HSE2

I have one of each. I voted manual, considering the sport orientation of the site

I am with you. That is the best looking mustang ever IMO. Love the lighning too, and hope the supercooloer idea is adopted out here. Would be a real plus for the turbo!

Herald Sun drive reported that the new range of FPV car had effectively canned the import of any more stangs. Even if the demand was there as indicated by the recent motor show concepts, the power of our own cars places doubt on the viability. On average 9 per month Mustangs walked out the dorr last year.

Yeah I can’t see the factory ever ousting the 8 from king of the hill. That will lie in the hands of aftermarket for sure. The new V8 is costing a fortune. Argue able the turbo you have has already paid a price of having the V8 above it. I don't see it as being any worse than the guy who put Tickford wings on his Fairmont equipped with body kit and suspension or the person that orders the XR wheels with the Tickford wheel centre. The whole situation is a bit of a joke. Won't be long before Ford people follow Holdens lead and start to claim the FPV product is purely wank factor The whole Rice/ HSV sticker line of thought is just BS. I agree also with this perception you talk of, but the moulding either side at indicator level is hardly the same thing as the sticker is it? You own the car, you do with it what you will. Its not there to please anyone else. Each to his own. The only difference with this argument is that there is a justifiable fact that can be quantified. Put it another way. You wouldn't be removing the badge had it been there or the blue oval and XR6 badges would you! This really needs another thread. What I have talked about is not so much what people do now rather than what should have happened and the reasons for the change. You say you could live without them and less is more, well you have no choice. You either add them as some owners have indicated or you leave them the way there are. It still doesn't change the fact that the cars were developed in the way the XR has always been developed. To change this on what I see as a questionable marketing strategy or to say that the competition in the Expensive Daewoo S and SS does without HSV input, so therefore we should too, makes no sense to me. That is like saying Ford should have dropped there engineering standard to Holden’s level I know at the roll out our club attended, the question was asked, "why should we follow Holden’s marketing direction when the last generation of SS owners have been looking on with envy at the relationship the humble XR owner has with Tickford"

A FPV turbo will be the entry model Falcon so don't expect and more power than the GT in any model year. You can't seriously be suggesting that the old wings or for that matter the molded FPv logo in the side protection modeling isn't clean. Have a real close look at the front strip. that's what we are talking about

I think it would be reasonable to assume a turbo version in the FPV range will happen. The criteria, they now hold is to have an advantage over the donor car in all aspects, so one would also assume that at least 260kw would be on the table. As for the badges, yes the GT does have them. As for getting upset over them, not worth it. But it will be a disappointment to some. At the end of the day the product we drive is the most important thing. When people talk about the SS being Expensive Daewoo and the XR now being Ford cars, that is fine. HSV don't touch the SS in anyway shape or form, the same is not true for the XR. Mr Walker. I can't see why anyone would hate you for voicing an opinion. I disagree that with the fact that FPV has worked on your car means nothing. It should add something to your car. FPV are the official tuning arm of Ford here in Aust. In most situations that is something to be proud of and display. For those owners that know the process I assume they will still be talking up the FPV work. I can't see a problem with that. As for the dickheads putting HSV stickers on their Holdens, how many people put the FPV sticker on their XRs when they were sent out to us? If the GT is a production run, it isn't exclusive. You can't have exclusivity unless the numbers are capped, and the new GT isn't. They might be rare and few in numbers but that isn't the same thing

I would do the same thing. It is the truth and under the circumstances it certainly isn't a "rice thing to do" So what you are left with is a public that is going to do what the factory should have done. Where does this leave your exclusivity? Far better to control the situation in the first place

I agree. I would have preferred the XR badge to remain under the front indicator as well, as all performance Fords should wear their identification. I can't say I am too thrilled about the XR range losing this piece of Identity. What we are effectively talking about is marking bullsh*t. The strongest implication was certainly at club level, but lets face facts. For the sake of keeping it simple, any car that has been handled by FPV, and maintains the original brief to carry the wings should by definition, also carry the mark of FPV in some way. It was an issue with our club and I guess mainly with people that have been with Tickford XRs all along. It was important. As ford performance owners of the last 20 years we have had to explain and educate the public. The BA should have put an end to this once and for all, but sadly owners of Turbos and Xr8s have a FPV car to the fullest extend as dictated by history, only to lose it on what is a questionable marketing ploy. ( I assume people saw the rare shot of the Tickford wings in the BA instrumentation, where the XR logo now sits.) I tried to explore alternative suggestion with David on this subject, but for "now" this situation is going to remain. If FPV continue to do the leg work on the XR car in future models, then they really should have a good look at themselves. Having said all this, it is working. I wouldn't mind betting the owner survey mentions this point with common regularity. Your point is well made. Any owner worth his salt is going to do what the factory should have done in the first place. Where is the exclusivity then. It might be rice to do but it will be the the truth, and the ford enthusiast is going to know that and nod accordingly. After all, weren't we all sent FPV stickers to put on our XRs???? I agreed with David in that the XR range probably shouldn't wear the FPV in the same way as the GTs do, but there could have been a compromise, which wouldn't have hurt exclusivity. Just remember how well exclusivity works when you are trying to make a profit.

I reckon the FPV range will consist of Focus Turbo FPV GT GT-p GTHO A Raptor AWD maybe a long wheel base version

Interesting. I might be blind but I couldn't see a brand or type of oil. I assume this is the oil that is used from the factory? I was talking to a workshop Tech from BMW only last week about running in and oil and so forth. I was always under the impression that a new motor will always deposit metal residue into the oil while running in and that a change around the 1500 is the best way to go. As many would know the trend is away from 1500 services and towards service on demand. I was never too sure if this was mainly out of environmental reasons and pressure. Change the oil less and you don't have the waste to deal with. BMW use a full synthetic, and it would be a Castrol product and don't service the car until 25000kms. The seven Series is out to 30000kms because it is equipped with a device that monitors oil quality. The reason. According to BMW owners that change the oil at the traditional 1500 service had problems with the rings not seating. I have to admit to having a problem with this claim, unless they have an additive in the initial oil. I was always under the impression synthetic was an oil that shouldn't be used to run a motor in. When you look at that report and from what I have learnt from my conversation with MR BMW, the best quality oil on the market is what you want.

Mercury Silver for me too.

Rob Herrod has already a 220 5.4. exhaust ready and a XR8/GT exhaust under development .They claims to get a 15-20rwkw gain out of the 3V 220 5.4 unit. Keeping this in mind if they achieved similar output on the XR8 you would be knocking on the door of 290kw (flywheel). Now as a 2k option (est), that's one powerful car. The thing to keep in mind is not letting the price venture into GT territory ($59,500). If your going to do that, your better off with a GT with no options IMO. Personally I lease cars, so the difference between and XR6T and an XR8 is about $80 p/month over 3 years. I will definitely consider the Turbo, but the 8's really my thing. By the way, this is my first Post so Howdy!! Exactly. I think the turbo is going to be come more of a hit when the smoke settles. I base this on the following thinking. The drive impressions from the guys that have driven both don't seem to indicate the XR8 has a substantial performance advantage. While I think the impressions and the clock might show a greater difference, if it isn't something you can feel it isn't something you are going to appreciate. As you say the trick is that once you get the options going you are right into GT range and I agree the if you have a budget of 65k then a drive away GT is better than an optioned up XR8. I think if you are an 8 person you are going to try like mad to get to the GT. Considering it will already have 18 inch wheels and the optioned brake package from the XR8 as standard, the only real decision will be if you want Brembo's, and really these days good looking brakes are there for aesthetics more so than function.

I must say it is one reason why I never upgraded my series one AU. The next couple of motors in the XR8 and T series for that matter just didn't feel like an improvement. Most people thought I was stupid or talking crap but a dyno day soon sorted that out. I guess when I saw that I was a little disappointed with the low down response of the Turbo; you have to take into account that although my car was meant to have 185 from the factory, for some reason it is closer to 215. The dyno sheet showed the torque never dropped below 320.

There is a school of thought that suggests the 5.4 220kw unit is a real sleeper, and if you like you features the Fairmont is a very nice car. I agree with you that the BA interior can come across as hard and cheapish in appearance, but it is a comment that is slightly on the harsh side. What gives me the runs is the way they have done the centre console plastics. Possible the lowest quality manufacturing I have seen in a ford car for many a year, but that is another story. In short, and I never thought I would say this but some of the AU interior features I miss on the BA. I priced an XR8 and came to about 66k drive away. For a laugh I priced a turbo and came to 63 with out on road. You can certainly get the price up there, and come trade time I just wonder how the dealers will cope with all the options that are available.

Yeah I have to agree with the brakes as well. Have to add the cost of the wheels into the equation as well. I guess you could be looking at aftermarket for wheels brakes and leather if you were on a budget. Fact remains that it is easier to up spec the XR range than it is for the HSV range or SS to be down spec'd to a budget

Yeah I agree. The option list is where people can make the Xr range compete with various Expensive Daewoo Models. The prices for the options let alone the standard equipment of the cars seem a huge step in the right direction compared to where AU started. I Think the XR8 needs different wheels to the rest of the range but that is my only observation I will reserve my opinion on the best value untill the full specs of the GT are known

Well whats the verdict thus far? Pretty impressive in base form but have the options got away from them a bit? Very impressive list of options to, I might add

That is one hell of a job you have picked up their Mike. Seriously I have been pleased with the efforts of the dealers down here. Product knowledge lacking granted but at least an effort ti s being made.

I agree. I think the V8 will react nearly as well to the simple mods, at least I hope it does. Hi every oneone.