I am currently looking at purchasing either of the above, specifically I am going to look at a Black November 2000 5 Speed XR8 tomorrow. Looking at offering about 10k - 10.5k as its not completely spotless but still in quite good cond and does have rego till december. Would this be a fair price?

Firstly I would like to know:

1) Specific things I should be looking out for with the AU's?
2) Also when did tickford start hand building the motors? Where is the badge on the block that would tell me its hand built?
3) What gives the AU3 another 20kw over the AU2 and apart from the 20kw? Are there other differences between the two with driving chareteristics?

I can see a large difference between AU1>AU2 but cant really justify spending the money people want for a AU3 when it appears there isn't a huge difference.

the AU 3 xr had the option of the rebel side skirts and rear bar which look great and check for rust near the boot hinges and around the engine bay, considered a T2 TS/TE50? will hold its value alot better in the future and they start around 13k so not to much more

cam and rockers are different from AU2 to AU3
the hand built badge is on the rocker cover

Roller rockers, cam and throttle body.

AU2 had a 65mm tb, 1.6 crane roller rockers and a decent cam.

AU3 had 70mm tb, 1.72 yella terra roller rockers and slightly less agressive cam.


Last of the AU2's copped the 220KW treatment as well. Bothe AU2 and AU3 were handbuilt.

check out the clutch cable when it goes through the firewall for cracks, is the clutch cable heavy, my dec 00 xr6 had a heavy clutch that somethimes felt stranged then the cruise stopped working then the clutch pedal box snapped, new cable new pedal box and was all fixed, only other prob was power window switches and leaking water when it rained. oh and the front bar and the plastic wind deflector under it always fell down from going up gutters, the rest was great
i would actually buy an auto now as i drive in the city lots and the manual was very industrial to drive compared to jap cars, also can't tow over 1600kg with a manual

Thanks for all the replies guys. Now I've got abit more of an idea what im looking at.

Thats not a bad idea mate. Had abit of a look then and they are as rare as rocking horse sh!t but i guess thats a good thing if you can get your hands on one for a decent price. Theres a T1 TS50 5 speed repaired write off for a starting bid of 15k on ebay. And a T1 TS50 Auto with 200,000kms on it in QLD for 12k.

Theres even a TL50!!!!! for 11k but it needs a new front and rear bar. Been sandwiched by the look of it.

that tl50 is a stolen recovered and will always be on the wovr..but who cares
get prices from ford on new bars (if they still make them) probably why it was written off after someone priced new bars

there is a modded f6 on pickles salvage too that would be nice to get....