1987 Ford Laser GL review from Australia and New Zealand

Radiator got hole in it at around 230000. NZ$160

Clutch blew 250000 NZ$140

Drivers seat sagging, other seats subject to sunlight damage

had to replace two seat belts because of dicolouration. NZ$80 Ea

replaced much of ignition system

starting to rust A pillar d/side, severe rust b->C pillars passenger side

some other small problems for warranty of fitness.

Reasonably reliable for Kms, has rust as previous owner kept it outside for all 9 years he owned it.

Slow car, but reasonably economical 11km/L in town, up to a best of 16Km/L on long trips (PN to Auckland).

Steering is non assisted rack and pinion, so you get a lot of the feeling from the road, sometimes good (you know exactly where the wheels are pointing) sometimes bad, (coarse chip roads in NZ means that you can get pinns and needles from driving! as steering wheel shakes in concert with road).

Starting to die, as engine uses oil through no4 cylinder and rattles (chain drive OHC) needs new rings, but as the rest of the car is dying too, can't be bothered. Huge gap between application of 1st and second venturis (throats) makes it feel like an old turbo, and can be dangerous.

For some reason feels very cammy which is odd for 8valve engine (does 50km in 1st gear!) however swallows copious quantities of oil if you rev it too much 60km in 1st, 100km 2nd (my dad did it to clean it out p. s speed limit) 160 km 3rd. this makes me think that something has been done to the engine.

Handling is under steer that can be brought round to roll oversteer, which can be exciting.