Faults:

The 'brain' needed reprogramming at 7K, covered under warranty. Engine would lightly jerk and hesitate when driving at steady speed.

The fuel gage was reading improperly (ran out of gas when reading an eighth of a tank), and the fuel gage sender needed replacement at 28K miles. Covered under warranty.

The Idle Air Control valve assembly needed replacement at 45K miles.

Twice, the potentiometer assembly and the throttle position sensor have needed replacement, within one year. The minor problem was that the engine speed would occasionally increase to 3000 rpm when I engaged the clutch to switch gears, or if the transmission was placed in neutral while the car was still rolling. (When the car stopped rolling, the engine would move back down to normal idle speed.) This occurred twice, at 56K and at 70K miles.

The heater/A/C blower motor resistor (controls fan speed) required replacement at 56K miles.

General Comments:

My previous car was a 1996 Mystique (also V6 Manual Trans), which was totaled in an t-bone collision (other driver's fault). I <i>really</i> enjoyed that model, so I bought a 1999 model. The 1999 model is fine, but does not seem as solid (performance & power-wise) as the 1996 model I had.

I highly recommend the V6 Duratec Engine and much prefer the manual transmission. Not widely produced, it seems.

Unfortunately, production of the Mystique has been discontinued, but I should be interested in a Mercury 4-door sedan for my next vehicle.

Faults:

Replaced temp sensor and fuel filter at 105,000 kms because it wasn't starting when it was humid.

General Comments:

We are now at 114,500 kms and it humid outside, it didn't start today.

Faults:

199 Mercury Mystique with 4 cylinder engine was bought used with 39K miles for first car for high school student. The car now has 44K miles on it and an oil change was done since purchase date. As she was driving home it started to steam and then a big noise and it stopped. The car was towed to a Lincoln Mercury dealer who discovered a hole a in the side of the engine and the service manger said that a rod had made the hole.

We hoped the dealer would help, but will not for the following reasons:

1) the car was not purchased through a Lincoln Mercury dealer,

2) the car was beyond the 36K mile warranty period, and

3) she was not the original owner.

The dealer suggested that this was due to poor maintenance history and that the only way to discover this was to tear-down the engine for about $250. However, even if it proved not to be poor maintenance, based upon the teardown, Mercury would still not do anything for us.

We called the national Ford Customer Relations number and were told the same information.

Moral of this story: Never buy a used Ford product.

Faults:

My water pump went out at 36,000 miles and the dealer would not replace it under warranty. Aside from that it has been one of the best cars I have owned. This car packs a good punch for a small four cylinder engine.

Faults:

Nothing went wrong aside from factory recalls, except that the blower motor went out at 37k. However, my dealership fixed this and was still able to cover it under the warranty.

General Comments:

I used to hear the Mystique referred to as the "poor man's BMW." This is probably a good description. I've driven a lot of cars in my life, and there is nothing under the $20000 mark in a new car that handles as well as the Mystique. Granted it's no BMW, but this is no BMW price tag either.

The Duratec engine is great. Frankly, I don't like the 4-cylinder that was available in this car. But the Duratec V-6 is great! Acceleration is quick, it is secure and sure-footed. The only problem is that in city driving it is a bit of a gas guzzler. On the highway (road trips) I averaged about 31 miles per gallon. However, driving to work and back, which was some country and some city, I average about 20. Pure city would have been in the upper teens.

Comfort level was very high. I had the leather, of course, that was standard in the LS. The seats were very supportive, and with the power seat and lumbar support, I was able to drive 10 hours straight (aside from stopping for gas), and still get out of the car with no aches or pains. This is the only car I've owned that I can say this about. The leather-wrapped steering wheel was wonderful, and it is well-designed ergonomically as well. I never had to reach in uncomfortable positions to change the radio station or the air conditioning. My wife, at 5'5" found it very comfortable. I'm 6' tall, and I found it very comfortable as well. I have a good friend who is 6'7", and he was even able to drive it without being too scrunched in.

The only thing I would change is that, if I had the chance to do it over again, I would buy a manual. I have driven Cougars with the Duratec v-6 and a manual transmission, and that is the greatest.

Overall, that is the best car I have owned, and unless I start making a lot more money, it will probably be the best car I have owned for many years to come.