2008 Ford Falcon First Steer
April 11, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
2008 Ford FG Falcon First Steer & Review
By David Twomey
Ford’s new FG Falcon is a huge step forward for the Blue Oval with improved vehicle dynamics, handling, performance and safety advances, the big question is will the buyers realise this or even care.
After close to 500 kilometres and a major two-day national media drive program in Central Victoria CarAdvice can say that this car is so much better in almost every respect than the already good BF II Falcon.
There’s just one problem, the looks of the car don’t convey the massive level of work that has gone on under the skin.
Sure, when you look at the detail of the design the FG is substantially different to the BF but the drive-by impression leaves you wondering if you are looking at an FG or a BF.
The standout impressions of driving almost every model in the range for me is the balanced handling, the new front suspension and the variable ratio steering, which make this a really sweet car to drive.
It’s balanced in almost every situation, although on rougher roads there is some rack-rattle through the steering, and the suspension of the XT, with its 215/60R16 tyres, does have to work hard to keep the car under control at the limit.
Not so the newest, and most identifiable member of the Falcon fleet the luxury performance G6 range. In basic form the car is really a dressed up XT with more interior luxury a sportier suspension and a ‘Mondeo’ nose that at least makes you realise this is a new Falcon.
The G6 and G6E are nice but the real sleeper is the G6E Turbo, which can only be described as a ‘concealed weapon’. This thing is seriously quick and the 270kW engine fairly hurls the car down the road – until your suddenly hit the factory fitted speed limiter at 200km/h.
Ford’s excuse: ” it’s needed to protect the transmission”.
Well come on guys, the same superb six-speed ZF auto gearbox is used in the XR6 Turbo, which is limited to 230km/h, and its also used in Euro brands that are capable of 250km/h+!
Swap to the similarly powered XR6 Turbo and at least you can hit 230km/h before the limiter steps in, but really these feel like 300km/h cars and we’d just love to have the opportunity to give one a blast down an autobahn.
In the XR range the real treat comes with the XR6 Turbo with the revised six-speed manual gearbox. You’ve just got to try the launch control – we did and it is manic.
Pop the car into 1st gear, floor the throttle and it will lock the revs onto 3500rpm, then dump the clutch and hang one!!
The car just rockets away from standstill and you are instantly grabbing second gear. One word of warning, don’t try it with the traction control turned off, unless you like axle tramp.
The new FG Falcon is more than just the performance models; it is a range of large family sedans that offer excellent levels of refinement, handling that will cope with almost any situation and sharp pricing.
Ford claims this Falcon is the safest car it has ever built and we’d certainly say it has excellent credentials, the final verdict will come when it gets tested by the independent safety authority, ANCAP, and Ford insiders have told CarAdvice that they are quietly confident it will become the first five-star safety rated Australian built car.
Ford President bill Osborne said that he was very confident about the safety rating for the new Falcon and defended the decision to offer only four airbags on most models, with curtain airbags a $300 option on all but the premium models.
The Falcon’s base 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine is almost unrecognisable as the power plant from the BF and in cars like the XR6 it revs and barks with a sweet aggression than Holden’s asthmatic V6.
With 195kW, impressive real-driving fuel economy in the order of 9.0L/100km, in part thanks to the all-new French sourced five speed automatic gearbox the FG Falcon is a large car winner.
Interior space, the fit and finish of the trim and the roominess, including much improved rear seat ingress/egress due to a change in the shape of the rear roofline plus much wider opening doors have all served to overcome some of the often-criticised areas of the BF.
Suspension settings across the four options on offer from the base XT to the high performance XR6 Turbo and the one V8 that remains in the range the XR8 all offer levels of grip and handling that is first class.
A number of the cars we drove were on the optional 19 inch rims and even these provided a level of compliance and comfort, while exhibiting prodigious grip.
This is truly a car that can shade Holden’s VE Commodore, in fact I’d be so bold as to say it is definitely a better car, especially when you consider attributes like the standard five-speed automatic and the balanced, refined handling and ride.
2008 Ford FG Falcon pricing summary:
- 2008 Ford FG Falcon XT $36,490
- 2008 Ford FG FalconXR6 $39,990
- 2008 Ford FG FalconXR6T $45,490
- 2008 Ford FG FalconXR8 $45,490
- 2008 Ford FG Falcon G6 $39,990
- 2008 Ford FG Falcon G6E $46,990
- 2008 Ford FG Falcon G6ET $54,990
Options
- 6spd automatic transmission $1,500
- Egas $1,400
- XT 16″ alloys $500
- XR 18″ alloys $1,000
- XR luxury pack $5,000 ($5,400 on std XR6) inc leather, permium, dualzone, 19″ alloys
- G6 & G6E 18″ alloys $1,000
- G6ET 19″ alloys $2,000
- Techonolgy pack $450 inc blutooth and ipod intergration
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Okie, what model Grange do you own? A E series, Z series etc?
Me?.
Hey guys, BMW must be doing something right, Holden and Now Ford are Bench testing there cars on most models they build,
So i guess that means something?.
This is a real shame, everyone that argues and inflames this chest beating wrecks the use of this site for everyone. Can’t people move elsewhere and talk rubbish about cars they don’t understand.
The new FG does look better than the BF by a long way. I think Ford is pushing the right direction, though its TV ads don’t show the car off to the best of its potential. My model pick would be G6E or G6ET for their higher technology levels, and of course with a small bullbar, a pair of spotties, a UHF and a phone kit with a decent gain aerial. Still I think I’d take the Calais V instead though.
Damn the new falcon is so cheap compared to the VE!
Open Road Magazine (by NRMA) sums it all up nicely… best Falcon ever, but still not good enough, the local Falcon is dead in a few years
okie Says:
April 26th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
“The Falcon is aussie as an Aurion, face it. Both designed in Austrlia and produced in Austrlia, by overseas companies.”
Well NO! Actually the Aurion is no where near as Aussie as the Falcon. Yep both built here, but Falcon is designed here, where the Aurion is a USA designed V6 Camry, with a locally “styled” nose and tail. Absolutely minimal local input and virtually no engineering design.
Aah yes TP but Toyota are yet to deny the rumours which have been around since the 2IC at Toyota mentioned in his statement at the Tokyo motor show last year that they are considering to close their Oz operations
So neither Ford nor Holden are the only one in danger
Trust me, the new Falcon aint anywhere near as good as the BA/BF. especially the turbo. The 5 speed auto is junk, the power steering hose continuously blowing and a Starter motor that does’nt allign ???? any wonder they’re only producing 200 a day. Can’t they launch a new car successfully just once ???
Some people think the FG floggs the VE in Exterior……………….well that’s a load of CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its two years old and still looks VERY DECENT!
^Compared to the FG!
I had a look at a G6E this morning, and bloody hell it was nice. Well built, comfortable, better than a VE and Aurion. I think my money is going to Ford. So much better than a VE, and cheaper than the Calais V for the same equipment. Holden, wake up, and build something that is good. The FG left it for dead. I then had a look straight after the FG at a Calais V, and it didn’t seem anywhere near as good. I have always been a Holden man, but I have changed my mind.
Give me a FG anyday, I had a look at Fords new Falcon today, geez I was very impressed, makes the VE look kind of cheap and nasty like thier other rebadged Korean offerings..
Cobra & GT40. I couldn’t agree with you more. The car was fantastic, an absolute testament to Ford. Even the XT was great. But the G6E looks like it is for me. I am hoping for a drive next weekend. Can’t wait. The car was comfy, well built and had an impressive list of standard features. Much better than the General’s Offerings
I am ghay
^That obviusaly wasn’t TP. So who was it?
why is it that the 6.0 L v8 307kw gts puts out 550nm and the new 6.2L 317kw puts out 550nm also is the right…..
Im not sure ask Wheelnut. But just because there is a slightly bigger fuel injection does not mean higher torque only kW. I think that is right. Is it?
thanks…
what do u think of fords v8 5.4L 32v
the chevy has abit over it in powertain….or do u think the new 315kw (from 290) will give the oldgirl a spark…
Mitch, go to the forum. People will answer.
ford are just copying the holden VE range because they knew it was doing well just look at the two and you will see there are not many differences but still ford say they made it all up
Do you relise i “stuck ther thing on pole” as the FIRST[Primo!] poster here?
Anyway, i want a Falcon Glovebox -v- Commodore Glovebox, would be very good and important for mine! :-)
Which would be better and superior overall?
Like Glovebox room, quality, size, opening, light, cooling-vent, lined or plastic etc etc
Thanks in anticipation,
Cheers
F-0
to Duck Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
i think the difference between the 6.2L and 6.0L is actually bigger displacement??? not fuel injection. no one on this website seems to have any mechanical knowledge at all. holden is a billion $$$ car manufacturer exporting to 16 countries, the commodore has been australias best seeling car for the last 14 years in a row now, so that probably tells everyone here who makes the better car. plus holden put more techincal support into their technicians, but simple minded bogans like ford supporters dont think of things like that, ie ea to au headgaskets failing, ive talked to a ford tech, no fix, put a new headgasket on it and wait for it to blow again, seems pretty intelligent?? just all opinionated rambling, nothing said on here has any factual basis.
and probably should point out the fact to that the commodore is the only true australian made vehicle, designed and engineered. so if yous dont like an asutralian built car, theres a great international airport in sydney maybe yous should get better acquainted with. add the fact that ford australia is closing down its factories in 1-2 years. just adding more to who is the better car manufacturer. good luck with the american built fords. and getting parts (headgaskets) for all your fords when they close down.
Falcon Vs Commodore, Commodore Vs Falcon.
Both represent unbeatable value in size/power/price ratio.
Both are now designed and built in Australia by USA parent companies.(The final decision is always made by the USA HQ)
Both direct Profit, if any, back to USA.
Both require Australian Government support at manufacturing and retail levels.(Our TAX money).
Both use local and imported components.
Both support thousands of jobs.(Here and overseas).
Both are fundementaly flawed in Quality Control.
Both suffer shockingly from poor resale value.
Both are fighting over same diminishing slice of the market.
Both are vocally supported by many people who never bought a new one.
Both are doomed to extinction as their consumption/emission/price ratio ceases to make sense in the modern world.
So hurry up and buy the Falcon, as it is the most technically advanced, one of the two.
The Falcon will be the first to go.
The Commodore will be around a little bit longer due to political/patriotic reasons.
HAVE A NICE DAY :)