VT Commodore or EL Fairmont?

[pimpjuice]

Gday all,

Looking to buy another car for work but having a bit of a hard time deciding. I have found these 2 cars:

1997 VT Commodore wagon Exec
160,000kms
Green/Blue colour
Full history
Maybe 70% tyres (RE92's)
Interior a bit of wear and tear but exterior immaculate
A/C cool not cold
Dark tint

$4,100

1997 EL Fairmont wagon
201,000kms
Navy blue
Part service history
90% tyres (Michelin energy xm1)
Interior immaculate, but few scratches and stone chips on bonnets
A/c would freeze ur tits off
On gas
Redback 2.5 inch mandrel bend exhaust

$3800

Both cars appear to be mechanically sound no leaks etc. Gearboxs are comparable I guess. They both drive pretty well.

I am neither a Ford or Holden man, but I do like the look of Commo wagon better! But ill be doing a s'load of towing!

Which would you guys choose? Have any of you moved from both sides of Ford or Holden camp?

[Full Spectrum]

KM's first would make me suggest the VT, Pretty low for it's age. With full serves history you can't go wrong.
Plenty of room inside very comfy and a popular car with plenty of upgrades, handle good for a wagon has sedans IRS.


On the Ford side, Towing would be best, More power and torque, Gas is a bonus but they do loose some go with gas, KM's aren't that bad.
Big inside but for such a large car they have always to me felt like they shove you into the doors, Leaf spring rear set for heavy duty not ride quality.


I'd be a bit 60/40 towards the VT, More because i have one, But they can tow it might just depend what you are towing that might seal the deal.

[pimpjuice]

Well I do a ****load of towing, im a tradie and drive from GC to Brisbane daily. Its a big box trailer. Ford would be best for towing no doubt and cheaper to run. But Commodore wins looks contest hands down, and thats the prob! Its funny rear seat is more comfortable in Ford but front in Commodore seem better.

[Full Spectrum]

You could gas it, But then that will cost you more, But it might last longer?, And as you said be more comfortable driving it..

But if it's a very heavy load.. Though i was just behind a VY Exec towing a very large boat, Took me to pass it to notice it was a Commodore, The boat almost took 10% of the right lane with it.

[VTS5]

No contest,Ford ofcourse.

[50LTRv8]

I have both a VT and a EF Ghia (similar to this monty)

With no mods the falcon wins, sorry everyone but it is true. 200K is nothing on the straight six in will tow heaps better than a v6.

They do drive quite well as the EL has the rear suspension sorted far better then the EF. For looks, lower and a nice set of wheels, all done.

Parts are cheap and with the falcon on gas already, go for it

[adam69]

Go the Ford,cheap to run,will tow what you want and because its a Fairmont it will have climate control,cruise,4x pwr windows too.

[andyman]

comming from expirance, the ef/el fall apart, the window regulators/mechinisms bend or break, climate control screw up, ecu's blow etc even with the basic cleaning, you might have a great engine but you need a body for it to move imo. vt quality is far superior to the el/f.

i also dont get where people say the wagon fords are better cause there leaf sprung, yes leafs are good in weight situations if its set-up for that - the falcon is not, it only has like 2 or 3 leafs that are relatively thin compared to a commercial vehicle with 4-5-6 leafs. every ford wagon i see sag in the arse croic when towing a medium to large load. yes tyres will wear better when towing on one, my irs wagon dosnt sag as much as ive seen falcon wagon with similar loads.

If you have poly-air bags fitted inside the springs which dosnt cost to much and you can eliminate sag on the commo. you cant fit bags to a falcon you will need to add extra leafs which make the ride alot harder when not towing

just a few things to consider

[vsquest]

go the commodore

[50LTRv8]

I have not had half the issues mentioned with my mont.

vt quality is far superior to the el/f.

um, yeah right, bout the same from my experience.

[andyman]

I have not had half the issues mentioned with my mont.



um, yeah right, bout the same from my experience.

i know of a few vts in my family and friends and 3 ef's, 1 ef fairmont the sunroof and boot leaks like a sive, it has layers of contact over the roof and they have to put a tarp over it when it rains, when they bought it when it was 2 years old the climate didnt work, still dosnt, trip computer dosnt work, cruise dosnt work, power windows dont work, motors are either blown or the runner/guides/arms are bent also has contact over the top of one windows as the motor blew and window jammed. air bag warning has been on for a long time for no real fault, paint has faded and clear has peeled off, exterior panels dont line up, blown a head, drain batterys, has a slick knock in the engine and a couple of dead lifters, valve stem seal or two leaking. 250,000km on the clock and serviced well. if you see this car you couldnt sell it for 200 bucks

2nd ef, blew an ecu, started burning a heap of oil, sheared the window winder handles off the regulators, common problem as they used plastic splines on the handle and metal splines on the regulator, strips them out. paint faded on this aswelll, they still like there falcons and traded it on a bf only got 2 thousand trade in for it

3rd was a 97 ef/l futura wagon, 3 of the 4 window winder handle stripped, body rusting severley, ran like a dog, breaks shocking, for a 11 year old car the interior plastics had gone hard and brittle, i removed the triangle trim piece around the back door, when removing the door trim, snapped into 3 pieces when removing, and it wasnt cought on anything


vt berlina never a drama, towed a large caravan, bought when 2 years old has now been replaced by a vz svz vt was passed down to grandparents, who know drive it around australia with a large caravan aswell.

vt exec, ex governemt car, only complaint is the gearstick button has popped out of the retainer, but is still usable, paint not look after but still in good nick,

vt exec, was bought as a new tafe hack car, 300,000km on the clock still runs great, interior in real good nick, obviously been in a good accident from panel and paint misalignment and colour match


thats just from my experience, dont get me wrong, if ford had a half descent looking bf wagon i probably would have bought it over my vz, great engine and i like the semi-manual in them because hol/ford don't like making manual wagons

[pimpjuice]

Im still thinking about it.. Like I said im no Ford or Holden hardcore freak, but I have seen a crapload of VTs with interiors that have not lasted.. About 80% of them have the rear vents that are broken, centre console where shifter is scratched, audio controls on steering wheel buttons missing etc. This is from what ive seen. But I guess, when you buy a car of this age, you cant be too picky or choosy.

[Full Spectrum]

Most of the wagons i have seen are in that way also.

Think they are mostly old lease cars bit miss treated inside.

[minux]

go the falcon, you wont regret it.

If it were an 8, i'd say go the commy, but the I6 slaughters any holden 6 especially for towing.