2001 Ford Laser GLXI 1.8 petrol from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
Come on Ford, make another Laser
Faults:
Being a Japanese car based on the Mazda 323 it was extremely reliable in the time I owned it, with the number of kilometers on it you wouldn't expect any.
General Comments:
I had no intention of purchasing this car, I live in a small town and it was the only Laser in the yard, it was in a lovely Green, after the test drive it was in our driveway the next day.
Being top of the line it had a lot of nice features like alloys and a rear centre armrest and upmarket cloth seats.
Very nice to drive, sure it wasn't a rocket with pinpoint steering, but the whole car was perfect for what most people want, extra performance when needed, safety features along with a few luxuries thrown in.
The only negative in my mind was that it was a December 2001 model, so in a few weeks would basically be 1yr old and this particular colour wouldn't make it into next year's pallet. But these weren't enough to change my mind.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd July, 2005
20th Apr 2010, 03:54
OK car, but has encountered problems with the cam belt timing & pullies, has dropped 3 cam belts, tensioners ever since it was replaced at 100,000kms, which suggests to me that the replacement Ford/Mazda parts are of inferior quality to those of the original.
16th Apr 2013, 23:28
I had a similar problem with my new Ford Laser concerning the ignition coils. Bought the car second hand with very low kilometres, drove it home and everything was running perfectly, then I de-greased the engine and washed it out with a normal garden hose (just doing a general cleanup of a new car), and after that the coils must have been damaged; some pistons weren't firing properly or at all.
Couldn't fix the problem myself, and ended up replacing them and blowing a good few hundred dollars. :'(
25th Aug 2013, 06:10
Regarding the commment;
"has dropped 3 cam belts, tensioners ever since it was replaced at 100,000kms"
While inferior quality parts could very well be the cause, I wonder if it might be something else. Was the tension pulley replaced (along with the spring), and was it positioned to achieve tension at or WITHIN the levels set by the manufacturer. Considering how ludicrously expensive the manuals are for these cars, it wouldn't surprise me if some mechanics may be setting the tension on these at incorrect levels by perhaps guessing "I reckon it's about right".
27th Nov 2019, 03:55
Would you recommend a Ford Laser as your first car?
17th Jul 2022, 06:58
Yes, great first car.
30th Jan 2006, 07:53
Have owned 3 Mazda 323 in the last 5 years and these cars are just fantastic... very under rated and extremely good value for money. Just put a deposit down on a laser and looking forward to drive it soon...