BA XT V8 5 speed

[Lazarus]

Hi everyone,
A couple of years ago I had a white xt v8 5.4 3v Manuel. I miss it dearly and would love to purchase another one. I'm willing to pay for a good clean example. So if anyone is thinking of selling pm me. I don't want a high km bomb. I'm in Sydney. My car went to around the five dock area but I think it's been sold again. It was white with black wheels. If anyone knows the owner I'd love to get in contact. Thanks and I appreciate all the help and support I find on this forum.

[Vesper Martini]

How much would you pay for one of these?

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

How much would you pay for one of these?

Depends on the car...don't mind some tasteful mods.they seem to range from 4 to about 10k when they have come up. So happy with that depending on the condition. May go slightly more for something exceptional.

[Vesper Martini]

In that price range you can get an XR8 surely better than the XT?
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...5229092/?Cr=10
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...5334845/?Cr=19
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...4965628/?Cr=25

and a few newer SS commodores

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

In that price range you can get an XR8 surely better than the XT?
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...5229092/?Cr=10
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...5334845/?Cr=19
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...4965628/?Cr=25

and a few newer SS commodores

Not 3v.

Totally different car to drive.
I really miss my old one too.

[Vesper Martini]

Sorry didn't know, but a good topic to discuss.
so the Barra 220 was better than the Boss 260 in the XR8?

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sorry didn't know, but a good topic to discuss.
so the Barra 220 was better than the Boss 260 in the XR8?

Barra is 2v and Boss is 3v right? So I’d say it’s the other way around.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Barra is 2v and Boss is 3v right? So I’d say it’s the other way around.

Barra 220 is 3V Boss 260 is 4V

[Lazarus]

Yeah sorry...I really want a 3v

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Barra 220 is 3V Boss 260 is 4V

Yes sorry you are correct!

My last reply was also partly a question, and I had the engines mixed up.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sorry didn't know, but a good topic to discuss.
so the Barra 220 was better than the Boss 260 in the XR8?

All about the torque.

Boss you have to rev.. hard.
3v will pull like a train down low, effortless power but the party is over at 3000 and a 5k hard cut.

Very different engines in the way they produce power.

[Vesper Martini]

must be the sound? see below but they are Autos..

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/...-5489967/?Cr=0
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/d...16184779/?Cr=4

heres a manual AU ute for 6K if you want to pay that much.
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/d...15903898/?Cr=6

[Fairlane 500]

Yeah, they are a fantastic motor for a daily.
They have heaps of low down torque.

[Vesper Martini]

This is the same reason some people like Diesels, just on how they drive alone.

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

This is the same reason some people like Diesels, just on how they drive alone.

Yeah, sort of I guess but these have far more power than most of the diesels people run about with & it comes with a great V8 soundtrack!

I have towed over 2 tonnes with mine interstate & I think it is one of the best motors ever to come out in an Australian car for towing.
It does it so easy!

My Fairlane is only a runabout to me,
it's a work car & a tow car but the 3V engine makes it really good to drive.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

Yeah, sort of I guess but these have far more power than most of the diesels people run about with & it comes with a great V8 soundtrack!

I have towed over 2 tonnes with mine interstate & I think it is one of the best motors ever to come out in an Australian car for towing.
It does it so easy!

My Fairlane is only a runabout to me,
it's a work car & a tow car but the 3V engine makes it really good to drive.

This.

I used mine to tow my boat full of beer.

Ironically one of the best motors we've had in this country. I got rid of mine at 100k and it never had me off the road for a second.

I miss it dearly, I totally get wanting the old one back.

[g650]

I too miss my 3v haha.. Thing that made it for me was having more than enough torque at any speed.. any gear.. but if you held on there was still power up top (compared to older design V8s).

They definitely have a unique note, and without the bonnet bulge or stripes etc. I did have a few people turn their heads but not quite figure out where that sound was coming from lol..

Anyways, if you don't find an ideal XT, there's a lot more Fairmont and Fairlane models with the engine, if you really wanted manual you could swap in a 5 or 6 speed and as a bonus have the better interior?

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

Yeah, sort of I guess but these have far more power than most of the diesels people run about with & it comes with a great V8 soundtrack!

I have towed over 2 tonnes with mine interstate & I think it is one of the best motors ever to come out in an Australian car for towing.
It does it so easy!

My Fairlane is only a runabout to me,
it's a work car & a tow car but the 3V engine makes it really good to drive.

I second that, my old Fairlane pulled more effortlessly than my FG 290kw Boss, and used the same amount of fuel towing the same weights as my fathers old BA Fairmont Ghia 4.0.
A long shot comparing the 3v to diesels, the 3v has torque everywhere, and for everyday driving makes easy work of the tall gearing with the 4 speed autos. Throw a modern turbo diesel infront of that gearing and they wouldn't be able to move their own weight.
A vid I took of my old Fairlane. Bloody slow but it would probably be just as quick towing 1.5t

IIRC Motor had the manual 3v XT as their BFYB winner in the cheapest category back in 2002.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by smoo

A long shot comparing the 3v to diesels, the 3v has torque everywhere, and for everyday driving makes easy work of the tall gearing with the 4 speed autos. Throw a modern turbo diesel infront of that gearing and they wouldn't be able to move their own weight.

Well yes its a bit hard to compare a 5.4L 472NM V8 sedan to a diesel as there is not many large capacity V8 diesels in sedans

Theres the Audi A8 4.2tdi V8, but that produces 850NM. but Thats a sub 5 sec car worth big $$$ so not fair to compare I guess.

maybe compare to a 300C diesel you can get one now for under $15K.
I haven't driven one, but driven the jeep with that same engine it has loads of pulling power.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Well yes its a bit hard to compare a 5.4L 472NM V8 sedan to a diesel as there is not many large capacity V8 diesels in sedans

Theres the Audi A8 4.2tdi V8, but that produces 850NM. but Thats a sub 5 sec car worth big $$$ so not fair to compare I guess.

maybe compare to a 300C diesel you can get one now for under $15K.
I haven't driven one, but driven the jeep with that same engine it has loads of pulling power.

Yeah they didn’t cross my mind, I was thinking of the more common ones, Hilux Prado, Triton etc which are all extremely average performers especially compared to the BMW and MB 3.0 TD.
I’m sure the larger capacity Euro diesels would wipe the floor with it but in saying that the old triton is around 20 years old now so not bad for their day.

[Swordie]

I have a 3v BA G220. Never driven the Boss. The 3v has nice smooth low down grunt. It will go hard to around 5500, that's plenty enough, it's not a sports car. Mine has standard exhaust, you can hear the sound of V8 in the cabin when putting your boot into it.

A manual 3v is something quite unique. They do come up occasionally for sale. In it's day BA XT BA was rated quite well against the VY SV8 (it's competition). It had better suspension and more low down power. The LS1 once it start revving high goes really hard (based on my personal.experience).

Reading threads from years ago people thought the XR8 was much better value as they didn't cost allot more than a BA 3v 220.

It also seems the 3v didn't receive much development from Ford Australia. It's my understanding with few mods than can be made to allot harder. You can get up to 290w.

By todays standards a stock 3v is not the quickest 0-100 and 0-400m car. Where it is really good is with it nice smooth low down torque. It delvers what an old fashion V8 does.

[Yamonda]

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kels...yer/1189327341

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Yamonda

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kels...yer/1189327341

Yes I got very excited when I saw this but I'm looking for one in much better condition.

[Lazarus]

I had a look at it...

[5.8]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Yes I got very excited when I saw this but I'm looking for one in much better condition.

That’s the problem with most of them. I was looking for one a while ago and found most had been modified trying to make them something they’re not. I feel their uniqueness is what makes them sort after but sadly most have been modified with XR parts etc. They are that few and far between that you may just have to bite the bullet with a modified one as it probably wouldn’t cost a lot to return it to standard.

[Swordie]

2004 BA XT V8 Manual $10,000 (Negotiable) QLD. Purchased brand new.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/nudg...ual/1186587083

[EF Hoon]

Yeah l had a BA tray back 3v V8 Manual, it was the easiest car to drift, so much torque down low. Biggest issue was the hardcut at 5100rpm. Would always hit it, it revved that hard in first and second. Sounded good with a intake on it, thing would roar.

But it wasn't exactly fast.

[Lazarus]

Thanks for all the comments...these are truly unique cars. Have there issues and limitations but hopefully I get my hands on one soon. In contact with the one in qld. Hopefully it works out

[jakkes]

there is a white bf 2006 5.4 and ZF 6sp auto fairmont on gumtree ATM. which is probably rarer than the 5sp man and they are faster/quicker

[GTLEGEND]

https://musclecarstables.com.au/list...a-fairmont-v8/

Another nice 3V example