1999 Ford Falcon Reviews - Page 3 of 3

Water leak from radiator hose.

Noise from steering rack. Slight rattle from dash.

All fixed under warranty no questions asked by the dealer.

I bought the car with the independent rear suspension option and have not regretted it one bit.

Other cars with live rear axles tend to wallow and not go where you point them. A country drive on a winding road is a genuine pleasure and handles great.

The standard brakes are a bit on the sad side, but once you put slotted brake rotors on and good disk brake pads it will stop on a dime.

The engine has loads of torque for towing and good overtaking ability. Visibility to the rear is great, but to the front you'll have to look twice because of the size of the "A" pillar, however this size inspires confidence in the strength of the car.

The Falcon's air conditioner has never been up to the job. Note; It's a Burgundy coloured station wagon, but you would expect an Australian built car to have a serviceable A/C - it's not!

The indicator-flasher unit is erratic.

The fantastic plastic front end panel work is held together with horrible plastic clips - one hit that's it - the thing never goes back together properly.

Really dumb problems, for a big car made for a big country.

This is a great wagon, on the open road or around the suburbs.

Steering is accurate and responsive, stays straight even with 100k side winds.

Cornering flat is and nearly infallible.

I have towed 2500 kg with this wagon. It could tow twice that, I'm sure, except that the brakes came out of a Suzuki Swift - just as well the pedal is big enough for 2 feet...!

The 'Henry' has 201 bhp on tap, and isn't shy to surge on to the on-ramp, 0-100 kmh needs about 30 metres.

Fuel tank capacity (usable) is about 62 litres, the DTE (dist to empty) counter is very useful, and I average 600 km across the city every day (I live 80 k from work), but stuck in the city she will only stretch the 60 litres about 450 km. 0n a trip 800-850k is not a problem.

The wagon is huge, you have trouble reaching the back of the rear seat from the rear, and the tailgate opens high - I can walk under it and I'm 6 feet tall.

It's got about the best driver's seat I can think of, much better than Mitsubishi, but the visibility afforded by the 'round' styling of the front windscreen is awful. Also, the massive (150mm /6") wide "B" pillar is too hard to glance past, I can 'lose' a large car in the right (driver's) side blind spot.

One last nit-pick, the Falcon AU I is a little noisy - first ratio from the otherwise smooth 4 spd auto whines like a lonely puppy, and at 130 kmh (80 mph) it just isn't quiet, probably because the long tailshaft has no centre bearing (Volvo 240 from 1980's did!) so it gets up a good ol' drumming humming racket.

Overall, the Falcon is big, strong, reliable, easy on fuel, spacious, well equipped Benz killer for a quarter of the dough - keep trying, Uncle Henry!

There have been no problems at all.

The Falcon is an easy to drive, comfortable, rugged well built car.

It is a little thirsty in heavy traffic, but on the highway it's extraordinarily economical (8.0l/100km) for a big six (4.0 litre).

The motor does its best on the highway when it has real pulling power. In the traffic it feels like it needs a lower first gear, but it cruises effortlessly on the highway.

It handles acceptably and has a smooth ride.