Faults:

Front suspension had gone on it, but was replaced without any problem. No problem trying to get some one to fix it. Clutch needed replace, but for a caqr that had done the mileage and not knowing if it had been replaced in the past. (Not bad). The cat had gone on the car when I got it. running a bit poorly at the moment but nothing a good management system check wont fix. chugging a lot and takes a while to get the speed up if it has been sitting for a couple of hours. Power sterring rack needed replaced. Cars no use without it.

General Comments:

The car has been running really well for its age. Nothing really major has went wrong with the car.

Faults:

Head Gasket blew on the way home after I picked it up. It was replaced and OK afterward.

Problems with the automatic gearbox. Would not go into top gear and the speedometer stopped working at the same time. Even the main dealer could not diagnose the problem. Eventually a specialist reprogrammed it from a laptop. But I think the eventual replacement of the gearbox fluid was just as significant.

Catalytic converters, all 3 also needed replacing. This can cost up to £1500 at a main dealer.

General Comments:

Terrible petrol consumption, high insurance even for the engine size. Performance was no better than 1989 Cavalier SRI (8V) I had before. Although it was nice and quiet even at high speed.

I will never get a Ford automatic again, this is the second one I have had problems with over the years.

Replica parts are very hard to come by because of the wide variety of Engine management/Electrical systems as well as the comparative rarity of the car.

Faults:

I actually had the car replaced twice due to poor build quality, and this is the list of faults I have encountered with the third car.

Catalytic converter replaced at 40 000 miles.

Between 40000 and 70000 miles I had to replace.

Starter motor.

Alternator.

Water pump.

Radiator.

Front disks.

Strange clunks when changing gear. Has all the experts baffled.

Not too impressed as the sales blurb ranted on about the running gear being designed for 100000 trouble free motoring.

General Comments:

To drive, it has been a good all rounder.

I always liked the design of the car, has good performance and is a comfortable family car with plenty of room.

However, it has been unreliable and the extremely poor dealer service has put me off buying another Ford. I have bought Ford's since 1972, and have put up with poor dealers because I liked the cars at the time. However, enough is enough and the latest Mondeo looks cheap inside.

My wife had a new Hyundai and the dealer has been really good. Bye, bye Mr Ford. Never again.

Faults:

Traction control unit stuck just after I bought it. Easily fixed in the end.

Battery exploded when alternator decided to put too much charge into it.

Everything else has been normal wear.

General Comments:

Lovely car if you have distances to cover - mine currently has 163000 miles on the clock and is still an excellent A road / motorway car.

The dealers however, are appalling. When the traction control unit went they quoted £650 plus VAT for a new one, stating it wasn't fixable as it's a sealed unit. One trip and £25 to my friendly local mechanic (who said "its only a glorified wiper motor") sorted the problem out completely.