Faults:

I got the car for under $2000, the body was in good condition as well as the interior. It ran beautifully, like a boat/Cadillac.

Had to fix the brakes, all new brakes all the way around, changed the belts (all for under $400), a few months later around 88k miles, my upper radiator hose blew on the freeway. New hoses installed and no problem since.

The tranny linkage is off, and has been since I got the car. All this means is all the gears are one off to the left, so drive is 1, overdrive is drive, neutral is reverse, no biggy.

Changed the tranny fluid because it started to slip, no problem since.

Nearly 30k miles later and no major repairs were needed. Very reliable, more reliable than my old Honda Civic of the same year.

General Comments:

This car turns heads constantly. It has a huge trunk so I put a huge sub and amp of course.

It's a huge, fully metal car. Its the newest old school ride you can get and feel like you're driving a tank. If you crash into something, it smashes, this car will not. It is a solid steel frame and body, no crumple points. I've been a jerk and have bumped my friends in their smaller cars, to see them fly around the inside of their car, and for me it felt like a speed bump. I often create my own roads while driving. No worries on off road, or over curbs. Drive through anything.

The interior is huge and comfortable as hell, it's like driving while sitting on a giant couch. Perfect for a romantic night at the drive ins, or at the beach. Me and my girlfriend sleep in it often on long trips, or overnight trips to the beach. Very comfy.

For a V8 and a big metal car, the gas mileage isn't too bad at all. I've gotten 22mpgs driving on the freeway at 75 for about an hour. Not so nice on the streets, about 13 for the streets and 15-18 mixed, depending on how you drive it.

Faults:

Fuel pump, repeatedly. The only Achilles heel. Best to invest in a high-dollar pump ($180 Bosch), as the cheap ones are unreliable.

Brakes.

Starter.

Two alternators.

Radiator, heater core.

Just basic repair and maintenance. WAY cheaper than making car payments.

General Comments:

In 1996, I drove my Marquis into a lake, so my dad gave me this car (his old company car, he had it from 60,000-120,000 miles).

In 1997 I pulled out in front of an Escort and totaled the Escort. I drove away.

In 2003 I rear ended a Nissan at 50 MPH and demolished the Nissan (my front end was a little crooked, didn't even break any lights). The cop was amazed "This thing is a tank!" he said.

I have driven this thing around town, and from Louisiana to L.A., and back three times across the southwest desert in May and August, when I was in law school.

The A/C has always been ice cold. The heater core went out in 1998, and I never replaced it (I live in Louisiana, it's moot). This car has treated me better than I can ever express.