 22y 2m 26d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Australia Posted 03/01/03 02:44 PM Author Share Posted 03/01/03 02:44 PM :banghead: very nice Dagabond.. Thanks mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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