Ford SZ Territory Ownership Update! Is this once popular Australian SUV worth buying in 2024?

Living with a Ford Territory: How bad could it be? Today we're checking in to see how my used 2013 SZ Territory has performed during the first 4 months of ownership. You can pick them up pretty cheap these days, but are they worth the risk? #motoringbox

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Please note: I enjoy working on cars but I can't promise that what I do will work for your particular car, or that you won't harm yourself, someone else, your car, or your warranty doing it. Please be safe, be responsible and if you're not sure what you're doing, get a qualified mechanic to help you out.

[aussierc]

Working as a fleet manager for one of the main car rental companies, we had both petrol and diesels on fleet. I can’t ever remember any issues with Territory. Granted they were brand new, but trust me, a lot of brand new cars had all sorts of issues from day one. What a shame Ford Australia is no longer with us.

[deanchur]

It came at the end of when a simple vehicle was still available and despite being an SUV it doesn't have the obnoxiousness of one. The bonnet is sloped down enough that drivers can see past it, it's not impossible to park because it's designed for function and not for someone to live out a fantasy, it's a 7 seater in a footprint that only gets 5 seats now and it doesn't look like it had an ARB catalogue thrown at it.

[atko]

Ok this is great telling us what we have lost in the Australian car industry. I too own a 2010 territory, one of the best cars I’ve owned. First thing I did was replace the rear window struts. This simple fix allows the rear winds to basically open itself so you don’t lift from the flimsy plastic trim.

[DeltaStridePLZ]

I bought a used 2011 Territory. Diesel one. I love it. The one I bought had a damaged engine but my father and I swapped it for a working engine. Picked the car up for about $1000 NZD and got the new engine for $1200. Real good go getter and very practical.

One Territory I do want however is the F6X. It's an absolute unicorn.

[gpapaniko]

Great review Shaun. I have owned two Terry’s and SY and SY2, the SY2 being a Barra Turbo Ghia. I still have it, I bought it at 7 YO and 130k, now at 260k, 8 years on. It does and goes everywhere, from Cooper Pedy to the snow. I normally swap the family car every 5 years or so, but cant bring myself to part with this one as nothing comes close to doing everything that my Terry does. Happy motoring

[MattBlack]

Quick anecdote, I was talking to the owner of a fairly large motor wreckers yesterday, standing next to a diesel Territory. He said he can sell those diesel Territory engines all day everyday usually to a guy who puts them in Land Rovers.
They are actually a Ford engine they were made when Ford owned Land Rover. Ford Lion V6. It is essentially the same engine that is now in the new V6 Ford Ranger

[gregfelix]

I bought a new Territory Turbo Ghia back in the day. What a phenomenal car. Had the same feeling as you driving home one night with sleeping baby and wife thinking wow - what a car. Liked a drink but fortunately I had a fuel card from work at the time so no bother. Great memories.

[danieljdtaylor]

I don’t really like SUVs but this is one of the only ones I’ve always thought was cool. The fact they did an FPV version is unbelievably cool too!

[palacefords]

Had 4 territory's in the past, all petrol, one being turbo. Has now been replaced with an Everest. I miss the last of the them because they were just a bigger falcon which really worked well. Shame we had to screw ourselves over with the car manufacturing here in Australia, would be awesome to see what we could pump out with all the new technologies coming

[liamm-]

my mum just sold her 2007 territory turbo 300 thousand Kays, and yes things where going wrong, but motor was still flawless. was driving it on my L's and I loved it. so quick.

[petruszaayman]

I have a SY 2007 Territory in South Africa and it is the best car I have owned in my 59 years on earth. A tip, in South Africa we do not have the availability of spares that you have in Ausland. Right when I bought mine, I noticed the cluck from the diff bushing. This was 2 years ago. As a "temporary" fix, I bought a tube of superstrong silicon glue called "sticklikeshit", and filled all the cracks and gaps on the bush with plenty of that and left it to harden overnight. To my big surprise, 2 years later it is still perfect. No clunks and no jerking. The only other issue I have had is with brakes binding, this is caused by the composite pistons swelling or building up dirt. Once overheated, the problem will re-occur in the future. The answer to that was to have a local brake specialist redo the calipers and fit metal pistons, a relatively cheap fix. In the right indicator stalk there is a red wire that is pulled tight that breaks off. This causes the dashboard lights to die. It is a simple fix, just rejoin the wire where it broke, but add a piece in so that there is more play. Fixed. Further than that it has been trouble-free. I just wish I could get your consumption. I have the 4speed Auto and in town driving I get 18 l/100km and this improves to about 13l/100km on highway driving. I am hoping to buy a 2nd one eventually, but this time the Turbo ST, I think in Australia it is called the Ghia Turbo.

[Renazza]

They saved the best for last. Look at how many of them that are still on the road.

They have their issues for sure, but they just keep going and going and they are cheap as chips for what they are.

The barra is a monstrous combination for such a large car. They were already very thirsty engines in the Falcon. But how many SUVs have 195kw in their base trim level? And the barra itself is near unkillable.

And the diesel is okay i guess.

[MrWilliam.Stewart]

They are indeed a most comfortable vehicle to be passenger in. The local engineers who put the old falcon on stilts should be mighty proud of what they achieved with the resources they had available.
If Fords marketing department had allocated the resources that the vehicle deserved, it could have sold in vastly higher numbers, could have been an export success.
Maybe there in lies the problem, maybe Ford didn't want them Orzies building a better American car than their Merican engineers could?

[ashleybiar]

I have an SZ diesel with over they’re great cars. The diesels have their own issues like you say, but I’ve learnt to love it.

Regarding your centre bearing, super easy to replace, I’ve done mine as an exchange tail shaft from Grant Walker Parts, $750 for the change over. Highly recommend.

[samyeomans]

I recently got a 2007 SY territory with 300, 000kms in immaculate condition for free with 10 months rego. Best thing ever. Super comfy, looks good, feels good to drive. Beautiful.

[darf]

Check the drivers side rear upper shocker rubber before you change all the bushes. It usually goes before the bushes.

[mrmaestrom]

Yes we want more Territory videos! I bought a petrol 2015 in July last year.

The transmission in mine died after a couple of months. Fortunately it was under warranty so the dealer replaced it. It has driveline vibrations now so I need to get the tail shaft balanced up, I think the dealer f*cked it when they switched the transmission.

Besides the ZF issues it’s been fantastic. I love the ride, the power, how quiet it is. The Barra is so torquey it basically never has to go above 2k RPM around town. I get around 13 L/100km but that’s basically all driving around the suburbs.

[chrisbrown]

Great to see an update of the Territory on the channel. 👍

[PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks. An enjoyable look back at an iconic car. I still remember the excitement when the R7 was released at the Melbourne (I think?) car show.

[Risky]

I'm glad you didn't get a lemon. It's pretty common where I live that Territory's have no plastics on the tailgate.
Might be a good idea to do a video on the Centre Bearing replacement & another video on the Diff Bushes. Hopefully there's a Nolothane set you can buy. The older Territory models I used to see in my mates smash repairs all the time & the owners basically thrashed the nut off them.