2008 Ford Falcon XT review - Long-term owner

Multimedia and safety technology: 7/10

The factory audio head unit was pretty basic, so I upgraded to a colour display that starts up with the Ford logo. Gives the car a next-level feel every time I fire her up. There's no built-in Bluetooth, so I sorted that with an adapter that plugs into the old-school Apple cable, and now music and calls are hassle-free. On the safety side, she's well equipped with airbags, ABS brakes and stability control, which keeps me feeling safe and confident on the road.

Practicality: 8/10

The interior is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom front and rear, so the family can stretch out on long road trips. The boot is generous for a sedan and easily swallows the weekly shop, luggage and gear for a weekend away. The interior wrap gives the cabin a fresh look, and the weathershields let me keep the windows cracked for fresh air, even when it's raining.

Driving: 8/10

The 4.0L straight-six has bags of grunt and pulls smoothly through the gears, whether I'm around town or cruising on the highway. The steering feels sharp and confident, and she holds the road nicely for a big Aussie sedan. Thanks in part to the soundproofing pads I added, the cabin is quiet and comfortable, so long drives are a breeze. The FG Falcon's bold, muscular lines still turn heads, and with the white paint, ceramic coating, black alloys and aftermarket LED side repeaters, dark smokey tail-lights and carbon fibre spoiler she looks a treat.

Running costs: 8/10

Running costs have been very reasonable for a big six-cylinder sedan. Fuel economy sits at around 8.0L/100km on the highway, as long as the fuel system is well maintained and I drive smoothly on the throttle. Parts are cheap and easy to find and mechanics know these cars inside out, so regular servicing won't break the bank. In 10 years I've never had an accident or a claim, so there havn't been any nasty surprises. 

Reliability: 9/10

She's been bulletproof. I've owned her for 10 years and she's covered over 233,000km with me, taking her to 310,226 km on the clock and she has never let me down or left me stranded. Solid as a rock, with no rattles, squeaks or dramas. Car's been serviced on time, every time and still starts first go and runs smoothly. For a car this age and with this many kilometres, it's a true blue legend and I plan to keep her for life.