XR8 - Does my bum feel good in this.........

[Bluestuff1]

today i decided to find out for myself a few answers to a few "what ifs "

Disclaimer : Im not a journo, I'm not interested in techno -gizmos, I'm not hung up on every tiny detail on any car.Theres been enough info on the tech stuff, your not interested in more of the same...

SO : Does my bum look good in this car !
This is my criterior , is this car some thing i would like to own and drive ?

Actually the more important question is that if i missed out on a GTF, i was going to wait for a Xr8 ?
Would have it been worth the wait, is it a suitable second choice, would i get the same, more or less value in the later model?

This is the first time iv seen an Fgx xr8 in the flesh, so first impressions?

The front looks good, doesn't seem to marry up to the cabin exactly right some how, buts its ok. Im cool with the big grill, but up close the infill looks.....naah.
The bum, looks better in real life, with the lower black out and quad exhausts.

Wheels.....naa still don't like them.
Get inside, wow, i thought the dash in the gtf was a bit retro, this went back to a new retro look ....lol
I look around the interior, iv got more in mine....just more..?
The dash dials and command centre are way older than my F...?
Sinc thingy looks promising, but then I'm still trying to work my way thru my F nav station..

Looking at the instrument cluster ....shit, who stole my gauges( remember I'm comparing a Gtf) ...!!
Its....well....boring to look at ?

Ok then lets get driving this thing.........wheres my cool starter button?
O....its got those old key start thingys........more retro....
Turn the key, and there it is, that faint whine of the SC , rumble of the By-Modell exhaust deal.....still sounds good,,,and familiar.
Engage drive, out the gate and up the road.
Question: has it got the grunt? 335 v 351....?
Answer : nail it and find out, so i do, the sales guy was ready this time, when i took him for the test flight in the F , he nearly poohed him self, this time he knows whats happening.
I cant give a detailed intellectual answer, other than YES.
Not as much as the F , i would have disappointed if it had.
But it was up there in the category of more than enough !
Ride quality : i think this is softer than my F ...? Both R spec, how can that be so,mine has 7200ks this has 4000ks ,
Rise around the street was liveable, again softer than the F,...?

So, against the option of not securing the Gtf , is it a good second choice...

Answer: no!
but wait, for the amount of money spent on each of these two cars, and can you really compare them to each other, is a xr8 just a GT, so many questions.

I can only answer by my yard stick, i paid $102,000 for my Gtf , i could drive away in an XR8 for $70,000 , $30k difference.?
Am i getting $30,000 more value sitting in my basement garage ?
Answer: I have purchased an iconic car that is the last of the species, it is, and i believe will remain, the last of the best,...!
Is the XR8 a good second choice.....NO! not a dogs show..!
My GTF, simply has more......just more of every thing, more power, brakes, interior, instruments, noise, (yes) and more presence , just more.
Is it $30k more......hmmmmm......YES!!

Question: if i didn't have the F, would i buy the xr?
Answer: in the absence of a higher ranking alternative, yes, in a heart beat!
Why: because its the best of whats left ...!
Do i care if its .07 second slower round a track some where, not for a second .,

Did my bum feel good in that car - Yes?.!
does my bum feel good in the Gtf - Yes, but even more......just more..

Did i make the right choice to push for GTF rather than waiting....shit yes..!

Thats my thoughts, case closed.

[TS50]

Now that is a good review

[Lynton]

At first I thought it was a bit strange comparing it to the GT-F but keeping it in context I see why you did it. I think your review is actually quite complimentary of Ford. If they had done so well with the FGx XR8 that an owner of the GT-F was pissed off because he prefers the XR-8 then they would have a problem. Having a GT-F owner that states he prefers his GT-F but would buy a XR8 if the GT-F was not an option is in my mind a good thing. Lets face it, the GT-F was not an option for most people and it is not an option for anyone now. Also the GT-F is not really a daily drive vehicle for most people and it is a shame if it is used as one. The XR8 is different, sure some will have it as a weekend toy but many will use theirs daily, they are a different car designed for different markets and different uses.

[Bluestuff1]

At first I thought it was a bit strange comparing it to the GT-F but keeping it in context I see why you did it. I think your review is actually quite complimentary of Ford. If they had done so well with the FGx XR8 that an owner of the GT-F was pissed off because he prefers the XR-8 then they would have a problem. Having a GT-F owner that states he prefers his GT-F but would buy a XR8 if the GT-F was not an option is in my mind a good thing. Lets face it, the GT-F was not an option for most people and it is not an option for anyone now. Also the GT-F is not really a daily drive vehicle for most people and it is a shame if it is used as one. The XR8 is different, sure some will have it as a weekend toy but many will use theirs daily, they are a different car designed for different markets and different uses.

My F, altho not a daily driver is a car i am determined to enjoy driving as that is what cars are for, and this was designed to be enjoyed, not to become a garage queen. The xr8 is to be the last v8 falcon, so i was dtetirmed to have a v8 falcon brand new, so why not try for the best.
There was lots of conjecture the new xr8 was going to be " as good as" a gt/f ?
If it was i would have been pissed, but its not, certainly not in my mind having owned one and driven the other.
The xr8 is a great car, no question, but i feel my F is better by far, it has.........more ?

[Lynton]

My F, altho not a daily driver is a car i am determined to enjoy driving as that is what cars are for, and this was designed to be enjoyed, not to become a garage queen. The xr8 is to be the last v8 falcon, so i was dtetirmed to have a v8 falcon brand new, so why not try for the best.
There was lots of conjecture the new xr8 was going to be " as good as" a gt/f ?
If it was i would have been pissed, but its not, certainly not in my mind having owned one and driven the other.
The xr8 is a great car, no question, but i feel my F is better by far, it has.........more ?

That is the way you should feel, to me if you did not feel that way it would mean the GT-F was under done and FPV failed you.

[Bluestuff1]

That is the way you should feel, to me if you did not feel that way it would mean the GT-F was under done and FPV failed you.

I just went downstairs and sat in the F, thought a bit,

YEP, i got it right.....

[HSE2]

Thanks for doing this Peter.

[Bluestuff1]

iv been thinking of how and where the xr should be viewed, and iv concluded its a " package" car.

Its a gathering of go fast parts that achieve a good result, but not break the bank, that allowed Ford to give the market
a excellent value "package" that delivers its market slot.
It should not be viewed as Fords best effort before the doors close.
Its not a premium car, its a performance " packaged " car, in doing so, achieved the result...!
I viewed it against an alternative to Gtf ?, cant do that, different league.
For what it does, it does well....!

Still came away with the feeling another model is needed above this one.......

[FTe217]

Yer well done Blue - you went and confirmed what many others haven't - test drove the FGX XR8.
Good brief review.
As you said IF your really wishing to own the last thats all there is get, can't be that bad eh if your heart is set on it.

On a side note not wishing to take your thunder but to some degree re does my bum like sitting in ? being in Bris for 2days I msg'd Ian a pic what my drive is - a FG XR6 MK11 with 47thou k's auto.....in Black the 4door of Ians yoot.
I suppose its ended up being a revisit for me having driven varying BSeries since the start.
I like the seating very much, comfy, not too firm nor too soft, might I add comparing to the old T3 leather seats is not fair (10yrs + diff) but better fit and I do like the cloth trim.
No Sat Nav thanks to the trusty iphone 6 that works fantastic might I add LOL.......
Typical XR suspension, I like it, turn in good steering precise.
The good ol I6 has enough grunt as we know for those happy with just that but I do need more on my part - another 4door Falc is like yours Blue not a daily a garage queen for weekend use whenever I feel or have the time which is not often tbh.
Importantly I felt at home - and much better off than the many jap/korean hire car offerings.
Still a great family aussie car ! or toy
Haven't spotted 1 FGX to date on Brissy roads whereas in Syd have seen about 6.
I'll look into testing a FGXXR8 from my local in the coming weeks.

[Bluestuff1]

Yer well done Blue - you went and confirmed what many others haven't - test drove the FGX XR8.
Good brief review.
As you said IF your really wishing to own the last thats all there is get, can't be that bad eh if your heart is set on it.

On a side note not wishing to take your thunder but to some degree re does my bum like sitting in ? being in Bris for 2days I msg'd Ian a pic what my drive is - a FG XR6 MK11 with 47thou k's auto.....in Black the 4door of Ians yoot.
I suppose its ended up being a revisit for me having driven varying BSeries since the start.
I like the seating very much, comfy, not too firm nor too soft, might I add comparing to the old T3 leather seats is not fair (10yrs + diff) but better fit and I do like the cloth trim.
No Sat Nav thanks to the trusty iphone 6 that works fantastic might I add LOL.......
Typical XR suspension, I like it, turn in good steering precise.
The good ol I6 has enough grunt as we know for those happy with just that but I do need more on my part - another 4door Falc is like yours Blue not a daily a garage queen for weekend use whenever I feel or have the time which is not often tbh.
Importantly I felt at home - and much better off than the many jap/korean hire car offerings.
Still a great family aussie car ! or toy
Haven't spotted 1 FGX to date on Brissy roads whereas in Syd have seen about 6.
I'll look into testing a FGXXR8 from my local in the coming weeks.

If you are a Ford man, and the xr8 is in your market demographic, just pick a colour and buy it.

What ever any one says, its a value package, it is what it is......is value.