- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
4.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
182kW, 380Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 11.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Ford Falcon BA
Heavyweight holds its own
Is it just us getting older, or is the pace of new-car upgrades and facelifts getting crazier every year? Ford, for instance, has now released details of its BF Mark II Falcon when it seems like only yesterday that the original BF replaced the BA.
What that means is that the first examples of the BA are now approaching their fourth birthday, will soon be two facelifts old, and will be starting to hit the used-car market in meaningful numbers.
The BA, you will remember, was Ford's knee-jerk reaction to the appalling public reception for its AU model of 1998. The BA threw away the controversial styling and went down a much more conservative path but, cleverly, still managed to look modern and, dare we say it, attractive.
Mechanically the BA also ushered in new technology such as a simpler, lighter independent rear suspension system called Control-Blade. It didn't work any better than the double wishbone system of the AU, but it was cheaper to make and more compact.
The other big change was to the in-line six-cylinder engine, which received its first real upgrade since its launch in the EA model of 1988. The bottom end of the motor was retained but the single-overhead camshaft layout was replaced by twin camshafts operating four valves per cylinder. It was smoother and more refined, made a better noise, revved better and made more power (182 kW).
A five-speed manual transmission was still available in lower-spec models (although we don't think we've ever seen one) and the default transmission was the four-speed automatic, which had served Ford well since the late 1980s.
If you're one of the few V8 buyers left, it's worth noting the BA was a watershed model with the introduction of an all-new V8 to replace the truly elderly 5.0-litre pushrod unit. The new V8 measured 5.4 litres and used a single camshaft per bank of cylinders with three valves per cylinder. For all that, it didn't offer much that the six didn't and used more precious fuel. Most people couldn't see the sense.
Ford also fiddled with the badging for the BA. The AU's Forte nomenclature for the base-model was dumped and replaced with the XT. From there, the range went to Futura, Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia. Along the way you also had the sporty XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8 variants, which are worth a separate examination.
As a family car that can move five big people and their luggage, the BA Falcon really takes some beating. Fuel consumption will be about 10 litres per 100 km on the freeway and 12 or 13 around town. Ride quality and handling are bang on the money for the car's intended purpose, and the big six-cylinder engine and auto transmission offer a relaxed drive. And if you happen to tow a boat or caravan, the Falcon's rear-drive layout will also appeal.
When shopping, don't be too firm about what you want. Ford released some interesting limited-edition models and many dealers have dabbled in adding a spoiler here, a set of alloy wheels there, so there's some variation on the standard models.
A good example is the Falcon SR, which added a body-coloured grille and side-skirts to the basic XT package, plus some extra convenience gear, making it a good-value proposition.
And don't rule out the Falcon with its factory-fitted LPG system. Although it is a gas-dedicated set-up with no facility to run on petrol, the LPG Falcon carried the full factory warranty and can slash running costs.
The big mechanical woes seem to centre on the gearbox, which will work beautifully for about the first 170,000 km before dropping its bundle comprehensively. The head gasket problems of earlier Falcons seem to have been fixed in the BA, but leaking water pumps can still be a problem. Check for a pulsing through the brake pedal, which suggests the front brakes are showing signs of wear.
Other than that, you're looking at good, old-fashioned rugged Australian engineering in a bigger-is-better package. And for sheer value on a dollar-per-kilo basis, the BA Falcon has the game sewn up.
Need to know
- Water pumps can have O-ring failure. The symptoms are a smell of hot coolant and the radiator level warning light flashing on.
- Front brakes are prone to warping rotors. A pulsing through the brake pedal usually means the rotors are warped. Machining can be done, once, but replacement rotors are the best fix.
- On cars approaching 170,000 km, budget for an automatic gearbox rebuild.
What to pay
Model | Year | New | Now |
XT | 2002 | $34,560 | $15,900 |
XT | 2003 | $34,660 | $17,800 |
XT | 2004 | $34,780 | $20,200 |
Futura | 2002 | $37,750 | $17,500 |
Futura | 2003 | $38,015 | $19,500 |
Futura | 2004 | $38,135 | $22,100 |
Fairmont | 2002 | $41,615 | $19,500 |
Fairmont | 2003 | $42,450 | $21,800 |
Fairmont | 2004 | $42,570 | $24,700 |
Ghia | 2002 | $49,980 | $23,500 |
Ghia | 2003 | $51,135 | $26,200 |
Ghia | 2004 | $51,255 | $29,700 |
Source: Glass's Guide