Front disks warped after 1 hard hi speed braking and continue to shudder ever since, the moment they think about getting hot.
Front calipers (or pads) also rattle over small bumps.
Drive line vibration at around 80 - 90 Kph when in 4th gear with the locking converter locked up, (nice feature, but causes a problem when most driving is done around that speed), also shudders briefly as it shifts through 3rd lock-up into 4th.
3 - 4 sec. delay when selecting reverse.
Drink holder cover rarely wanted to close after a matter of weeks and no longer lined up with rest of console when it was closed.
Power steering shudder when turning fast at low speed eg: you turns driveways etc.
Fuel tank was falling down from day 1, could barely get the cap off, this was fixed no problems since.
Absolutely love the way the car drives, for a 30 something thousand dollars in oz, good value.
Great flexible motor, handles like its smaller than it is (real tight), and comfortable for a Ute with sports suspension. pretty economical too for the power available if driven sensibly.
Disapointed the brakes aren't up to the cars performance (yes I know of the premium brake option), but seriously the car is also rated to tow 2600 kgs can't imagine what the brakes would be like towing a boat or something heavy.
Generally love the auto, but that vibration can get pretty annoying, after much complaining ford offered an auto "re-program", that mysteriously appeared once they realised I was serious, (and also know what I'm talking about) after having been treated like a fool by both the dealer and the rep from the auto manufacturer (who shall also remain nameless), which I later found out had been available for some time, (grrrr again), however I have chosen not to take up the offer after an earlier engine re programme (to successfully cure a rough idle) left me with a car that revs about 300 revs higher when cold and therefore causes a monumental clunk when selecting a gear). willing to battle on and "drive around" the auto instead.
The drink holder cover cure apparently was to "grease" it, it still doesn't line up with the console obviously.
The power steering will be checked again next service.
My mate has a 2004 XR6 Sedan and it's a nice car, I went for a spin in it yesterday and the XR6 was a much nicer ride then in a commodore. I'm a Holden bloke through and through, before I was taken for a spin I was totally bagging my mate cause he is a Ford bloke and I was like "your car isn't as good as the Holden's", but once I took the XR6 for a spin I was impressed by the power and ride confort. Now if I'm ever going to get a 6 cylinder car it will be a XR6 cause they are much nicer looking then the new commodores. Ford XR6's are nice and are better then the Commodores I reckon.
Yeah I agree with comments about Commodore... that was what I originally wanted, but it drove like a wet sponge, independent rear suspension in the comm ute was awful (the Falcon leaf springs and live rear axle for some reason was so much better, and gave a higher load rating) and for $700 more the equipment level in the XR6 crapped on the Commodore S Pack. Have sold the XR now reluctantly, (needed more of a workhorse) :( Oh well, was fun while it lasted.