Should I trade in my FPV BA mk2 GT or keep it?

[900dukess]

I have a bit of a dilemma

I own a 2005 FPV BA mk2 GT 6 speed manual which I love and its a great car. It has just over 100,000 km on the clock.

It has had all the usual mods, exhaust, CAI, reflash etc prior to my purchase

I then fitted the shockworks coil over suspension package (which is awesome and transformed the car into such a sure footed nice car).

Well problem is I don't drive it much (less than 3000 km in last 3 years

I always also had other cars as the GT was just my toy.

Well I recently sold my old "run around" ute (A 2005 BA RTV Ute, it didn't look pretty but I just seemed to drive it everywhere as it was ultra reliable and ok to drive)

And I was looking around to getting a another Ute (handy for going to the tip, throwing the bikes (bicycles not motorbikes) in the back, and what not). I looked at a couple of BF / FG utes around the $5K to $10K mark and they were all have there problems like noisy transmissions (I want a auto, as I must be getting old!), poor paint, previous crash damage.

Well my misses said why don't you just get a brand new FGX ute and trade the GT in as you don't use it.

Anyway I thought I would humour myself and see what trade in price my local ford dealer would give me on the GT.

I was expecting they would do their usual low ball offer for a trade of about $14 to $17K.

I was a little shocked when they offered me straight up $21K trade in on a new FGX XR6 Ute (As they are on special at the moment for about $32K).

So what should I do?

Keep the GT and just get another clunky run around ute

Trade the GT on a new FGX XR6 Ute

Sell the GT privately (I don't think I would get much more than what they offered as a trade in price, and have to put up with time wasters coming to look at and only wanting to test drive).

Or just start using the GT as my weekend car (I have a work supplied car, which is FG XR6 Ute but I am not allowed to use for personal use).

I would love a new FGX turbo XR6 Ute, but I can't justify their price over a non-turbo XR6.
I also have a couple fully restored classic old cars tucked away (one being a 70 's Ford GT) in the shed for those "special weekend cruises etc).

Decisions, Decisions??????

[40RDT]

Good trade price but I would keep it...

[Blem]

Negotiate with your employer to be able to use the work ute on the weekends.
Keep the GT.
That will cost you nothing.

[Giant Cranium]

Keep and weekend it. It's value is steady but a fgx will be worth less in 3 years and you won't get those butterflies when you drive it. Also is practically the same as your week ute. Could you offer your boss 50 a week to use the ute on the weekend. Even 100 would be fair

[mitelsx2000]

I am in a similar boat, got to many cars to drive including my work car.
My GTE 5.0 SC has only done 1600 km in the last year and going forward will be less per year onwards.
But I will keep it to drive now and then in the weekend and not speed to much

[Giant Cranium]

How do you guys not drive them? My dream car as I was a 80's kid was a xr8. They were my generations gt. Once I bought it I looked for any excuse to drive it. It's all I drove on weekends. Get out and enjoy them

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

How do you guys not drive them? My dream car as I was a 80's kid was a xr8. They were my generations gt. Once I bought it I looked for any excuse to drive it. It's all I drove on weekends. Get out and enjoy them

Do you have kids and or family?

Drove my XY GT every weekend too when 30. When you have kids your priorities change, family outings, kids sport, kids birthday parties, simply getting out playing cricket, riding a bike, scooter or skateboard. All my friends are the same.

[F6RCD]

Agreed, I bought a ba f6 as a weekender and had a daily car to drive to work and I'd regularly drive the f6 instead, I'd walk out in the morning see both cars sitting there and take the f6.

[Swordie]

From a money point of view if you plan to use ute allot I consider trading it.FG X ute looks really cool.

[falcon_bandit]

The missus said swap a GT for 2/3rd's of a falcon 6 ute?

Too many wines over dinner?

[Adamz Ghia]

You want to trade a V8 for a 6? If you're not going to get a Turbo then keep it.

[BradEL]

Depends on what you want to drive, based on your FG work ute you would know what an FGX ute will be like to drive, if your happy with the way that drives and you won't be feeling like your missing the way the GT drives then trade it

[Rob 351]

21 is a great trade in price!!! My young fella just bought a BA GT manual with leather in Blueprint with 55,000 k's for 21 from a dealer. Great car & I forgot how good those 5.4 Boss engines sound & goes fairly well also!
I'd keep it!

[4VCLEVO]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Do you have kids and or family?

Drove my XY GT every weekend too when 30. When you have kids your priorities change, family outings, kids sport, kids birthday parties, simply getting out playing cricket, riding a bike, scooter or skateboard. All my friends are the same.

Yep, I've got all that going on and I also run my own business. I haven't touched my GT since september. Life gets ahead of you and theres simply no time left for the things you would like to do.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Do you have kids and or family?



Drove my XY GT every weekend too when 30. When you have kids your priorities change, family outings, kids sport, kids birthday parties, simply getting out playing cricket, riding a bike, scooter or skateboard. All my friends are the same.

No family. Why not go to all those events in the car. Enjoy them with the family.

[mitelsx2000]

Originally Posted by 4VCLEVO

Yep, I've got all that going on and I also run my own business. I haven't touched my GT since september. Life gets ahead of you and theres simply no time left for the things you would like to do.

Totally agree, in a similar boat.

Got a work car I can use 24/7 plus 3 other cars including the GTE

[900dukess]

Lots of good comments and very much food for thought.

I forgot to say work ute can't be used at all for personal use (Government Job).

Also work ute has custom back fitted so can't be used as a ute anyway.

I am not overly concerned about depreciation value (all cars loose money / cost you money).
For example the GT costs over $1k a year just for rego and insurance (and its worse when you have multiple vehicles).

I did consider getting a towbar fitted to the GT and buying a trailer.

Still undecided tho.
To make matters worse today we drove past another local Ford dealer and they have a new FGX XR6 ute in my preferred colour of blue in stock. I do like the look of the new front end (it has grown on me).

They also had a new red mustang sitting in the showroom (closed for Sunday) and our 5 year son says
Dad just get the mustang!

Then I tried to explain to him the 2 year waiting period for a mustang.

[pottery beige]

GT will always be a GT

[Carrion]

I owned an XA GT once, then sold it.

I wish that I never sold that thing.


Cant justify the cost of replacing it these days so I will never own one of them again. That car was sooooo much fun.

[Venomous1]

Trade Gt On Turbo Ute that way your not really losing out.

[nstg8a]

I'd do it, that's an insanely good trade in deal and the fgx at 32k is also fairly well priced.

You already have some classics which will continue to appreciate and give you that weekend cruiser at the same time. The ba gt may take another 15-20 years to appreciate in value if at all, better off to have some thing you can use and not stress so much about.

[900dukess]

Yes I would like a turbo FGX ute, but its hard to justify the extra $$.

No doubt the first dealer will contact me early this week to try and clinch the deal
So let the haggling begin.

I will also go to the second ford dealer who had the car in stock and get a trade in price from them (they may be keen as they have the car in stock).

I may ask about a turbo ute just for giggles to see what it actually would cost as the Ford website lists them @ $45k for a auto, which seems ridiculous to pay another $13k.

I may consider it for low $40's.

Or do I go for the manual turbo ute as their listed for about $42?

The misses did mention about a dual cab ranger, but I may be one of the very few who isn't a fan and don't need a 4WD.

[mitelsx2000]

Originally Posted by 900dukess

Lots of good comments and very much food for thought.

I forgot to say work ute can't be used at all for personal use (Government Job).

Also work ute has custom back fitted so can't be used as a ute anyway.

I am not overly concerned about depreciation value (all cars loose money / cost you money).
For example the GT costs over $1k a year just for rego and insurance (and its worse when you have multiple vehicles).

I did consider getting a towbar fitted to the GT and buying a trailer.

Still undecided tho.
To make matters worse today we drove past another local Ford dealer and they have a new FGX XR6 ute in my preferred colour of blue in stock. I do like the look of the new front end (it has grown on me).

They also had a new red mustang sitting in the showroom (closed for Sunday) and our 5 year son says
Dad just get the mustang!

Then I tried to explain to him the 2 year waiting period for a mustang.

Keep the GT, I to put a tow bar on my GTE

[FairmontGS]

It's not like there is a shortage of the B-series GTs now or in the future. So if 5 years from now you think you made a mistake you'll be able to get back into another one for under $20k.

[40RDT]

Originally Posted by 900dukess

Lots of good comments and very much food for thought.

I forgot to say work ute can't be used at all for personal use (Government Job).

Also work ute has custom back fitted so can't be used as a ute anyway.

I am not overly concerned about depreciation value (all cars loose money / cost you money).
For example the GT costs over $1k a year just for rego and insurance (and its worse when you have multiple vehicles).

I did consider getting a towbar fitted to the GT and buying a trailer.

Still undecided tho.
To make matters worse today we drove past another local Ford dealer and they have a new FGX XR6 ute in my preferred colour of blue in stock. I do like the look of the new front end (it has grown on me).

They also had a new red mustang sitting in the showroom (closed for Sunday) and our 5 year son says
Dad just get the mustang!

Then I tried to explain to him the 2 year waiting period for a mustang.

I would do this

[SensationFG8]

There is a reason they offered you such a good trade on the gt for an fgx... I'd keep it.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

No family. Why not go to all those events in the car. Enjoy them with the family.

Trust me you won't take any car you like to kids soccer...

Can just imagine parking a 150k xy gt next to some soccer mom unloading her 9 year old and his 3 mates.

Or leave an XA Gt parked in the carpark at the local lollipops playland for a birthday.

You might have kids one day and come back down to earth....no offence intended either.

[900dukess]

Yes it is a tricky one for me.
To keep the GT or not?

Some other background info

Purchased GT about 3 years ago, I paid $17k to a private seller who was keen to sell.
It did need a new clutch, so that was about $800.
I also did fit the shockworks coilover and shock package which was about $2500.
Nothing else really spent on in except usual service items (I did a service every 12 months).
It does drive well with no major driveline shudders etc and it is on its original diff bushes, so probably has had a easier life.
I have only done about 3,000 to 4,000 km during my ownership and 90% of these on highway runs, as it is such a nice car to drive on the open roads.

I have had a couple of "old clunky" utes during this time. As I always didn't like using the GT as a "everyday car". Like hated parking it in car parks thinking somebody would open a door into etc.


The old utes I had I used heaps and really did like them.
I did on average about 5,000 to 8,000 km a year in them (remember I have a work car), and we always takes wife near new Mazda SP25 for family tripes).

So back to the GT, maybe that is why I was a little shocked by the trade in offer price, which would be close to what it owes me.
However I do know this Ford dealer rather well and the the Dealer principle does know my GT. The previous owner to me purchased it from them, so they have history of my GT. He did also say they where keen to trade my GT as they didn't currently have any secondhand FPV's in their stock.

Anyway its all talk until the dealer gets back to me and I will also head to the other dealer tomorrow and see what trade price they will give me (they have a blue xr6 ute in stock).

The other crazy thing is I did own a XA GT Sedan many many years ago (many years prior to the big price rises) yes it was a bit if a POS with rust issues etc, but my mates all stir me up for selling it especially when the prices went crazy for them. However I am lucky to have a old fully restored GT also tucked away to compensate for that and hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Trust me you won't take any car you like to kids soccer...

Can just imagine parking a 150k xy gt next to some soccer mom unloading her 9 year old and his 3 mates.

Or leave an XA Gt parked in the carpark at the local lollipops playland for a birthday.

You might have kids one day and come back down to earth....no offence intended either.

when i was a boy, we drove them everywhere, it was the only car i owned

$3k XA GTs in the 90s went good

car park at work was full of them

[anto]

Yep they got dented and scratched...just fix me up.