Stunning mileage on the original engine
Usual tyres, exhaust, brake pads, several cambelts at requisite intervals, engine front oil seal, door lock cylinders.
Excellent reliability. It owes me nothing. Secret to engine long life is regular oil and filter changes well within the recommended intervals.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 22nd August, 2000
A bargain banger for a new driver
Cam is rattling badly at present, engine sounds like a diesel.
One puncture since four new tyres and retrack.
Autochoke plays up occasionally.
Driver side sunshade is falling off and rear view mirror does not dip and is corroded.
Plastic covers in rear are all falling off.
Paid £300 for this car, my first after passing my test in 1999. Comfy and practical. Has a tow bar and hauls large weights pretty well. Good all round condition despite high mileage.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 8th July, 2000
Good looking and reliable car
Clutch - 77,000.
Exhaust - 74,000.
HT leads - 75,000.
New discs - 86,000 (warped the old ones).
Colour coded bumpers and mirrors on the higher spec models make all the difference. Good looking and reliable car. Best suited to motorway style driving although is capable on faster A roads. My car has been fitted with Mondeo alloys and wider Goodyear Eagle tyres which improved the handling. Cheap to run and insure, achieving low 30's MPG on longer runs.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 2nd July, 2000
Economical and reliable
Water pump seized and ripped the teeth off the cambelt. Managed to pull over in time to save the engine!
Other than that, only routine repairs.
Fantastically reliable. Not particularly fast, and does nothing for your image, but if you're looking for a sturdy, well built car, you can't go wrong with a Sierra. However, watch out for fast growing rust patches!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th June, 2000
Great
Heater radiator went.
Back left wheel of the car is tilting in on top. Camber is way off. All 20ltr look the same from the back. I changed everything that could be changed and it did no good. I don't know what to do.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd June, 2000
I replaced automatic choke at 90k as it was sticking. Used parts are readily available however. The key doesn't open the boot any more - I have to use the internal release.
I do a lot of driving on rural Irish backroads and tracks in adverse weather, and the car has never once let me down. There's now 130k on the clock, and yet she still purrs like new. Its reliability is astounding. I would strongly recommend this car for someone who needs a reliable workhorse. The 2 litre would be a better buy as the 1.6 is short on grunt, although it performs admirably on the motorway.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st December, 1998
Nothing major as of yet, just the usual pads and tyres, clutch a bit suspect at moment.
Fourth Sierra, I've had no complaints with any of them although the older type pre 86 seems more comfy.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd September, 1998
Usual wear and tear - tyres, clutch, exhaust etc.
Wheel trims fell off & overtook me - car looks meaner without them.
Front Discs needed changing (Dealer con during service?).
Mysterious ignition fault - probably loose alternator lead - causing cars only ever breakdown.
Heater always inefficient - now no heat at all (thank god for the mild winter).
Slight oil leak from bottom end which has never been worth investigating (I just top up every couple of weeks).
Drivers's electric window recently packed up.
Paint on the bonnet faded. Scratches due to vandalism and the kids. 1 small dent due to "Confused little old lady" in Tesco car park who drove off - Bless her!
Good family car, excellent for motorways / long journeys - but treated as a taxi by the in-laws.
The Sierra Sapphire was an ex contract hire car with FSH bought from Ford dealer with 58,000 ? miles on the clock.
Oil leak started just at end of warranty period! Now serviced about once a year by local Ford dealer. (Pro's - They service the engine well replacing emission valves / pipes etc and you get that stamp! , Cons - they try to rip you off for everything else but forget to investigate the things you asked them to i.e. The damn heater!)
To Summarise: The car has proved very reliable with only one ever (no cost) breakdown in 4 years. Other problems listed have been inexpensive to rectify or can be lived with. The car is now approaching 100,000 miles and I intend to replace it probably with another Ford.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th April, 1998
Rear brake calipers siezed @ 110,000 miles.
Original exhaust fell apart @ 113,000 miles.
Rear brake pads only last a year.
I bought it 3 years ago with 80,000 miles on the clock. It has now got 120,000 and is starting to show signs of age but remains reliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th January, 1998
Bought with 30,000 on the clock, sold after 2 years with 104,000. Still on original clutch and exhaust! Utterly, utterly reliable, only needed brake pads and discs, a new set of tyres and routine servicing.
Dodgy alarm - would go off if you didn't wait 5 seconds after unlocking before opening doors.
Twin-cam engine gruff, but performance (torque I guess) deceptive if you don't rev it. Tail happy in wet, alarming aquaplaning on the motorway.
Gets very hot inside in the summer. Good front (sports) seats. Roomy interior. Had power steering and ABS - worthwhile options. Bodywork sound when it went (at 6 years old). Good cruiser (gearing) - 40+mpg if you take it gently. Good factory stereo.
Dagenham Dustbin to the last but in view of its reliability an excellent proposition, however I wouldn't have another because there are better cars (405 for one) out there to drive and to own, but they would be more expensive if you got a bad one.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 12th January, 1998
Electric windows, dashboard lights and remote boot release failed straight away.
Clutch wore out after 8,000 miles!
Car never recovered properly after being belted up the backside by a Fiat Uno. Everything possible then failed, snapped or fell off. Soon changed to a Cavalier.
Terrible dealers, refused to believe that there was anything wrong with car. Trouble was, the car was too dated by this time.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th December, 1997
27th Jan 2002, 13:42
I have my 2.0i DOHC GLS 3 yrs, and have had no problems, very fast, good road holding, serviced every 3,000 mls, body in original two-tone, not a speck of rust to be found, and that's a 1991, I'd keep it, even if I bought a new car.