new car, EL or AU? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

4vxc · 01-29-2005, 14:56

its about time to update, I have about 10k to spend on either a EL or AU Fairmont, 6cyl. I haven't started looking yet so has anyone had experiances with both of these models and are the autos the same in both?

sbeaugs · 01-29-2005, 18:01

go AUII if you can get one
newer car more safty and prob. less km

madmelon · 01-29-2005, 20:31

The AU is far more advanced mechanically than the EL is, even tho all the specs stayed pretty much the same. If you don't mind their looks (i quite like em actually...can't really c why ppl hate em...) then i rekon some sorta AU. also less Km etc like sbeaugs said

madmelon · 01-29-2005, 20:38

I think the gearbox stayed the same tho...

4vxc · 01-29-2005, 21:41

I dont think 10k would get a AU11 Fairmont with reasonable km's would it.
Do the AU's have head gasket prob's?

loxxr6 · 01-29-2005, 22:03

The head gasket problem was apparently fixed in the AU sseries because of a change in gasket.

An Au2 would be the best bet if you can stretch the funds.

CBYOOT · 01-30-2005, 01:43

yeh, you would have trouble finding an AU at that price..(well, one you would want to bring home) 13k+ would be more realistic
try and get a fairmont ghia rather than just a fairmont.
we bought a EL ghia privately for well under 10 grand, only had done 99k. tickford motor, 6 stacker,dsp premium sound, full leather and nicer wheels were some of the options most ghias had.... and it drives really nice, even compared to our BA xr8.
it really is a lot of car for very little money.
happy searching....

Mr FORD · 01-30-2005, 06:54

The head gasket problem was apparently fixed in the AU sseries because of a change in gasket.
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lt was a head bolt problem , not the gasket , EF/EL broke some of the bolts on the exaust side (heat related) , a new type of bolt fixed the problem and l'd go the AU-2 or later if you can

4vxc · 02-02-2005, 22:53

I had a drive of a AU series 1 Futura today and hated it, the A pillar is a bizzare design and slopes back to much so it felt like it was right near my head and visibility (around the pillar) was shocking. The interior was a excercise in bad taste and poor ergonomics. Whats the story with the wind up windows in the rear! I was glad to get back into the EB11 Fairmont after that shocker, I will only look for EL's from now.

harry · 02-02-2005, 23:53

i would personally go the el. i have a ef xr with 100kms and i think the ef/el look better and have held there value better then the au's. but hey its your choice!!