Ford Falcon FG XR6 Turbo XR6T

Ford Falcon FG XR6 Turbo XR6T
First off, since this didn't reach reserve last time, and I got asked a kazillion questions, relisting with much more info.
Secondly, if you are looking for something being given-away and/or crap, I suggest you look elsewhere. You get what you pay for.
The following includes the history and current condition of the car. As for me, I am a member of the Institute Of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME) and also a licensed panelbeater with over 20 years experience (trade licence can be sighted by buyer if you need proof of this) so I can speak with a level of expertise about the car.
I bought this car from the original private owner so it is a 2-owner car with a known history and both the previous owner and I are middle-aged persons who respect it's performance as well as our licences so it hasn't been flogged to death by some young hoon. It drives and feels tight on the road and is stable and accurate on the freeway. When I was looking to buy I test drove a fair few ex-police ones (which are very common and USUALLY easiest to pick quickly by the brembo front brakes) on the freeway and let me tell you, there is a world of difference between how this one drives compared to those. By the way, the bonus of not being an ex-police car means no puke stains in the back, the driver's seat is not prematurely worn to within an inch of its life and it hasn't potentially been treated with disregard.
This car also has a rare combination of factory-fitted options including Premium Sound, the Technology Pack, the Safety Pack and Prestige Paint (Nitro blue). This is not an easy combo to find, it took me a fair while, but I mainly wanted the Premium Sound, the Safety Pack (for the side curtain airbags) and the color, the other options were a bonus. And the options are factory-fitted, not like some that buy for example the color ICC off eBay and fit it and then bingo, it has premium sound. NOT. The other bonus with factory-fitted options is a backyard wanna-be mechanic hasn't pulled things to bits and slapped it back together who-knows how. These option packs integrate deeply with the car and it's electronics and cannot be fitted afterwards without pulling large portions of the interior, and to a lesser extent the exterior, apart and even if successfully fitted, it will never be a genuine factory-fitted option.
Factory fitted with:
6 speed ZF Auto
18-inch alloy wheels
Premium sound (includes 7-inch TFT color screen, 6 disc in-dash CD/MP3, 8 speakers, amplifier, subwoofer, graphic equaliser)
Technology pack (includes bluetooth mobile phone integeration and iPod integeration (with settings in the ICC))
Safety pack (includes side curtain airbags, power adjustable pedals and perimeter alarm (with alarm settings in the ICC))
Prestige paint (Nitro color)
XR scuff plates (Genuine Ford)
XR floor mats (Genuine Ford)
Boot splash tray (Genuine Ford)
Tinted windows
Plus all the usual FG XR6 Turbo features.
Ok, so this car does not have leather(seats) but when I bought this I was also specifically looking for a carthat DIDN'T have leather. Why? It can be sticky/sweaty in summer, cold inwinter, slippery and after even relatively low km's, to me the leatherlooks wrinkly and old. Just look at a few FG leather driver's seats on cars that have done decent km's. Imuch prefer the quality sports-cloth in the FG XR's, but that'sjust me, each to their own. By the way, have you noticed that many car ads don't show the bottom cushion (and often the side) of the drivers seat, the part closest to the door? You know why? Because that is where the seat will have the most wear and look it's worst. No such games here. The drivers seat is in great shape.
Also, this car has NEVER had a towbar fitted so it hasn't had any potentially hard times towing weight.
When I bought this car it has been hoisted and inspected from top to bottom by myself and I can tell you that it has never been in an accident and has never had any paintwork done, with the exception of some touch-up paint (the original Ford touch-up paint kit supplied with the car when new) being applied by the previous owner to some stone chips on the front. As this car was to be driven by the missus as well as myself, a no-accident car was the first priority for me as I have been in the automotive industry long enough to know that poor quality repairs are not a myth.
Condition-wise, the exterior is excellent and dent-free with the exception of a barely visible stone-chip on the front edge of the bonnet. There are also some other stone chips around the front, probably best to look at the pictures, but most were touched-up as mentioned before and are not really visible unless you get up close. It's pretty much what you would expect of a car of this age and kilometres. The rims do not have any gutter scrapes, but like most driven cars there are a few very minor marks, you need to get up pretty close to see these. The interior is virtually immaculate, no rips or stains and very clean but the handbrake boot is showing a small amount of wear, this is easily replaced within a few minutes and is a low cost item should this bother you. Also, no problems with any electrics etc, everything works as it should and the air-con blows cold.
A few problems that the car has had. The diff bushes, the front upper-arm bushes and the rear control-blade bushes (all factory rubber) were starting to tear (Google it, these are among the few common FG problems) and these problems are easily remedied if done correctly. The diff's 2 outrigger and rear bush were replaced with genuine Nolathane performance bushes. The other bushes were replaced with SuperPro polyurethane bushes. The new diff bushes, being performance orientated, do make rear noises, at times, more noticeable, but nothing too drastic. The steering had a small amount of play, also a fairly common problem seen in some of the other ones I have driven, but many people may not notice it, the missus certainly didn't, but anyway I had the steering rack replaced with a brand new genuine Ford one (these suckers are not cheap, around 1200 from Ford). The new rack along with the new suspension bushes make it point accurately and it is a pleasure to drive.
The last recent major service included:
4 new tyres (Nexen N6000 245/40ZR18 Ultra High Performance Directional seefor more info)
New spark plugs (Genuine Ford)
New synthetic oil and filter (Pennzoil)
New fuel filter (Genuine Ford)
New air filter (Genuine Ford)
New idler pulley (Genuine Ford)
New hi-capacity battery
New coolant (Genuine Ford)
New front yoke-tailshaft coupling (Genuine Ford)
New front shock absorbers (Monroe Gas Performance)
Front discs machined (for the 1st time, still plenty of meat left)
4-wheel alignment
As you may be able to see, all items replaced were selected as the best choice within reason. I have receipts for all parts/work etc, total well over $4000 in last 12 months.
Includes VIC plates FGXRT6 (in matching blue color) and registered till 10th July 2014. VIC roadworthy certificate (RWC) included if requested by buyer.
This car has service history, has always been maintained, is not under finance and has never been stolen. For your own peace of mind you can go to the PPSR website (Google this: Australian Government Personal Property Securities Register) and search using the VIN to get a history of this car.
Sale includes 2 keys, Owner's Manual and Service booklet, wheels locknut and spare, jack and brace (all original items).
Like virtually all used-car private sales, the car is sold on an as-is basis. That being said, I have no problem with any inspection, however, test pilots need not apply. Also remember that an eBay bid is a legally-binding contract to buy, not an invitation to come and look and then decide, so if you want to inspect the car this must be done BEFORE bidding, not after.
As it took me a fair while to find this car because of what I wanted (and because I am a fussy c--t), you may be asking why am I selling it? Good question. Due to new car. Simple.
If you are serious about buying one of these, look at Car Sales, look around eBay, if you can find a good original un-molested and un-flogged FG XR6 Turbo with these options, kilometres, in this condition and that has had any problems fixed properly and professionally for around the price stop reading this and snap it up. I don't think you'll find better and maybe you could do a lot worse.
What, you want some conditions? Ok:
Pickup is in Wodonga VIC 3690 (next to Albury NSW 2640) which is about 2.5 hours drive from Melbourne or 5 hours drive from Sydney (or fly in to Albury airport, car is about a 15 minute cab ride away)
If using a transporter to pickup, you need to organize and pay for the transporter yourself
Payment methods accepted are cash on pickup or bank deposit, no cheques or COD etc
Pickup within 7 days of end of auction
Inspection welcome by genuine buyers and no test pilots
No swaps or trades

Also published at eBay.com.au