Ford AU Falcon launch story (Ten news 1998 report)

[@fatcat8776]

AU's are awesome they still stand out today on the roads next to the "me too" styling of every other car of the period, big thumbs up to Ford Oz for taking a gamble, even though it didn't pay off. Not only are they striking to look at but have proved to be good cars in the long run, I've owned 2 so far

[@MrBronsen15]

they were ahead of the game. I really love my AU, just done over 100,000 Ks.

[@yusuf.alajnabi]

The Au is one of the most underrated cars of all time. It was in my opinion a much better car than the commadore VT and VX. A lot of people say that Holden sold more cars however how many do you see on the road today. There a plenty of AUs getting around. This model is one to watch out for in the future.

[@paulsz6194]

Well, if they sold more, the likelyhood is you would see more. It’s the rules of probability. It’s like if you buy more raffle tickets, you have more of a chance of winning , right?😊

[@yusuf.alajnabi]

@paulsz6194 holden may have sold more cars during the period but they certainly didn't last as long. Ask anyone who has owned an AU. Most will say how good of a car they were.

[@paulsz6194]

@@yusuf.alajnabi I don’t doubt that. Falcons 4.0L six was always more robust, but I was speaking in terms of likelihood of seeing a commodore on the road, over a Falcon.

[@dsm1983A]

I agree, my au is about to clock over 500,000km and still going strong.

[@franciesruber6881]

I right behind you at 330ks xr8 au

[@macedonianhungguy]

Francies Ruber my T3 ts50 has done 2ks 🤣

[@MrBronsen15]

@@macedonianhungguy my 2000 forte has done 105,000. Had 86K when i got it 3 years ago. was a little old ladies

[@AydanD69]

I got a xr6 au Ute and it’s got 280,000kms on the clock but it’s had a sedan cluster put in it so I have no clue how many kms

[@andymills2985]

Mines at 350 I need to drive around Australia more

[@UPINSMOKEAUS]

bring back ford australia ❤

[@paulsz6194]

Ford Australia is still around, it’s locally made car’s , that aren’t ..

[@DangerAngelous]

AUs aren’t horribly ugly but just softer and happier than the aggressive ‘fkn wot m8’ VT

[@Davez621]

The look of the car was improved dramatically when they added the Fairmont grille (series 2 onwards), larger 16-inch wheels, clear (rather than orange) rear indicators, and body coloured mirrors/side moldings. There's no reason they couldn't have done all this from the start. I don't think the car has to be lowered at all to look good.

[@TheMightyFordFalcon]

despite it's appeirence to some the AU is a fantastic and very reliable car. Very cheap to buy and maintain, and repair if it ever needs to be! Dont ever under estimate the mighty AU! It still doesn't look its age either. heres a good read, A thread i started on the australian ford forums... www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11350680 ( you may need to register to view )

[@MentalExistence]

Best car ford has ever made

[@shinobishamitzu4338]

Xb and Au, I like both equally. Everybody loved the hq in the day and hated the Xa xb xc same happened with the Au. Everybody hated the Au and loved the Vt. Now a big turn around

[@Davez621]

Wow, I just realized I uploaded this on September 2nd, the same date that this segment aired in 1998! Complete coincidence.

[@StreetDrilla]

nice

[@turboshaft77]

I agree that body-coloured trim and clear lights really lifted the look of the model, and of course the replacement of the Forte waterfall grille. They also made the front and rear bumpers a little more substantial and lowered the ride height for AU II. The VT Commodore Exec didn't even have any side rub protection moldings, but the Acclaim came with black ones, and black mirror covers. Black-trimmed items helped differentiate the models and protect the appeal of the more upmarket models.

[@paulsz6194]

VT Accailm actually had grey door mouldings, it was the VX that had the back ones, VY/VZ had body coloured ones.

[@kateotoole6690]

Take That, Yorak Hunt!

[@dazmac159]

My AU V8 Wagon here in NZ still a mint daily!🏄‍♀️🤙

[@paulsz6194]

I hope it’s on LPG, as fuel costs a fortune in NZ !

[@dazmac159]

@@paulsz6194 petrol all the way. Comparable to falcon/Commodore6, Rumbling cruiser!🏄‍♂️🤙

[@jamesfrench7299]

I can see why people were initially shocked when the cover was lifted but just look at it next to the VT. They look like they are from completely different eras. That AU looks like it was sent to the past. It makes sense now. The AU was too ahead in the looks department. It has payed dividends in looking fresh and interesting today. Looks like my neighbour's prediction 20 years ago that the styling will make the car collectable in the future may come true. More people are taking to them. I'm starting to like the first forte now.

[@kevinsweeney2052]

I think the AU wagon with the sharktooth grill looks great!!!!!

[@turboshaft77]

Funny how he says there's "no radical design difference" between the AU and the VT. The design of the AU was so radically different to other Aussie cars that it helped push buyers away from Ford. Personally, I think a lowered AU with tasteful wheels and no spoiler looks pretty good today. I agree with Mike Wild, look after the AU reasonably and it will reward you with trouble-free motoring.

[@paulsz6194]

With the exception of leaking power steering pumps and central locking motor modules failing….

[@allisterdavidson9805]

I wonder it it'll sell well ?

[@GreendragonDMX]

its only Ugly to those who see it as ugly, i own a 1999 AU XR8, have owned plenty of E series Falcons a BA and a current FG Falcon and i still prefer the look of the AU, had the car for 4 years and not ONCE have i had to touch the engine apart from a regular service every 10,000ks, everything else is wear and tear and i replace

[@lucaweller3371]

Guess you guys aren't ready for that yet But your kids are gonna love it

[@Davez621]

"It's a shorter car, but taller" - er, AU = 4907mm long. EL = 4906mm long. Specs say that it's 1mm longer. No idea where they got the idea that it's shorter.

[@PunksloveTrumpys]

Compared with the VT

[@Davez621]

@@PunksloveTrumpys Nope, VT is shorter than AU. In fact there has never been a Commodore that's been longer than Falcon.

[@scabootie]

Wheelbase maybe

[@K_240YT_ALT]

@@Davez621 interesting

[@paulsz6194]

They were reading straight from Fords Media hymn sheet they where supplied. They Didn’t do any of their own independent, critical analysis here…

[@sambaker3233]

Best taxis ever.

[@pummyy]

Little did they know they will become bogan icons one day

[@Aaron_the_amazing]

Best car

[@SuperSteveDunn]

I had a couple as company cars and although an excellent long distance touring car it had some shocking design flaws like the fire wall collapsing on the 5 speed manual (happened on au3 x6 ) and the ridiculous and down right dangerous loss of rear end traction which was minimized when traction control was introduced.

[@ayrproductions]

All Falcons had that firewall issue when it came to clutch cables. I had an XG which had the same problem. Used to have to weld a plate in that area to prevent it as it was a notorious weak point.

[@paulsz6194]

@@ayrproductions wow, can't believe they allowed that flaw to exist for so long.

[@ayrproductions]

@@paulsz6194 it was something that didn’t come up until well after the warranty ran out. In my XG it didn’t show up until it was 20 years old.

[@paulsz6194]

@@ayrproductions wasn’t aware of that, Thanks for the extra info.

[@idioty33]

and the tickford models with their insane body kits actually looked awesome, the pursuit 250 ute in my opinion is still the best looking falcon ute

[@Warpedsmac]

Mechanically the AU was quite good, (I owned a V8 1 tonner) styling based on Taurus was too advanced for Australian market...for me, at 190cm tall, the shape of the doors and not being parallel to the sill was a real issue..banged my head on the rapid curve of the front pillar countless times...!!!!

[@Youcanonacanon]

The BA sold more in 2003 than the AU in 1999. In 2002, the BA was only sold towards the end of the year, so it doesn't count as a full year of sales. The Falcon also sold more in 1996 than it did in 1999, even counting ute sales.

[@DaleTuck31]

Youcanonacanon But the AU as a whole sold more than any E Series or B Series.

[@ayrproductions]

@@DaleTuck31 Well it was sold for longer. BA was only sold for three years, EA, AB, ED, EF and EL for two each model. The AU was actually the longest running single model until the FG came along.

[@joelmichealrecchia2883]

The Australian Ford Taurus

[@Davez621]

No! This car is rear wheel drive. Taurus was front wheel drive. Big difference.

[@ayrproductions]

Except the AU was actually reliable

[@xraider927]

​@@Davez621 The Falcon is like the Crown Victoria of Australia, Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@Davez621]

The reporter says the engine is new but that's false. It was completely carried over from the EL Falcon - they didn't even change the power or torque outputs one ioda. The only "new" thing about the engine was the VCT technology which was found only on the Fairmont and Fairlane models - a bit misleading.

[@newbz89]

It's a same the looks of the AU were shit, because overall its a really reliable car, and the I6 engine is one of the best they made, shits all over the B and F series Falcons

[@umirinbrah9245]

now theyre skidpigs

[@jamesblack683]

Ford and holden are both good but both lack good drivetrains.had both motors in stocks working hard but in all reality both good engines

[@mickeynismocat]

Mexican hoon cartel likes this! 🤣 But in all seriousness you can't kill them, strong as!

[@___juxzkohzy___5633]

Hard to think these things can run 20 psi of boost

[@katelinmarie5360]

1:03 --> "The engine... also... new." Err... yeah, okay. It wasn't tho. Same power & torque figures as the EF/EL.

[@_____7704]

VCT ya nugget

[@BlairSauer]

Au Falcons are the most feminine looking cars ford ever made. If you think the Au Falcon looks were bad, try looking at the styling of the 1996/97 Ford Taurus Ghia. They looked worse than what the Au Falcon ended up looking like. I still think the Au Falcons look good now. Sometimes the uglier or the most feminine in styling, the better. The AU Falcon turned out to be a very reliable car. They had good steering response and the front end handling was better thanks to an alloy front crossmember added to the revised subframe assemblies. Base model AU forte looked gawky in the series one guise but I've seen brochures from the time and you could option things like a spoiler and alloy wheels and a body kit to make it look better. And the Au Falcon came out with a dedicated LPG option or you could have a dual fuel option as well.

[@dufensmertz1]

My series 3 AU had over 650.000km on the clock when I retired it . ( I bought a BA sedan ) Diff whined , trans slipped and engine made a horrible grinding noise .. Still no rust in the body..

[@GreendragonDMX]

they did it because they were trying to make it a cheaper affordable car, you could buy a brand new AU Falcon Forte with Aircon and Power Steering for less then a V6 Camry, people seen it as a cheap car and not built with quality because of it and went elsewhere it had absolutely nothing to do with the looks, sales will even show that, in 1999 the AU Falcon sold MORE cars and utes then the BA did in 2002 and more then a EF Falcon in 1996

[@7120Magnum]

Of course the AU sold better in 1999 than the BA did in 2002 because the AU was the current car all through the 1999 calendar year. BA only came out at the end of September 2002, meaning it was only on the market for 3 months of that year.

[@samartz]

My mums one had a rusty exhaust and kept burning oil only at 5 years old!

[@paulsz6194]

depends on the Klms travelled not just the age. Also, depends where the car is kept- does it get cold & foggy at night where the car is kept? That will contribute to the exhaust rust...

[@samartz]

@@paulsz6194 Kept outside, TBH Ive had an Alfa Romeo which was more reliable!

[@mikeanthony589]

Ironically the ugliest ever Falcon is also dubbed by owners, taxi drivers and the press as the most reliable bullet proof falcon ever made. The only things that go on it are bullshit little things that if tight ass owners don't fix, they end up like an EA1, but keep on top of it and the car will never break down. I have never seen an AU stranded on the side of the road. Plenty of VTs though. And I own and drive a CAMRY

[@351clevelandmodifiedmotor4]

and where is Holden now????? dead

[@ats1328]

Never new that AU falcon's had a distributor like the EL's did

[@MOS-MHz]

Yeah Ford couldnt get the dedicated coil system right after the EF until the BA

[@Bobman84]

AU had coil pack, no distributor.

[@appletechlikes7075]

Sick of people saying it’s ugly, just because one person said it, everyone want to join the bandwagon. Have you seen the mercs which had similar looks??? Get over yourselves.

[@brentrylatt-forrest5355]

Now 70% have a weldy and choppys 🤣🤣

[@joelmichealrecchia2883]

I mean a rear wheel drive that looks like the design of a Taurus.

[@Warpedsmac]

yes many don't recognise the great similarities...In the US some factory Taurus were very potent turbo charged powered.

[@351clevelandmodifiedmotor4]

Ford vs Holden Lardner park, search it, it's a test of durability that the Ford AU won,

[@Xannvy]

AU >> VT

[@johnfalzon5391]

Did you know the Ba was already designed in 1998 as ford knew the Au was a flop,but unfortunately for ford they didn't get the Ba released until 2002 and that was to late to save ford Australia in the long run.

[@RandomAussie89]

source?

[@Nthstar]

@john falzon The BA looks so boring and bland compared to the AU.

[@jackbollingmoore7554]

Ford Falcon (AU) vs Holden Commodore (VT)

[@captainspaulding1662]

AU was and is far better car, apperence was it's downfall.

[@Magpie_Mark92]

Thats why the XR model was better as it didnt have those triangle headlights

[@beyondbackwater4933]

The VT and VX was disgusting, I don't know why the AU was called ugly.

[@doodlebob-t1t]

to be fair both werent pretty but got the job done

[@davidbayley9588]

You need to go and get your eyes tested

[@belchy94]

The AU might not have look but fuck the falcon had a solid straight 6 that last forever and see more AU's still on the road compared to the VT which in my opinion is a piece of shit as we had both cars and the AU is hands most reliable, the VT just died

[@maelradec6766]

Considering that you can still buy a ford in Australia but the commy is dead, sorry but ford won that 1

[@jaggerdfletcher1618]

Yewww the mighty AU shitbox.

[@tabloidjunk]

Definitely one of the ugliest cars ever built. Obviously Ford wanted to try something new and extreme for the new millennium, But they took a real risk making a car for the masses look like an alien shark.. And they lost the bet. It was the beginning of the end.

[@onizuka72]

The cockroach rear end

[@bobba84]

“New” engine hahahah

[@Magpie_Mark92]

EL looked alot better but mechanically a lemon. AU were aweful design but mechanically brilliant

[@Warpedsmac]

Yes, mechanically a solid car. Had a V8 ute

[@willmorgan365]

Fords ugliest Falcon no doubt.

[@MOS-MHz]

Was the biggest flop for Ford Australia, in all fairness the VT looks like utter shit and hasnt aged well in todays standards but thats not saying much. The AU running gear was great but as for appearance a huge step back from the EL. The sad thing is the fail of the AU forced Ford to milk the shit out of the revamped AU (BA) to get back on their feet. The BA shares the same suspension, chassis and body shape besides a revamp of the front and rear panels along with revamped powerplants and interior. In other words without a style change and new engine dev the BA is the same car. Wasnt till 2008 with the FG Ford finally revamped the suspension and design, 10 years of milking the AU. The AU nearly wiped them out of the market

[@Chris-tl3vr]

What a load of bs, the AU's styling is subjective and it has stood the test of time pretty well imo and they're solid, comfortable and probably the most reliable Falcon overall ever. As for the BA being basically the same car? Rubbish. The suspension was completely revised (control blade suspension was not in the AU, nor was IRS standard across the range), there was a totally new V8 engine and the 6 cylinder was heavily revised and gained a significant power increase in the BA (DOHC and dual VCT in BA), a new tiptronic gearbox, completely overhauled interior, not to mention a complete redesign of the front and rear ends from AU to BA, higher levels of safety equipment and the list goes on...Get a clue before spouting crap.

[@ayrproductions]

Actually the IRS between the two is also different. The AU's IRS is far superior, but a lot more expensive to make. BA uses a cheaper control blade IRS.

[@chepachii]

@@ayrproductions Not know we ing the differences all I know is I was in the market for a Ford,drove BFs and BAs .An AU fairmont came up a bit cheaper and for the heck of it took a test drive,Bugger me dead it felt way better to drive, I love it..Best buy ever IMO and the look has grown on me.

[@ayrproductions]

@@chepachii AUs are also a lot more reliable and easier to work on. Just try changing an upper heater hose or set of spark plugs on a Barra!

[@chepachii]

@@ayrproductions yeah ,nice and easy for sure.Being an older car a few things on them that if maintained help IMO.Little things like keeping all the door seals clean and treated,drain holes,external trim coated etc etc.Just attention to detail,the things are 20 years old.Just look after them and they will treat you in kind I've found.

[@footynerd358]

whos here after the tik tok

[@The401209]

It looks it's age now, I owned the series 2 and what a pile of garbage. It's the one car that made me not buy a falcon until the FG which I have now a beautiful car. The Au was a rushed car unreliable and a steaming pile of turd I have nightmare's about the money I spent on keeping it running.

[@rodneymcgiveron]

+sandy guy G'day...You must have been unlucky...Just the opposite for me..My 2001 Series 2 AU futura is the ONLY car I've never wanted to part with...The biggest problem in 13 years ownership was the voltage regulator on the alternator and a very slight seepage of the steering rack...and the clock illumination bulb although the clock itself still works fine..Mind you , the FG is especially nice ...Thousands LOVE the AU...I'm one of them..

[@MomenKaziVideos]

In my opinion, all the Falcon's built before 2008 are garbage, their reliablity is garbage, it shows it age and the engine isn't unique from each make and model. The newer Falcon's were planned out correctly, fuel economy needs to be revised tough and a better interior as well as its infotainment screen on the Falcon and Territory since its showing its age now!

[@The401209]

your dead right brother anything before 08 was dead set shit. Oh well Mustang for me next, But only as a used unit I'll never buy new.

[@Davez621]

+sandy guy Why won't you buy new?

[@The401209]

CheesyTV All aussie cars are junk brother