1979 Ford Cortina Ghia 2.3 petrol
Summary:
Big fun at a bargain price. I'll never drive anything else again
Faults:
A big non event! The car has been totally reliable and a joy to own. No faults, no breakdowns and servicing costs to make a BMW driver think he was buying fish and chips for two!
General Comments:
The thought of driving around in a 21 year old Cortina by choice as everyday transport may not be everyone's idea of reliable motoring, but read on. The car has been brilliant, comfortable and now a slightly unusual sight on our roads. Fuel economy has been averaging out at about 29 miles per gallon which considering the performance on tap is pretty good. Back seat passengers find it a very comfortable way to travel and a thoroughly enjoyable way to travel.
I've owned new cars in the past and the only real difference between an old car and a new one is the size of your garage bills and the snob factor, or lack of it! Some of our neighbours assumed we were broke when the Cortina turned up, so we put them right. If you are prepared to get out and look there are plenty of Cortina's out there waiting to give years of trouble free motoring. Choose well and you will be rewarded with a car that is just as good as some of todays plastic clad, faceless machines that inhabit our roads. Go on, you know you want one...
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th June, 2001
19th Jul 2003, 03:52
There is no way you'll get 29MPG out of an old 2.3 V6!,they're gas guzzlers!.25MPG is more realistic.
Otherwise I loved these cars & regret that I never had one.
Mk4 & 5 Cortinas suffered horribly from rust, which is why you see so few now, pity as they are good cars overall.