1997 Ford Falcon EL review from Australia and New Zealand
"Very reliable and relatively cheap to run"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Petrol tank seal wore out (in boot), and the fumes were horrendous. Easily fixed for around $50.
Inhibitor switch is a bit dodgy, which means I sometimes need to start it in neutral. But it has been fine for over 2 years like that. I should probably get it fixed soon.
The heater has just stopped working, and at the same time the radiator lost a lot of fluid. I found a great review on this site that says the heater taps are the explanation. So I'll get my mechanic to fix them this week.
Had a bit of rust in the boot lid (water seems to accumulate at the end of the lid nearest the back window). Other than that, no rust, and I live one km from the beach, although it has only been 3.5 years since I got the car.
General comments?
This car has been really reliable, and mechanical repairs have been pretty cheap. It uses a fair bit of petrol, but it isn't too bad. In the city I usually get about 6-8 kms to the litre if the traffic is moving fairly smoothly. On the highway I get about 10 kms to the litre.
It has no shortage of power, and is fairly comfortable and smooth.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.0 Litres Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 170000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 200000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Holden HR |
| Date of Entry | 13th April, 2008 |