Convince Me To Get A T!

[Cobra]

Punch Bunny ... don't think we can convince you to take the SS .... you are in the wrong place for that :lol:

but the SS is an easy to mod too, you can gain around 50rwkw quickly with a zorst and some proper engine management but after that it is a hard slog .... the XRT is easier to get to 260rwkw and beyond and feels the goods

[hambo_12]

What they all said. And get the Phantom, looks waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better (flame suit armed and ready).

Take the advice and go for a drive in both. I have, and I was convinced as soon as I put the foot down. All that night, turbo...turbo....turbo...

that's all I could think about. The easiest choice I have made!!

hmmm, now to just order the thing........

[Cro]

I'd be goin for the XR.

Two options are a must though:

Premium Brakes

Blueprint!!

[turbotom]

punch bunny

I initially had budgeted for a replacement for my 86 Supra... looking for a second hand performance car for about $30,000. I was a little hesitant to buy a second hand jap turbo, though. I was looking at many options, and decided on getting a ute or one tonner, as it made it easier to justify regarding business use.

I drove both the VYSS and the XR6T before deciding.

Both are good cars.

But I come from a background of muscle cars from the 60's, and the Gen III had very little low down torque. Its a real buz above 4000 rpm, but below that it's a slug. Great if you do a lot of track work, but its not a usable power band for the street. V8's should pull like tractors from idle, and the Gen III does NOT.

The XR6T really hauls arse from about 2500 rpm when the turbo spools up. I test drove a manual up through the Adelaide Hills. It didn't seem to matter what gear I was in. I could feel the surge and get pushed back into the seat in second and third going up the slopes. It was reminiscent of driving a big block V8, albeit without the V8 burble. After that one drive, all I could do for the next two weeks was find a way of buying the XR6T in the combo I wanted.

To hell with the budget I set, I just had to have one. I couldn't wait for delivery either. I searched all the dealers in Adelaide and Melbourne till I found one with a vehicle (It had to be a BLUEPRINT ute) they could supply immediately.

Seven months down the track, and I still get a huge buzz when I take it for a spirited run through the hills. It is so deceptive how fast you can go in this car. It is so smooth in standard form, and quiet (compared to my classic 68 Vette) that you don't realise how quickly you are going till you look at the speedo.

And even though I run a standard ute, with a solid rear axle and standard 17 inch tyres, its the best handling car I've ever had. The sedan with the independant rear end is claimed to be even better

Now I'm just waiting to get past the 15k service to start modding the car.. most likely to stage II or III APS, as I like the professional approach and upgrade path that APS provide.

I've shelved my plans for a 502 ci Chev in the vette, and decided to keep that car original with its 327 mouse

I'm am going to get my hi performance kicks out of this 4 litre Ausie six. If I can achieve mid 12 second quarter mile times in a street car that behaves like a stocky when driven easy, I am going to be one happy little (converted) FORD owner.

PS Don't believe anything we say....... Test drive it for yourself.

[Adam]

I have 3 rexes at home, including a highly modded Sti, and the modded Ford.

I would like the keys to that garage!

[Punch Bunny]

Thanks for the replies, guys. All comments are appreciated!

My next question is regarding the transmission... I'd prefer to go the auto (because I want to be lazy, damn it! ) but if it's going to detract from the performance of the vehicle, I'll go a manual. Who has driven both, and what comparison can you make between them?

I scored a test drive in a BA XR6 (not T...) with an auto box, and I found the sequential shift in it a little strange, the lag between shifting a gear and it actually engaging annoyed me. (IMHO, the sequential box in the Magna VR-X is better). I suppose I could get used to it, though.

Any thoughts?

[Yoda]

Hi guys! :D

I'm currently trapped in limbo... I'm thinking about replacing my current car, and the short list consists of the VY SS, and the BA XR6T.........

.....Anyway, my current ride is a '91 Subaru Liberty RS. It's getting a bit old, but it still goes like a cut snake and shames a lot of newer cars when it comes to the traffic light drags. It's not stock - it's been reengined, boosted, etc. A while back a dyno reading put the engine @ 230kw, so it's no slouch. But... it costs a FORTUNE to maintain, the insurance stings, and there is always something (small) wrong with it (due to it's age).

I'm expecting the T to be slower, but with more "usable" power (the RS is twitchy, boost comes on late and hard). I suspect the RS would be more agile too, but I'm really looking for a lazier, more comfortable ride, with ample power on tap when needed. I'm finding it near impossible to organise a test drive of a T, so I'd appreciate any comments from T owners..........

.......Thanks for reading! 

Mate, as an ex-proud owner of a 93 RS from new let me give you my 2c worth. I didn't get rid of my RS until 1992 when I replaced it with a VW Bora 4 motion V6. Nothing up until this time gave me any where near the satisfaction when hooking in on a great road. And my RS wasn't even moded. But after driving the T, I was incredibly impressed with its agility and power. For mine.....Just Do It. But it must be a Mercury Silver as everyone else on the site will agree.

PS.

[turbotom]

Thanks for the replies, guys. All comments are appreciated!

My next question is regarding the transmission... I'd prefer to go the auto (because I want to be lazy, damn it! ) but if it's going to detract from the performance of the vehicle, I'll go a manual. Who has driven both, and what comparison can you make between them?

I scored a test drive in a BA XR6 (not T...) with an auto box, and I found the sequential shift in it a little strange, the lag between shifting a gear and it actually engaging annoyed me. (IMHO, the sequential box in the Magna VR-X is better). I suppose I could get used to it, though.

Any thoughts?

Lots of feedback on both boxes elsewhere in this forum.

bottom line, if your really love driving, get the manual.

The auto is good ( I have an auto and you do adjust your driving habits to suit ) but I must admit the satisfaction of positive engagement with a manual was missed when I first bought it.

If you plan to modify the T, manual is a bit sus though.

Auto appears to be good for less than 300 kW, but needs a few mods to be sorted for best reliability and performance once you get above that.

[Zeke]

The T simply said "buy me" louder and more forcefully than any other car I have ever test driven! Thoughts of BMW's went out the window when I realised this was going to be practical and fun and would save me huge dollars.

Down the track, when it comes time to trade, it's going to have to be an exceptional car to scream "buy me" with the T as a yardstick and I doubt it will be the right side of $100,000!

Teething troubles - nothing so far that couldn't be sorted out by a good dealer, though the question of whether or not to try to lose the mild diff whine at 95 -100 kph with a changeover remains unanswered.

Cheers

zeke

[Falchoon]

Thanks for the replies, guys. All comments are appreciated!

My next question is regarding the transmission... I'd prefer to go the auto (because I want to be lazy, damn it! ) but if it's going to detract from the performance of the vehicle, I'll go a manual. Who has driven both, and what comparison can you make between them?

I scored a test drive in a BA XR6 (not T...) with an auto box, and I found the sequential shift in it a little strange, the lag between shifting a gear and it actually engaging annoyed me. (IMHO, the sequential box in the Magna VR-X is better). I suppose I could get used to it, though.

Any thoughts?

I have an auto because I'm lazy. Originally test drove a manual, it was OK except the gearshift seemed heavy to me, much like my old XY with Toploader. I prefer a bit of comfort these days and my last couple of cars have been autos so I'm sort of used to them now. I agree there is a lag of a couple of seconds or so when changing the gears in the auto, it annoys me at times to but you get used to it. I find if out on the highway and you are coming up to a car you want to overtake move the auto gear shifter across to the left so it's in Performance mode and then squeeze the throttle to about 3/4 (no real need to floor it unless you are trying to overtake 10 or more cadars at once). If you don't shift the lever to the left the transmission tends to have a mind of it's own and will go back two gears instead of one and tends to hit redline/cutout too quick and is probably slower as well.

There have been a few people with problems with their manual gearboxes, crunching etc. BCLs (Brian) gearbox sounds like a 30 yo old Expensive Daewoo depress, whining and carrying on (the gearbox, not Brian! :lol: ) but he has extensive engine mods, nearly double stock power, so this is understandable.

As far as 1/4 mile times between the two, unless you vey, very good driver the auto will win most of the time. There are only 10ths of a second in it anyway, both are nearly even.

As for the colour, well they are both good though Blueprint wouldn't tend to show the dirt as much as a darker colour like Phantom. Downside to Blueprint is that quite common and there tends to be heaps around. It's your car mate, you are paying the money, you should make the decision on the colour.