New ED owner with questions

09-08-2005, 11:26 PM

Greets,

I just bought an ED a month ago. I'm amazed at the value for money. $3,200 paid for a '93 6cyl GLi auto in excellent condition and with only 137,000km on the odometer. Its aquamarine in colour and I'm stoked. The car has all the pleasantries I could ask for, including central locking Smart Lock with a key that looks like its from another planet, motorised side mirrors, a nice little sound system and remote boot release. No power windows to stuff up and simple, big instrumentation. All good and a nice step up from the venerable VH Commodore I was driving until we found the bigger, safer, more powerful, 12 years younger, ULP drinking Falcon.

I couldn't make the stretch to a VS Commodore, the car most mechanics and the RACQ were recommending to me, but I was impressed with the ED's showing in the Choice Magazine's car reliability ratings. Of all the big 90's Aussie family 6 cylinder auto sedans, they listed the ED between the VS and VR as the second most reliable; only 2 percentage points behind the VS. But decent VS's start at twice what I paid for the ED. My ED has had full log book servicing too, a wonderful start which I intend to maintain.

My initial questions involve security. Is Smart Lock really secure as all that? Would a club lock help? What about an engine immobilizer, or is that part of the Smart Lock system?

Those chromey five-spoke wheels that are commonly seen on E-series Falcons, the ones where the spokes are quite thick and lean forwards, are they alloy or steel? I just have plain crappy steel wheels with naff looking wheel covers on them.

Thanks in advance for your help. I just had brain surgery so I can't drive the car for three months but I'm thinking about the car all the time and can hardly wait to get behind the wheel again!

InitialD · 09-08-2005, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Those chromey five-spoke wheels that are commonly seen on E-series Falcons, the ones where the spokes are quite thick and lean forwards, are they alloy or steel? I just have plain crappy steel wheels with naff looking wheel covers on them.

Do you mean the EB spack rims? they come in Silver or Machined (chromish) finish.

Quote:

My initial questions involve security. Is Smart Lock really secure as all that? Would a club lock help? What about an engine immobilizer, or is that part of the Smart Lock system?

Go the club lock anyway. Anything to detur people from touching your car is good. Smartlock is a immobilizer. if you want more security go a Aftermarket Alarm that plugs into your Smartlock. JBHIFI or most car audio places can help you there

Rmyers · 10-08-2005, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InitialD

Do you mean the EB spack rims? they come in Silver or Machined (chromish) finish.

No i think he means the turbo blades, they are alloy 15x6.5...

Dezza · 10-08-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmyers

No i think he means the turbo blades, they are alloy 15x6.5...

Look to the left to see a picture of a turbo blade. They came standard on EA Fairmont Ghias as well as EB/ED Fairmonts. As Rymers said, they are alloy. They look great if they are all polished up, especially if the car has been lowered.

CruizinEB · 09-08-2005, 11:50 PM

Welcome to ford forums

PS: great buy

mcflux · 10-08-2005, 02:23 AM

Sounds like you've got a great buy there

ilsautomotive · 10-08-2005, 11:23 AM

Welcome aboard mate, nice pick-up. You're wise to get a good example ED rather than a poor example VS - the most important factor is how well it's been looked after.

TUFED6 · 10-08-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanity_assassin

Thanks in advance for your help. I just had brain surgery so I can't drive the car for three months but I'm thinking about the car all the time and can hardly wait to get behind the wheel again!

Man thats gotta sting, post up pics of the scar!

tommo74 · 10-08-2005, 04:54 PM

Welcome my friend!
It's fantastic(and refreshing) to hear someone talking about their buy like that!
I hope that never fades as i have had my ed for 4 mnths now and the novelty is starting to wear(even though ive modded it a fair bit!)
They are fantastic cars indeed!Simple,reliable,big and cruisy!
Well done on that price for the k's!absolute bargain!

10-08-2005, 05:55 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I do think I did very well on the price.

EA_Silver_Ghia, you're right, I am thinking of the turbo blades; the spokes actually lean backwards in fact. Sorry 'bout that. 15x6.5 sounds good to me, and alloy to boot. Hmmm, might look around for set of them... One of those Momo steering wheels would be nice too, as well as an MP3 playin' stereo. But for now I've got rego and the 140,000km service coming up, then it's a trip to Mackay for Christmas.

Sorry TUFFED6, I can't figure out how to include a piccie.

Thanks again lads.

Cya!

Dezza · 10-08-2005, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanity_assassin

the spokes actually lean backwards in fact. Sorry 'bout that.

Whether the spokes lean forwards or backwards depends on what side of the car you're looking at.

Hope you have a good trouble-free run with your ED. They are great cars, and it's good you won't have to worry about problems with power windows or anything like that.

10-08-2005, 10:59 PM

Thanks MADNC 8
Knock yerself out TUFED6!

Enjoy!

TUFED6 · 10-08-2005, 11:15 PM

F$ck! Definately looks like it could have hurt a bit!

- John

10-08-2005, 11:47 PM

Yep! Havin' all 40 of those titanium souchers removed was an exquisite sensation, I can assure you. As for the surgery, thank God for anaesthetic! Archeologists are finding mummies now with evidence of brain surgery and one has to wonder what kind of suffering went along with that, though it's possible the Egyptians did have some kind of anaesthetic.

The bed was very uncomfortable with stiffness setting in in the neck and pain in the small of the back. There was also a chlostrophobia-inducing contraption called an MRI scanner. Its a large device with a hollowed out tube in the middle with barely enough room for a largish bloke such as myself to fit in. Then the thing starts knocking around like a jack-hammer! Ooo, I hated that!!

But I am truly grateful. It really is wonderful what modern medicine can do nowadays. I was on death's doorstep the Sunday before last and now I'm home again and playing with my beautiful baby daughter.

Now that I know how to post piccies, I've decided to post a piccie of the ED I bought:

Cheers lads!

LUXO_8 · 10-08-2005, 06:23 PM

you can upload your pics on www.photobucket.com it's an online photo storage site...best bit is its free

you just join up, then upload them to there, and post the link from the pic to this thread

sounds like you've scored a bargain, well done.
you will find a set of turboblades very in-expensive. they can be had from between $100 - $400

XRated · 11-08-2005, 12:40 AM

Geeze mate, I hope you're all better and well on the road to recovery. Your ED looks neat and sounds like you scored a bargain for a smidgeon over $3k!! A great car I can assure you, just give her the TLC she deserves and I'm sure she'll treat you right.

12-08-2005, 10:12 PM

Thanks lads,

I saw an article on A Current Affair a while ago where they compared club locks and the blue Club brand Click-It came out on top by a country mile. There was even a guy drilling down the key-hole for half an hour and still couldn't open it, while some of the cheaper ones they just snapped the lug off with a pipe for leverage. Anyway, I can't find the Click-It anywhere, looks like Club have replaced it with some new models. Is that true and which one is the choice lock nowadays?

Sorry to hear about your car HLC. I hope everyone came through without injury. What do you call that colour? I reckon its the same colour as the Broadwater up here on the Gold Coast, on a clear, sunny day. I therefore dubbed the colour aquamarine. We used the baby bonus to buy our car because we figured the best thing we could do for bubs was to buy her a bigger, safer car to get around in. In addition, the last LRP pump in our district was pulled up the day after I bought the ED, making the VH Commodore well and truly obsolete!

Cya lads!

ilsautomotive · 13-08-2005, 12:58 AM

In my opinion the club locks basically do the same job, a visual deterrant. There was a time when I had one without a key, but I put it over the wheel anyway. The only type of thief to worry about on a stock car is joyriders, who are easily deterred.

Rmyers · 13-08-2005, 02:55 AM

If someone REALLY wantes your car, they will just cut through the steering wheel, and off comes the club lock...

Kenaz · 13-08-2005, 09:20 AM

That looks like a really good buy. It's very clean. In my opinion you're not missing out on much in not buying a VS. I used to own one and while it was very reliable, the rattly engine and unpredictable transmission really get to you after a while.

By the way, welcome to the forums

:

13-08-2005, 09:32 PM

Sure is friendly around here. Thanks for making me feel welcome guys.

@Rmyers: Are the Falcon steering wheels really stiff enough to drive even after they've been cut through?
@Kenaz: What was rattling on the V6? How was the tranny "unpredictable"? I'm big on reliability though, which is why I'm pleased the ED 6cyl had a good showing at Choice Magazine's reliability report.

Thanks again for all the friendliness and feedback.

PULLY6 · 14-08-2005, 11:13 AM

[QUOTE=sanity_assassin]
@Kenaz: What was rattling on the V6? How was the tranny "unpredictable"? [QUOTE]

Welcome to the forums mate

I find the 3.8L V6's in the VS's are really revvy, but pretty harsh high in the rev range; the Ford I6's are really smooth (even at high revs), and have a great torque curve.

LUXO_8 · 13-08-2005, 09:42 PM

i think he was talking about the general harshness of the engine......and the transmisions dont like lasting if pushed - either with hard driving or towing

Kenaz · 14-08-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

i think he was talking about the general harshness of the engine......and the transmisions dont like lasting if pushed - either with hard driving or towing

Yeah spot on Wayne.

15-08-2005, 01:11 AM

That would probably be because inline sixes are a "naturally" balanced engine configuration, especially compared with 90 degree V6s, which I've read are way out of whack. I wonder if 72 degree V6s like the ones in the old Capris are better balanced? I rather suspect they are because I don't think they had a counter balancing shaft like the Buick V6 does. That balancing shaft must leach some of the power from the engine...

As for transmissions, I was under the impression that Ford and Holden both sourced the same auto boxes from the same supplier (Borg Warner?). I guess that isn't true then?

ilsautomotive · 15-08-2005, 01:16 AM

The T5 manual was from the same supplier, but I think that's as far as it goes. I'm not sure if the 3 speed VK used a Borg Warner.

The VN and onwards Buick V6 had a balance shaft, and apparently the older version was rougher again. The VS V6 in particular had everything on paper - excellent performance, surprising economy and quite low noise levels. But the shuddering and vibrating during hard acceleration would make the Buick V6 surely the most unrefined engine of any car sold here in the '90s.

mrngo · 20-08-2005, 06:42 AM

Fantastic buy, there. Hard to find one with such low k's, must of been really looked after.

As for the Buick V6, your 100% right Trouty. Those old V6's were originally a diesel engine. The vibration and shudder in 1st and 2nd was truly a signature of a 3.8 v6. Used to own a VN and gz that was harsh as. Good power but that was only because it was light.

26-08-2005, 11:52 PM

For anyone who may be interested in Club locks, I just spotted the Click-It going for $40 in the latest autObarn catalogue...