2008 Ford Falcon Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2015 Ford Falcon as a used buy. In October 2016 the last Ford Falcon left the assemble line, not long after its 56th birthday in Australia. What does this mean on the used-car scene for the period being examined here, 2002 - 2016? At this stage the answer is we

Ford's sporty six kept up the performance image but had a thrftier LPG variant. New Having dropped its V8 in the 1980s, Ford went looking for a suitable model on which to hang its performance credentials. The answer was the XR6, a six-cylinder sports sedan created more in the European style than the earlier GTs that

Take a tip: Go for a later model when you're out shopping for a G Series Falcon. New The G Series was a new range of sports luxury models Ford introduced with the FG Falcon in 2008. In effect it replaced the old luxury Futura/Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia but with greater emphasis on sportiness. The range comprised the G6,

Not a lot of new Ford Falcons are sold these days, so there's a shortage of late models on the used-car scene, but certainly no lack of offering built prior to 2010. For many years Falcon was a huge seller in Australia as the car suits the needs of many local buyers, particularly those in country areas. Built tough for Australia may sound a bit corny, but Falcon certainly answers to that description.Falcons have seating for five occupants, though four works better if they are all adults because 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 in the remaining four seats. 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 relatively shallow, but it's easy to load thanks to a good-sized opening. From the BA Falcon model onwards things are better, though the boot's 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, as SUVs were starting to make inroad in the wagon market, so it 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. The LPG engine is thirstier than the petrol so fuel range suffers.The BA Falcon's six-cylinder engine is noticeably smoother and offers even better performance than the units it superseded. 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 has a single-cam cylinder head, the other a twin-cam setup.The EcoBoost Falcon has what many say is the best non-V8 engine of them all. It provides excellent performance and nimble handling, 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, so you can pick up a real bargain as a used-car.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 range all received the six-speed auto, with the exception of the LPG powered models, which held onto the four-speed auto until the launch of the new-design LPG model in July 2011, when it received the six-speed.These are very simple cars to work on, with plenty of underbonnet and undercar spaceManual gearboxes are rare and probably best avoided in all but the sporting XR6 and XR8 because 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 FORMany 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 smoke from the exhaust and/or the oil filler cap when the engine is revved after it has been idling for more than about a minute. Four-speed automatics can cause problems on hard-driven cars, especially if they have done a lot of work. 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 bored kids. In station wagons have a good look at the load area for signs of commercial use.Rust is more unusual in these newer Falcons than old ones. If you do find rust the Falcon may have been poorly repaired after a crash.CAR BUYING TIPBig old used cars that have been looked after properly and driven correctly can be picked up for pretty low prices these days. Don't forget to have a professional inspection, though.

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. 

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.

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. 

Graham Smith reviews the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Ford Falcon as a used buy.

There have been many important events in the Falcon's long running history in this country, but none more so than the release of the FG Falcon in 2008.  The FG represented the last play in the Falcon fight back from the AU disaster. Ford couldn't afford to have another lame duck on its hands, so it had to be right.Two years on from the launch, as it appears on used car lots around the country as company lease cars, fleet units and ex-renters come up for sale, it's the winner Ford had hoped it would be.Model WatchThe FG came in the wake of the BA and BF models, two solid models that managed to recover much of the ground lost by the unloved AU.  Had it not been for the AU's failure the BA, and the BF makeover, would never have been.The model slated to replace the AU was to be a mild makeover to keep Falcon sales ticking over until an all-new model could be developed.  But such was the alarm over the AU sales slide that Ford pressed the go button on a major revamp that became the 'Barra' or BA.The BA proved a success, as did its BF cousin, and the AU became a distant memory.  Enter the FG, the much-trumpeted all-new model that pushed the AU even further into the depths of history.With a new body, smart new looks, and new chassis, engines and transmissions the FG truly was an all-new car.  What's more there was a new model line-up that clearly differentiated between luxury and sports models.By the launch of the FG the XR6 was a well-respected sports sedan model on the local market and was the entry model to Ford's new sports range. The other sports models were the XR6 Turbo and the V8 XR8.While the FG boasted a new look, the XR's sporty look came from its specific headlights, grille, front bumper, fog lamps, rocker panels, and 17-inch alloy wheels.  The sports theme continued inside where in addition to all of the features of the FG XT, it also came with sports dials, sports seats, alloy pedal covers, and on the manual models there was an aluminium shift knob.Under the bonnet lay the familiar 4.0-litre double overhead camshaft six, but it now had a new fast-burn cylinder head and clever dual- mode intake manifold, and a revised engine calibration.  As a result of the upgrades the peak engine output rose to 195 kW at 6000 revs and 391 Nm at 3250 revs.Not only was the engine's performance increased, its efficiency was also improved, and that meant better fuel economy.  There was also a new five-speed auto, with sports shift function, and a new six-speed manual transmission.A new suspension package, with lightweight virtual pivot control link front suspension and control blade independent rear suspension, along with revised steering and new monotube shock absorbers gave the FG impressive on-road dynamics.  Unique 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with Dunlop SP Sport rubber completed the XR6 package.In the shopOwners of previous model Falcons have regularly complained to carsGuide about problems with their cars, but to date the complaints about the FG have been few and far between.One regular complaint from owners of those previous models related to the adjustment of the park brake, which was tricky, but the FG has a self-adjusting park brake that should eliminate that issue.The overall lack of complaint is a good sign for FG owners, hopefully one that is a pointer to future reliability.  But with less than 50,000km on average it's still early days for this model.It's worth making a thorough check of all systems to make sure everything on the car works, listen for odd noises while driving, make sure auto transmission engages smoothly and without hesitation.  Check also for signs of crash repairs, mismatching paint etc., gouged alloy wheels from contact with gutters and kerbs, and scarred bumpers.In a crashThe XR6 came standard with an impressive list of safety features, including driver and front passenger airbags, front side head/thorax airbags, dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist.  By any measure it's an impressive array of safety systems, enough to be given a five-star ANCAP rating.At the pumpDriven by Carsguide, an FG XR6 returned 10.0 L/100km in general running around town, which was spot-on with Ford's official figure.Owners sayJames Creece has owned several Falcons over the past 10 years and is bewildered by the complaints owners make about them. He currently owns two FG XR6 Falcon autos and is very happy with both of them. One, a work ute, has done 75,000km mostly with a load and towing a loaded trailer, has averaged 12.2L/100km and he says it's a good ute with a tight body, it handles well, everything works, and it's good value for money. The other is a sedan with premium sound, leather, 18-inch alloys, iPod/Bluetooth that has done 30,000km. He says it's great on the road, the best car he's ever owned. James runs it in PULP and it has averaged 8.9L/100km on mostly country driving.On the other hand, after 1000km Steve Walters noticed a clunking noise in the right front of his FG XR6 manual when backing it out of a driveway. The dealer checked it and tightened the front-end, and declared it fixed after a test drive, unfortunately when Steve subsequently checked it he found it was still there. This time, after another check, the dealer compared it to another XR6 and found it too exhibited the same noise. The dealer's response was that it was a characteristic of the car and told Steve to "put up with it". After some frustrating discussions with Ford's Customer Relations people, the dealer, and a Ford service rep, the car was once more checked and the noise was diagnosed as being caused by the front lower control arm. The arm was replaced and for a time it seemed the problem was fixed, but after a few days it returned. The car has now done 15,000km and the noise is still there.Look for. Sports looks. Great chassis. Responsive six-cylinder engine. Five-star safety. Few problems reportedThe Bottom LineGrunty engine, good driving chassis, good buy.Rating85/100

The Australian ute has long been a mate to a diverse collection of characters. From farmers to tradesfolk, delivery firms to families, the concept of a sedan-like cabin with working tray out back has offered a range of services and transport needs across the country.Among owners there has always been a number who bestowed extra love on the ute, well back to the scrub-running days of HD Holdens with aftermarket mag wheels, four-on-the-floor gearbox shifts and triple SU carburettors added to the milieu. These were sports machines for many, extensions of the drivers' fantasies.So along the way the manufacturers saw the sense in building special utes, playhorse as much as workhorse machines.The current crop of these spirited chariots include Holden and Falcon V8 machines, some with extra-special attention to detail.And among these cheerleaders is the FG version of the XR8, a machine of some merit. Style changes over its predecessor may be subtle but are most effective (especially in freddo-green). The new Ford ute has some nice muscle to the metal.The cabin is all Ford XR with sports seats and sophisticated dash stacked with the best of today's conveniences — from decent six-stacker CD player to traction control switch. There is as well a host of steering wheel controls to consider.Visibility to the sides and out back — here with roll bar and spoiler on the optional tonneau cover — is not great. The other quibble is a steering wheel that needs more height adjustment to allow more room between seat and the bottom of the wheel.These are details left behind as 290kW fires up with a little rock 'n' roll rumble through the seats as the V8 sits impatient at idle.The ute jumps and scrabbles off the line. Maybe Ford's turbocharged XR6 utes provide more performance but the controlled fire and fury of a big V8 is hard to beat. It ran here through the six-speed sequential auto transmission to highway speeds with fluency.There was always, at any road speed, enough power and torque on hand to fill traffic gaps.And there was always enough grunt to have the rear swing out for that old-fashioned fun before traction control intervened.There are some road and mechanical noises filtering through to the cabin, reminders that behind the driver is a load-carrying tray sitting on leaf springs.There is, too, some bump-thump and very firm ride when the XR8 is sitting on the optional 19-inch wheels.But the steering is sharp and the rear well-behaved, the XR perhaps more easily balanced on the throttle than the coil-spring Holden SS.Only when thrown (and quick steering allows this) into a tight, slowish corner does the front of the Ford kneel a little more than expected.So on to the faster, flowing turns, snug down in the sports seats, music from the mechanicals and exhaust as the driver works up and down the gearbox.The Falcon XR8 is a fine machine for a little fun, just as it is, with a 540kg payload, for work.It does not have the refinement or the ultimate ability of an XR8 sedan but it does have a deal of style and versatility.