Faults:

Clock stopped working at 80,000 miles.

Front passenger door lock broke at 96,000 miles.

Ignition failed at 109,000 miles.

Automatic gearbox became increasingly stubborn and awkward during final few months of ownership.

General Comments:

A very reliable, comfortable and solid family car which gave me five years of sterling service. Was also cheap to run and backed up by a great dealer.

An absolute bargain at six years old for just £2,500 from a private seller. By the time I sold it, the Sierra was eleven years old and I sold it to a work mate for £700. He kept it for six years, when it failed its MOT due to rust and headed for the scrapyard. By then it had 166,000 miles on the clock, but its engine was still running as sweet as a nut.

Faults:

Window motor on front passenger's door failed at 95,000 miles.

Left side rear passenger door handle broke about six months before I sold the car.

General Comments:

Apart from two minor faults, one with an electric window and another with a door handle, the Ford Sierra was a perfect car. Its 2.0 engine gave decent economy and strong performance. Its rear wheel drive chassis gave superb ride and handling. Its spacious and comfortable interior was like nothing else I'd ever been in. The dealer service was also good.

It cost me £2,100 when it was seven years old, and two years later I sold it to my brother-in-law for £1,000. He kept it for six years until rust finally got the better of it.

Faults:

An irritating intermittent fuel starvation fault was caused by the pick-up strainer in the tank partially collapsing.

One rear coil-spring broke.

Excess play in steering rack developed rapidly.

Brake servo replaced due to leakage although still working.

Due to the high mileage, many of the 'expendable' parts were replaced as a matter of course, e.g. clutch and cable, brake seals, exhaust system and battery; along with the major service items.

General Comments:

This car served us reliably and economically despite its very high mileage. We acquired it with approx. 110,000 miles on its second engine, in good mechanical condition.

In 5 years and 59,000 miles, it neither broke down nor failed to start, although at first we experienced occasional stalling until we traced the fuel fault mentioned above.

The simple, practical, rear-wheel drive design of the Sierra makes it an ideal car for DIY maintenance.

The Pinto engine, in particular, is robust, reliable and easy to look after.

The Sierra estate is a good all-round work-horse with sensible load-carrying capacity.

Faults:

Nothing except tyre wear and warped brakes which is damn good for the amount of miles it has done.

General Comments:

Very, very, very, very reliable if it's topped up with oil quite regularly. It always starts.

It's extremely comfortable and refined.

It has fun rear wheel drive handling and not bad performance for the size engine.

Very cheap parts and insurance.

Good fuel economy.

Very solid, only hints of rust which is good for a 16 year old car.

Best car in the world.

Faults:

Practically everything (rust is also a problem)!

General Comments:

Apart from the rust (which is so bad the door needed replacing!) and all the other problems, the car has reasonable performance and is quite comfortable.

But the fuel economy is crap!