BA II is coming in September regardless of what most of you think!

John Mellors Go AUTO which is one of the industries biggest dealership newletters has stated in an article that the BA II will be released in September, along with the VZ in August.

That backs up my source pretty well!!!!

I would bet a few bucks that you're right, as GMH and Fmco always tend to do a series update at the same time a new model is released ala VZ, to take the edge off the release. Rumors!!-- one of humankinds greatest ever time wasting incarnations :lol: gotta love em!!

hopefully the ute will get a colour screen!

I really cannot see the gearboxes being changed, if they did that the car would have to go into testing for a pretty long period of time, and Ford wants the Series II to be pretty much fault free. If they change the gearbox and some of the driveline components then they are going to back where they were when they released BA I, with some toothing problems, which at the end of the day leaves alot of unhappy customers and costs them a fortune in warranty work.

Basically expect to see what we seen in AU series II, Ford won't change gearbox or power levels with a Series II upgrade, and if they do only expect the V8 models to get any changes, the I6 wont change at all. We have to remember Ford spent 500 Million on developing this car, obvioulsy they want a good return on investment before they start pulling it apart and spending more money on it. Maybe the Expensive Daewoo will have an advantage, but at the same time remember the VY is still a VT underneath, where as Ford has already done the upgrades with the BA. Compare the BA to the AU, then the VY to the VT - theres a pinch sh*t of difference between a VT and a VY, between the AU and BA they are totally different cars, they only thing they share is the door skins.

that's the logic in it, I know most of you guys arent going to like it, but I can pretty much certainly assure you that's how it is. Expect to see things like a sunglasses holder in all models, colour coding for the XT, Black headlights accross the range instead of the Chrome ones the Futura / Fairmont get, and maybe a series II badge if your lucky. Otherwise there will be a few new trims, and a new range of alloy rims and hubcaps for the XT.

Finally the last thing im going to say, RESALE - If Ford changes the gearboxs, then its going to hurt the resale of the 5speed/4speed cars is it? Lets just say I dont think we will see a Six speed manual or a Six speed Auto within the next 18 months.

Edited 08/04/04 10:01 AM08/04/04 10:01 AM by AUIIIXR6VCT

that's the logic in it, I know most of you guys arent going to like it, but I can pretty much certainly assure you that's how it is. Expect to see things like a sunglasses holder in all models, colour coding for the XT, Black headlights accross the range instead of the Chrome ones the Futura / Fairmont get, and maybe a series II badge if your lucky. Otherwise there will be a few new trims, and a new range of alloy rims and hubcaps for the XT.

Finally the last thing im going to say, RESALE - If Ford changes the gearboxs, then its going to hurt the resale of the 5speed/4speed cars is it? Lets just say I dont think we will see a Six speed manual or a Six speed Auto within the next 18 months.

You have pretty much hit the nail on the head. New gearboxes are at least 18 months away and minimum changes for series 2.

I don't think resale is being protected because the trade in value of the BA has dropped horribly in the last few weeks. Its been around so long without an update that the market is being flooded with them. Trade in price on most models dropped 3-4 thousand overnight a few weeks ago.

Resale is still strong overall, but these are prices going at the wholesale end of things as of last week:

XT Falcons for $23,000

Futuras for $25,000

Fairmont Ghia $33,000 --> Particular car had 40,000 kms, I was shocked considering it was a late 03 plate!

However XRs are still holding ground to a point. I seen an XR6 NA go for $29,000 last week at Auction, was an early build with 60,000 kms, and another one with 15,000 kms for like $37,000 which I thought was high considering it was stock!

Turbos are bringing close to $40,000 though with about 20,000 kms, there are a heap of ex fleet ones floating around.

XR8 - well theres hardly any around at the moment, I seen a particular one with under 10,000 kms with every option available except satnav and it went for around $46,000.

Fairlanes are slow - have only seen an offshore write off so far and they wanted $28,000 for it.

I expect in the next few months Ford will be offering Ex Program BA XT's for $20,888, which will really stuff the market up alot!!!

Another reason Ford wouldn't put new gearboxes in the series 2, is that from a sales point of view they don't need to. They are selling plenty of cars with the current gearboxes, so there is no incentive for them to change it. If sales slowed dramatically, then they might decide that they need to do something to improve the car.

One dealership offered me $40000 trade in price on my 4 month old XR8 sedan. With options it would be about $55000 new. With employee discount it cost me $46000. The market for BA's has plummeted. My dad got $35000 for his NA XR6 a month earlier and they said he was very lucky he got in when he did. His had 16,000kms on it too where mine has half that.

I've heard that even with employee discount it still may be 3-4k change over. Bit of a joke if you ask me. My last one only cost me $400 change over. And before you say its just XR8's you are wrong. One person I know was offered $4000 change over on an XR6 NA. Holding on so long before an update only helps resale up to a certain point.

And so the rumour mill turns again, I still can't get a straight answer out of my dealer as to what Trans the Typhoon will have in it and he's got a swag of my dosh. (please god don't let it be a T5)

So Doc,

If the F6 has a T5 are you still a buyer?

(l would be having serious doubts if it were a T5)

And so the rumour mill turns again, I still can't get a straight answer out of my dealer as to what Trans the Typhoon will have in it and he's got a swag of my dosh. (please god don't let it be a T5)

So Doc,

If the F6 has a T5 are you still a buyer?

(l would be having serious doubts if it were a T5)

I think they are looking at the Volvo trannies ... latest whisper I heard

ps ... if they wack a T5 in .... I want my deposit back

If the F6 gets the new Gearbox, then the whole range will.

I VERY much doubt that the F6 will get a new box by itself, If they did that then they may aswell start parking GT/GTPs on the lot with the keys in the ignition waiting to be stolen.