2008 Ford Falcon Orion reader spy photos
26 Nov, 2007
122 Comments 
Our friends over at FordForums have been lucky enough to snap the next-generation Falcon during testing.
As you can see, Ford has eased up a tad on public testing with this XR sedan doing the rounds in Victoria.
This Ute appears to be undergoing heat testing in some harsh terrain.
Our own photographer has gone deep undercover in his quest for a cover-free shot, expect more in the next week or two.
Location: Home / spy photos, Falcon, Ford / ...
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November 26th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
These rugged-up prototypes are getting boring, but the overriding feeling one gets is is this car going to be too little (in the changes department) and too late to have a major impact in a market switching to smaller cars?
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November 26th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
What changes did Ford have to make??? Technically the Ford is the equal to the VE, the biggest hurdle is fuel consumption and that will more than likely improve (if not its suicide even though it doesnt affect a lot of peoples decision on buying a car)
But I’m trying to decide atm whether or not to buy a run-out BF XR6T or XR8 or wait for the Orions but by the looks of it it will be worth waiting for
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November 26th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
More spy shots! When will march ‘08 finaly come here! :(
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November 26th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
TO ANYONE LIVING IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA! Keep an eye out this summer for these Orions doing heat testing and have your cameras with you all times!
I Hope they come up to QLD, so I see them for my self.
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November 26th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Now MAY ME!!Sorry!
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November 26th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Oh well! Just one month, can’t be long. Get’s me exited just to know a good Ford is finaly coming.
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November 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Whoops 2 monts! Does anyone know where that is where those Orions are parked together?
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November 26th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
It is Pimba SA I think. A small place about 5km from Woomera
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November 26th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Cool cars!
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November 26th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Glen, i agree with you but I say the BF is superior to the VE technically. Better engine, six speed auto, suspension and fuel economy. My mates dads VE Calais V6 averages 17ltrs per 100k on his weekly mix of around town a short cruises………
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November 26th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Wheres the pic off the ugly rent a cop that was guarding them,that shot was gold!
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November 26th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I like the black wheels on the Neo colored sedan.
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November 26th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Is there any lengths your guys wont go to Alborz….must be really starting to tick Ford off now!hahaha
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November 26th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Hey ME I need your email address to find out your postal address for a XMAS Card………cheers
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November 26th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Glen,
im in the same boat as you mate. i trying to weigh up whether to get a great deal on a run out BF XR or wait till may 08. cause even the BF is a pretty decent car
i think im even more sold on waiting due to the rumours of what power is coming starting with 230kw N/A base model!!!
these spy shots and rumours are prob what is hurting fords sales at the moment too. because to be honest i would have bought already if i wasnt getting teased with the new one around the corner.
one thing though Glen,
why do you say that fuel consumption is a hurdle? it already beats the 3.6L commy on official figures.
its only like 2.5L off a poxy 1.8L or 2.0L corolla too. for what it is, i reckon it achieves quite well
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Andrew I was just referring to the fact the orion has to have better fuel consumption than the VE which shouldnt be hard.
Yeah its funny everyone just assumes that the falcon is a gas guzzler because its a 6 cylinder, but the little extra costs from fuel are cancelled out and even over taken by the costs of servicing & insurance costs. Have a look how much it costs to insure a 3 door hatch for a 22 year old.
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Rick - a cars fuel efficiency/economy depends quite alot on your driving style
If you do a lot of short trips or even stop-start driving around town in a 6 or an 8 your fuel economy figures will most likely start heading north.
and if you’re a driver who likes to try and beat everything off at the lights they’ll only get worse.
By the way from reports [in a back issue of] Wheels - back when news of the Orion first surfaced.. it’s expected that the Orion will be HEAVIER than the BF.
If this is true as weight is also the enemy of performance and fuel efficiency expect the Falcons fuel economy to be worse than the VE and BF.. unless like the VE2 it comes with DOD
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I will check with my source on that one Wheelnut……hard to believe when Ford knew the last BA/F should have gone on a diet!Wonder if we can order them like M3CSLs……no air con windows,back seats????
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
oh right Glen.
well i reckon the orion at worst will stay at 10.2L/100k, which is already not far off being 1L better than the commy. the orion has a bit of margin the chew and still remain more efficient than the commy.
yep totally agree.
i dont see why people percieve the falcon as being a gas guzzler. in its class it performs extremely well and thats before you take into consideration that it also sports the biggest motor in its class. and dont forget the official figures are loaded heavier with city style driving. if you cant get 9.0L out of it on HWY you must have it locked in 1st or something, whereas the smaller cars are geared for city meaning on hwy they rev their heads off. the combined figures also favour small cars.
yep and then there are the timing belts that need changing on most of those small cars, meaning servicing and replacement parts become very expensive compared to a falcon or commy.
ive had to replace a windscreen in my falcon, and was pleasantly surprised that i could get O’brians to fully install it for under $250!!!!!!!!
and it is a massive piece of glass too when you look at it.
so whats a honda windscreen worth for eg? or even something much smaller like a rolla’s?
does anyone know out of interest?
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Hey gang check your emails from me…….sent you the link of the very unhappy rent a cop…….not happy jan!
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November 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
wheelnut,
you cant really go off early rumours. that would just be an assumption as most of the time models get heavier as the years go by. as the orion rumours got older there was rumours that it could actually get a bit lighter. i personally say consumption will stay around the same and as i said it has a big enough margin over the commy at the moment and if it ate a little bit more it would still be ahead.
yes but its no secret that large cars really excell on HWY’s. ive even said it on here and was told i was dreaming that a gas falcon will fall below 10L/100k. people didnt believe it but its true. and i found an official figure to back me up as well as a couple of testamonies
hey missile i got a ponder for you……..
ok so the commy doesnt offer A/C as listed standard equipment, so do they do their official fuel testing with out the A/C gear such as compressor and condenser etc?
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
BM: I agree.. Both FPV and HSV should look at the prospect of offering “stripped out” versions of their cars
I mean the Old GTs didn’t have half the stuff the current ones have. My mate who owns a couple of GTs calls the new ones a Fairmont with a decklid.
I admit some things like Airbagsand ABS may have to stay due to modern safety regs but do you really want/need air con; leather interior; traction control or sat-nav in a performance car.
They could even replace a few panels like the roof and bonnet with aluminium/carbon fibre.. and charge relatively the same price
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
wheelnut i see where you are going, but most of the public are simple and want everything for nothing. if you give them less gizmos and a lighter bonnet where they cant tell if its carbon fibre or not for the same price…well i dont think they would sell any.
and sorry for being a spoil sport but a car without A/C is useless as far as i am concearned. there goes a weekend drive down the coast.
yeah you want it to be fast and light but most of the time you want it to be comfortable
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Hey Wheel nut you would think not wouldn’t you! Am I wrong?
I didn’t even know you could buy a Commodore with out it! Should be standard. Ditch the nanny controls…..don’t forget the cup holders…..Im in!
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
ford are getting very clever, these cars that are currently doing testing are for dual purpose. one is testing the other is control release of information to keep the public abreast of what is coming so sales of commodores and 380, toyota are minimal until the release of the orion to the public at the motor show then uncamoflage models will appear on the roads just prior to offical releash to rewet the appertite
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
i dont know where all of you are getting all of this information from, somehow you guys already have enough detail to say that everything about it is better then the VE, someone even had a fuel consumption figure! lol this is all pure guess work!
at the end of the day, all thats going on here is ford fans pissing in each others pockets pumping up the new falcon before we even know what it looks like let along any other meaningful information. How about we wait till it’s released so we can judge it on its merits and not on what certain people HOPE it will be
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
yeah missile the commy list price actually doesnt include A/C.
some people critisize it but when you look at it, even by the time you add the A/C on it doesnt really make it dearer compared to its competitors. some people critisize holden for not offering it standard but i say as long as they cut it off the price (and they do) then its cool.
i think they do it to lower the list price to initially get you in the door. (its probably clever marketing)
so do you reckon they do fuel testing with out A/C unit in the car since it technically doesnt have it?? it might drop like 50kgs or more….
yeah ditch the nannies i agree on that but what does esp for eg add in weight to a car? i wouldnt think much but correct me if im wrong. Airbags and A/C are the biggest added weight items and i would expect both of those. well front airbags anyway. when we start getting Knee airbags etc i think they are having a bit of a lend of us
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
M3 CSL style option is very appealing, but yes we do need air con in Australia.
For example, instead of offering those gimmicky MRC that nobody needs, I would have preferred HSV to offer carbon reinforced plastic bonnets, roof, boot lid, and door panels.
If a customer wants to show off his car, give them the option to leave those carbon panels unpainted, M3 style.
So much can be done to lower weight of HSVs and FPVs, but no one seems interested. Too bad.
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November 26th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Gary,
yes ford may be keeping sales of other manufacturers down by doing this but i reckon they are hurting the BF sales by far the most.
Richo (hey steve richards is here every body!!!!!) (mate were your ears burning)
ha ha ha
hey all i said about fuel figures was i reckon it will stay about the same as reports say they are working with jenny craig on weight issues.
the assumptions about how it will stack against the VE are based on taking the BF as it is now and making it a little bit better. and when you consider the BF already beats the VE in some aspects i dont really find it fantisising that the orion will claw back the areas where the VE has stolen
at the end of the day this is about orion findings and will we buy one so if we do go a bit over the top with our wish list then so be it.
i have a massive wish list for the orion (as we all do for a car we want to buy) but i only really display those that quite possibly could appear
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
thats my point Momo,
people would rather talk about how the MRC is sooo clever and only the elite cars have it etc, (and im sure that impresses mates more)
sorry but i think options would reign surpreme over carbon fibre everyday in the australian market.
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Hey Richo your wrong…….this is about Ford fans predicting what they have heard or commenting on what they would like!Whats wrong with that? Mate how much publicity has the VE had before and after……..let us have our time please!
Andrew one would think in this day in age all cars should come out with AC standard……yep your right its all about the promotion of the cost of the product! How many people these days don’t order AC ! I haven’t had a new car in 20 odd years with out it! Not even in Tassie ! I know windows down and 60 mph is cool but geez what about your hair if your a chick!
Yep I think they do it without !
Air bags are getting out of control,one day they will all go off and we will all suffocate!
I agree Momo…….its about time that HSV and especially FPV ditched some weight!
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
You can ditch traction control too…..unless it REALLY works!
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
On ya Richo,
Commodore runs a simple strut front end. The next falcon will adopt the double A arm, variable pivot suspension that makes the Territory the best ride and handling SUV. It’ll also run front mounted steering rack.
Add an effortless, efficient, smooth (ie. not a commodore v6) inline 6. the best 6speed auto in the business. the award winning control blade rear suspension. & airconditioning as standard. & there you go better car!
A falcon 6 on a highway uses 7.6litres per hundred. A camry 4? 7.5l/100. an extra 100mills is worth it considering you have a properly engineered car under you.
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
yeah id love to go into holden and say ill have a commy BUT……….hold the A/C thanks.
you could point it out in the brochure but i doubt they would be able to give you one.
i think all the jap cars come here with out A/C in them such as the triton and hilux etc. i know someone with a triton with out A/C, and it aint that old of a model.
i also know someone else that ordered a triton and got it without A/C even though he ordered it and paid for it. he wondered why it wasnt working till he popped the hood and realised there was no evidence of a compressor.
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
options are a bloke thing aren’t they? Bragging rights sort of!
I just want it too do its job,be precise ,fast and stop when you need it too……pity I cant find a guy like that ……except the fast bit I mean…..hahahaha
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Check your email AndrewM
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
sorry to but in trackdaze, but i thought the VE ridded the old mcpherson strut. am i wrong?
but i agree with everything else you say.
i think most of the handling abilities in the VE came from the weight distribution not the suspension anyhow. and dont forget that the falcon in current 5yr old form already has 9/10ths of the handling abilities of the VE with out resorting to that. and yes the territory front end will as many would assume give the falcon the handling edge once again.
Missile,
the only nanny i would appreciate is ABS. especially for someone who tows or carries weight, cause it is so easy to lock up with weight pushing you. the pedal just goes hard. but on the up side the arse end wont hang out as easily with another axel behind you. even on wet roads you can have the rear out and barely notice it till it snaps straight again. he he he he he
that makes ABS, A/C, and front airbags that cant go for me
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
You speaking from experience AndrewM?hahaha
ABS saved my Dad on the weekend he says……..Dads like 68 and was driving the Pug along the HWY when he says a stupid geriatric { year I know Dads 68} cuts over from the left lane strait in front of him
………hes says if he didn’t have ABS ability to steer out of it he would have T-BONED him. And my Dads a pretty good wheeler use to be a defensive driving instructor!
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Andrew,
Yep, she’s still running macpherson struts. It does have a lower A arm…..Much better than the VN-VZ’s 1970’s escort arrangement with the anitroll bar locating the one armed lower arm. (And we wonder why you see them on the news parked in lounge rooms and swimming pools!)
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November 26th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
oh this car sux! im the boi thats been an idiot al mi lif I whish ‘Bavarian Missile’ was a man.
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November 26th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Goodness
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November 26th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
IF HSV/FPV offered stripped down versions would you expect to pay more or less for it than the standard spec? Prestige brands usually charge a premium for that treatment, funny that
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November 27th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Smokin
I’d happily pay $10k more for 100kgs less. Ford could achieve this easily by offering the alloy version of the 5.4 or better still the 300+kw 5.0cammer engine.
Of course the law of prices means it’d be double what i’m prepared to pay at $20k
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November 27th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Or Trackdaze the 427 V10 thats lighter than the current 5.4
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November 27th, 2007 at 8:48 am
I have a BFII XR6 with the 6 speed auto and I drive about 450-700km a week around Sydney. I normally get between 560-620km out of a tank. I have log books to back this up.
My manager has a VE Calais with the V6 and he struggles to get 520km out of a tank.
I don’t drive like Miss Daisy but I’m rapt in the economy I get out of my car.
If the Orion is even better on fuel than the BF then Ford is on a winner.
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November 27th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Really………wish the 5.4 was like that,we have never gotten more than 400ks from a tank in either the BAGT or the new Cobra!Then again we don’t buy cars for economy!
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November 27th, 2007 at 10:16 am
This is the wrong car at the wrong time.
Will sell ok in the beginning and then will flop.
ULP is rapidly heading for $1.50 litre.
Having said that Ford in Oz see a future in small cars, and is why the Focus will be built here
Cheers
F-0
**VOTE-NOW!**
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November 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am
For HSV, GTS money for a stripper version of the entry Clubsport R8 is priced about right. Aussie cars are all about bang for your buck, charge more and you loss a lot of interest quickly.
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November 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
hehe…wait for it, Frugal One. :)
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November 27th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Ford announced a long time ago that LPG variants would feature strongly in the new Falcon/Territory range with diesel and ethanol power plants due in 2010.
Having said that many of us, including myself, need a large car now for towing a growing family and ergonomics.
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November 27th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Blue blood,
yeah i ahve a feeling ford will finally run with the LPG angle i bit stronger now. someone must have thrown a bucket of water on them to wake em up cause i thought they were pretty damn slow in flogging it as it is quite a good product and one that no other manufacturer offers.
Trackdaze,
ah got ya.
they way people go on about the new suspension in the VE i was under the assumption that they finally ditched “Old Macpherson”.
Frugal one….
wrong car at wrong time???
well a lot of people seem to think that down grading to a smaller car will put another $100 bucks back in their pocket. as i said earlier when you down size you only gain back 2.5L or so. and not to mention what you lose in down sizing, a little of which blueblood just touched on.
why down size when you could jump onto gas and run for less than a small car. thats why i struggle to comprehend that people see small cars as a savior.
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November 27th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I take it your not talking NOS AndrewM when you mention gas….hahaha Although a NOS option could be good on the next Orion GT!
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November 27th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
ha ha ha ha ha
yeah of course NOS!!!!! ha ha ha ha
gee wouldnt it be great to get that stuff for 50c per L
oh thanks for that link to the rent a cop. interesting shots and the last one was an absolute crack up!!!
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November 27th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Glad you liked them,nice physique ha! Sorry hope you don’t have beer gut!
So I guess no XMAS card for you then……thats ok I don’t want to get you in trouble! Everyone else is getting one though!
50c a litre ……..yep we really would be laughing…sorry for the pun!
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November 27th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Hey BM: What if car companies went the other way.. that is offered a relatively basic car and gave you an extensive list of options which you could add inorder to fully express your individuality. [do virtually anything]
The options would cover all areas:
Engines - 4-5-6-7-8 litreV6, V8, S/C, Turbo, Intercooled
Gearbox - 4-5-6-7 speed, Auto, Manual, SMG, Sequential
Brakes - Brembo, DBA, Slotted, Cross Drilled, 2-4 pot
Doors - Standard, Suicide, Gullwing, 2 or 4 door
ICE - Alpine, Bose, 10-12 inch Subs; 2-4 Amps 6-12 Speakers
Wheels 16-17-18-19-20 inch etc
Of course if you selected an “off-line option such as custom in car entertainment system using a premium brand name you might have to wait a bit longer.. as the manufacturer would have to send the car to a specialised retailler/installer
However; it would mean you would have a truly unique vehicle with all modifications covered under factory warranty
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November 27th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
hey could you make the link for the rent a cop avalable please. would like to see
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November 28th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Where is Azza, Watto, NM & Woz?
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November 28th, 2007 at 8:13 am
No idea? I have sent NM and Watto emails yesterday and haven’t heard back still,I think Watto works late but NM ?
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November 28th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Me (Going Ford)! You talking about people who haven’t been here for a long time. Where is that twit “BENJIE”? We never seen that m0therf-ck-r ever since it had a break down on the World’s first islamic car post. “BENJIE”…YOU ARE A S**T HEAD!
Notice Jbot only comes around when a Holdenwoo fan comes and makes crap posts, then when we respond to those idiots, he comes around and sticks up for them by telling me I should go just for telling idiots to get lost. HE SHOULD GET LOST! We should not worry about a J”Jackarse”bot because it’s a total crappy robot!
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November 28th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi BM, Me. and others. Yeah I’ve hardly been near my PC for ages, it’ll take a while just to go through a few weeks of news and comments here ;-)
Thanks for the emails BM (I have a lot of replying to do), the security guard one was gold. He dead set looks like my cousin who is a nice bloke.
Also, did I see you go as “BFCOBRA” on Ford Australia Forum?
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November 29th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I guess you have been busy then ha……
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November 29th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
You done ranting “Driving Fords”? You need help.
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November 29th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I feel so sorry for that Jbot, Only comes around just to stick-up for his most loved Holdenwoo fans. Notice he only comes around ranting when something like just before happens.
He said:”You done ranting “Driving Fords”? You need help” which totaly makes no sense what so ever. Geez, didn’t he make a fool of him self. LOL! :D MATE, YOU MADE ME CRACK UP LAUGHING….HAHAHAHA!
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November 29th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Did anyone on here or who ever runs the site notice that on that top photo of the XR8 that the headlights have that same scollop shape that they currently have. If so I would like to see a CGI image done with the scolloped shaped headlights
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November 29th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Driving-Fords, see that he’s gone? He’s never replied anything good to me, once I ended up with 4 posts in a row and it really pissed him off for some reason, which was nothing to do with him in the first place.
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November 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Hey me.he goes on about others making a fool of them selves, but he did in his post here at 29/11/07 @ 2:18 pm. God, that was such a crap comeback! “You need help” how many times have people used the comeback when it’s not specific.
DO I NEED HELP? …No,i’m fine thank you! :P
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November 30th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Ok word is that Ford have ditched the raccoon eye look………..they think they clash with the stripes!I didn’t like them anyway!
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November 30th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
yeah and my word is they are pissing them selves laughing at the spy shots they are serving us.
i doubt the CGI impresions are any where near it
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November 30th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
You think……..Ford are getting annoyed at all the undercover shots being taken though,mostly by this site! Didims!
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November 30th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
yeah even though we have seen so much i doubt we have seen or imagine half.
all the early shots were fakes!!!!
i said that from the start too if you want to track it back.
the early ones look nothing like these.
hey whats your thoughts on the possibility of suicide doors on the ute? something has changed to the B pillar on the utes. its a lot narrower. perhaps its just to improve visibility? but when i had to tilt my seats forward just yesterday, i thought….wouldnt it be handy to have suicide doors like the Ranger and BT50.
but the falcon doesnt quite have as much space as the ranger and mazda variants that have them
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
ARH, the suicide doors like on the F-Series super cab on the Ute.
Look at the panel at the back windows on the early spy shots, then look at the new spy shots - No blind spots.
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Congratulations BM.. the New BMW M3 has just been announced as Drive’s [Overall] Car of the Year for 2007
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
….and The VE Commodore won the People’s choice award for the second year in arrow. Just as it did Motor magazines Bang For Your Buck
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
yeah they have done something for the blind spot in the utes or they have left all the plastic trimmings off the window
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
WOW!!!!!!!!! did B Missile make the BMWM3?
well yeah congrats to you Missile
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Suicide doors on a ute would be pretty easy particularly if they didn’t have a window surround [like the imprezas]. By not having a window surround there would be the A and B pillars wouln’t have to be as thick as they are.. Thereby reducing your blind spot.
And because both Utes now have a supercab design there would be enough metal to provide reinforcement and supprot for the more heavy duty hinges. However; the doors could possibly use pneumatic struts mounted along the doorsill.
Yet the reason the B pillar is so thick is to provide lateral strength incase of a rollover and the A pillar is for curtain airbags
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
curtain airbags in a ute?? yeah id like to see ute get the equipment levels of the sedan variants.
AS IF!!!
but even funnier that that is the utes still have far far better resale than the sedans
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Yep I know Wheelnut……VE won people choice……congrats..I think !hehehehe
Very funny AndrewM……..NA IM JUST THE SUPPORTER LIKE DRIVE!
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November 30th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
I really liked the “racoon eye” blackouts with certain colours. Oh well, I’m sure whatever FPV come up with will look awesome.
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December 1st, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I really like Wheels mag’s CGI of one that’s yellow with black stripes and Racoon eyes.
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December 1st, 2007 at 6:24 pm
If race control wont call that dirty racing on Holdens part I bloody will!!!!!!!!!! First Skaffies in front for how long…..then Tander just sits behind for a while then takes Skaffie ,Skaffie making it look like he was defending his position……..yeah right,tell me that wasn’t planned, giving Tander another 2 points the Toddles blocks Whincup for how long………slowing him and Lowndes down long enough for WRECK KELLY to catch up……then Reck tries to make it look like Lowndes was blocking him ………what a load of shit!!!!!!!!!Todd blocked Whincup and Lowndes and no bad sportsmanship flag!!!!!What is this Dejavo …!!!Come on Ford pull your head out of your rear and watch what is happening…..If Craig gets penalized for blocking WRECK and Todd doesn’t someone needs to put a bullitt in the officials!!!!! I am fuming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good on Craig for passing Todd I think….he was obviously slowing them down!!!!!! Shes all on tomorrow with Tander,Skaffie,Whincup behind Tander and Craig behind Skaffie…….GO FORD!!!!!!!!
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December 1st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I agree about the Skaife-Tander pass.. it would be fairly hard to prove that it was planned; all Skaife has to say is his foot slipped or he missed a gear etc.. and as their is no evidence to prove otherwise there will be no case
But in relation to the Todd-Lowndes thing that’s where the officials should take some action. [HRT have lodgesd an application with the IPO]
Because Lowndes went round the corner on the inside of Kelly bumped into him [which was fair enough] However after the initial contact..Lowndes made no effort to get back on the racing line but continued to steer to the right and push Kelly off for which a 40 second post race time penalty should be imposed on Lowndes.. But I’m not holding my breath.
Yet I can see this turning into a similar arguement as the Rick Kelly Lowndes thing from Last year
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December 1st, 2007 at 6:52 pm
One thing I don’t get with the officials is that Steve Richards was given an MBF - Mechanical Black Flag for loose bodywork which he had to come in and fix [twice]
Whilst John Bowe was given an MBF for a non operative brake light.. Bowe was given drive through and could return to racing with the faulty brake light
Now if Richo had to stop to fix the loose bodywork why didn’t Bowe have to stop to fix the brakelight?
I understand that the loose bodywork could fly off and injure a [fellow] flaggie or sepctator. Yet if Bowe was to brake suddenly the driver behind wouldn’t know that he was braking have no time to react and plough straight into the back of him
Therefore; Bowe’s non operative brake light could cause an accident.incident which could cause even more damage and injure spectators or other drivers.
If a driver is given an MBF it means there is something wrong with the car and so should not be allowed to continue racing until it has been rectified.
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December 1st, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Agreed and especially dumb considering the pit wall window was about to open!!!! Even more dumb they get a black flag for some one running into the back of them and causing the problem in the first place!!!!
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December 1st, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Seems the only fair racer in Holden up the front was Jason Richards…….maybe he took pity on what was happening behind him and gave Whincup another 2 points…..hehehe thats what I want to believe anyway! I wish he would come over to FORD!!!!!!!
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December 1st, 2007 at 8:02 pm
ah good to see a holden fan (wheelnut) seeing it how it prob was.
skaife has been around a long time and if he doesnt want to be passed he wont be. especially when he has half decent car speed which he did.
i dont agree with you on the lowndes thing though. lowndes was fully beside T Kelly when they brushed each other. it was the wheels that interlocked meaning on impact lowndes’s front kicked to the right. lowndes tried to steer out of it and if you watch the better replay it is easily seen that they were just ricocheting off each other. just unlucky for todd he was on the outside.
when initial contact was made lowndes was as close as he could be to the ripple strip on the inside line. lowndes never pushed him off it was the impact that put both cars into a pinball game.
yes but interesting to see how much todd must have been holding them up as once they got past they left rick kelly who was starting to give lowndes trouble for dead
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December 1st, 2007 at 8:03 pm
How strange was that race the way the HRT cars suddenly became at the front after been at the back at recent rounds. And sepating Tander from Whincup letting Tander cruse at the top.
Soming sounds well rigged there…
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December 1st, 2007 at 8:05 pm
yeah poor Richo has been hammered for loose body work lately. it must be pretty frustrating since it was someone elses poor driving that caused it.
he got hammered last round for that too and then got a black flag for not addressing it quick enough because he wanted to wait 2 more laps to do it under his pit stop
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December 1st, 2007 at 8:16 pm
hey is anybody able to blow up a high res picture of the XR ute and see if it has leafs or coils? im just wondering if they might be testing an optional suspension pack for the pursuit ute etc
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Yes, they need sports suspension on the perfomance range. There is a pic on this site of a base model which has leaf springs, but hopefully not with the XRs and FPVs.
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Me they already have a sports leaf set up.
i wouldnt say they need a coil set up for the sports models, im just curious whether or not they will just to live up to the perception of having to have coils for handling
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:16 pm
currently on the XR’s you get sports suspension with them and the one tonne springs are the option
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Look at the back picture of the ute and you can see leaf springs underneath it. But if the XR ute is different or not, I supose they don’t need to be coils for sports ones.
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:24 pm
BM.. are you online???
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December 1st, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Just finished watching TG………got to put my car around the back…..see you Focus on TG????? Looks like Ill becoming to the XMAS do by myself….hubby off to China Friday…to kick arse and move tooling!
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December 1st, 2007 at 10:12 pm
u can come with me then
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December 1st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Tomorow….
No planned Typical Holden Racing blocking & ramming tricks to win the championship like last year….
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December 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 am
Well they have started the blocking……..
Cobra045…..U going alone too! You South or North of the River? Im East!
Im not off to the meeting today got to wash my car,its filthy! Hubbys going with my daughter cause Santas going too!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
Time for Ingall and Winterbottom to do some panel damage…….come on Russ,go out on a good note for Ford! Bout time the Ford guys stopped looking after themselves and started looking after the Championship,Lowndes needs to get in front of Whincup and punt Skaffie off strait up,cause you know hes going to be trying to block the pair from getting to Tander!!!!!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 am
Over the years Motor/Wheels have done comparisons between the Pursuit and the Maloo., and in the previous couple of tests; even though the contest has been very close.. the Maloo has been judged to be better than the Pursuit.
Usually; the main reason is because of the IRS in the Maloo - it handles the tight corners; undulations and change of direction better.
The Journos have often said that they can understand having leaf springs on a work ute but not so on a performance car.
So inorder to rectify this Ford could be considering an IRS system for the Performance models.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 am
yeah ill have all fingers crossed for whincup today, ford guys need to stick together, something of which they havent in the past!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 am
wheelnut, the only reason ford have stuck with leaf spring to to keep appeal to the tradies.
To me the commodore is no longer a real ute…. it cant even tow a boat or nothing! what is the point of owning a ute if you cant use it to load stuff in to a certain point!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 am
You at work again???????
Put my car around the front ready to wash…….was behind the yellow one though,so when hubby went to take it out to the GT meeting this morning I get ” Im about to start the XA come move this thing out of my way before I blow it out the drive like a big leaf blower” see what I have to put up with!!!hahaha He is a Sheriff at the club and is about to start fining people for not bringing their cars to meetings when its not raining! Seems a lot of people have become a little precious with their cars because of the thefts and the price of them.
There is a RPO Coupe in todays paper for $199,000 dollars.
Hey did you see Import Jap drives an Audi?????? Im confused!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 11:34 am
im always at work!!!
Yeah i seen that whats the go there!! at least he drives with class!
I drive my GT everywhere i can when i have it! why own it if you dont enjoy it!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
what ingall did 2 skaife in 2003 was fucked.. and no skaifey had no tire grip left yesterday at the end of the race.. he did his left hand tires rather then every1 else doing there rears, which obvously hurt his rear back right tire and therefore not as much power of the corners.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
wheelnut,
i wouldnt take the wheels review as gospel.
how credible would they look if they ranked a leaf system above a more advanced system?
ive also seen a review with the XR leaf suspension V the equivalent “s” commodore coil setup and that one ranked the falcon the better handler.
i actually have the particular model that was used in the comparo and it is surprising how well it does handle.
i used to give it hell around round abouts and the only time it struggled to turn was when the tyres were gettin a bit passed it.
and like tonyn said, the best bit is yes you actually can put some weight in the back or tow with it with out the arse scraping.
the other things with leafs is once you throw say 200kgs on them thats when they also work a lot better.
also the V8 Brute drivers dont seem to have too much hastle with them.
Me,
yeah ive seen the pics of the base utes and yes ive seen they have leafs AND GREAT.
im just curious whether or not thay have put coils on the FPV’s just to shut wheels etc up. its kinda like the RWD FWD argument
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December 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I guess congrats for Holden winning Wheelnut……gee that hurt!!! Are well next years not too far away! The upside Kelly didn’t win.the down side Ford didn’t either! Oh but HRT will have 1 & 2 on their cars next year ….grrrrrrrrr!!!!!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
There can’t be much wrong with a well set up leaf system if the V8 Utes series is anything to go by. XR8’s cleaned up at Symmon’s Plains and I think Elsegood extended his lead in the championship.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Ok………is everyone in denial after today?
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
yeah better tander winning than RK. at least Tander can actually drive.
isnt it funny how ford starts winning championships but cant win bathursts then they start winning bathursts and cant win championships.
its been a while since a bathurst/championship double has been scored by anyone.
Watto,
yeah usually the XR8’s clean up in the utes so put to the real test leafs cant be that bad.
yeah Elsegood on fire.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
is toll HSV in it next year? whats the go with them?
so who keeps the #1? the team or driver???
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I guess yes!Kelly and ???
I think Todd has realized if he stays with HRT he will never be the number 1 driver!
Craig look really disappointed………
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 pm
it was a good race.. other than watching holdens block!!! Lowndes could have easily pushed tander off the track ‘accidently’ but showing true spirit he didnt!! pity cant say the same for holden tossers last year!! skaiffey needs to retire.. he cant drive any more!!
BM.. to answer you last night ‘north’..
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
so who owns the #1?
im tryin to think back wken did craig last win the championship?
did he win it in his last year with HRT? or the year before that?
no i think skaife won it in lowndes’s last year with HRT now i think about it
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
perhaps the other half or PWR is going to Tony D’Alberto??
he apparently wants to make to main game and is apparently 90% there
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I just came back from the pancake manor in Brisbane AND THINK I SAW PAUL!! Radisich that is. If it was Toyota, i’d fire a 50 AE round though his head!!!
I think that was him because they were talking about “straped in” and side wings in the seats in cars.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Ok Cobra 045…….its going to be out of your way to pick me up and vise versa…….just meet you there then! Talk tomorrow!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 pm
GT won’t have #1 on his car…It should be Todd Relly (SORRY KELLY) Because he helped GT.
Anyway, congrats to Wheelnut!
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December 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
It’s All BS.. Tander is the winner he deserved it all year he has clearly been the best driver for the past 2 years now and finally backs it up with a Championship win. And good fucken on him even with the endure disasters he got back up.
Tonyn Says:
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 am
To me the commodore is no longer a real ute…. it cant even tow a boat or nothing! what is the point of owning a ute if you cant use it to load stuff in to a certain point..
Tonyn They still have a 1600kg tow ratting. And the Load carrying capacity is only down on the sporty models.
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December 3rd, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Andrew M: you’re right Skaife won the championship in 00 Lowndes’ final year at HRT
I also believe that Skaife was the last person to win the Championship and Bathurst double [back in 92]
The #1 goes with the driver.. Garth will take the #1 to HRT and he will have a new car to boot..
However; I expect in 2009 Garth will drive #22 as [based on recent form] Frosty is a chance win the 08 championship.
#15 & 16 will stay with Toll with Rick in 15 and possibly Leanne [?] in 16.
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December 3rd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
My birthday pressie from my girlfriend turned up today…..a new signed SBR Jacket with Russells and Courteys signature on it! Looks like I will be mounting it on the wall not wearing it though! Had to break it to her that Russell has left Ford!! Nice pressie anyway!
God two big egos in HRT next year,that will be interesting!
Cling and Clang!!!!! None of you except for wheelnut probably remember HR PUFF & STUFF………Their the deputies for HOLDEN in V8 Supercars now Wheelnut, what you think !
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December 17th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Looks like the idiot who posted on November 29th, 2007 at 2:18pm has been slamed as always.
__________
JBOT IS THE NEW TOYOTA PAUL!
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