Life Expectancy of an AU

JeffAU1 · 18-12-2006, 10:03 PM

Evening all,

What sort of life expectancy would one get form an AU?

Mine has just passed the 150'000 mark, but it was also used as a real estate car for 2 years before I owned it (I’m still finding spilt coffee/coke throughout it)

How long until the car generally starts dying? In terms of motors, gearboxes, etc. I get it oil/oil filter changed every 5'000kms, and serviced once a year. (15'000kms)

I know am asking how long a piece of string is, but I don’t want to pour money into it when could be scary things around the corner.

Jeff
(Im Going back to the AWC website and continue drooling :yeees: )

T3man · 18-12-2006, 10:11 PM

It doesn't matter how long before the mechanical things start dying - you just replace with new items. Some items will last two or three times longer in one vehicle than another - depends or original manufaturing quality (yes, it varies) and how the car is used (or mis-used as the case may be).

All you have to worry about is the body - as long as you can keep rust out of the shell the car can live forever.

EvilChief · 18-12-2006, 10:11 PM

seen aus with 800thou on the clock on the first engine

180 expect to change headgasket

rest depends on how u treat it

**Mechan1k** · 18-12-2006, 10:19 PM

I went to change a headgasket ... but the head bolts did not wish to depart from the block ... so i found it was much easier replacing the motor with one that had 130,000 less kays on it.

If autos aren't looked after they tend to die around the 200-250,000km mark too.

I am at 198K at the moment ... put in a literally new engine (due to above issue) ... and rebuild auto ... it should last me a long time.

But as I do a lot of city kays and a lot of stop start driving I keep maintenance on it regularly ... and if things need replacing on it ... i do it (and with new parts too ... i don't skimp on it).

I need little to no downtime at all in my business ... my ute is my 2nd office ... I had to spend a bit on it maintenance-wise ... but should have to now for a while.

Treat the car nice and it should last you quite a long time.

onfire · 18-12-2006, 10:19 PM

I remember reading something in the melb. Herald Suns car guide a while ago.. someone wrote in asking the same question.. it was basically answered with " Yeah this will go, that will go " but ended with " theres a reason why a majority of Taxis are AUs "

I had a VR Commodore with 255,000kms on it.. and not a thing wrong with it. It was just a matter of maintaining it.

HLC · 18-12-2006, 10:38 PM

my ED had 264 000 kays on it when i crashed it. body was very straight... motor was showing its age. headgasket was gone lol plus new bits and pieces on it, but s'all good.

you should get AT LEAST 15 good years out of the AU plus more depending how you treat it.

Rob · 18-12-2006, 10:48 PM

My uncle has an EF taxi with 890,000km on it, original motor and trans. Trans has been rebuilt once and toughened, motor has seen 3 head gaskets. Otherwise, its not bad. I mean, I really expected it to be as loose as a goose with about 20kw remaining. He replaced the undercar bushes and did a bit of repair/maintenance to the suspension etc etc. If you gave it a good paintjob, you'd be hard pressed to believe it has nearly 1 million kilometers on it.

Thus, because AU > EF, AU should last as long. But really, I think after 300,000km worth of normal, non-taxi driving, you'd be ready for something new anyway, so its kind academic.

vztrt · 19-12-2006, 12:16 AM

Ford design they're cars for 240,000kms and 10 years.

XEESP_351 · 19-12-2006, 12:52 AM

when it starts costing u more to repair than its worth thats when u get rid of it

*edit* its not that reason im selling mine BTW..

smoo · 19-12-2006, 07:29 AM

Mines done 400k on original engine and g/box, ex taxi, all city driving (different, harder driving conditions than Australian cabs), apart from the 16k of highway driving I've done. Putting in a new radiator this week, and need to get the sway bar bushes done etc. but faultless apart from that.
The mechanic who serviced it when it was a cab said the most hes seen on a Cdore V6 is 380k, while another AU is up for sale... 600k, and on its 2nd g/box, quite a feat when you see where its done all those kays.

chief · 19-12-2006, 12:58 PM

Simple solution change everything. Lets see:

Brakes - Brembos
Suspension - Billstein (sp)
Gearbox - rebuilt 4 speed BTR
Tailshaft - 2 piece
Diff - LSD with 3.7 gears
Motor - T3 Motor
Ignition - MSD
Interior - Leather retrim

The list can continue. But generally aftermarket is better quality and last longer

HLC · 19-12-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief

Simple solution change everything. Lets see:

Brakes - Brembos
Suspension - Billstein (sp)
Gearbox - rebuilt 4 speed BTR
Tailshaft - 2 piece
Diff - LSD with 3.7 gears
Motor - T3 Motor
Ignition - MSD
Interior - Leather retrim

The list can continue. But generally aftermarket is better quality and last longer

*makes ****ing motion* :P

chief · 19-12-2006, 02:37 PM

I was in a happy mood Henri. :P

It doesn't matter what brand you use, generally aftermarket is better. Not always but generally.

Mr Hardware · 19-12-2006, 03:41 PM

My AUII has just ticked over to 600,000. Original motor, never even had the head taken off.

2nd replacement Transmission, one at 350,000 the other at 580,000.

2nd replacement Gas Converter, one at 450,000 the other at 580,000.

If you keep it regularly serviced, and don't flog it, and fix EVERYTHING AS SOON AS IT BREAKS, you'll be right.

Just keep throwing money at it, it'll be right.

BeStRaFe · 19-12-2006, 03:53 PM

my au wagon was in the 1 million club and ran like a deam...
untill it was cleened up by a truck...

i drove a au11 the other day with 1.5 million, 4th transmition, 2nd power steering setup... and it was a verry smooth car...

if you do the right thing by the au.. the au will keep running... (i just hate the au's looks :P)

Mr Hardware · 19-12-2006, 07:11 PM

daaaammmnnnn

i've never driven anything higher than 850,000. 1 and a half million... damn.

JeffAU1 · 19-12-2006, 08:00 PM

Thanks all

result = MAD

Im go spending on the AWC website.

HLC · 19-12-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffAU1

Im go spending on the AWC website.

I'd hold off for a little while.

things are in a bit of turmoil there at the moment... maybe wait for the new year.

snortycorty · 19-12-2006, 08:09 PM

old mans taxi had done about 600,000km's when he sold it. No major repairs of any kind just a few crank seals. I still see it driving around pretty much everyday!

AU2PWR · 19-12-2006, 08:44 PM

meh , im at 158,000 and ill be doing the Head Gasket , Power Steering Rack , Auto Trans (Re-Conditioning or New) , She has had a Good Run So Far

JeffAU1 · 19-12-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR_AU

meh , im at 158,000 and ill be doing the Head Gasket , Power Steering Rack , Auto Trans (Re-Conditioning or New) , She has had a Good Run So Far

Really ?

Whats the head gasket worth ?

TwistedEL · 19-12-2006, 09:02 PM

Why would you do all that at 150 it's not even run in yet

Mine has just clicked over 150 and still runs fantastic, I have no intention of doing anything that drastic.

**Mechan1k** · 19-12-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffAU1

Really ?

Whats the head gasket worth ?

The gasket itself is bugger all ... it's the labour that get you.

**Mechan1k** · 19-12-2006, 09:20 PM

I have had to do the steering rack and pump before ... the high pressure hose is a regular common thing to replace as well.
Cam chain tensioner is a common problem as well as it tend to leak profusely as well.

Some vehicles have issues arise more than others.

Mine have needed replacing quicker than i have expected ... but I work the ute harder than the taxi driver's treat the sedans. Yeah they do more kays ... but they don't stop the car ... and they don't carry much weight either.

I do a lot of stop start driving (this includes turning it off and on regularly ... I try not to though) ... and I carry much heavier weights than taxis ever do ... I also do towing as well with the ute.

Oh ... did i mention i do push the ute harder .... LOL

I'll get decent kays out of the ute .... but I will be replacing the bits and pieces when needed as they fail. Fingers crossed it'll add some more kays before I need to do anything major to it again.

BeStRaFe · 19-12-2006, 11:21 PM

my e-series is @ 512,000 EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL - the radiator... a roo took care of that one :(

DoreSlamR · 19-12-2006, 11:48 PM

Ive got 265,000 in my manual AUII ute, just wondering if any of you guys have noticed suspension or steering problems? i think thats what im going to have to fix first. followed closely by the gearbox and clutch

motor seems to be going strong which is good...fingers crossed i guess!

**Mechan1k** · 19-12-2006, 11:50 PM

I get clunks and thuds from the front right ... that's about the only suspension complaint I have at the moment.

Dark Horse · 20-12-2006, 12:13 AM

I had a ride in an AUI Fairmont taxi with 850,000 k's in it. I placed a complaint with the taxi company. Feedback was it got taken off the road.

Abacus · 20-12-2006, 01:30 AM

I've never worn out a Falcon mechanically. Its when the interior gets too rough that I call it a day. Usually a bit short of 200,000km.

Somebody here said the tranny's are due to be replaced at 200-250K. Never got that much out of one. 140-160,000km is usually the lifespan of the first one.

Mr Hardware · 20-12-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

I had a ride in an AUI Fairmont taxi with 850,000 k's in it. I placed a complaint with the taxi company. Feedback was it got taken off the road.

Why? was it bad? When was it?