Faults:

Freeze plugs corroded at 76,000 miles, causing the antifreeze to leak and the cylinders to blow.

Engine was replaced with a reconditioned engine with 25,000 miles. Freeze plugs blew out again, cylinders did not blow this time at 101,000 miles.

Transmission blew at 102,000. Car dies when put in drive or reverse.

General Comments:

This car is stylish on the exterior, but unreliable when it comes to expensive components like engines, transmissions.

Resale value was not retained well.

At six years old, car is totalled by costs of repairs.

Faults:

Dashboard pops up.

Seats are too firm.

Cigarette lighter is blocked by stupid center console.

Absolutely the slowest V-6 I've ever driven.

Handles very poorly.

Brakes have been replaced twice and the rear drums are still making a high-pitched noise.

Transmission died at 99,371 miles.

The transmission doesn't like to downshift.

The hood doesn't pop up when you pull the poorly-designed lever and you have to pry it open.

The sloping rear end and hinge arms cut trunk space.

Badly designed for those of us who change the oil ourselves.

The stereo and HVAC controls are in one giant thing.

You hit your head entering and exiting.

General Comments:

Nice styling.

Nice seat fabric, but bad cushion.

No rust (yet).

Decent back-seat space.

Good ride.

Faults:

Nine days after I had bought the SHO, the engine seized up on me due to a bad oil pump. Due to the bad oil pump being a recall, the dealer had to get a brand new engine from Michigan. They also covered all costs, but they took three months to do a four day job. But, in building a new engine, I now have a stock engine tested at 250 HP instead of the original 235 HP engine.

General Comments:

A car that is built to race and for speed, should be driven in the same manner. I drive long distances once in a while, and the ride is perfect. The best part of driving this 3d Generation SHO, is everyone thinks it's just the baby 3.0L engine, until I pass them and they see my dual exhaust.

Faults:

Chronic problem with a faulty temperature gauge and/or relay, repaired twice under warranty and has re-occurred again (gauge works most of the time, but the needle will sometimes will bounce around).

Faulty water pump in the first month of ownership.

Alternator went out 12/01.

Nondescript occasional clunk in the front end, but all suspension and steering parts are okay whenever checked by myself and my mechanic, tires & brakes wear fine.

Tape player made random and very infrequent garble noises since purchase, but would not do so whenever at the dealership. Tape transport works, but the audio has been all garbled since Fall '99.

General Comments:

First Ford owned, really gambled on the first production of new design; the car has been reasonably reliable and comfortable to drive.

Handles well because of the strong structure and with good tires (OEM Generals were not good, wet traction was marginal with them).

The 200 HP, DOHC 24-valve Duratec engine is refined, pretty quiet, and provides very good (not "neck snapping") acceleration coupled with reasonable mileage (21-23 average mpg highway). Much nicer than base 3.0 Vulcan V6 I experienced with Taurus rental cars.

Very nice limited production purplish-grey leather interior, in appearance. wearability and comfort.

Excellent factory JBL audio with sub woofer, only branded on '96 models.

Automatic climate control works well.