Faults:

The Falcon had the head gasket replaced at 100,000 km.

Hoses replaced at 150,000 km.

An ignition module has been replaced at 180,000 km.

Heater hose at 240,000 km.

Replaced distributor and coil at 250,000 km.

General Comments:

The Falcon is usually pretty thirsty, especially when it's driven in the city, but highway distances are no problem.

The Falcon can be a speed machine with heaps of grunt, or a smooth comfortable ride depending on my company at the time.

While the Falcon is simple to drive, I find the steering to be perhaps a little to light as I don't feel in contact with the road.

Faults:

Leaking head gasket, caused valves to corrode, apparently.

Front brakes have partially seized twice, causing dragging.

Oil leaks from motor.

Heater valve had to be replaced.

Front & rear shocks.

Cassette player, replaced with CD player.

Other than that, not much.

General Comments:

This car has to be one of the most comfortable and driveable cars I've ever driven, although it did tend to lean around the corners a bit, but it did have adjustable rear shocks which were set higher than the standard versions for load carrying.

Despite the horror stories I've heard about the 4stage auto boxes, mine had never missed a beat. Is the best auto I've ever had. I was looking for a manual originally, but found them very hard to come by, but one test drive of the auto had me hooked.

My only real gripes with the car were the head gasket leak and oil leak. I only found out about the head gasket during a routine service at a Ford dealer, they knew the history of that model and did a routine pressure test. It was leaking at 4 out of the 6 cylinders, and according to the guy who did the work, said the valves would have to be re-ground due to them being corroded by the coolant. Afterwards the motor was never as quiet, seemed to rattle more. I think maybe he didn't do the valves properly or maybe he did, I'm not a mechanic. I reckon he probably should have left them alone, as he showed me the head before the work was done and they looked pretty good to me.

The oil leak gradually got worse over the years, was coming from 3 different places, I put up with it as to get it fixed would probably be roughly half the cars value. It never burnt any though.

It chewed through the gas around town, but was excellent on the open road.

Acceleration was very good, better in power mode though, but due to gas usage kept it in economy mode most of the time.

I had to sell it when I moved to Australia from New Zealand, am now driving a company supplied, ahem, Holden Commodore VT. Gee I miss my Falcon.

Faults:

Exhaust need replacing - $240.

Head gasket replaced - $600.

New rear shocks - $100.

New ball joints - $150.

New alternator (3 times) - $120.

Washer bottle leaks, mirror fell off leaving a large chip in the windscreen.

Power steering leaks.

Lifters need replacing.

Had to do the tyres and brake pads, but these don't count as problems.

General Comments:

I bought this car unregistered for A$2700, but it has so far cost me another A$1500 to get it roadworthy and registered, and I still have to get the lifters done, and the air con regassed. Which is another $400. Most of the problems are to do with the age/km.

It's a great looking car, fast, and handles well. Parts are very cheap. My only advice is don't buy one that has transmission problems. And only buy one that already has a roadworthyness certificate as you may end up spending more than the car is worth fixing little problems to get the certificate.

Try to avoid a 1988 model as they still had heaps of bugs.