shorsfall

There is one reason I wouldnt buy a wagon and that is because of the creature comforts. I like my leather, climate control, electric windows etc. I also think people would like the option of a V8 especially for towing. If they change there minds and incorporate these in I would probably consider buying one.

 

RAPTOR

Agreed, but they're just as grouse with a 6cyl.

Agreed again.
That's why I reckon Raptor (E265) will be available as in RWD as well as AWD.

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ChuBBz

Not a big fan of the AU/BA wagons....

Its arse end should have been based on the Utes!

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Rhubarb

6 SEATS !!!!!!

mattyc

yeh the rear of the AU/BA wagon is pretty stark. though that said, nice alloys and dumping it makes a world of difference...

some bloke did it near my place with a AU III Fairmont and the 17/18?? AUIII XR8 alloys. looks great.

I thought the BA wagon isnt going to be contined very long in favour of the 4x4 platform?

XD 351 Ute

Fair comments, but:
Regarding the subframe, didn't they do a similar thing when the IRS was installed in the AU initially??? Remembering of course that it was an option over the coil sprung live axle????

Secondly, surely in this day and age, having seen the problems Holden (and possibly other manufacturer's) have has regarding IRS and load carrying, the engineers would be able to invent something that works.

The ute I can understand having a live rear end with leaf springs.
Unless you go for a heap of trailing / stabilising arms and air bags etc, you can't go past leaf springs for carrying loads..
Semi-trailer trucks around the world prove that daily!!!

Ed :)

Edit: stuffed that up a bit.
To digress, yes leaf springs are great load carriers, refer end of post above.
IRS should be able to do the same, but it would take a lot of development, refer second paragraph in above post.
Hope that clears the air a little.....!!

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Original XD 351 Ute - I got one!!

HSV - I just don't want one....EVER!

My XF 3 on the tree ute is ALWAYS stuck in third......

XYGTHOPhase3

Doesn't the wagon share its underpinnings with the long-wheelbase falcons? and don't they have IRS? so, theortically, it wouldn't be too hard for ford to fit the IRS onto the wagons.
Maybe they keep the leaf-springs so they can keep the level of load-space intrusion down to a minimum?
Don't know if i'm anywhere near to being correct, but just my thoughts.

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The HSV...may not visually mirror the HRT cars, but it is a statement. Then again, so is 'I'm trying too hard'.

RAPTOR

I think up until AU the wagons & utes always shared underpinnings. However with the AU ute moving to a full (half) chassis to allow for the 1-ton tray back the wagon has become a bit of an orphan. It has the wheelbase of the LWB sedans yet suspension similar to the utes (or carryover from E-series wagons?).

The ute wheelbase is longer again.

Actually the big rigs are more advanced that what you might think.
Most are now air-bag suspended on all but the steering axle which retains leafs (to retain steering function in the event a loss of air pressure).

This gives them better ride (less road shocks to the cargo) and higher carrying capacity.

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FTEfan

The wagon needs a bigger rear end. I mean how the hell can you fit 3 rows of proper seats in there? It is possible for IRS to cope with heavy loads, check out VW Transporters IRS and better then 1 tonne payload. More trim levels ie: Fairmont, Fairmont Ghia, XR, hell maybe even Squire. Bring back V8 wagons. These babies are built to HAUL so give the berries to do so. And maybe manual trans but stuffed if I can see why with modern autos, besides throwing a wagon around corners is hard enough with out changing gear aswell .

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Nothing on this earth beats holding your newborn child for the first time.

FTEfan

Oh yeah. Nearly forgot. WOODGRAIN!

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Nothing on this earth beats holding your newborn child for the first time.