Fairmont ghia or xr8

[Willow23]

Hey guys,
I'm looking at getting another car and have come across a 2003 ford Fairmont ghia 5.4l with 160,xxx kms on it and a 2004 ba xr8 5 speed manual with 225,xxx kms on it. They a both very tidy cars and are around the same price. The bloke with the Fairmont has had the cam upgraded aswell. Then the other fella has spent 3,600 dollars on the exhaust system and has really looked after it, I'm just worried about the kms. Can someone shed some light on which would be the better deal as I don't want to end up with the wrong car.

Thanks.

[NUT347]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a 4 speed with that many kms if it hasn't been rebuilt already.

Try get him to start the xr8 dead cold and see if it has the death rattle lol.

[Willow23]

Thanks, He has all the records for servicing the xr8 aswell, so is that many kms going to be an issue at all? It's just I have to drive to Adelaide for this one.

[hokko]

Ba1 v8s will defiantly need timing chain tensioners with that many kays, if they have not already been done.
Diff bushes too.

[Willow23]

It has a full service history so I'll have to study that before I make any decisions.

[Commando]

The bloke with the Fairmont has had the cam upgraded aswell.

The 3Vs have VCT? Do you have any more info on this cam(s) upgrade?

[Willow23]

He was telling me that the barra motor in the early ba v8s had cam issues. And he reckons he spent $2500 grand on it. But he didn't have receipts so I would just have to take his word for it.