The Falcon is well put together - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

sashami · 09-11-2002, 06:31

I have looked carefully at both cars. The Falcon definitely wins the day. In fact it is no contest. Its kind of hard to pin down but you get a sense of well being sitting in the Falcon that you get in Audis and 5 series BMWs. The materials feel great, the panel gaps are miniscule, the buttons and knobs feel classy.

The Commodore, IMO, just seems like the previous Corolla inside. Cheap and nasty plastics, large and crooked panel gaps, poor proportions. Cheap feel of the buttons.

The very poorest thing on the Commodore is the feel and sound of the doors. Firstly they feel cheap and nasty to open from the outside. The handles are non linear and feel rough. The last time Ford had such handles was for the XF Falcon in 1986.

Then when you slam the doors shut they reverberate much like an emtpy petrol can.

The Ford on the other hand feels like a million dollars in comparison.

MintEAFalcon · 09-11-2002, 15:51

Wow! You have been busy! You have seen and sat in a new Vy and BA already???

KenOath · 09-11-2002, 16:25

The Commodore doors have always been tinny.

Kenaz · 09-11-2002, 18:31

I actually disagree with this. The doors on Dads AU feel weird like they aren't closing properly. From recollection the EBII and EL were the same. Not as bad as my EA, but not too far off either!

Sundeep · 09-11-2002, 18:42

Yeah the AU doors always make a sound that you think means it didn't close properly. But the VT/VX doors are worse, when you pull the handle upwards the doors mechanicals seem to jolt in a million directions before unlatching!

Sundeep

mattyc · 09-11-2002, 19:09

no way !! AU Doors sound wicked when they shut!

you guys must have been in taxis with stuffed handles/doors..!!??

AND FORGET EF/EL let alone EA??? theyre horrible the way they shut.. about the same as a VT/X door

off track a little:
they even designed it so that there was a little valve that lets the air out when you slam the door shut - so it feels solid (because the car was well sealed)... otherwise the back pressure from the inside cabin didnt let the door close properly.

YTRY4 · 09-11-2002, 19:46

I agree with mattyc, Most of my mates drive or have driven commodores and all of them say that my AU is the best car to be in. i have also driven a brand new XV Calais and IMO i didn't like it at all.

Also the AU doors shut perfect not like the commodores, and some older model falcons.
my 2c

If you disagree jump in a Older Falcon then a New Falcon and tell me what you think.

MintEAFalcon · 09-11-2002, 20:18

I must admit I have owned/driven lots of Falcon's right up to the AU series II. And quite frankly my old XE Falcon doors sounded like they had better closing mechanism (read solid). The EA-EL's are the best in my mind as long as everything is tightly screwed together. Good definite sound when they are closed.

The AU's single-click sound doesnt inspire confidence or a feeling of quality. Its needs to be a bigger lower pitched noise to give that solid quality feel. Try slamming the doors of a few German marques and you will know what I mean. I reckon the BA's will be a bit different in this respect as it is indeed a totally new vehicle in just about every aspect. Cant wait!

FoMoCo4eva · 09-11-2002, 20:22

while on the subject of handles and doors..we used to have a XD and we were replacing handles on that thing at leats every two months

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 09-11-2002, 20:40

"we used to have a XD and we were replacing handles on that thing at leats every two months"
Ford Purpose Factory Fault

Just for the record...I own an EA and the doors shut beautifully
However I have been in a few where the doors are terrible..depends how the cars been treated, condition of door rubbers, mechanisms, whether the door is aligned correctly etc etc