New Car

[GreenMachine]

I can't wait any longer before I post, so there'll be no pics until I wash it on the weekend...

but...

I bought an FBT!!!

More specifically, I bought half a Fairlane By Tickford with my partner, in lieu of getting married (no, she doesn't have a sister).

It's navy blue, number 77 (just bought silver-on-blue FBT77 plates too!), factory sunroof and towbar, immaculate interior, some stonechips on the front but overall in great condition. Especially given that it only cost us $12k, including shipping from Sydney, new front pads and rotors and a new steering rack.

Had a couple of issues with the dealer selling it, but they're mostly resolved now.

Picked it up on Wednesday and immediately put 280k's on it driving out to the boonies for work. I expected ye olde FBT to be a bit of a slug, being a big luxury car with "only" 195kw.

Fortunately, it isn't - acceleration away from the line is VERY good, and it handles excellently on the tickford suspension. The steering is perfectly weighted, unlike other NL's I've driven, which tend to be way too light.

After a whole day's raping through twisty country roads, it was returning 14.1L/100, which makes me wonder why I bother with the 351 Marquis at all.

The idle is the meatiest I've heard on a stock Ford, apart from a T3. It has a really noticeable lope, and sounds amazing right through the rev range.

Wasn't convinced on the sunroof at the start, but it only too an hour before I was cruising along with it open, wishing I had a pair of raybans and the thelma and louise soundtrack...

The adaptive shift auto is pretty cool too - I always thought it was a wind-up when 347stroker told me he could get his to shift right on the rev limiter. Not so.

So that's my story. Big thanks to Alyson for supporting the purchase (she hasn't got out of it since wednesday afternoon) and Matt (347stroker) for all the advice and also for revving Ford when appropriate.

NH