A bad ass car
Not that many things have gone bad with this car.
The brakes have fail recently and the muffler has had some holes.
I change the engine out with a ford focus.
It is a lot faster and love racing it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th May, 2004
Yeah, that is a K after the 255 miles on the clock
Faulty componentry:
Catalytic converter
Cancerous driver door
Nagging inability to pass emissions testing without shortcuts
Gradual piston ring wear, cause of emissions trouble
Overall age related wear to carpet, seats, etc.
I just can't kill this car. I drive it like I'm going for the fastest 0-60 time all the time, and it has always had sufficient response from the engine compartment. Thus, my gas mileage suffers at around 29mpg/city and about 33mpg/highway
In my near five years of ownership of this car, I've only had to do general maintenance and repair, with no major overhauls of any sort on its history
I completed a 5000 mile road trip two months ago without a hitch
I've turned a lot of heads with this car. For having a quarter million miles on the clock, it's still pulling its weight around. If I can get it to pass emissions, it may well make it to 300k miles
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 23rd September, 2003
Great entry level used cars
When I first bought the car.
The transmission gasket leaked
The gas tank leaked
There was a bad O2 sensor.
I have in the past owned other small Ford/Mercury products. I have found that the for the most part the are very abused and in need of repair. That is not to be confused with them being lemons.
I find my car fairly comfortable, nice to drive, and cheap to fix. I only find the car lacking in power. They have more than enough torque, but could use more horse power.
They are great cars for the entry level car used car buyer.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd November, 2002
A fun station wagon
Exhaust systems 3 times.
Alternator at at 145,000 miles.
Radiator 3 times.
Struts 3 times. Rear strut mounts rusted out at 130,000 miles.
Fuel filler rusted at 155,000 miles.
Replaced brakes twice, rear cylinders twice, front calipers and brake rotors at 145,000 miles.
Handles well, very good seats.
Would be an excellent highway car if the automatic transmission had o/d or a fourth gear.
The most trouble-free car I've owned. I've put over 100,000 miles on it in 10 years and will really miss it.
Averages 30 mpg in typical suburban driving.
Plenty of cargo space, I've carried tables, clothes washers and driers. and several bicycles at once with the hatch closed.
Poor sounding stereo, due to interior acoustics, replacing speakers and stereo didn't help.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 3rd November, 2002
I just purchased a 1989 tracer wagon from a friend for $750.
I got myself a good deal. I stand 6 ft. and weigh 270 lbs, at first I did not think I could fit into the wagon.I`m amazed at the room and comfort. Great gas mileage {30 mpg} and the darn thing is peppy. I`m 57 years old and have owned many cars. This wagon is by far my life time best buy. She has 150,000 miles on her and I hope to get another 100,000 miles out of her. The previous owner took real good care of her and so shall I. Thanks mercury. Mike.
Chunk of metal on wheels
The brakes are bad. no auto parts store sell rear brake drums in my area not even the dealer. leaks oil. the gas tank leaks so I can't fill it above the 1/4 mark. all the things wrong now are because I can't get parts.
Handles very poorly.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 14th July, 2002
I recommend searching Google or some other search engine for parts. Just type in something like "1987-1990 mercury tracer" and you might find something.
Someone from a Mercury Ford dealership told me you might find parts that supply the old Mazda 323. The 1987-1989 Tracers have the same engines as the 323 but there were more 323s in production. The old Tracers were Mazdas in disguise! 70% Mazda, 30% Ford (mostly trim).
4th Jul 2004, 20:52
Almost a year later, I finally realized I used a frown face for this review. Should have been a smile face. der-whoops.
I've since moved on to a '98 Saturn SL2. This Tracer's final numbers (in my ownership) : a little under 268k miles with a new radiator as the only major repair, though a new windshield and right front bearing assembly are necessary.