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I love how the AU has become a meme and in a way has ascended from just the Aussie audience and is recognized by the Americans and even Europeans for the meme car legend it has become

I feel this would have made more sense if it was 6cyl vs 6cyl.

I was certain that this video was going to start some kind of flame war between the Ford and Holden tribes, but everyone commenting has been pretty polite. Maybe this was because you presented a truthful and balanced assessment.

Timestamps: 0:18 - Overview 0:59 - Exterior Styling 2:21 - Build Quality 4:40 - Interior Styling 6:57 - Interior Functionality 9:04 - Best Engine 10:13 - Best Gearbox 11:16 - Best Cruiser 12:35 - Best Thrasher 13:37 - Value for Money 14:37 - Motorsports 15:37 - Internet Notoriety 16:26 - Conclusion

Have to say, I used to think I was a Holden man if I had to choose. Grew up with Mitsubishis and Mazda's but when asked to decide Holden or Ford I'd always say Holden. I've owned a VZ and driven VTs. Thought they were tops. But then through necessity I bought a falcon ute. And everything you described was the case, chassis felt stiffer, steering quicker with better feel, an air of better build quality (despite the Commodore's better plastics) a sublime straight six over the v6. More intuitive cruise control, I could go on. And the Falcon's looks even grew on me. These days I drive a BF ute and SY Territory and love them both. Aussie cars rock but I've pitched my tents further north of Hadrian's wall and am now in the Aussie Ford camp.

I've had my AU for sixteen years On the other hand my good friend who's a Holden nut has gone through three Commodores. He does way less kilometres than me but he's had two cars develop catastrophic engine issues and his current Commodore has an electrical problem and all three have required ignition switch replacement. I've had to replace the rotors on the AU because they warped

i may have made up 1 mill of the searches

AU's were built like panzar tanks, how many of these clocked up well over 500,000 and more as taxis and were still in service is something to be commended.

Both great cars. One thing to note is that as far back as anyone can remember, there’s always been three or four Falcon taxis for every one Holden. That tells you everything you need to know about long term reliability.

Gotta say they're both legendary cars, but I'll always like the AU just that little bit more. Great video once again :)

Hello from Slovenia. From my point of view both look good given the age. The only thing I dont like about Ford are those sad eyes/headlights. Both represent the design postulates of that era.

As a Ford guy, I'm going to have to go with the AU but the VT is a great car and had its advantages. I like both as they each have there own unique quirks and features. Great video mate keep it coming.

The AU should definitely have won in the interior styling department because of the mobile office! 💻📟📠💾📲💻

Outstanding job mate. I’m not really a Ford or Holden guy and I would have picked the Holden back in the day but think the Falcon is more interesting now

I've owned many Falcons and Commodores and what stood out to me is that with the Falcon is the I6 engine is formidable but let down by the transmission and the rough interior. The Commodores always felt faster, lighter but more "tinny" and had the better V8 option. Both great cars and we need them back.

Both are winners, both are legends. Ive only owned a au forte wagon and just got a au fairlane ghia last week, but really want to find a clean Vt one day too.

I personally have owned both cars And both have great quality , but l must admit the vt is a really good looking car but I found that the au is my favorite as I now have 3 of them, they are so reliable and are well built, the overall drivability of the au has a no nonsense feel about it. And I depend on their reliability, and after 15 years of driving au fords , I have nothing but praise for them both v8's and the 6's

Sean - another cracking vid mate - very enjoyable! Bang on about the AU being the more 'Memeable' - it has defiantly become a legend online in recent years! Also, surely you need to mention the rear styling of the early CLS Mercs (which many consider very sexy) was either inspired by, or stolen from the AU lol!

I loved my AU right up until I lost compression in 3 cylinders. Mine was lowered and It always felt tighter and more agile then my ex partners VX Calais through the Twisties. It was dual fuel and 5 times a year I would fill both tanks, hit the highway and drive 1000 kilometers to Bathurst without needing to stop once. Such a great cruiser!

Even as a Holden fan I have to agree with the AU's win. The AU is just a more dependable car and it's quirks really have made it into the legend it is. A great video as always mate! Love the content and how in-depth you get. Stay safe. Look forward to the next video.

Hell yes he's back, just after I plugged in my new TV and grabbed the spare recliner out of our storage shed. Please no more snapping VT fuel filler flaps the last one nearly made me cry. 😅

I have owned many of them both over the years, totally agree with what you say. The VT looks way better but they have heaps more body flex, and the doors feel like they don’t line up properly. My AU ute was a “genuine one owner” with service history & recipes, I drove it to 550 thou kms on the original motor, complete respect to the mighty AU

I believe the AU fuel filler was designed more 'naked' to accommodate the LPG filling port in factory dual fuel models, or LPG only, not sure if they had LPG only AUs.

I mean, you can either pick a VT because they’re pretty good value, reliable, still good looking...or.....the ugliest car in human history, I wouldve been straight to the Ford dealership to be apart of history back in the day

The vt back seats don't fold down like the au which is required to haul long items from the hardware . The au is cheaper to buy and also cheaper for parts that lasts longer There was a reason nearly all taxis were fords -reliability

Something to ponder: The word Falcon is way more popularly used than the word Commodore, quite apart from the cars they're attached to. That may sway the Google numbers. Otherwise - spot on. ;)

Another great video mate! My AUII XLS 4.0 5 speed ute which I've had since new is still running strong at 260000km. It's had a few minor upgrades along the way and still drives like a dream especially on the open road. Nothing major has gone wrong with it, just normal wear and tear stuff and serviced every 10000 kays. The AU was easily the most reliable Falcon Ford Australia ever made, I'm on a mission now to hang onto it for another 10 years so I can get NSW historic rego!

As someone who has been brought up in a family with two 2005 falcon xt's (the station wagons) the fairmont just looks a little funky. I love everything else about it. Still going to stick with the wagons though because the practcality is unbeatable.

You see way more AU s on the road these days than the VT commodore. Even though the VT had huge sale success over the AU at the time. The AU is Just a better quality car all round in my book. I worked at both dealerships when these cars were new. Even looking underneath the AU you will find allot of cast alloy part, suspension, sub frames etc compared to the VT with its steel stamped welded parts. The VT would have been cheaper to build than the AU on these grounds.

I love my AU, I am onto my second one. They cannot be beaten doing the long highway stretches I do living in the country. First one: 465 000 km and still going as a paddock basher. Second: currently 340 000 km and still driving beautifully up and down the highway. I couldn't stand the Commodore on the highway and were 40% more expensive than the AU. AU for me all day.

The au is a legend. I’ve owned many sedans and wagons and they’ve all given me trouble free driving. The commodores I’ve had however didn’t even get close.

i owned an EL and it outlasted about 3 mates commodores and now i own an AU and it has out lasted the entire Holden company lol

I'll be honest here I had one of the nicest au falcons with a full C2R body kit and a full respray on Oxford green and I miss it dearly. I now have a FG falcon and I love it to bits but it just didn't feel like my au did, simple but efficient.

I love how futuristic and unique both of these cars looked in this era

Love ur videos mate keep up the good work

I’m definitely buying a VT Commodore when I move to Australia. Or a AU Falcon.

The seat trims in that Calais look like a Fat Pizza tracksuit.

A very fair and solid review, really enjoyed watching this👍👍

Very nicely done video mate. I actually got a bit emotional during the end credits, the period between 1997 and 2006 was such an exciting time for Ford and Holden. Such a great loss.

Time for you to get a BF XR6 Turbo - Addresses all the shortfalls of the AU and builds upon its strengths.

I was waiting for labor difficulty, doing anything on the sohc straight 6 easy as, help my mate with some help on his v6 commodore, just a small gasket change, felt like lighting the thing on fire for him to get the insurance money.

Thank you for this clip, I have a 1999 Falcon Forte AU sedan & I've had many opportunities to upgrade. But to what?. Had a few problems like window stick & central locking. But in all this time it has never let me down apart from one time on the freeway , can't remember what, but made it home in Limp Home Mode, had to keep her under 80ks but got there, amazing. It handles so ,well & the steering is so precise. You can drive for long periods & it's a relaxed drive. When you need the extra speed, it's immediate & a fantastic gear box. I've noticed more & more that the new cars have actually followed the AU design, even the new Mercedes, got to admit I had a giggle. To me the Ugly Duckling has turned into a beautiful Swan. Loved your comments, so interesting, thanks.

One man show! Better then those who have bigger and better budgets. Mate, for sure you're going places. Enjoyed every minute of it as usual. Thanks!

You can't spell beautiful without AU

Even though the au was basically a failure I feel like it was still the most iconic falcon made

I just can't see a reason to relace my 2002 AU wagon, over 300,000 k's and still as smooth as silk. I bought it for $2,500 6yrs ago with all paperwork going back to new. A fantastic Aussie car that will live on as a classic workhorse.

The gearbox in the VT shouldn't be clunky. The L60E gearbox are smooth. Try changing the transmission oil and check the tailshaft couplings. They may be worn out. Also check diff backlash. Change the diff oil. Slightly thicker viscosity.

I think you gave a pretty fair review. Well done! I'm a Ford man but I have come to appreciate Holden over the years. I do think the AU was ahead of its time styling wise. I have a 99 Black AU XR8 with full Tickford bodykit and non car friends are shocked when I tell them it's 21 years old. They think it is way more modern.

Yeah I think the AU's styling has aged reasonably well, except maybe the S1 Forte. What about fuel economy? I'm assuming the Falcon would win there?

I do love how enamoured you are with that office table!

I have owned both commodores and falcons, currently own an AU Fairmont with the Tickford 6Cyl. Absolutely love it, comfortable to drive (I'm 6'3") and great to cruise on the hwy and good on fuel.

My mom had a gen 1 au forte for 7 years and never serviced it once, she bought it used for 600$ those cars are invincible

You can’t compare an Ls1 to a six... take a ecotec V6 for a spin the ford wins hands down...

Just found this channel. Aussie car guy. Really good job mate. When you said the Commodore was better than the Falcon thought you were wrong. Then I found out that the Commodore had an LS. Oh boy even after seven late model Mustangs (2015 on) the LS is my favourite engine. but overall your review was really good. Great work mate great work and all those people who are dissing you I’d love to see their channels.

Really, really enjoyed this review! Much better than some of the professional reviews I've seen, and I always seem to get through the full duration of your videos with ease. Never really appreciated the VT or AU before, but this video gave me a lot of insight and appreciation for them - Keep up the incredible work!

Either you love the AU, or you are wrong!🤣🤣

I dont really like either lol. Strangely I like the EB Series 2 Falcon and the VE Series 2 Commodore best. I may be the only one. 👌

The seats in my vt spac are stitched I've owned it for 18 years it still has the original exaughst, alternator, power steering pump and fuel pump. It's on it's 2nd starter motor, steering rack and set of brake pads. It's never left me stranded

I bought an FGX XR8 and was going to trade in my AUII XR6, but couldn't do it. I'm glad I kept it as I would have regretted getting rid of it. Still brings a smile to my face when driving it!

Not a fan of either but my thoughts on this growing up in that era are all based the looks. At the time I feel that the VT was by far the better looking car with the AU looking like an aborted mess. However when it comes to aging, i feel the AU looks a lot better these days where as the VT to me looks and feels extremely dated. I'm also getting generic bogan vibes looking at the VT which might be impacting my feels :)

the AU modernized Aussie looks and paved the way for BA-FG and VY-VE

I have a low km AU series 1,,,I can't say enough good things about it,,it's going to be a classic in the future,,,great personality it has

Never been a Holden man but that VT is starting to look desirable. Nice hips and stance.

The beauty of this review is that it’s totally independent. There are no marketing dollars attached to the advertising around the article that influence a Journo’s review.

I’d have to agree, but they both have respectfully earned the Aussie legend badge

I'm not sure if you still reply to comments anymore, but I've been slowly getting into cars more and more. I never noticed how many of those ford falcon AUs are around, and I think they've grown on me, especially the bug eye headlights variations XD. I loved how the video was based on personal experiences and not just looking at the car and going "Yeah I think this one is nice". Definitely subscribed! And hopefully, once my old Barina TK bites the dust, I can find my own project car to tinker up and try be a mechanic like my sister :D

I have an AU series 3 six cylinder 5 speed, purchased new 18 years ago and it still looks as good as the day I took delivery! Awesome car and has never let me down!

Falcons were great cruisers. Set them in a straight line and they would eat miles at any speed. But they were never as happy going around winding corners. The commodores I've owned simply loved to corner and felt very competent at it. But straight line highway undulations always required more concentration and felt less planted. I think which one was the better driver completely depended on the type of roads you drove on. Both of them were good cars. Its such a shame they've gone.

Very well done video, as per usual mate. Your style continues to encourage engagement and enjoyment. Very well done comparison and filmography.

Great vid mate. Just got my au forte back on the road after 6 months sitting in the front yard. Youve given me insperation to keep going with it. And no more riding my motorcycle at night in winter to work. Cheers, Don, Sturt , South Australia.

These 2 cars are incomparable.They are 2 very different beasts.The commodore is suited to high speed cruising/long trips where as the falcon is your Sherman tank ready for any dirty work you can throw at it.

When I was a 8years old the VT came out and when I 9 years the AU came out, my brother and both said that we would own one , he own a VT and I own an AU we love both cars

Great video, as always. I’d have to agree with the verdict. I inherited an XG Falcon Ute a few years back that had been sitting in a shed for a decade. Completely original, had to do some work on the engine but now use it almost daily, very smooth to drive and I’m constantly surprised with how reliable and enjoyable it is. Thanks for appreciating these soon to be classic Australian motor vehicles.

Love the AU, I have three other cars, a Y62 Patrol, Nissan Navara and a Hyundai I30, all modern, then I have a AU Fairmont. The AU has only 40k on the clock but although I don’t often drive it I so look forward to it. It’s so comfortable and beats all our other cars hands down although they range in sizes and functionality.

I remember when Ford released the Kuga and Ka and thinking how their design team had done a really good job on the styling of both vehicles. Then along came the AU. If I hadn’t had he pleasure of owning one and experiencing how bombproof they are I’d probably still be feeling a sense of repulsion towards the ugly ducking. The fuel filler flap on the Commodore pretty much sums the whole vehicle up...

Also add the following categories: 1) Outback/the bush - the AU wins as it is a much better car in the outback and has better ground clearance. 2) Towing, the AU had a higher tow ball rating as the arse end of the Ford was stronger than the VT. 3) Holiday time - Mum, Dad + the kids, with a bootfull of luggage, the AU wins. 4) Repair time, the AU is generally much cheaper on parts and easier to work on and I have to add this, my (6 cyl) AU loved long distance, the longer the run the better, she just seemed to stretch her legs and just cruised, effortlessly and the fuel consumption was the old adage: the longer the better. I also had 1 inch of water over the bonnet in my AU when going through a "puddle" she made it but it did make her cough a bit. Drained the water from the air cleaner housing and removed the sodden air cleaner paper element and she was straight back into it, a great car, a bit fugly for sure, but a bit like Oysters, its an aquired taste! BTW, the best review of the VT/AU I have ever seen. Well done mate.

Very fair, much respect and love.

I've owned both these models back in the day but they were both 6 cylinders, I currently have a LS1 commodore so do know how good that engine is. I agree with most of what you said, I found the AU was better and more refined from engine to driveline where as the calais was better built, equipped and drove nicer on the road (yours has suspension mods where as mine was stock. I agree that both models were actually great cars and it's hard to chose between the 2, to me the AU styling was a bit before it's time but I like how both look. My final thought on them was the Calais was actually a nicer car to drive daily, there was something about how it got down the road where as the AU felt boring even though it did drive nice also. When you start getting into mods though the Holden is always more bang for your buck especially with the V8 and the LS1 is a great engine when you start working on it, it really does respond to mods so it's a win to the Calais, if we were talking the Barra then it's Ford but sadly the Barra wasn't available back then. P.S. the door latches on the Holden have a rubber on them which breaks off after time and results in the door moving, have been through that myself, replace the latches and the doors sit tight. Keep up the great work, love the channel

Even though the videos take a long time to come out, you put lots of quality time into them. Keep it up!

I loved the video! I understand you've purchased these two cars hence you're able to compare them properly although a similar cylinder count would have make sense. As your channel expands I hope you'll be able to borrow cars (similar to Doug Demuro) and directly compare similar models? These videos are bringing back memories of reading Wheels magazine from this era. It's such a tragedy what has happened with both of these cars (and Holden dieing out completely!!) :(

Great video and great cars too. Can't help feeling this was a foregone conclusion though. Viewers already knew how much you loved the AU!

Right on the money. I am a Holden person, but the AU and BA cars I really like the comfort of a drive on the long highway 🛣. But they’re starting to increase their value now as so many were sent to the scrap gods. I will get one to keep in the shed just to say I have one when I am older. Great job yet again with the detail of visual and audio styling. Your as most confident like John on his channel. Keep it up! Awesome job yet again!!

You little ripper, what an awesome video. Cheers Mr Box. Outstanding cinematography by the way.

Awesome video, loved the review! When I was at uni I had a VX Berlina with the 3.8L V6 which was virtually identical to your VT Calais, so that car will always hold a spot in my heart. Looking forward to seeing what's coming up next on your channel!

The trend for rear spoilers in th 00's wasnt for looks it was to enable visibility when reversing.90% of the cars had these fitted for this reason. Once the boot line was raised they almost completly disappeared.

I owned a 2000 AU series 2 Forte and after giving that thing a 300,000 Km work out driving up and down the Bruce Highway for 10 years the only problem I ever had with it was the paint work fading from it being out constantly in the hot Queensland sun. Apart from the usual replacement stuff like Fluids, oils, tyres and brakes I had absolutely no major mechanical problems what so ever. I traded it in 2010 for an FG falcon XR6. As much as I love the new FG, The AU was one of the best value and most reliable cars I ever owned. As a mechanic I was astonished at the amount of VT commodores that were coming into the workshop with major problems. How can something with so many problems be a no one seller. For my money the AU wins hands down and I don't care what anyone else says. If I ever had to go back to an old cheap car again I would buy the AU without hesitation.

Dont give up on yt 15k subs isnt to much but i love your yt channel so much and you a good youtuber

Bloody good shit lad. Only thing I would say is I think the au interior is much nicer with the climate control interface and wood grain that stretches throughout the car.

I really want to go and buy an old Falcon. Every time I watch one of your videos Im straight onto carsales lol

Having owned both AU Fairmont and VT commodore both 6 cylinder versions I can honestly say the AU in my opinion was a far better car in terms of power, build and reliability, The AU just kept on going with minimal fuss and needed very little repairs whereas the VT always needed repairs either the O2 Sensor, Crank angle sensor or some other sensor as well as various other complaints.

SS VY, VZ and VE are similarly valued to the BA XR8 which shows how good the BAs became. I think the refreshed look after the meme era really helped.

I've got a au xr8. Been bullet proof for the 12yrs I've owned it

Top quality production quality in your video as usual mate, awesome work. Thanks for making it

I love them both, get a good well looked after example of either and you can't go wrong. I own an AU Fairmont in stunning nick and love it. I can get my hands on a mint 115 thousand original Ks VT, previously owned by a retired doctor for a steal and have been trying to persuade my son to buy it Would buy it myself but no real need for it. If I didn't have the AU would buy it in a heartbeat

You are RIGHT. Ford AU will win you over!! Beyond any shadows of doubt, AU Fairmont is going smoothly for ever. Thank you for your clip.

i would LOVE to see you compare both your VT and a VE. Both were Holdens love cars.

I have owned neither of them but the place I worked for at the time meant I spent a lot of time driving both of them. I always found the Falcon to be the nicer of the two to drive. Quieter, smoother and somehow more refined. It turned out at the time to be more reliable too. In the 2000's I went off to buy a used car. The dealers had plenty of AU's and VT's on offer but I knew what they were like to drive, so I took a 2005 3.5 V6 Magna for a spin. I liked it and bought it. I had it for eight years and never had a worry with it. It never ceased to amaze me how it drove and handled and to this day I haven't seen a car that was finished to the same high standard.

Fantastic analysis video in a way that feels very neutral in opinion. Great work. I personally own a VT Calais as a weekend car ( was my late father in law's) and an Au falcon as a work car. I love both very much, but for everyday use and reliability. AU wins. Ugly but wins

That AU table option is something. 👍