Need Advice on a Buying a 2003 Ford Falcon Ute XR6 BA

Lmryoullington on 25/02/2024 - 21:21
Last edited 26/02/2024 - 08:43 by 1 other user

Any advice on buying a 2003 Ford Falcon ute XR6 BA with 280k km?

Looking to purchase a reliable car for work and something to have fun in. Wasn't too sure if 280km on a Falcon was very high as I know they are used as taxis. I'm pretty new to cars so wanted to get some more opinions on it.

Looks very well taken care of, being serviced frequently and has some mods on it too

Some things to note,
The gearbox was recently refurbished and a new rear diff and clutch was put in not too long ago. It's Manual and dedicated LPG as well

Asking price is $10,000, is it worth that much?

Any advice or knowledge would be great, Thank you

Automotive Car Ford Utility Vehicle

Comments

  • boomramada on 25/02/2024 - 21:30
    +6

    You asking from a Toyota/Tesla forum, short answer is not worth it.

  • oscargamer on 25/02/2024 - 21:32
    +3

    Worth 6k

  • dr on 25/02/2024 - 21:33
    +4

    Don't!

  • mapax on 25/02/2024 - 21:39
    +3

    I don’t know anything about BAs, but a blown diff and box at only 280k on a falcon seems like it could have had a hard life?

    Also, LPG is getting hard to find in some areas

  • freefall101 on 25/02/2024 - 21:40
    +4

    Looks well taken care of, yet has had panels replaced (I found the ad on carsales), dumb mods, clutch, diff and gearbox killed, "I’ve already got 90% of everything on the RWC ticked off" so it's not roadworthy yet, and it's a 20 year old car with 280k on the clock.

    And you want something reliable.

    BTW Falcons were taxis because they did deals with taxi companies, sold taxi packs (i.e. the rubber vomit mats in the back), had a bigger back seat than the commodore, were cheap and parts were easily accessible. Everyone switched to the camry because they were more reliable.

    • Euphemistic on 25/02/2024 - 21:43
      +4

      Gonna link the ad?

      Did they really switch taxis to camry becasue the camry was more reliable? It might be more relaible, but a big factor innthe camey transition was being hybrid and so chealer to run than the 4l falcon.

      • freefall101 on 25/02/2024 - 22:59
        +2

        https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2003-ford-falcon-ut…

        Written by someone who apparently wanted to go into marketing.

        Yeah, good point. I'm going off anecdotes from taxi drivers which may not be right. I do remember there being a time when pre-hybrid Camry taxis were everywhere too, but there could have been a million reasons. Maybe it was Toyota offering better warranties rather than actually being more reliable.

        • JIMB0 on 26/02/2024 - 13:49
          +1

          They were using the Avalon which predated the hybrid Camry by several years. I remember a article in the Friday Herald Sun cars guide about how they would do 800k+ just like the Falcon but did it on the original engine and transmission.

    • Dslrfirst on 26/02/2024 - 09:42
      +2

      ITS A UTE.

      • RockyRaccoon on 26/02/2024 - 10:04
        +1

        Can fit more passengers in the back, just need to cover with a canopy when Waze advises police ahead.

        For OP. It’s set up for a noon. If thats what you want then obviously a Camry ain’t your option.

  • Euphemistic on 25/02/2024 - 21:41
    +2

    280k is getting long in the tooth for suspension components and general wear and tear. Coild be up for suspension work unless its been done. Well serviced andnnot flogged it could well last for a lot longer, but $10k sounds a bit steep.

    Wouldnt recommend buying something that old unless you can do some repair work yourself. But if you have to ask this qeuation on an essentially non-car forum i suspect you dont have the skills or knowledge to DIY.

  • brendanm on 25/02/2024 - 21:41
    +8

    Sounds like it's had a hard life, and $10k for a 20 year old falcon with 280k on it!!!??!

    • El cheepo on 26/02/2024 - 02:00
      +2

      Its alright, the seller knows what he’s got.

      • iforgotmysocks on 26/02/2024 - 08:58

        Swaps for a fish tank, jetski and cash my way?

    • coffeeinmyveins on 26/02/2024 - 10:49
      +1

      welcome to the current car market in Oz.

      20 years ago this sort of car with this mileage would be $1k and a six pack.

  • GordonD on 25/02/2024 - 21:50
    +4

    The reason I would NOT buy it is that it is LPG.

    LPG was popular and economical. But these days its getting harder and harder to find somewhere to fill up with it, and its going to get even harder. That's what you are going to regret if you intend keeping for a while.

    Given that I can see why someone would by offloading it at the point in time. While they can still get someone who'll pay $10K for it.

    • Euphemistic on 26/02/2024 - 15:34

      I missed the LPG bit orignially. Certainly a rrason to avoid, unless its a few $k less than an equivalent petrol variant.

  • Jaduqimon on 25/02/2024 - 21:54
    +1

    10k for 280km 20 year old car wtf???

    if you want a fun reliable car look into accord euros CL9s can be had for 5-6k

    • yikes914 on 26/02/2024 - 00:13
      +1

      the entire Accord Euro platforms (CL9 &CU2) are kinda under-rated, good all rounder cars that are fun to throw around when you can. Only downside is it need premium

  • pixpotato on 25/02/2024 - 22:39
    +6

    I drove my dads 2001 Ford Flacon LPG for ages (not the same I know) but my advise would be:
    1. You'll spend more on maintenance cost than the incremental cost to buying something better.
    2. If it's LPG forget it, they start breaking down heaps more than Petrol cars after the 200K mark from memory. One of the biggest issues I had was there was this weird plug thing that kept on breaking and at it's worst in the middle of driving the car would turn off which became dangerous. I ended up giving the car away for 500 bux unregistered because it was that bad (around 2016).
    3. Is a ute necessary? Otherwise try find a low km corolla or something.

  • DASHCAM NOW DUDE on 25/02/2024 - 23:57
    +1

    Any advice on buying a 2003 Ford Falcon ute XR6 BA with 280k km?

    Don't buy it. A 20 year old car with 280,000km on it for $10,000 is a bad deal.

  • sumyungguy on 26/02/2024 - 00:17
    +1

    Is it worth $10K? Carsales private price guide tops out at $8,750. Trade-in value max $4,200. You could haggle down the price to reduce your (eventual) loss.

  • NotSureOfSavings on 26/02/2024 - 08:12
    +1

    My father works on LPG for years. Says it’s great when it’s great, and when it starts getting not so great, go bury it in the country and move on.
    FYI I’m in the process of selling a BA Xr8, stock: 12k.
    10k for a Xr6? Hard pass

  • joshash on 26/02/2024 - 08:18
    +3

    It's old enough to vote mate and has been to the moon in terms of distance.
    Reliable?
    Hardly

  • iactnow on 26/02/2024 - 08:25
    -1

    I had a ford on gas, FORD stands for Fix Or Repair Daily, and it constantly needed repairs. If I was a mechanic and I could get the parts cheap then it may have been viable otherwise get something reliable like a Toyota.

  • sprocketoctopus on 26/02/2024 - 09:19
    +1

    Too expensive for what it is. However the ute's do hold their money, so there's that. As stated above, I would not go for an eco-lpi or e-gas. Maybe 10 years ago, but it's getting hard to get nowadays.

    I would try and find an FG or FGII at least, front end was redesigned and much better (I have a FG-X)

    Like this: (has the 6 speed box)

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2013-ford-falcon-ut…

    or this: (I'd offer 12k as a start after inspection…)

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2013-ford-falcon-ut…

    Good luck!

  • Danstar on 26/02/2024 - 10:22
    +1

    My first car was a BA XR6. Loved it! Wish I kept it.

    Only issue I ever had was the throttle body sensor (which was fixed in warranty period). Can't remember how many Kms I did on it exactly, but it was in excess over 100,000 that's for sure.
    $10k seems way too expensive. $5k-7k max.

    • Danstar on 26/02/2024 - 11:53
      +1

      Oh and half the doors wouldn't lock as the actuators went.

  • apple2016 on 26/02/2024 - 10:23
    +1

    Asking price is $10,000

    The xr6 is usually rock solid, but the asking price is a joke for a 20 yo car!!! $5-6k max if it has service history, new tyres and in good cond etc.

  • zathras on 26/02/2024 - 10:43
    +1

    10K?
    Tell 'em they're dreaming….

    I have a 2003 Falcon sedan I've owned for 18 years.
    It's done 300,000 kms in total (mostly highway), and the engine and transmission is rock solid.
    Just needs some new suspension bushes and some new speakers.

    I'm going to sell it soon and will ask less than $2,000.

    • azonki on 26/02/2024 - 14:03

      If it's diff bushings, it's about $1500 at an independent shop.
      Can make any Ford F series an expensive bucket of bolts.

  • bhubb18 on 26/02/2024 - 11:31
    +2

    Unless its a turbo, its crazy money

    Factory manual BA ute should only be 5k imo, especially with those ks.

    Lots of small things go wrong with falcons, if you're handy with tools and working on cars its usually nothing too bad. Lower ball joints are very common.

    Highly doubt its had a gentle life, I've had 3 manual falcon utes and they definitely get thrashed hahaha.

    Spend a bit more and try get into a FG, better gearboxes (either 6 speed manual or auto, avoid 5 speed auto), and the later NA barras seem a lot more responsive than BAs.

  • Jake D on 26/02/2024 - 11:32

    You couldn't pay me $10k to take your dedicated LPG off your hands.

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 26/02/2024 - 12:20
    +1

    He’s asking xr6 turbo money. Or xr8 even. Standard 6 banger is worth 6k tops. Maybe throw in a little more because of the manual box- they’re uncommon. I converted my au3 Monty to manual using a smashed xr6 because manuals were impossible to find, and simply not offered in the higher spec cars. The manual box is infinitely nicer to drive and feel more direct and less slushy than the autos.

    Clutches go usually around 250k, he says it’s been done recently so that’s great.
    Dedicated lpg is the main issue I see. Wit will be a pain in the bum. LPG has increased in price to the point that you reach close to parity with petrol in the end (you use more L of lpg compared to petrol), so the economy aspect is moot. And will cause cooling system to need pretty much complete replacement by 300ish.

    If he was asking 5k, I’d buy it as is. 6k it’d need near enough to a full year of rego.

    Go have a look and feel out how low he’ll go. Worst case, you see the car in the flesh.

  • 2esc on 26/02/2024 - 13:16

    Steer clear it does have plenty of life left in it but i think the unknowns and other potential repairs its too expensive.

    Hunt around and im sure you coyld find a lower klm car for similar money.

  • JIMB0 on 26/02/2024 - 13:55
    +1

    This thing will have never ending problems, it will just be one thing after another. Maybe ok if you can do the work yourself, otherwise you'll spend a fortune at the mechanics.

  • Gdsamp on 26/02/2024 - 16:44

    depends on your idea of daily + fun. if this includes private road in mexico then mayhaps. but i think that example is priced a bit high + lpg concerns listed by others
    otherwise what about 4wd ute for camping and/or off road? certainly more options for spending your paycheque on mods + accessories

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