Cost of Running a 1997 Falcon Versus a Small Car

BluebirdV on 06/02/2016 - 16:52
Last edited 08/02/2016 - 09:58 by 1 other user

I currently own a 1997 Ford Falcon station wagon. I estimate it will use about $1200 in petrol to travel 10,000 km versus $600 for a small car. It would be less with frequent highway travel. It is a manual so is more economical than the automatic version.

How about other running costs? Like tyres, oil, and other parts? How would it compare with an Hyundai i20, Toyota Prius and the Suzuki Swift? What about an old small car like Mazda 121 and Ford Festiva?

I enjoy having the station wagon because I can carry a lot of gear and sleep in it. If I decided to buy a smaller car and camp, how much would I save?

Edit: Update

Automotive

Comments

  • mskeggs on 06/02/2016 - 17:32
    +2

    Falcon, especially older Falcons, are pretty cheap to maintain and repair. I would guess about the same as a similar vintage small car, assuming an equally common car. Tyres are probably a bit cheaper for a small car, and they might use a little less oil.
    I think you would find maintenance on a Prius substantially higher as the batteries in the earlier models are reaching their life expectancy.
    i think the main saving is in fuel. At current prices, you estimates are probably fair. Remember the difference adds up every year. Based on the value of 19 year old Falcons and Mazdas, you would be in front after 12 months or so if you swapped, allowing for transfer costs.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2016 - 19:03
    +1

    Keep in mind that most, of any, of these comparisons - that you may click, will be specific to cars bought new, and aspects relating to initial depreciation and some other things may not be relevant to and for you.

    The Sydney Morning Herald used to publish the NRMA's yearly figures in an article. Maybe an RACV/The Age equivalent in your neck of the woods, but I'll just link this search page that came up with the terms I used:
    www.google.com.au/search?q=smh+nrma+car+weekly+running+cost

    Follow your nose with various and similar (and more recent) links should you wish to muse further. Many variables, as you already realise.

  • spackbace on 06/02/2016 - 19:27

    How many kms on yours? That can affect what's due to happen (engine at end of life or anything).
    Huge difference between the old Falcon wagons and a Swift. Which would you prefer owning?

    Can you trust the Falcon will do 10,000kms?

    • BluebirdV on 06/02/2016 - 20:48

      It's got about 230,000km on it. Ive driven it about 2000km since I bought it before Christmas without any dramas. It seems to run Ok. No smoke. I paid $800 for it and less than $500 for a years rego (have pension card). I definitely prefer the practicality of the Falcon.

    • boonanza on 06/02/2016 - 21:01

      Why wouldn't it they were what all the Taxi's were using when they came out

      • spackbace on 06/02/2016 - 21:35

        When maintained. No 2 cars are the same, especially 19 years old

        • boonanza on 06/02/2016 - 21:50

          Agreed years ago I had an Ef series 1 95 model bought when about 6 years old and it was a fantastic car. A couple of years later bought a 97 model for the wife with low km's full service history & immaculate condition and it was a bucket of shit. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw but if you have a good reliable car then your better off sticking with it.

        • spackbace on 06/02/2016 - 23:25

          @boonanza:

          Sometimes it's the luck of the draw but if you have a good reliable car then your better off sticking with it.

          Yep agreed. Better the devil you know :)

    • Mad Max on 06/02/2016 - 21:13

      The old Falcon taxis would easily get to 1 million Km

      • spackbace on 06/02/2016 - 21:35

        When maintained. No 2 cars are the same, especially 19 years old

        • Mad Max on 06/02/2016 - 22:04
          +1

          Old Falcon Taxis were mantained but they had a very hard life. City driving stop start all the time.

  • Euphemistic on 06/02/2016 - 21:03
    +4

    Just drive it til it dies. It won't cost you much in depreciation, which is the biggest difference in running costs. A $800 dollar falcon only has 800 to lose and while ever it is running and with rego will probably sell for $800. a $5k car will lose probably that much per year, a 15k car will lose probably $2k per year for a few years.

    The old falcon Commodores might use more fuel, but they have a big lazy engine that'll run for ever, compared to a smaller engine car that has to be worked harder. Rear wheel drive generally has less maintenance issues too, compared to front wheel drive which all smaller cars have unless you go back to the 70s.

    • BluebirdV on 06/02/2016 - 21:12

      If you look at the wiki article on the EL Falcon it says they were the last and best in the EA series. The AU was the next model.

  • mosquito on 07/02/2016 - 07:44

    A Falcon on LPG can be extremely cheap to run. Servicing costs as low as $200 a service, the problem is replacing old parts, that is what costs money.
    However the parts are unlikely to cost much more than a small car, the AU falcon was well known for it's reliability (although a bit more expensive than an EL).

    • BluebirdV on 07/02/2016 - 17:32

      Just changed the oil myself. I find she jerks a bit sometimes, especially when cold. Doesn't have much power. My old EA was also a manual and had loads of power. She is a bit rough when she idles. But hasn't let me down yet.

  • WD TV andSOUND on 07/02/2016 - 19:38

    Two cheap things you could find as beneficial is to swop out the fuel filter that can starve the car of fuel and fuel injector cleaner as well.

    • BluebirdV on 07/02/2016 - 19:43

      I bought fuel injector cleaner the other day so will try that. I tried to locate the fuel filter but no luck. Will try on YouTube. Will definitely replace it.

      • mosquito on 08/02/2016 - 07:43

        If it's similar to an AU it's not in the engine bay, it's under the rear of the car…

      • TheOneWhoKnocks on 08/02/2016 - 07:44
        +1

        Fuel filter should be located in front of the rear LH wheel. Sourced from a quick google search. By the sounds of things it seems like you don't have a physical copy of a owner's or service manual. Do yourself a favour and see if you can find any service manuals and/or owners manuals online and save them to your phone.

  • moar bargains on 07/02/2016 - 22:35

    I agree with what other people have said here - if there's nothing major mechanically wrong with it, it's going to be a very cheap car to run.
    If you do want a smaller car, I highly recommend the 2002-2007 model toyota corollas. I had a '94 EF Falcon, and sold it a couple of years ago and got a 04 Corolla and it's been a fantastic car. Runs on the smell of an oily rag (about the same fuel costs as my EF on gas, ~$7.50/100Km city driving), and I've never had to do anything more than normal services. Great aircon/heater, spacious for a small car, and has easily driven us from Adelaide to Melbourne and back more than once.
    If you like being able to carry lots of things and a hatch-back doesn't cut it (it's remarkable how much you can fit in there! Can't sleep in it though…), then you've probably got a pretty good option.

    • BluebirdV on 08/02/2016 - 06:00

      Ive just broken down near Port Melbourne. Now Im cursing the day I bought this beast. It served me well for a month in Tasmania but maybe should have just sold her on before I returned. I had a Honda cb125e motorcycle but its been stolen. Most reliable vehicle I ever owned and extremely cheap to service. However you can't sleep on a motorcycle and they are not very safe.

      • TheOneWhoKnocks on 08/02/2016 - 07:47
        +1

        Sorry to hear mate. What have you done so far? I would give you a hand if I lived in Melbourne.

        • BluebirdV on 08/02/2016 - 07:51

          Called out Melbourne roadside assistance. Car started, then just died. Wont start now but battery has plenty of kick.

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 08/02/2016 - 07:52

          @davelarz: Is she getting towed?

        • BluebirdV on 08/02/2016 - 07:54

          Its a mobile mechanic so if they cant get it going they will have to tow it to the workshop.

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 08/02/2016 - 07:56
          +1

          @davelarz: Righto. All the best, let us know the outcome.

        • BluebirdV on 08/02/2016 - 08:01
          +2

          Thanks, will do. Hope she doesn't cost too much to fix.

        • BluebirdV on 09/02/2016 - 09:31

          Turned out to be the fuel pump. All up charged $450. $120 call out. $80 fuel pump $110/hr labor. What do you reckon? Fair or a wrought? Also the mechanical work left me with a fuel gauge that doesn't work. Im pretty upset about that.

        • Mad Max on 09/02/2016 - 12:20

          @davelarz:
          Original genuine VDO fuel pump costs about $100.
          Lots of cheaper after market ones from about $45.
          $120 call out +$80 pump =$200
          $250 labour at $110/hr is 2 hours and 15 minutes. It should take less than 1 hour to change the pump. So unless it took a long time to diagnose the problem or a long drive to get to you or to go and source the part…
          Unfortunaltely with old cars you need to be able to do a lot of the repairs yourself otherwise it will cost you a fortune in labour and in rip offs. Parts are quite cheap for the falcon. Look on ebay. Fuel pump replacement is very easy.
          Get yourself a service manual. Gregory has a good one for the falcon el.

        • BluebirdV on 09/02/2016 - 13:04

          Yes, I know pumps are cheap on ebay. Tried to talk the price down. Started at $490. Wouldn't go below $450. New I was getting ripped. What can I do in this situation? I actually recorded the conversation (just for reference). The call out took no more than 20 minutes all up.I waited from 9am until 4pm until car was ready. I watched most of the labor. Your right, maybe an hours work. I could tell this guy was dishonest. Like a lot of people, trying to get ahead at other people's expense. Could I have refused to pay that much? Can I take this any further without wasting time and money?

        • Mad Max on 09/02/2016 - 13:33

          @davelarz:
          I do not think you will get any refund…
          But at least they should fix the fuel gauge. If it does not work it is because they have not connected it or more likely they have not put the floater in right (it is probably stuck and cannot float up and down). It is a part of the pump assembly.
          As I said unless you are willing and able to do a lot of the repairs and maintenance yourself it may cost you a bit to keep it going. At the least you should find a cheaper and more honest mechanic.

        • BluebirdV on 09/02/2016 - 14:05

          I would go back and get the fuel gauge fixed but I think it would be a waste of time. They would have to pull it apart again. I already waited a whole day. The down time is costly. Im about to head up to Qld to find work picking lemons.

      • moar bargains on 08/02/2016 - 08:07

        Sorry to hear that! Hope it gets sorted out quickly for you!
        That was one of the main reasons I sold my Falcon. It was still running, but just had a few things wrong with it that made me (and especially the Mrs) not trust it to be reliable.

  • sparkles on 08/02/2016 - 15:37
    +1

    Mentioning how an old car has been reliable is like tempting fate. It's almost like the Beast knew you were thinking about replacing her. I'm assuming it's a "her" because she treated you well and kept you cosy, until you talked about upgrading to the next best thing and now she's preemptively broken up with you.

    • BluebirdV on 09/02/2016 - 09:38

      When I was in Tasy I could have easily sold her for $700-$800 without renewing rego. I decided to keep her because she is a home now. I also like the fact she is a manual. The only EL manual on gumtree.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join