Faults:

A few niggles to start off with - needed new brake pads, which were cheap.

3 weeks and 1800 miles later, at 147500, the cam-belt snapped, despite only being (incorrectly one presumes) fitted at 146000. Got £400 pay-out though.

General Comments:

A heap.

M.O.T was due very soon, and it needed £200 of welding so I suppose the belt snapped at the right time!

Swore I'd never buy a Sierra again, so my next car was... another Sierra.

Faults:

The carburettor went at 111000 so I had that done, but that was it.

Oh, and it leaked water into the driver's footwell, but I never found out where from!

General Comments:

Very quick and not too heavy on fuel.

Did 22000 miles in 6 months and I expected it to let me down on a daily basis, but it didn't.

Bought for £225 - sold for £295 six months later - not bad.

Faults:

Nothing really, it has begun to leak a bit recently and the automatic choke sticks in the mornings so the engine revs by itself until it is warmed up.

General Comments:

This is a fine example of a rear-wheel drive family car. Mondeo's, Vectra's and other car's like it fail because of their poor front-wheel chassis.

The L model is basic though and a Ghia is worth considering.

Faults:

I am forever blowing cylinder head gaskets on these 2.8 engines.

General Comments:

Very comfy relaxed car and good for teaching little boys in their Novas a lesson or two.

Faults:

Water pump seal gave up resulting in complete engine failure on the motorway (my wife didn't notice until it siezed). Got a complete replacement engine fitted for 170 quid from a breakers.

Alternator bearings went. Replacement alternator from a breakers cost a tenner.

Accident damage last year required a new wing, bonnet, front bumper, macpherson strut and some metal bashing.

Front ventilated discs warped and replaced. Replacement discs have now warped as well - seems to be a common problem, possibly caused by a sticking caliper. Rear wheel slave cylinder started leaking and was replaced.

Wear in the steering rack, but not at MOT failure level yet. Some rust on the rear sills but not too bad yet. Plastic wheel arch liners help.

General Comments:

Cheap to buy and spares cheap and readily available plus loads in breakers. Can carry loads of junk (fitted a motorbike in the back once), although the high rear sill makes access awkward.

Not much fun to drive, a bit sluggish and not particularly economical, but makes a good cheap workhorse. Rear drive layout and simple design mean home maintenance is not difficult.

Faults:

Turbo oil feed pipe failure when standard. Lots of things when modified.

General Comments:

Massive street cred. BIG turbo lag, but otherwise devastating performance. 2.4 litre 600 bhp conversion means this is a total supercar killer.

Faults:

Water pump replaced, starter motor overhauled. Nothing else in three years.

General Comments:

I am paid mileage for business use and have used this car for the last three years servicing it myself, spending very little except normal wear & tear items.

I must be one of the few motorists making a decent profit despite the taxman. I paid very little for the car, which is comfortable, fast on motorways & surprisingly unthirsty and forgiving of my crap driving.

Faults:

Chassis has done 140k miles, so it has;

Recon engine £600

Recon gearbox £85

New steering gear £600

New rear suspension £100

Needs new ABS sensors

Air Con bits packed up

General Comments:

Great car - both for long hauls and wet-field-fun. The high mileage on this one has taken it's toll though. However, the bodywork & running gear are still OK. The Air Conditioning bits cost about £600 - £800 to replace, so it would need to be a very hot summer!

Suspension bushes need replacing quite regularly (annually) - only about £50.

I've had the car for 3 years.