Faults:

Replaced fuel pump around 90,000 miles.

Little things like plastic coming off the seat lever handles which won't stay on.

Automatic 3-speed transmission really kicks me in the pants for 1-2 shift.

Much more exterior and interior wear than an '87 Acura Integra I also had and sold with more miles (chipped paint, worn seats)

General Comments:

As we couldn't get more than $750 when we tried to sell it, we kept our Aspire. I want a Ford Focus, but the Aspire refuses to die. Slow, but the engine still runs great at 133,000 miles. Transmission has had a real positive (read: kick in the pants) 1-2 shift for about 40,000 miles now, but keeps going. It says Ford, but supposedly Mazda made the engine and Kia made the rest... reliable little car that gets you there eventually.

Faults:

Speedometer has been replaced.

Seats starting to come apart.

Rear bearing has been replaced on passenger side wheel.

Passenger side door will not unlock with key.

General Comments:

Very reliable.

This car is miserably slow and the engine has become loud very loud, lots of ticking noises.

I drive this car everyday in terrible traffic and I like the car except the weak engine its very hard to merge onto the interstate if you have a ramp that's going up hill, and yes I know how to drive a 5-speed and there is noway to get anymore power outta that tiny 1.3 engine. This car also dents so easy, I don't know what kind of cheap metal they used, but its not worth a crap. The steering is sloppy and vague. The horn is hard to blow when you need it those tiny horn buttons on the side of the wheel are no so easy to hit when you are trying to avoid an accident. However I love this car its has been the best one I have owned as far as it never letting me down. It has never stranded me anywhere. I do hate the crap that flys out of the vents when I turn on the heat, I have no clue what it even is. If I had to rate this car from 1 to 10 I would give it a 6.

Faults:

Wheel bearing went bad at 105,000 miles.

Airbag light flashes constantly.

Check Engine light has come one a few times, but went right back off after a few minutes.

Speedometer jumps sometimes.

General Comments:

This car is stripped down to the bones the only option it has is rear defrost. I installed a cd player and that's all that's been done to the car. It has a little power in 3rd gear, that's when you got your chance to catch back up with traffic. I enjoy the car, but I also realize that its on the bottom of the list as far as car luxury goes. My previous car was a 1990 Honda Accord, it was a wonderful and was given to my by my parents at around 202,000 miles the auto transmission died and I for what I would have paid to replace the transmission I bought the Aspire. I would have repaired the accord, but it was using a lot of oil and smoking a good bit. The Aspire is a LONG way from the Accord, but it does it job and it does it well.

Faults:

There is no air conditioning.

The radio doesn't work.

She squeals when first starting out.

She doesn't like to go at all.

She runs hot.

She burns oil severely.

The speedometer stopped working.

The keys aren't strong enough. (I have already broken 3).

General Comments:

I ultimately love my car to death, but she is starting to cause more problems then she is worth.

Once she decides to go she is fine.

I would probably buy another car from Ford, but I would be a newer model.

I like the fact that filling her up is cheap.