Falcon XR8

[Robotnik123]

Does anyone have experience with the BA or later model Ford Falcon XR8? I realize the turbo XR6 might be faster, but I think I'd rather get a V8 if ever I got one.

Also how's the fuel economy on them (XR8s); is it better than an auto VR-4 legnum? Most probably, huh? And can they (XR8s I mean) run on 91 RON fuel like V8 Holdens can?

 

[Robotnik123]

I thought I would ask on here, so I could get a VR-4 owner's perspective on them.

Also would almost certainly get an auto one.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

No u can't run a VR4 on 91 ... Well actually u could run anything on 91 but it wouldn't run well at all. Most Japanese cans are tuned to run on higher octane as the higher octane fuels are easily obtainable there.
The VR4 drives a lot like a V8, but prolly handles better. With a little extra boost u would be surprised how quick they r.
Personally I think everyone on here will tell u to get a VR4 over any commodore or Falcon mainly because of price for what you get and every second car is a commonwhore or falcon in Australia ... boring.
Go for a drive in a VR4 and be pleasently surprised.

 

[Robotnik123]

Oh I've had a '99 Legnum VR-4 for about 3 yrs now and of course I run it on 95 or 98 and definitely not 91.

I was wondering if the XR8 can run 91; I know the 5.7L Gen III Holden V8 can.

Thanks.

 

[pu-11-me]

You sure can Jan! 91 RON FTW! Only coz its 12 cents a litre cheaper here

Ford thinks that you will get 12.5L/100kM city driving, but i haven't met ANYONE that gets those sort of figures out of one, most reckon about 14-15 in the city.....

My advice would be to go for the F6 typhoon, fastest of the falcons..... They aren't much more $$$ than the XR8 and they are a sexy car

Dawso

 

[Robotnik123]

You sure can Jan! 91 RON FTW! Only coz its 12 cents a litre cheaper here

Ford thinks that you will get 12.5L/100kM city driving, but i haven't met ANYONE that gets those sort of figures out of one, most reckon about 14-15 in the city.....

My advice would be to go for the F6 typhoon, fastest of the falcons..... They aren't much more $$$ than the XR8 and they are a sexy car

Dawso

Hmm just had a quick browse of F6s on trademe and they do look like a nice car. Only thing is well, they aren't V8s. My thinking is what's the point of getting a big Aussie car if it's not a V8. I know a turbo i/6 is probably faster, but I've already done the turbo thing with my VR-4 and maybe it's time to get some big iron!

 

[SupremeMoFo]

4L capacity is still a big engine, plus turbo! The straight 6 turbo is a much better engine than the inefficient, overweight 5.4L boss 260 engine, and if you need more power, it's an exhaust, intake and retune away for big power. Bigger intercooler than the stock joke wouldn't help either.

Forget the BA XR8s. Killed by the VY SSs, and internally by the XR6T/F6 Typhoon.

 

[Robotnik123]

4L capacity is still a big engine, plus turbo! The straight 6 turbo is a much better engine than the inefficient, overweight 5.4L boss 260 engine, and if you need more power, it's an exhaust, intake and retune away for big power. Bigger intercooler than the stock joke wouldn't help either.

Forget the BA XR8s. Killed by the VY SSs, and internally by the XR6T/F6 Typhoon.

In an XR6T under hard acceleration do you feel like you're being pushed back into your seat all the way to the redline? I hate how the stock VR-4 seems to have less torque higher in the rev range. I suspect the BOSS 260 will feel like it has more grunt - will have to test drive both XR8 and XR6T I think.

 

[mookers]

I've read quite a few reviews of the Ford turbo 6 in its various guises from XR6T to F6 Typhoon. The new FG series in particular is said to be an absolute ripper. I wouldn't go near one of them with my stock VR-4, it sounds like they'd have me for breakfast!

The V8, on the other hand, seems to have been treated like an afterthought and is a reasonable car if you really want a V8. But it really looks like Ford have put their resources behind the turbo 6.

 

[bradc]

the v8's are crap motors. simple as that. the 6t is better in everyway. Both engines will use more fuel than a VR-4 though. The older V8's can be run on 91 but the newest ones want 95, just like the 6t.

The 6t makes max power at 5250rpm (vr-4 is 5500rpm) and redline is 6250rpm, so they don't really rev all that high at all. The v8 is 5750rpm and redline at 6250rpm, so it will probably be better higher up in the revrange.

Holdens are still better though, the sales figures speak for themselves.

 

[Guest]

Holdens ARE NOT any better, they have had more than their share of problems and have just done the 3rd recall on the all new VE. But to the XR8, I have not heard of any probs with their V8s, they are more advanced than a holden with OHC,s using technology and not relying on massive cubes to get the power, but I know someone with an XR8 and economy around town is about the same as VR4, but on long trip not unusual to 550-600 out of a tank. Prob different in NZ with all the corners and hills. Also to consider if fuel cost is a issue, you can put LPG on V8 but not turbo charged engine.



.

 

[bradc]

to be fair the ford engine does have a similar capacity to the holdens, now if it was a 4.4l or something, I could agree there

SubaruETA works at Ford as a mechanic and he absolutely despises the 5.4l V8, I'm expecting him to post in the thread fairly soon.

 

[Dr_Josh001]

From experience that I've had from mates and family owning modern Ford and Holden V8's most of the trouble has been with how you drive them!!! Anything Australian or US made that is thrashed regularly will break very quickly. Treat them nicely and service them properly and you should get long life and good fuel eco.

On the other hand... thrash any Jap car (toyota, nissan, Mitsi) and it won't break!!

That's my rant!

Edit: but I have found Holdens to have broken more than Ford.

 

[Robotnik123]

to be fair the ford engine does have a similar capacity to the holdens, now if it was a 4.4l or something, I could agree there

SubaruETA works at Ford as a mechanic and he absolutely despises the 5.4l V8, I'm expecting him to post in the thread fairly soon.

Um yes, I dare say he might be just a tiny bit biased against the Blue Oval.

 

[Robotnik123]

Am not so sure about the old story that Japanese cars never need servicing and are otherwise bullet proof. That may have been true of 1980s Toyota Corollas, but more modern Japanese cars certainly need to be serviced just as regularly as anything else I think.

From experience that I've had from mates and family owning modern Ford and Holden V8's most of the trouble has been with how you drive them!!! Anything Australian or US made that is thrashed regularly will break very quickly. Treat them nicely and service them properly and you should get long life and good fuel eco.

On the other hand... thrash any Jap car (toyota, nissan, Mitsi) and it won't break!!

That's my rant!

Edit: but I have found Holdens to have broken more than Ford.

 

[Dr_Josh001]

I was only talking about the thrashing part. Obviously servicing is the most important thing to prevent any car from breaking.

 

[SupremeMoFo]

In an XR6T under hard acceleration do you feel like you're being pushed back into your seat all the way to the redline? I hate how the stock VR-4 seems to have less torque higher in the rev range. I suspect the BOSS 260 will feel like it has more grunt - will have to test drive both XR8 and XR6T I think.

Probably would once exhaust, air intake and FMIC have been sorted.

 

[Robotnik123]

Right, have arranged to see an XR8 tomorrow. This one has Herrod motorsport mods. Am quite keen to see how it goes.

 

[RaZZa137]

ok, i don't know if this is any interest, possible biased opinions but maybe worth a look, it's a review of xr6 turbo, xr8 and also ss-v

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=52138

 

[Guest]

In that article they said that the new XR6T is another nail in the coffin of the XR8 which I doubt because as far as I know when that car changes to a V6tt in 2010 the XR8 gets a new 6.2lt V8 which should make a bit of difference, not sure if it is going to tehcnology more advanced than Holden or going back to a pushrod, but about 320kw for XR8 from what i have seen.