Faults:

Brake vacuum pump stopped working at around 150000 miles.

Paint work became gradually more blotchy over the years.

Had to replace bellows where the brake pedal connector goes through the engine firewall at about 140000 miles. This was a very difficult job.

Replaced exhaust pipe and muffler at 180000 miles.

Engine seized at 230000 miles. Up to that point, it never required oil top-ups between oil changes, nor any other major engine maintenance.

General Comments:

Totally reliable car. Poor acceleration, but very smooth once up to speed, and easy, comfortable and quiet when cruising at 75 miles/hour on the motorway.

Faults:

Passenger side window motor failed at 5,000 miles.

Stereo became faulty at 9,000 miles and was finally replaced at 13,000 miles.

Suspension fault developed at 21,000 miles.

Brake pads needed replacing at 25,000 miles.

Tailgate catch broke at 26,000 miles.

General Comments:

The Orion had a handful of faults, but none of them were serious.

The interior was spacious and very comfortable.

The 1.6 petrol engine gave a good turn of performance, but fuel bills were on the high side.

Ride and handling were both very good.

A shrewd purchase at £7,000 from new.

Retained 50% of its value until I sold it three years later for £3,500.

Faults:

Alternator failed at 175k.

General Comments:

The car had serious rust, the mechanical side of things was fine.

Water entered at virtually every point. The boot became unusable and the carpets sodden.

It had more leaks than a vegetable patch!

The car was scrapped due to rusted sills, chassis, broken spring and shock absorbers. Apart from the rot it was great for economy and reliability.

Faults:

Headgasket (result of a thermostat packing up).

Clutch.

General Comments:

An effortless car to drive with a very positive gearbox, a fairly quick car it will keep up with most cars on the road.

A very smooth ride with comfortable seats.

2 small bubbles of rust on the door but that is it. Very pleasing car to own with very little rust for the age of the car.

Faults:

Engine (Tappets).

Gearbox failed.

(Months after but probably as result of joyriders) - A warning to all!

Unusual front tyre wear.

Carburettor, Ignition, Electrics, Starter (4 times).

You name it, something would fail around every six weeks. Never dealer serviced - why bother.

General Comments:

This car was later found to be a repaired writeoff, I bought it privately (though at well below bottom book price - Greed!).

Not only was it unreliable, it was also jinxed!

Stolen once, broken into twice, crashed three times (on ice etc). Eventually sold spares or repair.

Friend still claim to see ' B 872 CON' driving around, but I can't believe it! Now some idiot must have ringed it as well.

This car is a salutary lesson to all - I owned it for 4 years (Having decided to run it into the ground).

I don't think I can blame Ford for this heap.

Faults:

Needed a new gearbox mount at 57,000 miles and a new head gasket. but thats about it apart from general maintenance.

General Comments:

I love it, it`s my little baby. Never really given me any problems, easy to modify and style. Goes very well and everyone I know wants to own it. I plan my next car to be an E or F plate Orion Ghia Injection or possibly a 1600 E if I can find a decent one.

Faults:

The gearbox mounting had to be changed about a week ago, but this is the first time they've been changed since the car was made!

The relay switch had to be changed because the car wouldn't start if you drove for a while and then stopped.

General Comments:

My second car (previously owned an '81 escort) The car is comfortable - bloody quick and cheapish and easy to modify and fix. I love it !