Au2 Xr8 - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Venom XR Turbo · 06-18-2004, 03:12

Hey everyone.
could you please tell all the good points and bad points about the AU2 xr8...when compared with the AU1 and AU3...also 1/4 n 0-100 times please. are they a good standout car? what price tag? worth buying over what else ford has in the range (old and new?)

sylox · 06-20-2004, 02:50

I've got a Au2 xr8 ute And i reckon they are a great car.

Handles very well and still travels smooth
Quiet inside
Utes with hard cover look smick
Brakes are quite good
Havent had any major issues at all
Engine is very smooth sounds awesome with some exhaust work.
Could do with a little more power though everything does after you drive it for a while.

Price wise $25 - 35 approx depending on km's/options/condition etc (AU 2 XR8)

Performance Manual around the high 14's on the 1/4 low 15's for the auto

Au1 185kw models are apparently a little quicker to 100 due to where and how they make their power but after that they get spanked.
Au3 220kw (only 200kw in utes) was a nice motor apparently I havent driven one though.
Au3 250kw in pursuit250's at T's was a awesome motor and spanks BA xr8s from what I have seen.

Little problems I've had.
Rear veiw mirror loose (replaced under waranty)
Paint peeling of center console (replaced under waranty)
Spark plug leads (replaced under waranty) Watch out for these very common problem and they aren't cheap.
Factory 6 stack died (replaced under waranty with a brand new unit no problems since)
Thats it i think..

Over all they are a great car. I'm selling mine cause its time for some change and I have 2 other cars in mind. A BA XR8 that i can get a good deal on and a T3 ts50

Otsile · 06-20-2004, 02:55

thought the 220 engines came late in the AU 2 series, they came out with the 200kw engine. Correct me if I'm wrong

sylox · 06-20-2004, 03:23

yeah i think your right about the 220kw coming out in late series 2

galaxy xr8 · 06-20-2004, 03:36

Yes they did, they came out just 2 week's after I bought my AU II XR8 200, oh well them's the break's.

Venom XR Turbo · 06-20-2004, 03:51

is the 220kw engine really THAT much better than the 200 as i have heard?

Aussie Pete · 06-20-2004, 18:27

Does a duck's behind pucker when it goes into a swan dive? It's a much bigger difference than just 20kW. It's the throttle response and the way it revs harder. Much more performance feeling. AU2 XR8 220 started with production on June 01 2001. I remember the SMH article on the release of the 220 because I ordered mine that very afternoon. The 347 idea came a couple of weeks later.....

The AU2 XR8 with the Tickford Bodykit and a set of 18s like the Azzurros is still, to this day, just about the toughest XR derivative around - including BA.

XR_Strider_GuY · 06-21-2004, 04:11

Yes the 220kw in the AUII is a damn good engine, i can go as far as saying it's the sweetest windsor and thats taking the 5.6L into account. Sure the 5.6L has much more power but the 220kw revs very very nicely (6250rpm cutout) being quite under square. Power band was relatively wide as well.

Despite 700cc less the 220kw Xr8 will catch alot of lazy GenIII's in a traffic light brawl, especially rolling acceleration.

XLR8 · 06-23-2004, 04:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

Yes the 220kw in the AUII is a damn good engine, i can go as far as saying it's the sweetest windsor and thats taking the 5.6L into account. Sure the 5.6L has much more power but the 220kw revs very very nicely (6250rpm cutout) being quite under square. Power band was relatively wide as well.

Despite 700cc less the 220kw Xr8 will catch alot of lazy GenIII's in a traffic light brawl, especially rolling acceleration.

and Gary would know as i kicked his A$#@ on the trip down to melb for the FF Raid in my Au2 XR8 Rebel.

XWGT · 06-23-2004, 23:49

Would have to agree

The 220 is a fine Windsor, quick responder, and easily hauls to the 230 cut out with a full crew on board.

I beleive the AUII is still the best looking XR ever made, including BA, and handles extremely well.

The problems I have had, and one that was built in the same monthly has had exactly the same

Auto transmission replaced @ 65,000 ks
Electric window motors replaced
6 CD stacker replaced twice
Window trim replaced
Cooling system upgrade

As its under warranty, its just annoying. However I would be seriously unhappy if I had to have forked out for any of that.