FORD FALCON ED-EL XR6
AFTER WATCHING HOLDEN RUN AWAY WITH THE SPORTY SEDAN MARKET FORD COUNTERED WITH THE SURPRISING XR6
Ford Australia in the early 1980s had been absolutely blindsided by a world market that predicted the imminent death of V8 engines and performance cars in general. A decade later and after having to watch Holden run away with the sporty sedan market, Ford finally countered with a predictably sporty XR8 and the surprising XR6. It didn’t have the growl but delivered pretty much the same power as the V8, sharper handling and had the edge in practicality.
First word of a sporty Falcon six came with the addition of a 161kW S Pack to the EBII range. The first stand-alone XR6 was the ED version, released in 1993.
Lifting the standard engine’s output to 161kW involved revised cylinder head porting, stronger valve springs and an increase in compression ratio. The exhaust changed as well but a lot of people weren’t happy with Ford’s approach. If you could stand some extra noise at highway speeds, after-market systems were more efficient and cheaper than Ford’s single to dual then back to single mess.
The differential ratio was lowered a little to trigger improved mid-range acceleration yet top speed was an achievable 215km/h.
Differentiating the XR6 from other EDs was a distinctive four-light nose and unobtrusive boot spoiler. Trim was bland, with durable cloth on the seats and cabin plastics that lasted longer than most when exposed to constant sunlight.
Loads of seat adjustment and a steering column that moved vertically would allow almost anyone to be comfortably seated in an XR6 for hours on end. That was particularly useful for those who ran frequently between major cities such as Sydney-Brisbane. With a 68-litre tank capacity and Highway Cycle consumption of 9L/100km, the trip could be completed with a single fuel stop and mid-point driver swap.
The EF update in 1994 brought an elongated nose, bonnet flutes and a 3kW power increase. There was an expanded range of colours too, but this would be the last appearance of the XR6 station wagon that had debuted with the ED range.
Ford claimed that EL versions sold from 1996-98 were quieter than any previous Falcon, due to additional sound deadening and improved construction procedures. Certainly the customers seemed impressed and EL XR6 sales topped 3600 units. Cars sold after October 1997 included previously optional 16 inch alloys and air-conditioning as standard.
Although at least 20 years old, these Falcons still recommend themselves as enjoyable and practical everyday transport. They were the first Falcons with a driver-side air-bag standard and one for the passenger optional, although whether the actuators still work after 20 years is something that can’t be checked. They all had ABS as standard but XR6 brakes are a weak point.
MARKET REVIEW
XR6s should today rank as iconic Aussie performance cars yet they are virtually ignored and the best rarely sell for more than $6000. If you want a runabout with a bit of style and grunt, $3000 buys a decent car. Five-speed manuals command a small price premium and the scarce ED-EF wagons are $1500 dearer than sedans.
Sad fact is that XR6s were for too long regarded as cheap performance fodder to be thrashed or crashed and replaced. Any major mechanical failure would see the car scrapped without a second thought.
Cars to look with the future in mind will be low-km manuals in colours other than white or red. If a car looks the goods, get it checked by a body expert for previous repairs. Poor-quality work causes vibration and handling woes and in years ahead will let water in everywhere. Cars with upgraded, after-market brakes are worth having as well but don’t pay ridiculous money.