1987 Ford Orion Ghia 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Quality family saloon

Faults:

Front window motors failed at 48,000 miles.

Tyres needed replacing at 50,000 miles.

Heater failed at 55,000 miles.

General Comments:

Aside two electrical faults, the Orion was a very reliable car.

The Orion was also good value at £3,600 as a four year old private buy.

Sold it on a year later for £3,000.

Comfortable to drive and also gave excellent handling and performance.

Big boot proved very useful for carrying loads.

Saw it on the road as recently as 2004, by when it was 17 years old.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 25th May, 2006

1987 Ford Orion Biscayne (Limited) 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fix Or Repair Daily, FORD otherwise good performance

Faults:

So far, I have had an exhaust Drop off on me, The bonnet cable has snapped, and The usual rust in the arches, I'm having problems with the carb/fuel/vacuum system which is currently being sorted.

The usual tappets rattling away (not as bad as a 1.3)

The seat trims have ripped.

The valve guide seals have perished so I get a smoke screen every morning.

General Comments:

The car performs excellent when she works, cruises at 70mph without a problem and can accelerate to 80, 90 up to 110 quite easily. Have put a K+N induction filter on and replaced the exhaust which fell off with a Big bore 4, Sounds BEAUTIFUL now, fitted 14" XR3 alloy wheels, I recommend Dunlop SP sport 200 and she handles like a dream, before on 13"s she used to slide dangerously.

For a home mechanic I recommend getting a head gasket kit (£25) which includes valve seals and all the seals necessary to overhaul the head.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th October, 2003

4th Apr 2004, 14:10

As the Writer of this review adding more. Recently had a replacement carburettor put in and now running sweet-as-a-nut. Have taken her up to Kings Lynn (from South Wales to the end of England) 80 all the way there and not a splutter or a phut. We are talking on excess of 400 miles. And thats good for a Ford! And no we were not followed by an AA breakdown truck.

Coming up to the dreaded MOT time, and the arches have got bad rust rot and there is some welding needed underneath. So lets see whats going to happen...

16th Feb 2016, 00:10

Worth buttons mate - it's an old Ford with a propensity to rust with few modern redeeming features and nothing of age to make it interesting - an enthusiast may give you a couple of hundred quid for it.

16th Feb 2016, 14:06

You're right they ain't worth much, but if it's in really good condition and that mileage is genuine with all the history, I did see one like that go for around 900 pounds on eBay a couple of years ago.

1987 Ford Orion Ghia 1.6i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A high performance bargain definitely!!

Faults:

Battery needed changing, understandable after 5 months doing nothing.

Passenger window slower than drivers. Not the end of the world....

Very "chuggy" accelerating hard through the rev range when cold, very annoying.

Has cut out once or twice when cold at junctions, took ages to ignite again.

Discovered a leak in the radiator 2 days ago....

General Comments:

I have just bought the car, very nice when test drove, acceleration very quick, but things have begun to go wrong so haven't had the chance to really "test" the performance qualities! Very smooth runner, although the car is bouncy over 80, can be scary on twisty roads!

Great car for potential performance increases, I intend to add bits to the engine in the near future.

Fuel economy is pants when thrashed, but is OK when driven sensibly, also expensive insurance at 1400 quid, but hey, I'm only 18.....

Overall great car, quick, fast, very comfy, wouldn't swap it for anything, however, did get blown away by a Fiesta RS Turbo......

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th September, 2000

30th Jan 2002, 03:34

Why does the passenger window operate a lot slower than the drivers, mine does exactly the same?

As its fuel injection you shouldn't have problems with it stalling at junctions etc sounds like you have bought a duff motor.

1987 Ford Orion GL 1.6 CVH from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A good all round saloon

Faults:

Oil leaks from most places imaginable.

Lot's of engine smoke.

Leaking seals.

Hot starting problems.

General Comments:

A surprisingly quick and well equipped car that only really slipped over with it's sludged up engine. If looking for CVH equipped engines then always go for well serviced examples and you will see the benefit in your wallet.

The interior was nice but if you can find a decent Ghia model, go for that instead.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th June, 2000