Faults:

I had to replace the radiator as the fins had disintegrated. The new one is going the same way.

The cable to the screen wash motor corroded and had to be replaced.

The boot lock no longer works.

The paintwork is faded and peeling off on the roof.

The headlights flicker when I indicate right.

The dashboard lights no longer work.

The fuel gauge and temperature gauge no longer work.

General Comments:

My Orion has been very cheap to run over the years and usually gets through its MOT with a bit of welding and the odd wear and tear replacement.

For a car with nearly 160,000 miles on the clock, it still drives well and the rattly old 1.3 engine still gives me an easy 400 miles per tank of fuel.

Parts can be very cheaply picked up at scrap yards (where there seems to be an awful lots of Orions and Escorts!)

As the car is probably valueless now, I will keep running it until something expensive falls off.

Faults:

Distributor cap needed replacing, new spark plugs, new wing mirror, new rotary arm.

General Comments:

This car is quick.

The inside is clean.

The body is spotless.

Faults:

The only problem is corrosion of the rear panel.

General Comments:

Being a mechanic I like the car's reliability and ease of maintenance.

Getting all parts trade keeps the running costs to a minimum.

30 + mpg is excellent for a car of this age, especially as I don't take it easy.

Faults:

I had three new engines because I drove the car like a maniac.

Two new lower control arms.

New carb, the 1.4 carb couldn't take the pressure of the XR2 engine so I up-rated it to an XR2 carb.

Whole new shocks all the way round.

New spax lowering springs, made it handle a treat.

New front pads and disc's.

New back shoes.

New head gasket, while it was being fitted I had the valves chopped to the bare minimum, and

Kent cams fitted.

General Comments:

Apart from all the problems I loved this car because I could get 130MPH and 0-60 in 8 seconds. This beast could stay with any turbo, you should have seen the bloke in the RST along Southend pier when I steamed past and he couldn't respond.

MPG was crap, about 20 to the gallon but you don't get that speed without using a lot of fuel. But in the end all good things come to a end, I had a crash with a oncoming car on a country lane. It put me in hospital for 3 months with two broken legs.

Now I have a Fiesta Si, and am having a turbo conversion done on it. But to be honest I miss the Orion days.

Faults:

2 wheel bearings.

Replaced original distributer @ 114,000.

Driver and passenger seats need re-trimming.

Corrosion on the drivers door.

General Comments:

This car is pretty quick considering it is so old, but I will have to move onto something sportier.

The boot space is massive, easily handles holiday luggage.

Faults:

Fuel filter split (clutch lever was rubbing on it).

Water hose split.

Faulty fuel computer (instant/average MPG readings faulty).

General Comments:

Excellent car. Original engine/head/gearbox/clutch and still going very strong at 153000 miles. Replaced rear arches before I brought it, absolutely standard car. Would almost touch 60 in 2nd, 90 something in 3rd, 115 in 4th, on a long straight I had the speedo on 132mph. Used no oil, I serviced it every 6000 miles (serviced by myself - just oil/filters, everything else was changed/serviced when I felt it was necessary). Economy wasn't so good, but it was driven hard (averaged 28-32mpg, less around town).

Cam followers were slightly worn, ticked slightly whilst warm and at tickover. Sounded sweet at tickover when cold, idled at around 850rpm. If you get one, wind down the window and boot it in 2nd, changing to 3rd at around 4000rpm. Sounds sweet!

Faults:

Ball joints, heaters stopped working, steering linkage, handbrake cable snapped, shocks.

General Comments:

This has got to be the dullest car I have ever driven, the low driving position made for an un-nerving drive on motorways, people always say "get a Ford or a Vauxhall cos the parts are cheap"...... I've had every Ford car now..... and I've hated them all. Reliable though...

Faults:

I bought this car 2 years ago, and since then I've had to replace the brakes all round, all the shocks, the exhaust, the rear tyres, the battery and the driveshaft oil seals. The rear wheel arches are rusting badly and I had to have the floor welded at the last MOT. The gearbox is about to give up along with the driveshafts.

General Comments:

Despite the fact that the car has covered nearly 100,000 miles it starts first time (after replacing the battery). It's a really good car on motorway journeys and it is very easy to work on. Parts are cheap and easily available.

Faults:

At 109,000 miles, requires new gearbox bearings. Brakes need attention. Rear C/L Modules not working.

General Comments:

At 109,000 miles, IMMACULATE BODY AND CHASSIS, no RUSTING, no corrosion. Engine rattles slightly (probably cause I thrash the pants off it!), but purrs like a kitten. RS body kit gives it that sexy look. Overall, my dream car.