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General Comment: ED Fairmont
(back to
INDEX)
Barely any different to the
outgoing model - save a few minor identifying features - owners who
fronted up to trade in their EB II Fairmonts on the new model must have been
bitterly disappointed at the sheer lack of change vs. the one they were
handing in. However,
with the EB II Fairmont being such a good thing, in hind-sight 'no change'
wasn't such
bad thing after all... For having made significant headway since
the EA's faltering beginnings, the ED version now more than equalled the EA Fairmont
Ghia in both specification and ambience!
ABS was now standard in the ED
Fairmont - having been optional on EB II Fairmont - an astonishing omission that you wouldn't even dream of
now-days! The Fairmont continued with the same suspension settings
introduced with the ED GLi and Futura, so any extra comfort came in the way of
it's seats...similarly, quality levels also matched that of the
afore mentioned lesser models, leaving the term 'quality' as purely being in terms of standard equipment
- no more or no less than any other Falcon, Fairlane or LTD produced in that year.
With almost too many choices, the ED
Fairmont suffered a case of confused identity - it wasn't the top of the tree
and yet it wasn't a half-way point either! Yet the ED Fairmont remains a very
capable and well equipped car - and certainly worth a second look particularly
if an example in good conditioned is found.
I remember looking on in disbelief as the ED Fairmont was
introduced to market with the same 15" alloys originally introduced some
five years earlier on the EA Fairmont Ghia - yet somehow in isolation, it
still manages to look good with these on, showing that perception is always
about context... A quick look at the 'Fairmont vs. Futura' list down below
should easily tell the other half of the story - with an impressive list of extras gained for what
is very little money now-days.
Hence the Fairmont remains an
exceptionally good choice second hand - with many of the options included on the fiddly side to
add at a later date, adding very little to the amount you'll pay over say
a used GLi or Futura (but making all the difference when it comes to liveability
and
pleasure of ownership). With Cruise Control and ABS featuring
strongly on the list of
items included standard, safety was and is still a solid reason for purchasing a
Fairmont - in addition to the Falcon's traditional large-car safety advantages
over similar aged small vehicles.
GM direct rival: Commodore Berlina.
Current Condition &
Buying Tips:
There is no doubting the ED Fairmont - like every ED model - ain't getting any younger! Subsequently
the advice is buyer beware as a second rate example can quickly set you back more
than the car is worth with head gasket and gearbox repairs - along with a
whole lot of extra stuff (i.e. technology) to deal with. - Not that the
luxury touches were particularly
troublesome, just that if you are buying a Fairmont for it's extra equipment you
had better want to make sure it all still works as you had hoped!
Like the GLi & Futura, avoid cars that look like they've been trashed and be prepared
to pay a little extra & spend a little more time looking for owners who
have looked after their car like it should have been - which often means
looking for an elderly owner or similarly fastidious person. Fortunately
for the Fairmont, there are probably more owners who paid them their due
respect than the cheaper models - so finding a good one shouldn't be all too
difficult. Still, the owner's passion for their car should show easily as they walk you round it - as well as
in the overall general condition. Pay particular attention to coolant
condition, presence and change routines - as well as gearbox condition as
these are both particular weak points for any pre-AU OHC Falcon 6 / 4 speed
auto.
Collectability:
While the ED Fairmont will likely never
become collectable so-to-speak - it will always hold a sense of value due to
it's impressive list of standard equipment. However, do not expect this to
translate into vastly increased resale values. And just like the GLi and
Futura, if you want a ED Fairmont that will be talked about in years to come,
look for one with a factory options such as the 5.0L V8, sunroof, manual gearbox, body kit,
sports suspension or 16" wheels - with the rarest containing all of the
items listed! Worth more to start with, more people were prepared to
lash out on extras like these so finding one should be a little bit easier -
although such optioned up vehicles are still not thick on the ground.
ED Fairmont vs. ED Futura - what
you got extra:
-
'Turbo Blade'
15" x 6.5" alloy wheels standard - same as the EA Fairmont Ghia
& EB Series 1&2 Fairmonts.
-
Matching
P205/65 HR15 steel belt
radial ply tyres (up from 14" dia in Futura).
-
Cobalt Blue
paintwork available.
-
Red and amber "reflex"
rear appliqué
on sedans only (which is French
for the reflective panel between
tail lights).
-
Fairmont Wagon received a
permanently mounted roof rack as standard equipment.
-
Cloth covered sunvisors with
passenger vanity mirror.
-
Electric Windows in all four
doors - switches located in centre consol.
-
Trip computer standard.
-
Adjustable removable rear
headrests.
-
Fold-down centre armrest
included in back seat upright
-
Interior light with twin spot
lamps.
-
Rear reading lamps.
-
Front and rear footwell lamps.
-
Seats and doors trimmed in
velour with 'Dresden' velour insert.
-
Washer fluid low sensor &
warning light.
-
Radiator coolant low sensor
& warning light.
-
Addition of the following
audible warning chimes: low fuel, lights on, low alternator charge, low
oil pressure, high coolant temperature and brake failure.
-
Dual Horns.
-
Air conditioning standard
along with Automatic Climate Control.
-
Removable, adjustable head
rests in all four seating positions (excluding center rear).
-
3.27:1 final drive ratio for
4.0L 6 cylinder auto (vs. 3.08:1 in Futura auto).
ED Fairmont vs. EB II
Fairmont :
-
Body coloured door handles.
-
ABS brakes standard
-
CFC free air conditioning.
-
New grill.
-
A slight change in highway
fuel use was recorded in Ford's data for the 4.0L automatic equipped ED Fairmont Sedan.
Price When NEW:
Fairmont 4.0L sedan - $33,488, Fairmont
5.0L V8 sedan $36,136.
Fairmont 4.0L wagon - $35,863, Fairmont 5.0L V8 wagon $38,511.
The TBF challenge:
While these were the 'official' specifications listed by Ford for it's ED
Fairmont range, the occasional 'escape' did get out with things that were not
supposed to be available - fitted from new. If you think you have such a
car, we want to hear about it - and encourage you to post details HERE...
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INDEX)
FUEL ECONOMY:
- Fuel tank capacity - 68L (sedan -
plastic tank) or 72L (wagon - pressed steel tank)...
* The following table represents
figures submitted by Ford in it's ED Fairmont / Fairmont Ghia brochure printed August 1993.
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Engine
/ Transmission / Body Style
|
City
Cycle (L/100km) |
Highway
Cycle (L/100km) |
4.0L
automatic Fairmont sedan
5.0L automatic Fairmont sedan
4.0L automatic Fairmont wagon
5.0L automatic Fairmont wagon |
12.5
14.5
13.0
14.5 |
7.6 vs. 80 listed
for EB II.
9.0
8.0
9.0 |
* FORUM:
What
fuel economy do you get? Did Ford's figures represent real world
data?
Discuss it here!
(back to
INDEX)
.
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BRAKES :
- Power assisted
four-wheel disc brakes.
- Front - 287mm dia ventilated discs.
- cast iron single
piston caliper (equalizing sliders). - Rear - 287 mm dia solid discs.
- aluminum single piston
caliper with integral
hand brake mechanism.
- Dash mounted hand brake
pull (left side
of steering wheel).
- ABS brakes standard
(four sensor, three channel).
- Taking up the 2300kg
rated tow-pack also saw heavy-duty brake pads fitted.
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STEERING :
- Cruise control as standard meant that
the ED Fairmont & other similar cruise-fitted Falcons missed out in
the ED's new look steering wheel, having to make do with the not un-attractve previous steering wheel
design.
- Power assisted rack and pinion steering.
- Steering column adjustable for rake
& reach.
- MOMO leather covered steering wheel available as an
option when new.
- Minimum turning circles - 11.0m (sedan)
or 11.4m (wagon).
Right: Due to having
cruise control standard, the ED Fairmont received the 'old' style steering
wheel. |
 |
* FORUM:
Have you ever had any problems with your Falcon's steering? What
was it & how did you fix it? Discuss it
here!
(back to
INDEX)
. |
BODY:
- Colours Available: Magenta,
Polynesian Green, Reef Green, Quartz, Sandstone, Biscayne Blue,
Cardinal Red, Platinum, Dynamic White, Le Mans Red, Black Pearl,
Cobalt Blue.
- Colours NOT available from the factory:
Stark White. (Black Pearl, Platinum & Polynesian Green were
not available with a 'Pumice' coloured interior - but were all
available when a 'Slate' coloured interior was chosen)
- Body coloured front bumper lower edge
extension.
- Metallic paint standard with
non-metallic paints available as a no-cost option.
- Remote boot lid release.
- Remote fuel filler door release
- Improved side impact protection - 30%
ahead of ADR 29 and partly responsible for the ED's overall weight
increase.
- Improved roof crush protection (carried
over from EBII) via epoxy resin reinforcement of both A & B
pilliars and thicker front and side glass - now able to withstand a 3
tonne load.
- Body VIN codes permanently marked on
major body components.
- Optional body styling kit including side
skirts, front and rear bibs attached to the lower extremities of the
bumper bars as well as a raised deck lid spoiler - available on sedan
only.
- Optional low-line boot lid
spoiler. Independent of body kit.
- Optional clear plastic bonnet leading
edge protector to guard against stone chips.
Above: The ED Fairmont was available
as a station wagon - which strangely from the rear (except for the body
coloured door handles) looked exactly like a EA Fairmont Ghia version of
the same...
*
FORUM:
What
detail observations (other than the obvious styling related ones) have you
made on the differences between the ED & EA, EB? Ever bought
something off of one of these models thinking 'it should be the same' but
isn't?
Add your
experience HERE!
(back to
INDEX)
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EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
| Exterior
(mm)
Overall
length
Overall height
Overall width
Wheelbase
Front track
Rear track
Front overhang
Rear overhang |
Sedan
4811
1399
1857
2794
1554
1533
878
1139 |
Wagon
5003
1483
1857
2923
1554
1533
878
1202 |
(back to
INDEX)
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IDENTIFICATION / APPEARANCE:
- Red and amber reflex rear applique on
sedans only (french for reflective panel between tail lights) - grey
number plate surround on wagons.
- Body coloured door handles & mirrors
vs. the GLi's black numbers...
- Chrome sleeve in grill /
'Thunder Grey' centre
bar, body coloured surround.
- Body coloured front and rear bumpers
with grey uppers and silver / chrome strip insert (Same as Futura).
- Dark grey number plate / reversing light
enclosure (vs. black for the EB)
- Smooth vent-less C-pilliar cover in body
colour (EA had slotted vent here)
- Reversing lamps next to the rear number
plate (incorporated in the tail lamps in the EA)
- Body styling kit optional when new.
* FORUM:
Did we miss
anything? Add it HERE!
(back to
INDEX)
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VISION / WINDOWS:
- Electric Windows in all four doors -
centrally located switches located in centre consol, including a
lock-out button to prevent children from using power windows in rear.
- Separately mounted electric window
switches in back side doors.
- Fold-away (to avoid damage) electric
remote operated exterior rear view mirrors on each side - body
coloured painted shell.
- Prismatic day/night interior rear view
mirror.
- Twin dual jet windscreen washers.
- Two speed front windscreen wipers with intermittent
setting (fixed delay period) and demand wipe feature giving one-touch
control for single sweep wiping..
- Rear intermittent wiper with demand
wash/wipe and auto wiper, activated when in reverse gear with front
wipers operating - wagon only.
- Rear window demist with timed automatic
off feature.
- Rear window (sedan) 'ceramic' sunshade -
painted bands at the top standard.
- Vinyl covered sunvisors.
- Tinted windscreen with dark tinted band
at top.
- Factory tinted side and rear glass.
- A "German manufactured"
sunroof was available as an extra cost
option when new featuring tilt vent operation as well as full
retraction slide away - also included was an automatic pop-up wind
deflector. Sunroof N/A on Falcon wagon.
- Optional "Aero Profile" rear
sunshade constructed of dark grey translucent acrylic.
- Aerodynamic front windscreen sunshade
optional.
- Exterior fitted rear windscreen louver
optional.
- Optional front side weather shields in
clear acrylic.
*
FORUM: What tint
level do you have, which company did you use & how satisfied have you
been with it? Add your experiences here!
(back to
INDEX)
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LIGHTS:
- Glass fronted twin-element headlights -
EA/ED headlights were always noted for their exceptional performance
vs. both previous & later models - a very real strong point of
these models.
- High mounted auxiliary stop light on
both sedan and wagon.
- Reversing lamps next to the rear number
plate (incorporated in the tail lamps in the EA)
- NOTE Special 'towing' turn-signal
flasher fitted to vehicles fitted with tow-bar.
* FORUM: How do you
rate the ED Falcon's headlights, and what have you done to upgrade them?
(back to
INDEX)
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INTERIOR HEATING & COOLING:
- Air conditioning standard - CFC free (change vs.
EB) - also bringing increased performance vs. previous model.
- Automatic Climate Control with 4-speed fan boosted ventilation with
both front footwell and rear seat ducts (incorporated into the back
of the centre consol) and air conditioning control.
- 2 air outlets each side of the dash.
- 2 air outlets located centrally within
the dash.
- 2 air outlets located within the rear of
the center consol.
- Ergonomically located easy-to-reach fan
& climate adjust controls right next to steering wheel (LHS).
- Standard tint in windows (albeit
minimal).
- -
cost $1803 to option when new.
Right:
The Falcon's conveniently mounted climate control centre included
the important words "CFC free" for the first time in
Falcon history!
* FORUM: What have you had
fail on your ED Falcon's heating / cooling system, what did you do to fix
it & how much did it cost? |
 |
(back to
INDEX)
. |
INSTRUMENTATION:
- Full instrumentation pack (four
ancillary guages plus tachometer) - with volt meter & oil pressure
guage.
- Speedometer, odometer, tripmeter, fuel
guage & water temperature guage standard in addition to the above.
- WARNING LIGHTS: High beam, rear window demist on, turn
signal / hazard light, alternator fail, lights on, park-brake on,
washer fluid low, radiator coolant low, cruise control indicator and
low oil pressure.
- AUDIBLE WARNING CHIMES: low fuel, lights
on, low alternator charge, low oil pressure, high coolant temperature
and brake failure.
- Trip Computer standard featuring fuel
consumption figures, distance to empty, average speed & time
display.
* FORUM:
Have you had any
problems with your ED Falcon's instrument cluster & how did you
overcome it?
* FORUM:
List your custom modifications here! How
did you do it & what did you do?
* FORUM: How do you rate the accuracy of your Falcon's
instrument cluster? |
 |
(back to
INDEX)
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|
DOOR TRIMS, PARCEL SHELF & FLOOR
COVERINGS:
- Two interior colour themes available
(depending on vehicle exterior colour) - 'Slate' & 'Pumice'.
- 'Slate' interior "recommended"
with the following exterior colours: Dynamic White, Le Mans Red, Reef
Green, Biscayne Blue, Cardinal Red, Black Pearl, Platinum, Cobalt
Blue, Polynesian Green & Magenta, and optional on Quartz &
Sandstone coloured cars.
- 'Pumice' interior
"recommended" with the following exterior colours: Quartz
& Sandstone. NOT AVAILABLE with Black Pearl, Platinum &
Polynesian Green paintworks.
- Doors trimmed in velour with 'Dresden'
velour insert.
- Vinyl trim not available on Futura.
- Cloth covered sunvisors with passenger
vanity mirror.
- Moulded cloth covered headlining.
- Carpeted passenger & luggage
compartment floor.
|
.* FORUM: What pieces of
your interior have you had wear first?
(back to
INDEX)
|
SEATING:
- Adjustable (removable) head rests on
both front seats AND in two outboard positions on rear.
- Fold-down centre armrest included in
back seat upright
- Seats trimmed in velour with 'Dresden'
velour insert.
- Seat backs & skirts trimmed in
matching cloth vs. the GLi's use of vinyl in these areas.
- Leather trim NOT available in Fairmont.
- Driver and front passenger fore and aft
seat adjustment & infinitely adjustable recline.
|
- Driver's seat features manual lumbar support and
seat base height adjustments.
- Map pockets behind seat front seat
uprights.
- 60/40 split fold rear seat upright in
both sedan and wagon.
- Removable, adjustable head rests
in all four seating positions (excluding center rear).
- Integrated entry-assist overhead grab
handles.
- Bench front seat not available on
Fairmont.
|
* FORUM:
How do you rate
the comfort & longevity factor of the standard Falcon's seats - front and rear?
Have you had to make any repairs, and if so, what and how much did it
cost?
(back to
INDEX)
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TOWING:
Towing Options available when new:
- 1200kg rated tow pack.
- 2300kg rated tow pack.
Each
'Tow Pack' consisted of the following:
- Tow bar.
- Hitch and / or ball mount.
- Wiring harness with 'flat' 7-pin
electrical connector.
- Special 'towing' turn-signal flasher.
- Supplementary transmission cooler
(automatic transmissions only)
- Heavy duty brake pads (where not fitted
as standard).
- Hayman Reese towbar & load
distributing hitch for 2300kg kits.
Other
Towing related considerations:
- Despite opinions to the contrary, Ford's own advertising brochures
showed pictures of an automatic gearbox auxiliary oil cooler with these words
printed directly underneath: "Transmission oil cooler.
Helps avoid overheating and possible transmission damage.
Essential for towing with auto transmissions." You've
been warned!
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Above: Hayman Reece towbar
& load spreader as optional on ED Falcon's 2300kg tow kit.
Above: Standard 1200kg tow
pack 'tongue'.
|
* FORUM:
What towing
experiences have you had - good & bad?
* FORUM:
How do you rate the Falcon's towing ability
to other cars you've owned?
* FORUM:
What sorts of things have you done to
improve your Falcon's already impressive towing ability?
(back to
INDEX)
. |
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