Off topic but Aussie specific question

[Fen]

As title, this is off topic for a Mustang forum, so mods feel free to move it if that's considered appropriate, but I hope it can stay because it's very much a question I'd like input on from Australian petrolheads, and this is a good place to find some

I'm thinking of replacing my Ranger Wildtrak with a VF Redline Ute with Walkinshaw W310 pack.

There is some logic and I can explain it if anyone is interested, but summarise it as the Ranger is not the ideal mountain bike mover (or anything mover with the Wildtrak hoop and roller shutter for that matter), and I don't need the rear seats and 4wd nearly as much as I'd like a longer, waterproof bed and lower loading height.

I don't do all that many KMs so fuel economy isn't a big deal to me. Aside the Mustang (which is my partner's primarily) and a couple of 50 year old classics my ute is my only car. I enjoy driving, and a Ranger isn't ticking the fun box.

So, I figure the Aussie section of a forum about Ford muscle cars is a good place to get warts and all views on the Holden VF Redline.

I have a decent offer on the table for a 2015 VF with delivery KMs, fitted with the Walkinshaw W310(KW) kit (up from 270KW stock) and hard lid. The alternative is pay around $4k more for a stock VFII plus hard lid, which has 304KW but nowhere near the soundtrack of a Walkinshaw kit. Or stay with the Ranger and replace the roller shutter with a different cover for about $2k, possibly devaluing it's "Wildtrak-ness" and resale value.

Any and all input is welcome as I'm not a real Kiwi and I didn't grow up with V8 Utes. I also have no Ford / Holden allegiance and view each vehicle on its own merits, but you probably figured that out if you read this far.

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[Aus-MustangGT]

If you are after performance look at an XR6 Turbo Ute, it will do everything you want above and more. If you want to throw some money at it they are ridiculously quick

 

[Hunter]

Sweet as bro! I had the Ranger and sold it to buy the Mustang. The Ranger was a bit of a let down to me. I think when it was released (PX) it was way ahead of the other utes on paper but fuel economy and the weight kind of made it a little less appealing the longer I owned it. However, a 4x4 dual cab is the most practical car for me, particularly with a full fibreglass canopy and if you have the mustang, then you should be able to get some fun factor in when required. Mustang + Single cab V8 ute doesn't scream practicality.
Kia Ora

 

[msweet]

if it's only for a bit of fun and to throw stuff in the tray, why buy something so new?

Xr6T is a good op for sure, but you can't replace the v8 soundtrack. I'd get a VE 2 SSV (was my last car - sedan) or early VF and have a heap of cash to throw at it, make it as "fun" as you like - cam, supercharge, sky's the limit

 

[Fen]

Thanks guys, all good input and some food for thought.

I had a quick look at the XR6 on Ford's website. They don't even have a brochure to download, but while it has lots of headline KW numbers it's pretty basic in terms of spec (and ⅔ the price of the Redline). I guess I could / should have a look but cloth seats etc. doesn't excite me when I tend to be muddy a lot of the time I drive it.

Also while I didn't grow up on V8 Utes I did grow up (in the UK) on 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and turbos, and a V8 just has a romance to it that is about more than performance and that 4s, 6s and turbos don't have for me.

I guess a V8 Ute and a Mustang aren't exactly the height of practicality, but there's only the two of us at home these days and it's rare we use the back seat in the Ranger for anything other than things we could fit behind the seats of the VF. I also have a 1965 Wagoneer in the queue to be restored next, and that will be a big practical (to a certain extent) wagon when it's done. Probably in 2018 mind...

I guess I'm a bit of a geek with the technology stuff, and in my toy I want Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, and I like my reverse camera, keyless start etc. And warranty. I've bounced between buying new and used over the years and have definitely been in the 'buy used, it's better value' camp in the past.

Obviously used doesn't mean unreliable, but I've been down the road of modifying cars several times before and a matched pack that retains a warranty is attractive to me compared with the sometimes patchy results from mixing and matching parts. I don't do a lot of KMs, but sometimes I do a big (in NZ terms at least) drive and I like to be confident that the vehicle won't let me down.

I don't know about prices in Australia, but here in NZ Utes hold their value ludicrously well and really I would struggle to find a VF with under 75,000km on it for much less than the basic price of the one I'm looking at (before the Walkinshaw kit is added). I haven't looked at VE models so I could check them out.

Lastly on the used thing, it's a business purchase, so often new deals are more attractive than used ones.

 

[Aus-MustangGT]

There is a luxury pack option for the Xr6 turbo. Just find one and test drive it. A Mustang beats a VF in performance and I have gone up against a few Xr6 turbos and got my :censored: handed to me haha

 

[msweet]

In that case I'd jump straight into the W310 then, and if you are wanting more fun, then you've got an extra $4k for mods at some stage.

Whilst I admit I haven't heard the new bimodal exhaust, there's no way I'd go back to a stock asthmatic Holden system - same reason I've bought the Corsa for the stang

 

[msweet]

[MENTION=14692]Aus-MustangGT[/MENTION] is right though, XR6 turbos smack everything performance wise

 

[Burkey]

Yes, you're a kiwi, but -
I have a 50th Annivesary XR6 TURBO ute for sale if that interests you. 55,000 kms
Best car I've ever owned by a LONG way. Mustang allows me to carry the kids to school etc.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be letting it go.
Value for money and performance, you can't go past one of these. Seriously.
And they don't scoff fuel at the bowser.
Typically less than 9l/100km on the highway.

 

[05STNG]

did the Pursuit uses come out SS?

 

[Fen]

OK, I'm trying to look at an XR6 Turbo. I'm sure over the weekend the Ford NZ website had 2 models, one a 335KW Turbo model. It's not there now. Also in NZ we only get an auto transmission and so far as I can see no options at all.

I went through the Ford AU site and configured up a Turbo with luxury pack and hard lid and the price is attractive. Unfortunately I don't know what the luxury pack includes as it errored when I tried to expand the details, but it did add to the price.

When was the new model launched over there? I wonder if it's very recent and Ford NZ is just getting up to speed with them. Or we aren't getting them here.
[MENTION=21513]Burkey[/MENTION], sounds nice, but I treat my modern car as a business expense so it needs to come from a dealer on a finance package. Ford and Holden both do a fleet discount when selling to GST registered businesses on lease to buy type deals.

 

[Aus-MustangGT]

XR6 Turbo Luxury Pack
MLP $1,600 ^
Leather Sport Seat Inserts
Premium Audio System with AM/FM Radio, Digital broadcast radio, Single slot CD, 8 speakers
Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control

 

[Fen]

XR6 Turbo Luxury Pack
MLP $1,600 ^
Leather Sport Seat Inserts
Premium Audio System with AM/FM Radio, Digital broadcast radio, Single slot CD, 8 speakers
Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control

Thanks. I can't find any pricing or news items anywhere suggesting we get a Turbo version in NZ though. Nor a manual.

 

[Fen]

Just rang the dealer, the XR6 Turbo is not available in NZ and it's not coming here either. I guess we buy a 195KW auto version with cloth seats or we buy a Holden, in that case.

 

[RTVgav]

No more XR6T utes available new in Australia. All production up to the end is now spoken for :-(

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