The peoples' democratic blog of Matt Hayward

Forgive me father of forced induction for I have sinned. There’s only one car in the world I truly covet. It’s the Mazda RX8. No father, it’s not that I have set my aspirations too low, or lowered my expectations. I do love Lamborghinis and Aston Martins. But there is no other car out there like it. Nor anything that’s been around this long that still looks so great. Nothing that sounds, drives or does what it does – period.

So why are there two cars I covet and not just one? Well I owned a BA XR6 Turbo. Ironically this is quite an exceptional and unique car on a global scale. But here in Australia, it’s a daily driver fleet car that’s very incognito. It doesn’t feel special. Hence the love of the RX8.  It looks as good as an Alfa but has more than just sporting aspirations. Six years on, that XR6 Turbo is beginning to look a bit long in the tooth.

So is that that the end of the XR6? Well no. The FG has copped quite a caning for not looking distinct enough from the old model. Compared to the transition from VZ to VE Commodore, those criticisms are quite valid. They don’t necessarily mean anything though.

The real sin is that every time I see the FG XR6 Turbo, it looks better. The progression from the BA, which was a decent looking car is fluid, yet very stylish and contemporary. Holden’s VE by comparison has the big shoulder pad bouffy look that hasn’t improved with time. And let’s face it. Ford took a very capable package and improved it in virtually every respect with the FG. That doesn’t happen very often in these days when cars get increasingly compromised to deal with harsher pollution and safety standards.

Deciding between the two loves is difficult. Sadly the former might just win out. But even if I did own one, I’d never forgive myself for not owning the FG. Stupid Ford. Why do you always bring out the best at the worst possible time!