Faults:
Before I purchased this car, the head gaskets were replaced, and are guarunteed not to blow for the rest of the life of the engine.
132,350 miles, the front 02 sensor failed (normal wear and tear).
Air conditioner ran semi-cool, recharged and ran ice cold, after winter finished, didn't work, added more refrigerant, ran OK, now quit working 2 weeks after.
Radiator has a small leak near center, the smell of the fluid noticeable and a hiss when the engine is shut off; I need to add coolant every 2 weeks or so.
Harsh shifting and dumb downshifting: kicks into gear when accelerating fast, and when slowing down to turn, and you start accelerating, it kicks down a gear, which would be healthier if it did that as it slowed to the speed.
Engine bucks heavily with power loss, the fuel pump is ready to give out, and kicks off and on rapidly, causing heavy jitters and no power.
Shrunken door seals, very windy sounding on road. Cabin fills with dust on dirt roads through the door seals.
Driver's door has a track problem; sometimes won't reach top, then you roll back down and clunks into track again.
Keypad on driver's door works when it wants to.
Wires broke for the window lock switch, only driver can roll down the windows.
Moon roof wind noisy unless shade is closed.
Electronic climate control buttons have broken off faces, so it looks like blank white buttons.
Anti-lock brakes failed, a sensor has gone out, leaving the system in off mode with light on dash on, or the system thinks I'm sliding when I'm coming up to a regular stop, increasing my stopping distance.
Noisy exhaust, sounds like a muffled derby car, with a low rumble.
General Comments:
This is Mercury's version of the Taurus SHO, and has all the features of the SHO except engine.
This car has many extra features that are rarely seen on these cars, like the tilt/slide moon roof and the digital instrument cluster that reads past 85 mph like the standard digitals did.
Leather is comfortable, and the power lumbar and tilting head rests are a plus.
Gas mileage isn't bad for a large v6: 32 mpg average.
19th Apr 2005, 06:40
That fix or repair daily comment maybe was considered clever when it first appeared--70 years ago. Now it's just another tired-out phrase, but people keep repeating it on this site like they just thought it up themselves...