1963 Ford Falcon Reviews

It would be foolish to disregard Falcon if you are shopping for a large family sedan especially concerning the XR6 Turbo at around $46 grand.

Holden and Ford have a longstanding rivalry on the race track -- but it's tame compared to the showroom battle.

Ford's Falcon has slipped from the minds of many new-car buyers in recent years, resulting in the sad news that production will cease late in 2016. However, the iconic Falcon has long been a favourite with used-car buyers and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon.To some extent we blame the demise of the Falcon on over adventurous styling. The radical shape of the AU was years ahead of its time when it was introduced in September 1998 and many conservative buyers didn’t like it.Facelifts to create the AU Falcon Series II in April 2000 and to the AU III in November 2001 lifted sales slightly. In September 2002 a major facelift to produce the BA Falcon started to put the Falcon back on track in new sales. The BA Falcon was upgraded to the BF Falcon in October 2005.The introduction of the rather conservative FG-series Falcon saw sales slip again, and history shows that Ford Australia never did recover after that.Falcons have seating for five adults, though four makes more sense because rear-wheel drive means the transmission tunnel takes up a lot of footroom in the centre-rear position. Legroom and headroom are ample for all but the largest adults. Some find the relatively steep slope of the roof in the AU to BF Falcons make it awkward to get in and out; naturally the back seat of the wagon doesn’t have this hassle.Comfort is very good and passengers can step out of a Falcon after a trip of hundreds of kilometres still feeling fresh and relaxed.The boot in the sedan is rather shallow in the older models and the slope of the bootlid on the AU reduces its practicality. It’s easy to load thanks to a good-sized opening. The BA Falcon is better, though still on the shallow side.Falcon station wagons are great load carriers as they are built on a longer wheelbase than the sedan so they have a long, wide, practical cargo area. The rear end of the BA is virtually identical to that of the older AU. Ford chose not to do an FG variant of the wagon. Instead, it created a Series III BF model to sell alongside the FG sedans. It wasn’t a success and was discontinued in 2010.Handling is surprisingly good for a car of this size and mass. You wouldn’t call it agile, but Falcons hold on when cornering at speeds far above those likely to be attempted by most drivers.Ford's six-cylinder engines all have a capacity of 4.0 litres but come in several formats, including one with a turbocharger. An interesting variant on the six-cylinder is a dedicated LPG engine. Very common in taxis, but less so in private cars (except in Victoria) this engine is all but indistinguishable from a petrol unit to drive. It’s quite a bit thirstier than the petrol so fuel range suffers.The standard AU six-cylinder unit is good enough, but the BA’s six-cylinder is noticeably smoother and offers even better performance.Ford fitted a 5.0-litre V8 to the AU, but it didn’t have a lot more performance than the six-cylinder units and was on the thirsty side. Much better were the BA bent eights: there was a choice of two, both with a capacity of 5.4 litres, one with a single-cam cylinder head, the other with a twin-cam setup.A powerful four-cylinder engine, tagged the EcoBoost gave us arguably the best Falcon ever, thanks to excellent performance and nimble handling, the latter due to the lighter weight of the smaller engine. Buyers in this market segment can be on the conservative side and they stayed away from the EcoBoost in droves.Automatics were all four-speed units until the launch of the BF, when a sophisticated six-speed ZF unit was installed. The ZF was originally only fitted in the topline variants, with the introduction of the FG Falcon all received the six-speed auto, with the exception of the LPG power models, which stuck with the old four-speed unit until the launch of the new-design LPG unit in July 2011.Manual gearboxes are rare and probably best avoided in all but the sporting XR6 and XR8 as they can affect resale value. The manual was a five-speed until the BF series, when a six-speed was installed.Prices for spare parts, servicing and repairs are very reasonable and there are Ford dealers just about everywhere in Australia. Most spare parts for the Falcons covered here are readily available, although a few bits on some older cars may have to come from a wrecker.These are very simple cars to work on, with plenty of underbonnet and undercar space. We recommend having a workshop manual at your elbow before starting the work.Insurance prices are generally very reasonable and premiums for the everyday models are invariably at the lower end of the scale. It will generally cost more to cover a V8 Falcon than a straight-six, and more expensive for a turbo six.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust is far less of a problem in these newer Falcons than old ones. To be on the safe side, check the door lower corners, door sill panels, mudguards and bootlid. If you do find serious rust the car may have been badly repaired after a crash.Many thousands of used Falcons will have been taxis at some time in their life. Be wary of one running on dedicated LPG; while these are quite common in Victoria, they are rare anywhere else in Australia. Signs of an ex-taxi are vinyl, rather than cloth, upholstery, severe wear both inside and out, holes where signs and a taximeter have been removed, and possibly a paint respray.Engine wear is indicated by a reluctance to start and by smoke from the exhaust and/or oil filler cap when the engine is revved.Four-speed automatics can cause problems on hard-driven cars, especially the older models. Check they change gears cleanly and don't hunt up and down through the ratios. Be suspicious of any automatic that’s slow at going into gear from Neutral or Park.Listen for a whining differential when driving at around 60 to 90km/h.Check the cabin for damage caused by wild kids. In station wagons have a good look at the load area for signs of commercial useCAR BUYING TIPBeware ex-taxis: they are run hard and often not driven in a sympathetic manner. 

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Large sedan cars may not be flavour of the year but don't be deceived - most fit your family perfectly and can make economical sense.Sales of the big-car segment are down almost 30 per cent as buyers gravitate to smaller cars and SUVs. But the trend may be based more on a presumption that large cars are simply too large for the city.The truth is that this trio of family cars are similar in length, space and towing ability. They have turbocharged four-cylinder engines, automatic transmissions and seating for five adults and generous luggage areas.Yet there's a technicality. One - the Falcon - is regarded as a large car and the other two are classed as medium-size cars. That's despite a difference in length of only 225mm - the length of an envelope - and a marginally wider body.Why is a Falcon in this comparison? Because with the 2-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine it makes a solid rival to the Mazda6 and the Hyundai i40.Diesel versions of the Mazda and the Hyundai are chosen here simply because they're better than their petrol counterparts in terms of performance and economy. The Falcon has a petrol engine - there's no diesel option - and though sales of the Falcon nameplate are on the slide, I think the EcoBoost model is a hidden gem.On the sales chart, the new Mazda6 has a 20 per cent stake in the medium-car class, well ahead of the Hyundai i40 with 6.5 per cent and second only to the Toyota Camry (27.6 per cent). Hyundai sales are expected to grow as it stops selling the i45, a sedan very similar in specifications to the i40. Ford's Falcon has 24.8 per cent of the large-car segment and though it is more popular than the Mazda6, its sales are falling and now about 27 per cent less than a year ago.Yet the EcoBoost Falcon has a lot of redeeming features. The engine is so good that few drivers would think it was a four cylinder. It has better economy than its six-cylinder sister - which incidentally is exactly the same price ($40,835 for the G6) - and cheaper to service ($835 for three years versus $885).The Hyundai i40 is the Euro-styled sedan with the choice of a so-so 2-litre petrol engine or, as tested here, with the far more enjoyable 1.7-litre turbo-diesel. It's roomy, very well equipped, comfortable and looks great.New boy on the block, the Mazda6, is a big car with clever engineering aimed at low fuel consumption and emissions. But it's a smart diesel-fuelled sedan that neatly combines family accommodation with a sporty driving character.The specifications here are mid-range that avoid the low-rent equipment list and appearance. You won't be embarrassed driving into the portico of the Hilton in any of these. But for buyers who want more, each has another, more expensive, model with additional indulgences.VALUEEach costs around $40,000 and while that may be a bit above what a family may want to spend, the price buys a lot of car and - in general - a lot of features. But I'm a bit disappointed with the Falcon G6.The feature list is good but pales against the other two. You have to spend a further $6000 to upspec to the G6E to get a reverse camera, leather seats, sat-nav and other bits - all of which are standard in the Mazda6 Touring and Hyundai i40 Elite. It is the area of value-for-money where the Aussie falls down, certainly not in the engineering department where the EcoBoost not only provides more verve, but feels more sure-footed.There is a similar feature list in the Mazda and Hyundai, including dual-zone climate-control airconditioning, trip computer, high-end audio (the Mazda boasts the most with an 11-speaker stereo) and leather upholstery. In this list, the Falcon G6 gets only the trip computer.Capped price servicing is available at Hyundai and Ford dealers and the Korean kicks it up a level by its five-year, unlimited distance warranty which the other two can't touch.However, over three years, the Ford is the cheapest to service. Mazda doesn't have capped servicing but is well behind the eight-ball as customers increasingly demand a transparent service deal.Subaru is the other company without the program - though it may soon start - while Volkswagen started its program a few days ago.WINNER: HyundaiDESIGNThe Ford is a well-balanced, logical design that in the FG MkII version is almost European in its lines. The deep grille helps stamp its authority on the road while the cabin is neat and friendly with a driving position that suits most shapes. Because it's taller than its rivals, it's also a far easier car to get in and out of and that especially suits older people.The Hyundai and Mazda are less conservative than the Falcon and clearly show they are products of the current era with long, low and sleek bodies. Hyundai's i40 is a cleaner design than the outgoing i45. Its dashboard is busier than the Falcon and there's some misplaced switches, but I appreciate the space offered by using a small electric park brake switch - rather than the bigger manual hand brake lever - and plentiful cupholders.The Mazda feels more like a sports car and some (larger) drivers thought the driver's zone felt a bit cramped. Part of that is illusion created by the near-all black dash. Regardless, it's the best dash here - not because it's simple, for it's not - but because it has all the right stuff in the right place.WINNER: MazdaACCOMMODATIONThe Falcon wins the boot wars with a 535-litre area (rear seat up) but has a space-saver spare wheel which helps gain extra room. By comparison, the Hyundai has a full-size spare and a 505-litre boot and the Mazda (with a space-saver) has a smaller 438-litre boot.The Mazda's smaller luggage area is despite the car having 105mm extra length and a 60mm longer wheelbase. It's a pity Mazda didn't continue with its flexible Mazda6 liftback model, though it argues space-watchers will opt for the wagon.The Falcon has the longest wheelbase - though is only 8mm more than the Mazda6 and 68mm up on the Hyundai - which helps make its the more accommodating for rear seat room and boot space. Blame my body if you must, but I felt more at home in the Falcon.The seats are softer, the driving position more “open” and roomy, and it's easier to adapt to the larger glasshouse, the extra visibility and the simpler dashboard environment.WINNER: FordTECHNOLOGYFord's EcoBoost tag is applied to its turbo-petrol engines, in this case a 179kW/353Nm 2-litre unit that is also used in some Focus and Mondeo models as well as by Volvo. It's brilliant - so much so that a driver can barely pick it from the common 4-litre six-cylinder Falcon engine. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential auto transmission and at this point the chassis is virtually identical to the other Falcons.The turbo-diesel Hyundai and bi-turbo diesel Mazda are front-wheel drive cars also with six-speed automatics. The Hyundai is the smallest engine at 1.7-litres though is a crisp and torquey unit pushing 100kW/320Nm.The Mazda6's engine is part of the company's SkyActiv technology and has two small turbochargers driving a 2.2-litre engine with 129kW/420Nm. The car has a new capacitor energy storage system to boost battery power to cater for the stop-start system. SkyActiv is also applied to the suspension and body and while it rides as competently as the others, its big impact is in vehicle weight.At 1503kg the Mazda6 diesel is 145kg lighter than the Ford and 123kg down on the Hyundai. This affects handling as much as fuel economy and, in the latter department, the Mazda6 averages a mere 5.4 litres/100km. In comparison, the Ford's figure is 8.1 L/100km and the Hyundai is 6.0 L/100km.WINNER: MazdaSAFETYBuyers, especially those seeking a car for the family, demand top-shelf safety. These three don't disappoint with each having a five-star crash rating and plenty of sheet metal to help ward off intruders.Electronic stability and traction control, brake assist and ABS brakes, a rear park sensor and a minimum of six airbags (the Hyundai has nine) are standard.The Hyundai and Mazda add reverse cameras and front park sensors, while the Hyundai gets daytime running lights.Only the Hyundai has a full-size spare wheel though Mazda has an “adult-sized” temporary spare that puts more tread on the road than some motorcycle-tyre sized examples.WINNER: HyundaiDRIVINGDon't think that a diesel always falls behind a petrol engine in terms of driver enjoyment. The Mazda is the best performer in terms of linear power delivery - it has two turbochargers and their urge is felt right down from idle with a strong kick in the mid-range, just about where you want to be when overtaking another car. It's the biggest-capacity engine here but the story is about its torque. At 420Nm, it's a real pumper that makes driving so effortless and - at speed at least - so quiet.The Hyundai's engine is also a very predictable unit but it doesn't have the capacity or technology of the Mazda and isn't as responsive. I'll add that driving the kids around the suburbs isn't a race and the Hyundai does the job more than sufficiently.For real engine smoothness and quietness, however, it's hard to beat the Falcon's EcoBoost unit. The silky way the petrol engine produces its power also benefits the gearbox's upchanges which are also less detectable than the Mazda or Hyundai. But that is more likely attributable to the torque-rich, low-speed character of the diesel engines.There's nothing wrong with the Hyundai's delivery, it's just not as quick as the others.  The fact that the Falcon is the only petrol-fuelled car here means it can't keep up with the miserly consumption of the Mazda and Hyundai diesels.Ride comfort goes to the Falcon, mainly thanks to its softer foam in the seats but also because of the more spacious driving position. The suspension is more compliant and less prone to low-speed bump harshness that was evident - marginally - in the Hyundai and Mazda.The Falcon's steering is more positive and has excellent road feel compared with the electric-assist steering of he others that tended, in some cases, towards vagueness. But the Falcon is hampered by weight.By comparison, the Mazda feels lithe and eager and the driving position is bait to go out and enjoy the car. Top marks to the Hyundai, but it doesn't evoke the Mazda's lust for having fun in a car.WINNER: MazdaVERDICTThe Falcon's engine is its shining light. The car makes sense but its feature list is poor and so its value for money suffers.The Hyundai's ownership costs and extended warranty will give confidence to long-term buyers, as will its solid engine and meagre fuel thirst.The Mazda and Hyundai are neck and neck but across the line, the Mazda gives more. It's a big car but it is both comfortable and very driver friendly while its technology is spot on for today's market.It does, however, need to have a capped-price service deal. More importantly, it was the one I really wanted to drive.Ford Falcon EcoBoost G6   Price: from $40,835Warranty: 3 years/100,000km, roadside assistResale: 40%Service interval: 12mths/15,000kmService cost: Capped price, $835 for 3yrsSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starsEngine: 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 179kW/353NmTransmission: 6-spd auto; rear driveThirst: 8.1L/100km; 95RON; 192g/km CO2Dimensions: 5.0m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: 1648kgLuggage: 535-litresSpare: Space-saverHyundai i40 Elite  Price: from $39,590Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmResale: 44%Service interval: 12mths/15,000kmService cost: Capped price, $987 for 3yrsSafety: 9 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 1.7-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 100kW/320NmTransmission: 6-spd auto; front driveThirst: 6.0L/100km; 159g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.7m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: 1626kgLuggage: 505-litresSpare: Full-size steelMazda6 TouringPrice: from $40,350Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 50%Service interval: 6mths/10,000kmService cost: NoSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 129kW/420NmTransmission: 6-spd auto; front driveThirst: 5.4L/100km; 143g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.9m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: 1503kgLuggage: 438-litresSpare: Space-saver

Dropping a smaller engine under the bonnet was never going to save the Ford Falcon. It’s an unpalatable fact of life for our local carmakers that big sedan sales are slumping everywhere from Germany to Geraldton as buyers scale down and step up.What the EcoBoost mill does prove is just how good Ford’s new generation of engines are. Ironically, that’s one of the reasons why the Focus will supplant the Falcon as the Blue Oval’s biggest seller this year. But for those who can’t fit in a Focus, the Falcon’s ride and handling makes it a better option than an SUV.A proven chassis with a responsive, hi-tech engine … what’s not to like? The Falcon can carry five adults in comfort and the boot will swallow more than Matt Preston. It costs the same as the six-cylinder engine - $37,235 in XT guise, rising to $40,835 for the mid-spec G6, with the promise of better fuel use. Carsguide averaged just on 9L/100km in mainly city driving. Space aside, the EcoBoost Falcon will be shopped against everything from the Kia Optima and Mazda6 to the Skoda Superb.The Falcon is showing its age in terms of driving aids and software. The touchscreen is good but there’s no satnav or reversing camera for the XT, though it does have rear parking sensors. Operating the driver’s info displays requires taking the hands off the wheel to reach the buttons mounted either side of the instrument cluster. The rumoured 2014 facelift will bring the interior on a par with the latest Fords, so expect voice-operated control of the sound system and the latest Bluetooth connectivity.This is where the Falcon suffers. It doesn’t look as sporty as its traditional rival, the Commodore. In the past that wasn’t a huge issue, given private buyers would go for the XR models and fleets would take the conservative look. But fleets - and governments - aren’t buying big cars, locally built or otherwise. The cabin needs some highlights to offset what is large area of grey plastics … but that’s what the facelift is for.Size matters in a crash, making the Falcon one of the safer cars to run up against. It has a five-star ANCAP rating and comes with six airbags and ABS with traction and stability control and electronic brakeforce distribution.The EcoBoost makes the six-cylinder redundant, unless buyers need the extra towing capacity - 2300kg against 1600kg. The four-cylinder prefers premium leaded, in which case sub-seven second times to 100km/h are easily within reach. More impressive is the mid-range acceleration and the way the six-speed auto has been calibrated to bring out the EcoBoost’s best.It lopes along at under 2000rpm at 100km/h and a quick dab of the pedal provides instant overtaking response. It's the same at 60 and 80km/h and at any speed this car turns-in better than bigger-engined Falcons, courtesy of the 60kg weight cut over the front wheels. The ride is also near XR levels of firmness but never feels unsettled. the seats need upgrading though - bolstering support is marginal at the cornering speeds the EcoBoost is capable of.

In the 20 years since its introduction the Falcon XR6 has become the quintessential Australian performance car, blending the robust and reliable Falcon driveline with the refinement and sophistication once only available in an imported European GT. There were plenty of doubters when it was originally launched, lots didn't believe a six-cylinder car could win over a market that worshipped at the altar of the V8.But it has and the XR6 and its sizzling sibling, the XR6T, have become firm favourites with Australian buyers. As the latest in the line, the FG is perhaps the best of the bunch. Based on the FG Falcon released in 2008 the FG XR6 and XR6T use the basic Falcon four-door architecture, but build on it with a range of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades that transform the family Falcon into an impressive driver's carThey can be identified externally by specific grilles, bumpers, fog lamps and alloy wheels, while inside they feature sports seats, instruments, alloy pedal covers and gear shifter on manual models. At the XR6's heart is the Falcon six-cylinder engine that puts out 195 kW and 391 Nm, which is linked to a five-speed auto, six-speed auto or six-speed manual.Underneath the suspension was retuned for a more taut, sportier drive. The XR6T, with a whopping 270 kW and 533 Nm on tap from its turbocharged version of the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine, was a blistering drive.It was much more overt in its intent than was the mo re reserved XR6. In addition to the turbocharged engine the XR6T also had a limited- slip differential, upgraded brakes, larger alloy wheels, and the option of a ZF 6-speed auto to handle the engine's output. On the road both models were sure-footed and smooth, with a comfortable ride.Build quality has long been an issue with the Falcon, but the FG seems to be better than most of its predecessors and doesn't appear to attract the same level of owner complaint. Still, it's worth doing a thorough inspection all over the car looking for signs of possible build quality issues, and have them fixed before you take delivery.Mechanically the XR6, with its fundamentally stock drivetrain is sound and little goes wrong with it on a regular basis. The issues that affected earlier models have mostly been resolved and don't appear to affect the FG. Thoroughly test the auto transmission when on a test run and make sure it shifts smoothly, without reluctance and that there's no thumping of shuddering through the driveline. Repairing the 6-speed auto is a very expensive business, something to be avoided. Consider having the auto transmission serviced on cars with high mileage.Also take note of any brake shuddering, which could indicate new pads and rotors are needed. Rotor and pad replacement are a fact of life with the Falcon, and should be factored into the running costs. Checking the XR6T needs an even more thorough inspection, as enthusiast owners would have driven them hard.Listen for knocks and clunks in the suspension, check the clutch for signs of wear, like a low take-up, slipping, shuddering etc. Like the XR6 thoroughly test the automatic transmission, which is likely to have come under extreme pressure from enthusiast drivers. Anyone looking to buy a potential classic should consider an XR6T.Safe, sound sports sedan with all the performance you could want, and more in the turbo model, which is a potential future classic in waiting.

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well.Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus.End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close.HOLDENDeep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990.The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6.The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500.TOYOTAYou'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer.It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year.HYUNDAIThere's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off.But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500.Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500.MITSUBISHIThe new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim.Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month.SUBARUThe 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table.The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights.The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs.FORDKuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013.Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away.KIAThere's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price.VOLKSWAGENIs running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000.The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance.VOLVOThe Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free.The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

Ford's Falcon is a rugged family car that copes well with rough and ready Australian bush roads so are very popular out there. They can be on the large side for close city work but have good outward visibility and a reasonably tight turning circle so aren’t too hard to drive in confined spaces.The radical styling of the AU was years ahead of its time when it was introduced in September 1998 and many conservative buyers didn’t like it. Facelifts to create the AU Falcon Series II in April 2000 and to the AU III in November 2001 helped a bit. However, it wasn’t until September 2002 that a major facelift to produce the BA Falcon started to put the Falcon back into buyers’ minds again.The BA Falcon was further upgraded to the BF Falcon in October 2005. Visual differences are minor, but there were significant changes to the transmissions at this time – more about them later. The introduction of the new FG series Falcon in May 2008 lifted awareness, but its shape was on the conservative side (it’s hard to please people…) and sales didn’t return to the record levels Falcon had enjoyed in the past.Falcons have seating for five adults, though four makes more sense because the use of rear-wheel drive means the transmission tunnel takes up a lot of foot room in the centre-rear position. Legroom and headroom are ample for all but the largest adults.Some find the relatively steep slope of the roof in the AU to BF series makes it awkward to get into the car. This applies to both front and back seats in sedans, naturally the back seat of the wagon doesn’t have this hassle. Comfort is very good and passengers can step out of a Falcon after a trip of hundreds of kilometres still feeling fresh and relaxed.The boot in the sedan is rather shallow in the older models and the slope of the bootlid on the AU reduces its practicality. It’s easy to load thanks to a good-sized opening. The BA is noticeably better, though still on the shallow side. Falcon station wagons are great load carriers as they are built on a longer wheelbase than the sedan so they have a long, wide, practical cargo area.The rear end of the BA is virtually identical to that of the older AU. Ford chose not to do an FG variant of the wagon. Instead, it created a Series III BF model to sell alongside the FG sedans. It wasn’t a success and was discontinued in 2010. Handling is surprisingly good for a car of this size and mass. You wouldn’t call it agile, but Falcons hold on when cornering at speeds far above those likely to be attempted by most drivers.Ford's six-cylinder engines all have a capacity of 4.0 litres but come in several formats, including one with a turbocharger. An interesting variant on the six-cylinder is a dedicated LPG engine. These are very common in taxis, but less so in private cars, with the exception of Victoria, and the engine is all but indistinguishable from a petrol unit to drive. It’s quite a bit thirstier than the petrol, so fuel range suffers.The standard AU six-cylinder unit is good enough, but the BA’s six-cylinder is noticeably smoother and offers even better performance. Ford fitted a 5.0-litre V8 to the AU, but it didn’t have a lot more performance than the six-cylinder units and was on the thirsty side. Much better were the BA bent eights: there was a choice of two, each with a capacity of 5.4 litres, one with a single-cam cylinder head, the other with a twin-cam setup.An impressive four-cylinder turbocharged engine was introduced midway through 2012. It has plenty of power and torque and lower fuel consumption than the big engines. The four’s lighter weight gives the big car a nicely nimble feel during cornering. Automatics were all four-speed units until the launch of the BF, when a sophisticated six-speed ZF unit was installedlpgThe ZF was originally only fitted in the topline variants, with the rest of the range using the four-speed. With the introduction of the FG Falcon in May 2008 all received the six-speed auto, with the exception of the LPG power models, which stuck with the old four-speed unit. A six-speed auto was finally installed behind the new design of LPG engine in July 2011.Manual gearboxes are rare and probably best avoided in all but the sporting XR6 and XR8 as they can affect resale value. The manual was a five-speed until the October 2005 BF series, when a six-speed was installed. Prices for spare parts, servicing and repairs are very reasonable and there are Ford dealers just about everywhere in Australia.Most spare parts for the Falcons covered here are readily available, although a few bits on some older cars may have to come from a wrecker. These are very simple cars to work on, with plenty of underbonnet and undercar space. We recommend having a workshop manual at your elbow before starting the work.Insurance prices are generally very reasonable and premiums for the everyday models are invariably at the lower end of the scale. It will generally cost more to cover a V8 Falcon than a straight-six, and be dearer again for a turbo six.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust is far less of a problem in these newer Falcons than old ones. To be on the safe side, check the door lower corners, door sill panels, mudguards and bootlid. If you do find serious rust the car may have been badly repaired after a crash.Many thousands of used Falcons will have been taxis at some time in their life. Be wary of one running on dedicated LPG, while these are quite common in Victoria, they are rare anywhere else in Australia. Signs of an ex-taxi are vinyl, rather than cloth, upholstery, severe wear both inside and out, holes where signs and a taximeter have been removed, and possibly a paint respray.Engine wear is indicated by a reluctance to start and by smoke from the exhaust and/or oil filler cap when the engine is revved. Four-speed automatics can cause problems on hard driven cars, especially the older models. Check they change gears cleanly and don't hunt up and down through the ratios. Be suspicious of any automatic that’s slow at going into gear from Neutral or Park.Listen for a whining differential when driving at around 60 to 90km/h. Check the cabin for damage caused by wild kids. In station wagons have a good look at the load area for signs of commercial use.CAR BUYING TIPNo matter how good a car looks on the surface it may have problems under the skin, never buy without a full inspection. 

If the Australian large car industry is looking for a swan song as it struggles to remain viable, then Ford has a hot contender.Its four-cylinder EcoBoost Falcon is proof that a relatively small engine is no handicap in a large car. The EcoBoost engine is available on the XT, G6 and G6E at the same price as the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine, starting at $37,235.Smooth, quiet and responsive, the 2.0-litre turbocharged, direct injection EcoBoost engine pumps out an impressive 179kW and 353Nm. While this is 16kW and 42Nm less than the Falcon's venerable 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine, it has more torque than the rival V6 Commodore and Aurion, so there is no doubt about its performance.Matched to the standard six-speed automatic transmission, fuel use is 8.1litres/100km and on tests averaged 8.6litres/100km, which makes it the most frugal large petrol-powered car made in Australia. And, while it needs 95 RON fuel to achieve this 18 per cent gain over the six-cylinder version, Ford says it will run on 91.The same engine is used by Volvo in the S60 and V60, and no one questions their performance. And the Falcon produces 2kW more power and 30Nm more torque, yet is similar in weight.The EcoBoost gets a five star ANCAP safety rating. Side curtain airbags and rear parking sensors are now standard on the XT.Turn the key and there is a different cranking sound from the auto cranking system (flick and release the key) than the six. The engine sounds more refined and the steering feels lighter. Off the line, the EcoBoost is punchy and flexible. After a slight pause as the turbo spins up, the thrust is strong, smooth and linear all the way to the red line.Driven normally, it barely raises a sweat and does most of its work well below 3000rpm -- yet when needed it will spin eagerly and smoothly to 6500rpm. Rolling response is instant and willing, and it cruises at a relaxed 1900rpm at 100km/h and easily holds the taller gear ratios in hilly terrain, pulling happily from as low as 1500rpm.It is also quieter than the six, thanks to additional noise insulation. Towing capacity drops from 2300kg to 1600kg, so there is still a role for the six. Ride, handling and steering have been tuned to match the lighter engine and the ride height is lower by 13mm on the entry-level XT. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, intuitive and linear in its response.There is a little more low-speed patter from the 16-inch low rolling resistance tyres, as fitted to the XT (on test), but it is minimal and overall the ride is compliant and composed on all surfaces. Handling is confident and sure-footed, with good body control, and the steering is light and direct. Official figures show the sprint to 100km/h comes up in 7.5 seconds, just a fraction of a second behind the 75kg heavier six-cylinder version.