XR6 STs, BAs & strange car yard cars

[XR Rob]

I'm looking around at Falcons - it won't be my first, by the way, but certainly my first in many years - and have been looking at getting a stock BA XT for around $13K. But, at the same time, I sometimes see AU XR6's around the same price. Sometimes they're even the VCT models. And I think "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..."

Anyway, I recently saw an XR in a caryard. It was green, and missing all its badges besides the blue oval on the front. You know how some people like to clean all the badges off? Assuming its not an XR8, I have concluded it might be an XR6 ST like the guy's here:

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=69615

The main reason for thinking this is that the rear bumper was the same style, with the mesh grille. Is this what's known as a Rebel bodykit? Of course, being de-badged, there's not even an ST sticker down the side of the car and I couldn't climb the fence to see if it was a leather interior, which might have provided another clue.

I'd point you guys at this online, if I could find it online. However, I have searched across HEAPS of car sites and I can't see it. Yet it's down there, very much for sale, right now.

Of course, the sensible thing will be to get back to that caryard ASAP and have a proper look. I don't really want to be calling and asking them to check all this stuff and tipping them off to the fact they might be selling a VCT for cheap! Some random questions that come to mind in the meantime:

* Is it common for people to whack an ST rear bumper on stock XR6s? Could be one explanation.

* Would any of you be put off by the car being de-badged? Not in an aesthetic sense, but more in the sense that if a car had to be repsprayed, for example, that might be another reason it's badgeless?

* Why should I go for the XR6 and not a BA XT (or even Futura)? To my reading, the standard BA engine is pretty darn good, and generates a nice amount of kw on its lonesome. Would I be buying an AU XR6 more for its looks and getting a few things, like alloys, straight off the bat? Any other reasons?

All thoughts appreciated! :