Faults:

The transmission required rebuilding after 94,000 miles and 6 years of use. The normal maintenance was simple and not problematic. Today the car looks and runs like new. It has a lot of power and is fun to drive. The brakes have been replaced including both front rotors, a fairly common occurrence on most cars today. I installed a new Sony X-plode sound system including a new in dash CD and ten disc changer mounted in the trunk. I had to replace a broken transmission mount last week, probably the result of driving on New York City's crummy roads.

General Comments:

When it came time to buy this car I looked at the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, or this Mercury Mystique LS. The looks were superior, the performance was 'off-the scale' better, and the larger interior, trunk with pass through, and color (burgundy) made this a very smart choice. I am still driving that new car after 100K miles. The addition of five spoke alloy wheels improved the appearance and I increased the tire width to 205 from 195, so the car even looks better than new. Driving the car is just fun. I always used 100% synthetic oil and transmission fluid, and kept a maintenance log. Like any car if you take the time and money to keep it tuned, and replace normal wear items like plug wires and air filters it proves to be very reliable. The transmission was the only disappointment in an otherwise dependable owner experience.

Faults:

Oxygen Censor after 1 month.

Shifts hard because of transmission solenoid.

Crank sensor.

General Comments:

I love this car... it drives great and even though it is a four cylinder, it can go pretty fast. I have only had one major thing go wrong with it and it only cost like $200 to fix (the oxygen censor). It caused my car to get bad mileage, not start, and not stay started while on, but when idling. The crank sensor also was part of that problem and it was like $30. The car's paint and interior is still very nice, except that I had a minor wreck on the driver's side bumper cover. As for that, I drive too fast and instead of getting it fixed, I'm think about getting a body kit. This is the nicest care I have had and I have hardly put any money into it. Before I had an old '93 Grand Prix that had the transmission go out on it after 3 months and both front ball joints, it was a headache.

Faults:

Air condition clutch broke ($500)

Rear main seal oil leak, oil pan leak ($1000 CAD)

Leaking tire x 2 (at the rim?!) $50.

Fuel Leak.

Power windows lock doesn't work.

General Comments:

Over $1500 CAD spent in about 3000km. It was cheap to buy, but now I'm paying for it. Don't buy this car.

Faults:

Oil pan disintegrated at 89K.

Timing Belt disintegrated at 90K.

Window motor disintegrated at 100K.

Trunk leaks in rain or snow.

Rear lights fill with water.

Brake rotors warp chronically.

Front grille disintegrating.

Turn signals flash madly, no diagnosis available.

General Comments:

Good looking, nearly as comfortable as the Sable.

Fit and trim looks good, but rapidly loosens.

Nearly every Mystique I see on the road has a disintegrating grille.

Nearly all have water filled rear lights.

I'd take my Neon back in a second.

Faults:

Where to start:

- Multiple sensor issues

- Transmission

- Defective water pump

- Air intake manifold

- Wiper fluid hosing

- Side-view mirror mechanism

- Driver-side power window

- Hard-shifting

General Comments:

This is the biggest hunk of junk I've ever owned. Stay away from this car at all costs. I will never own another Ford again. I only paid $4000 used and I still feel like I got ripped-off after thousands on maintenance.

MPG never lived up to sticker.

Decent acceleration -- wish it would accelerate right away from me.