Tested: the Holy Grail of Ford Falcons

FULL STORY: www.caradvice....
The mighty Falcon GTHO has risen from the ashes, two years after the closure of the Ford factory - except the people who built this car can’t call it a GTHO, because it was never an official program.
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[@project_calais4977]

Actually makes me happy to see a new review of the Falcon even though its close to three years since production ended.

[@danI43541]

Even as a non-Australian, it’s really sad they don’t make these cars anymore... real beast

[@coopsnz1]

$40000usd ( 375kw ) 6 turbo

[@davey6680]

Such a waste! why not put it in a GT Falcon not some ugly 4-door sedan

[@davey6680]

@oldskoowl&pebbles travels and what im saying is why tune up a boring old ugly XR8 instead of a FPV GT

[@coopsnz1]

@@davey6680 f6 with 310 kw was $42,000usd in 2008 , it was cheaper to put a 375kw turbo in a basic falcon xr6 turbo

[@davey6680]

@@coopsnz1 rather an F6 over a new XR8

[@d_zamb573]

Disgraceful that our consumers and our government let our car industry fall. The job loss. The loss of pride. The loss of heritage.. excitement.. culture.. all gone.. this is just a taste of what could’ve been.. it is so sad.

[@XSAoRAD]

The problem is, now mums want a high perched cheap SUV with pointless bells and whistles, while money patrol wants additional revenue should you put your right foot a fraction too far downwards. That's what killed it.

[@arekingi]

Aussies obsession with anti-car culture political correctness certainly didn't help either 😥 Glad to be kiwi in that respect 😋

[@sierracharlie7293]

I'm surprised Ford Australia didn't make the last Falcon an LPG Taxi... What might have been...

[@rabidsminions2079]

The grip is phenomenal but he cant go around any corner without smoking the rear tyres.

[@aydentheninja877]

It's rear wheel drive mate what you expect and his giving it to it better than a shitty buzz box WRX that grips the road every corner this is real driving for a man

[@saauuzza]

The body of so bad it's so old it has massive body roll.

[@brendanjarvis2306]

Scott olsen how many race cars do you see smoking it up around corners....

[@saauuzza]

@mad ass doesn't mean U should get a boat. The Falcon just drives like a boat in any version.

[@tonybruce]

Exactly. It's not a fast car if you can't grip. Get real.

[@cameronvanhooft]

Now that's how Ford should've built it in the Sprint variant!

[@smartey2612]

The Aussie Gamer totally agree with u, We can only imagine unfortunately.

[@keanvanderwesthuizen3476]

Yes so true they should have done that to the sprint even the gtf it would have knocked hsv off its arse Ford fpv forever

[@Aseutester]

@@keanvanderwesthuizen3476 They are both great Aussie Made brands no need for the irrational partisanship they are very similar products after all!

[@ThemDotcomBoyz]

Ever since this went out of production all I've been seeing are mustangs on the road. Dont get me wrong I love mustangs, it's just sad there will be no more.

[@IgnitionJD]

Farewell old friend. A proper send off this one!

[@MrColourclassic]

The real question is... How are those diff bushes coping with 753NM!!?

[@TheWretchedWorld]

they don't unless it has a IMS twin diff bush hat

[@brianhoward9217]

Sprint copes OK with 650Nms . . . I reckon Premcar might have changed the bushes for something els or they'd bloody want to for that price. They do limit the power in first gear, just like Sprint so that would mitigate it to a large degree I'd say.

[@Aseutester]

Is that a Baked in problem with the Rear of the last Falcons?!

[@TheWretchedWorld]

@@Aseutester yes as they never changed anything on the last falcon other than exterior panels

[@brianhoward9217]

@@TheWretchedWorld Not quite correct. Lots of changes in Sprint FG-X over FG and even the std XR8 had new suspension tune. There are many more, there's a list but don't have access to it right now.

[@tiernanv0]

Seeing this aussie car review is a breath of fresh air

[@brianhoward9217]

I agree. Just a damn shame it wasn't a "review" but more a hoon-fest. Totally unprofessional "review" for such a momentous vehicle. Dowling should be ashamed of himself for squandering such an opportunity to bring us a quality review of this car. Instead all we get are petulant, puerile bogan powerslides - what for? Goose! Can't imagine why any respected organization would trust him to review their product ever again.

[@kmuinde]

I love this, beautiful car

[@gamerscockpit]

Was this is power slide review....??

[@mclongkock6678]

My local tuner shop can get the same power for less than 10k and another 5k if i want suspension upgrade

[@Aseutester]

Of couse, but do they offer a full drivetrain warranty too?!

[@rebelliousreptile7336]

I want the falcon back!!! It’s the 50th year of the XW. What a shame nothing will happen with Ford Australia in this year. Damn you Americans!!!

[@orion5813]

blame our pollies

[@ArmadaAsesino]

Holy body roll batman. No wonder it's only falcons that bottom out over this dip in the road where I live.

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

I would daily drive that 😍😍

[@Aseutester]

Well cars are built to be driven!

[@paname514]

Please test it against the HSV GTS-R W1. The last and final comparison of historic models, but what a send off it would be.

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

The w1 will hose this thing around the track, bigger brakes, better suspension and better chassis.

[@lachlanmattes4848]

W557 gtsrw1 as the ultimate battlr

[@orion5813]

LSA711 This thing in auto will beat it on the street I reckon. Don’t worry about track

[@captainkaos754]

AND the w1 had a proper dry dump system because it was built to be what it is, a PROPER track weapon. This thing will NEVER be worth the money a w1 is pulling even now.

[@orion5813]

Captain Kaos 99% of people have no interest in ever taking it to a track

[@mrheyfuckoff1]

This truly brings a tear to the eye. Just think what the future could have held, sadly we'll never know.

[@mariowhyte2816]

Whaaaaaaaat????!!!!!!! Amazing review of literally one of the most badass cars Ford has made.... And boom.... We don't get it in the States. I don't understand why Ford stopped sedan production of this thing and even worse why they didn't give the Fusion this beast of a set up!!!

[@brianhoward9217]

Amazing car yes . . . amazing review? Hardly.

[@super_slav91]

Grip is phenomenal, proceeds to show nothing but the opposite. Needs a bit more rubber to tame them horses.

[@Aseutester]

You can't drift that fast with a lack of grip, i know it sounds counter-intuitive but it's a fact! The Michelin Pilot series of tyres allegedly provide epic levels of grip despite having good treadwear Ratings for decent tyre life!

[@jaimusicxx]

its just an 45k aftermarket stitch up....? Lots of hi-po places around that will do more for about half the money! Whilst its a nice after market tune; this vehicle does not, have nor will it ever have the same heritage as the might XY GTHO

[@sugarnads]

None of them built by ford engineers however.

[@Monstero5o]

Dude. Powerglide 7k PT6466 $3000 Injectors $800 Fuel pump $450 Intercooler kit $2000 Valve springs and head studs for Barra plus labour $1100 Exhaust $1200 Shockworks coilovers $2000 Rims and tyres $1500 9sec car making 700-800hp. Wtf are they spending 45k on 45k you have a fully build motor, drivelines and turbo set up to making well over 1200hp and that’s in a Barra!!! Not a v8 5L! Their on crack

[@bobkats]

true words

[@Monstero5o]

@@sugarnads Yes because the last real ford engineers built the BARRA!!! that's the only real thing they built. Everything else is imported or sourced out of the USA plus aftermarket will always be king and rule supreme over factory.

[@coolkatz9012]

@@Monstero5o Good point try and buy one $100k I'm guessing even if you could find one.

[@77bubba00]

It would be wonderful if I could find one in the U.S! I'd be happy with the stock V8 car. I've had a couple Fusions (the American version of the Falcon), and the biggest engine option is a wimpy V6 turbo. Mine has the 2.5L four cylinder. Good solid car with pretty decent handling, somewhat acceptable performance, and excellent gas mileage. It's ok, but I really wish I could have had a V8! I would willingly go deeper into debt for it! 🙂

[@IIIrandomIII]

That creaking noise in cabin would drive me nuts.

[@XSAoRAD]

We've got 3 FGs in the family, great cars but damn I want a break from the squeaky interior and suspension.

[@TheTripleDubya]

Nuts !!! Love it.

[@pzkpfw2310]

Wish we got these in the US

[@markbrock8369]

Good on them for doing this upgrade package to the falcon I felt hold really did go out with a bang and ford didn't do that no they have with the holy grail pity such small numbers tho 100 would go pretty quick it's got more kw than the gtsr Holden make and far far less money for it were talking 1000 and 1000 of $$$$$$ here as the gtsr is 150,000 I just love the coyote 5.0 bloody good effort to extract that much power from a 5.0 well done boys!!!!!

[@kingstonvanderbilt4023]

The Michelin's will be bald in a week

[@Aseutester]

They were likely stuffed at the end of this shoot lol!

[@ajames718]

Compliments suspension and grip levels, out sideways every corner. Gee this thing is mental!

[@TruthSeeker0369]

Awesome!

[@smartey2612]

Such an amazing beast! The HSV Killer

[@saauuzza]

Not with that massive body roll

[@smartey2612]

Happy Cupcake you tell me what’s wrong with body roll because to me it honestly doesn’t matter. The car weights a lot what would u expect?! A V8 Supercar? As long as a 483 KW car gets around corners I’m happy with it plus it looks like u could have a lot of fun with it and kill the tyres easily in that thing with that tyre shredding power. I’m sure the HSV GTSR W1 has the same issue in terms of tyre shredding power. Here’s a little tip for u though, Not everything in life mate is perfect.

[@Robingriyaproperti]

Does the Ford Falcon still being used as a taxi in Australia today?I think Ford Australia doesn’t produce it anymore because of the closure in 2016.

[@joytech23]

They're still relatively common, they have 10 years of parts support since they ended production so about 7yrs left.

[@brianhoward9217]

@@joytech23 Yep, but moreso getting Camry hybrids now. Very rare to see a Commodore and Falcons getting rare too. Too sad. FG & FG-X were great cars and perfect for Taxis. Dubious progress I suppose.

[@orion5813]

Brian Howard There is a reason why commodores weren’t used much for taxi’s. Unreliable gm junk

[@Windwalker95]

I still see BF MKIII wagon taxi's getting about.

[@sriley064]

Learn some respect you absolute troglodyte

[@arekingi]

I still dream of a Barra powered Mustang being produced. Yes, it would likely be nose heavy and therefore pretty pointless, and also poke through the bonnet, but I would still buy one in a heartbeat and love every minute of it

[@aidenbrister1794]

This'll put any HSV to shame!

[@Aseutester]

Even the one with a factory forged and forced inducted engine?!

[@johnsmithjr9843]

Made in Australia GM Man myself, but Awesome.

[@Aseutester]

Hear hear, Gm man myself but if i had enough dollars it would be worth adding it to the collection for the sound of the Ford V8 alone!

[@Anto9453]

*Comments on how good the grip is. *Proceeds to slide and spin the wheels the whole way around the corner. Gotta love Aussie Muscle!

[@mrmysterious6006]

Wow. A falcon that can handle. About time

[@sriley064]

You've obviously never driven one and/or a commode,those holden's felt like a forklift simulator

[@larizcar2114]

It's a shame that Ford doesn't make them anymore :( this really should have been the Falcon that Ford ended on!

[@davvvvvo]

5 years to late?

[@captainkaos754]

Just like every other ford.

[@princesssolace4337]

100 to be build and 200 units to be sold and 50 would be auction and 5-10 is already written of for ANCAP.

[@geesehoward7261]

still can't go around a circuit faster than a Focus RS.

[@user-vk4vd7vr5t]

Why does it creak like an old boat when cornering?

[@captainkaos754]

Answer, it’s a ford.

[@jamacado2142]

Why do us Australians pronounce chassis as ‘shazzy’

[@jamiewest3037]

Looks like a silver top taxi. Ffs if there is only 100 ever to be made, make it look like you tried instead of putting expensive tyres on an xr8.

[@DaleTuck31]

Why looks important?

[@jamiewest3037]

@@DaleTuck31 I'm just saying for all the bang for your buck you would want your car to have a presence when the keys out of the car too. Nothing draws your eye to it. Put it in a car show and it looks boring. You might be the sleeper kinda guy and that's all good. I'm just saying they could've done a little more as it's the last one......

[@Aseutester]

@@jamiewest3037 Irrelevant to the driving experience!

[@davsquaredo79]

Why didn’t we get this in the US ??? I don’t know 🤷🏻‍♂️ id get one 😂

[@philliprobertlawman2232]

But they didn't, pity they couldn't even get the handling of par with the ls3 redline, you have to spend how much to get the falcon to handle?????

[@orion5813]

Goodnight, GTS

[@sriley064]

GTwhat? lol

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

Its going to take alot more than that to keep up with a gts around a track mate....

[@orion5813]

LSA711 another track aficionado lol. I like 99% of people who would drive these cars am not interested in track times. I reckon an auto version of this sprint would blow the doors off a w1 on the street

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

People who own fords do not track them because they are not up to task... the suspension, chassis and brakes will not cope, let along the gearboxes over heating... the zf box needs a trans cooler with any sort of power increase as they just cook. Say what you wish, but even with a $45,000 'hot up package' it will not match a standard HSV with factory warranty. LOL.

[@orion5813]

LSA711 Yes you are in the 1% that would buy these cars for track days LOL. Meanwhile you will get destroyed by a slightly modded xr6 turbo on the street and get red face lol

[@matthewkerrie7299]

Ford's biggest mess up was not only getting rid of this beauty, but also favouring the Mustang over it and refusing to sell this in North America. Honestly, It's either crossovers or a Mustang if you want a Blue Oval here now, and that is just plain depressing to those who know about the history Ford had with all their other beautiful people- and soul-movers.

[@anthonycrem7836]

Thirty thousand for the motor and exhaust upgrades and you GIVE them a factory supercharged motor....what, is the exhaust twenty-five grand with a five thousand buck tune added on? WAY overpriced!

[@keanvanderwesthuizen3476]

I rather do up a old school chev motor to its heart out see how much power I'll get out of that I luv the old chev motors they are a tough piece of machinery

[@FATALDEATHZ]

With those numbers I expect it to challenges the rivals such as the Germans or Italians but in reality, wouldn't think so

[@johnyoung4467]

Caradvise or upgrade advise?

[@loveitorscrapit6673]

Great car. Thumbs up.

[@MTT-ic3ci]

Pfft give me a barra anyday....

[@nidilian]

$45000 for 470kw pffft

[@Studat]

One problem, it's still a Ford. Bucket of shit for reliability like the 2 Ford XR6 Turbos I owned. Stick with the Commodore that has heaps more tech and tech as fuck with to date not a single problem.

[@keanvanderwesthuizen3476]

True I have never driven a hsv so I wouldn't know I know they spent money and everything into making that car I do appreciate that I'm just not a huge fan of the ls motor big power horsepower and such everyone has there choice Ford Holden they are still good cars both I prefer the old school Holden monaro or slr 5000 vl Calais turbo I luv them they are nice I am a Ford guy

[@jasonfields2793]

How could you not be a fan of the Ls that's like not being a fan of the barra they are great engines

[@TheHingshing]

Is it normal for the engine to be literally moving left and right? 1:01.

[@jacksontyler4925]

Duh

[@kinkdogg]

Sticky tyres... insert constant drifting and tyres being fried...

[@wilyworm5025]

So if you take a V8 falcon and add 40 thousand dollars worth of upgrades to the motor.....it makes it fast?........no shit!

[@Prissyoh]

Why do you turn off traction control and keep hanging the back end out? Thats so stupid.

[@ecurb10]

Nice! But enough with the drifting already!

[@curtisgreen9190]

the box wont last long at 750 nm

[@cameronvanhooft]

These ZF boxes are good for 950Nm in the Miami calibrated version

[@keanvanderwesthuizen3476]

Those boxes can take a beating they ain't for show those Miami motors are dam good compared to hsv have to make 9 litre motors to get that power while Ford using a little 5 litre supercharged motor hsv u suck fpv forever

[@bosse641]

So cool.

[@Glenno666]

Not worthy to be called a gtho, as a ford fan this pisses me off

[@lachlanmattes4848]

W557 is better

[@rabidsminions2079]

This guy has just made this car look like the ultimate drift car where the car will drift on every bend. Nice for a drift battle with a Jap 200SX Drift car on a track but not good look for the street. In fact he's made it look dangerous, what ordinary driver will want to take car on the road when it can't even take a bend without spinning the tyre's. Where is the 0-100 time? Where is the lap time? All we get is one drift after another. He's turned it into a review of the most expensive aftermarket Bogan Option. One last opportunity make it look like a Joke and make it look like an expensive Bogan Car. No respect to the car, the fan's or the Car's Heritage.

[@ImThAtGuY90]

So not even a GTHO badge

[@grantschmidt2617]

Yea, that's good and all.. but will it get chopped by an RS3?

[@cameronvanhooft]

Definitely not

[@richardnixon4345]

Hope they put a drive shaft in that wasn't rated to just 180 kph.................1950's technology in 2017

[@MarmiteTheDog]

What's a shazzy?

[@taupiria]

Jason Manning ha I was thinking the same. Maybe his wife sharon?

[@8058074]

Look like a Jaguar xf

[@ML-oz2gr]

$44ooo extra? Nah dude

[@darnellavery1545]

So who else thinks it's a cross between a Optima and a fusion

[@juniorrikaumaki5027]

why stop building these muscle falcons, must be working on a ford froggy frog 🐸

[@joshheard3131]

Ford just tryna compete with the gtsr w1

[@sriley064]

You mean absolutely dominating the false prophet

[@johno121o]

Now if someone could just donate one to me

[@Monstero5o]

Engine and exhaust $30,000? Are you fucking mad? $7000 in a xr6t and it makes 700hp with only valve springs and headstuds in the engine. That’s a fucking joke. On the fgx xr8’s just change the charger belt injectors and fuel pump it does 600hp and that’s under 2-3k lol coilovers $2300 mca. Bullshit prices lol

[@ZedEff420]

waaaaaah me want!!!!

[@danielholland3991]

S H A Z Z Y.

[@livenloud6697]

1/4 et please. The bullshit stops when the flag drops..

[@ramudithadesilva8547]

sadly still a ford

[@cameronalexander359]

Bit late!

[@MrZillaman73]

Pointless for the street! And customers want more power! Insane in the membrane.

[@Aseutester]

In your opinion.

[@brandonrossi1261]

You would hope it also come with upgraded diff bushes haha 🤣

[@merkywater4142]

click bait crap

[@iceblue1963]

Childish review...

[@lesmotley6839]

A really pointless car. I have no idea who it is marketed to. The average bogan won't even be able to afford the tyres.

[@davvvvvo]

Snoring, a stock 1985 Holden gemini would own this at the lights...

[@II_4_R_Z_II]

BoneR not a single chance with its 49 KW of power

[@Studat]

@@II_4_R_Z_II at least it is reliable unlike the Ford

[@II_4_R_Z_II]

Stuart reliable? Um no they are obviously not reliable because they sell for cheap as chips and there’s almost none on the road

[@Studat]

@@II_4_R_Z_II that's cos they are a 100 years old 😂😂😂

[@II_4_R_Z_II]

Stuart 100 years old? That’s funny coz production was only from 1975 - 1986

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

ahah still wont keep up with a HSV around a track!!

[@Levi-qb2uf]

Easy to make the argument the Commodore is better on the track because it is, it was built party to tackle a track but who in real life is gonna take these two cars to a track? The Falcon was built to handle tough Australian road conditions i.e rough roads, long distances. What's even worse that after both GM Holden and Ford Australia has ended production you're still carrying on which is better in which circumstances, these cars will never be made again so grow up, be like the rest of us and respect both brands for great memories and rivalries they have given us in the past. Just look at our Aussie motorsport now, a American car vs a German vs a Japanese? I like both Holdens and Fords but have a preference to Ford, and others have a preference to Holden and I respect that and you should to and stop this stupid bickering over which car WAS better.

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

@Levi Roth heaps of hsv owners track their cars, me being one of them. They have a far superior suspension/chassis/brakes package over the ford counterpart which allows them to run very decent lap times for a 1.8t streetcar.. its just funny that it has taken a "hot up shop" and $45,000 package to make them half okay on the track... HSV have been doing this with factory warranty for years lol

[@brianhoward9217]

@@Levi-qb2uf VERY well said Levi. The old tribalism was childish at best. Both cars were wonderful, especially when it got to VF2 and FG-X. I was planning on a GTS-R as my retirement present to myself but, LONG story short I ended up getting a Sprint 6. No regrets as I ended up with the most Aussie of them all, which makes me feel happy. The had-of-God shove I get is to die for :-)). Would still love a GTS-R too but, sadly, no time to drive both OR space to keep them! Cheers mate.

[@alanmansour477]

@@AlsAllAussieAdventures Yes and look where that got Holden. Nowhere. People think Ford threw all they could at the Falcon to make it great when in actual fact the performance arms where extremely limited to what they could achieve for financial reasons. This car is not the one to destroy any HSV, it is to show what the last Halo Falcon could of been had the bean counters allowed them.

[@AlsAllAussieAdventures]

@@alanmansour477 yes and look where it got ford and fpv too! They bailed out of australia nearly 2 years before holden did... its more to do with aussie industry costs than the holden or ford as a company... the fact of the matter is, this fgx is the best car they have made and i respect that, but its still along way short of the last hsv's.

[@fredderf551]

30 grand 600hp boosted v8 is fucking laughable. Its not a ford special vehicle so will it go up in value or is it at top dollar? Pretty shitty car review .

[@sekamuli]

1

[@wozzgalaxy]

Don't push it, just 1 for now