Faults:

Apart from usual service stuff, it's had a rear caliper, a radiator, a complete exhaust system and a cylinder head gasket.

While I was in the engine, I replaced all the oil seals and gaskets at the top of the engine, as well as the timing chain, tensioner and guides. The car has been serviced at 5.000 mile intervals.

General Comments:

Yes I still have an old Sierra Estate. It has masses of luggage space and is pretty comfortable old bus.

The body is very tidy and rust free.

I use it mainly for longer journeys, it still goes like a rocket and frequently surprises people driving more modern motors.

It cruises quite happily on the speed limit, and if you want a bit more it just pulls and pulls.

Faults:

'Little end' (piston) bearing broken when the vehicle was acquired.

Distributor was faulty.

Lower arms needed replacement.

General Comments:

The steering is very heavy at low speeds.

But the engine is very easy to service, quite easy to remove and replace, and reliable enough so far.

Being an estate, it is easy to load and very useful, with a surprising amount of capacity.

It is comfortable and I feel safe driving it.

Faults:

Thermostat - common failure.

Radiator / water pump, due too bad post crash repair.

Front TCA bushes and front suspension bushes, but since uprating to polybushes, no complains. (highly recommended!)

Core plug blew on 2nd hand engine, but was replaced. (think water pump prob as well)

Exhaust, non stainless, was changed to mongoose - 100% better :) (nice noise)

Fusebox can cause probs, if lid not closed properly.

Read diff failed, was rebuilt, and has been great ever since!

Gear selector plastic thingy broke, whilst in outside lane!, fixed and fine ever since.

General Comments:

Great car, cheap and easy to repair, modify, fun to drive, very responsive!

Only problem came when I lowered the whole car, then wanted to add a stainless exhaust. As it fouled when going over speed humps, so raised the rear suspension with uprated springs, and has been fine ever since.

The main problem was, as is fairly common, the DOHC engine, I've had 3 in the same car, but since the crash it's not been the same : (

The car is now off the road, waiting for extensive repair, or stripping for parts, but have had several sierras before, including a 1.8 saff, 2.0 xr4xr (not bad), a 2.9xr4x4 1990 (nice and quick ;-) and a 1.6 for spares.

The interior is a dream to work on, Haynes manuals are very informative and easy to follow, as are the wiring diagrams (added several extras that weren't standard on the GT).

Possibly the only complaint with the car, it wasn't fast enough!

Shame it's not made anymore.

Parts are still available, but, and I stress this, Ford won't keep making them forever, as I've found out a few times.

Funny bit - in the past, I used to pass the next reg up, exactly the same car, model and colour, on my way to work. We always used to flash each other!!