Hey guys I'm currently in the market for a new family car (2 year old + one on way) as mine has just about given up the good fight. Looking at spending about $20k.

I've looked at rrrockets thread http://qgl.ausforums.com/index.php/439207/?agn=thread&id=2734404&startid=0.

I do about 60,000k's/year(switch->gold coast commute) so my main priorities are fuel economy and a car that will stand up to those sort of k's. As i've currently got a Falcon '94 EF XR6 that i've converted to lpg(14L/100KM highway) i'm looking at getting something like a '07 BF XT on factory lpg like this one here which according to drive has a fuel economy of about 15L/100KM.

One thing that concerns me a bit is http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=59479&vf=1 states
"Auto gearboxes usually last around 170,000km before they need replacing."

I've not heard that before - is that something just with the bf's? If thats the case should i be aiming for the lowest km's possible. What sort of cost would i be looking at?

Also i realise there are probably 4cyl options that would provide similair economy on fuel after taking into account the lpg price difference but i'm not sure how they'd stand up to all the k's especially highway?

Hi Fizzer,

don't be worried about the automatic. It's only some that fail, and the consistent link in those is that they have never been serviced. I had a chat to my old boss the other day at the taxis and he said they just rebuilt their first auto in a BF, at 513,000ks. The automatics were serviced every 30,000ks.

A near new gas-powered falcon is one of the most economically sensibly decisions you can make right now, especially seeing as you're doing the big kays.


My LPG falcon used to do 54,000ks a year when i worked in the sunny coast but lived in bris - i used to put 500 Litres of LPG through it a month. It literally saved me hundreds of dollars a month that i could spend on far better things than fuel.

/edit: Shutup frakture.

last edited by Mr Hardware at 13:46:21 08/Jul/09

While this may seem off topic, do you really need to Commute ~160+km a day?
I live really close to work (like ~13min drive) and it strikes me as odd that some people do a massive traverse everyday to and from work. Some people cant help it, family comitments maybe or partner has a similar distance travel the opposite direction...

I dont know, if it were me, i'd be looking at the cost of moving/finding a new job over spending so much on Fuel/Service/Maint for a vehicle. + With a new bub on the way, maybe you need a bigger house? (Or bigger shed to escape to!)

I've had my Car just over 3 years, 28k on the clock. Probably about 50-60% of those on Bitumen. About to put another ~7k on it in the next 3 weeks though :o

I'm with Scooter, that's a pretty big commute.

Yeah scooter knows my pain :P. I used to live at the coast - 5k's from work but moved back to ippy to buy a house 3 years ago. I eventually plan to move back to the coast once i've built up some more equity and am in a better position to afford something that isn't a shack at the gc. Atm i'm happy to sacrifice a depreciating asset for an appreciating one.

I really enjoy where i work and finding anything remotely similair locally would be impossible. As you can imagine the I.T. sector in ipswich leaves a fair bit to be desired :P

Yeah I knew Hardware would be up for lpg falcon :P I'd probably actually do around 600Litres a month!

I didn't think the gearbox failing sounded right.

You've got a couple of things mixed up there crusher, but otherwise pretty right.
There are three LPG systems:
Mixer-ring (also known as carby, but not a carb) which e-gas (factory dedicated fuel)
SVI (Sequential Vapour Injection)
LPI (Liquid Port Injection)

The costs for aftermarket conversions are $2500, $4500 and $5500 respectively, remembering the $1750 govt rebate.

Oh and the factory LPG e-gas wagons have an 115L LPG tank so you can do 1000k's on a single tank on the open road. And i doubt you'd ever be able to find 1000k's without an LPG servo, even on the nullabor the largest stretch is about 230ks.

Oh and vbcoder, you're not right there. The falcon six is good for over 1million kays, where as the Toyota 2.8L diseasel in the maxi taxis peak out at a bit over 800,000ks.

last edited by Mr Hardware at 14:06:44 08/Jul/09

I believe mixer-ring is what my EF currently has - conversion $ sounds about right. So factory is a similiar thing? Just attaches in to like the air intake?

All the ads i've seen mention injection?

Is there any other servicing concerns i need to worry about due to the factory lpg? Like is it something my regular mech (not a lpg guy) could do or would i need to take to ford or lpg place?

Good to know hardware thanks for the info.

I hadn't even thought of the lack of lpg servo's crusher but like hardware says its a pretty big tank (my current one is 60 and gets about 450k's) so isn't likely to be an issue.

My car "only" has 400,000ks on it and is serviced every 10,000 and the head gasket is on its way out again after ~2years/100,000kms! So looking for a newer car that i can hopefully keep for a bit longer. At least until i can change my need for the commute.

Should i be concerned with getting the lowest k's possible? That one i posted only had 39 whereas i've seen ones with 80 for the same price. 110,000k's seem to drop around the 15k mark. I guess the lower just means i'll have more control on the service history etc.

The wagon in the link you provided? How is that better than the sedan i linked with less k's?

Is that Gateway wholesalers worth looking into should i be apprehensive about buying ex-fleet?

taxis and he said they just rebuilt their first auto in a BF, at 513,000ks. The automatics were serviced every 30,000ks.

Taxis are completely different. Do not take this into account.

In general taxis last longer because they are constantly running. When you are talking about cars the bulk of the damage is done when the car is warming up and/or cooling down. I know taxi drivers that have EF falcons that have hit 1 million ks and are still going. NO BS. Don;'t think yours will do the same

I do believe the BF to be a good car, all i am saying is don't compare it to a taxi drivers BF.

Kays mean very little on the falcon.

kms mean alot on any car.. once a car hits 200,000 km's, the price reduces dramatically... once a car hits 300,000, its not worth f*****g s***.

in saying that, the inline 6 on those falcons can do 500,000 no problems.

oh mr hardware, bring me a dream
bright shining taxis for miles to be seen

Falcons are the best value
im on my 2nd, had an ED before and put 100,000km on it without one service. Im a lazy bastard so... yeah. the gearbox started d ying so i slapped it on ebay and got half my money back. Cost me $2000 for 3 years of ownership.

Now have an EL and i think ill service it now and then

falcon with country pack.
youll be ready for any possible situation life can throw in front of you.

youll be ready for any possible situation life can throw in front of you.

As long as you maintain a sufficient distance.

im on my 2nd, had an ED before and put 100,000km on it without one service.

I had a commodore I put about 120k's on. I think one day I changed the sparkplugs (once) as far as services go. I had it off the road for 3 months, put a battery back in it and it started and ran fine, I checked the oil a week later and it was dry haha.

Edit: GF has a 98 Ford, it's on its fourth (including the first) motor. It got regular services etc. Now it's just being drive into the ground. She's looking for a new car atm, not touching a ford again.

last edited by Syco at 00:44:38 09/Jul/09

Yeah i did look into a novated lease but i think thats more for people that use their car for work use. I just use it to get to work which isn't classed as "for work".

last edited by Fizzer at 18:33:41 09/Jul/09

is a falcon something you really want to subject your family to?

Lol Jim I live in Ipswich - we're only allowed to drive falcons and commodores!

I need to get my 3 part putty/paint colour scheme happening though less I'll never truely fit in.

and only if you neeeed a loan for the car. if you've got the cash, just spend it. the finance costs of a novated lease are excessive, i'm talking 14% or so.

yeah thats true too jim
especially if you're in the top tax bracket