Faults:

Water pump around 50k; expected that, not a big deal.

Transmission blew around 75k-80k. Wasn't a big problem, because this is my racer... so got a fully rebuilt one with the best internals you can buy for around 1400.

Cup holder is broken.

Driver's foot air vent doesn't work any more.

Window switches are a pain; every couple of thousand I replace them. Tried a new motor and regulator; nothing different.

Check engine light is always on, but that's because of all the mods.

Clock sucks.

Stock seats have bad placement

14 MPG, but that's mostly because of the mods.

Runs a little lean.

Struts are bad right now.

General Comments:

I put in racing seats and a 4 point, and removed the back seats and all of the trunk liner. Cut all the weight that was possible.

Installed a custom intake. The hood scoop leads straight to the intake. It made a HUGE difference.

New spark plugs, iridium, great.

Simmed the front O2s.

Dual exhaust, no resonator. Dual 3.5 inch mufflers. It sounds mean.

Dynamatted everything from the front seats back.

Handles good.

Upgraded wiring.

The 0-60 is great; a little over 6 seconds; around 6.4 to 6.5.

I've raced turbo Eclipses, a Dodge Stratus R/T, a Civic, 240SX and 200s. All of them started out faster, but once you hit that 3-4k mark, she takes off. A blink of an eye, and you'd miss the shift.

I run this car hard, and it runs great.

Faults:

Besides the alternator going and the e-brake cable seizing, which are a weakness for this vehicle and a common problem for it, all the other repairs were expected for a vehicle of this age.

I had to replace both front bearings one by one, all 4 struts one after another, bushings in the front control arms went and I replaced both of them, replaced the thermostat, the heater blower motor, and rotors and brake pads.

Engine light is on from the EGR system, but no problems from it.

I did all the repairs with a Canadian Tire socket set and some extra minor tools on my own, with parts mostly from Pick & pull. I am not a mechanic.

General Comments:

I wish they still made these cars; they handle very well, and in my opinion they are very well built, with minor flaws.

I bought another Mercury Mystique since I love my first one, this one is a '98 2.5 DOHC manual.

I spent under 600 CAD for purchasing each of these vehicles, and currently they are running in very good condition.

Faults:

Normal annoyances such as rain catching rear lenses and trunk, erroneously flashing overdrive light, cup holders built like cheap model airplanes, faulty passenger windows switch, unretractable side mirrors that truck mirrors like to smash into, yellowing headlights that make the car look blind, but basically nothing else.

Of course I replaced the timing belt, a couple struts, maintained the steering parts, replaced control arms, and basically just change the oil.

General Comments:

The car handles great, gets great gas mileage, just fits into parking places that others can't get into, has got a zippy engine, and a fairly smooth transmission. That transmission is highly sensitive, and I treat it like a manual, giving power just before it wants to switch to the next gear then letting off a bit so that it can switch without lurching. But once in awhile, it down shifts with a bang.

It starts out immediately, it rides pretty quiet, and it really holds the road very well in all weather conditions with the right tires of course. Thus far I really don't think I spent anymore than you have on your Accords or Corollas.