1981 Ford Cortina GL review from Australia and New Zealand
"An oldie, but a goodie, a classic piece of machinery"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Drivers seat broke. It had to be welded back.
Steering rack needed to be re-conditioned.
Radiator has been replaced in the past.
Alternator has been replaced twice.
General comments?
This being my first car, I have grown quite attached to it. It has been driven around New Zealand without too many hassles. It is a bit of a pain though as the engine pings due to the unleaded fuel replacement so there is a loss of power. As long as it is looked after and driven properly I have found that it runs quite smoothly for an older car. It does however, have a few issues when driving up hills. I have found that parts are fairly cheap as a lot of other Cortinas have been sent to the wreckers. My Cortina is a very simple model so the interior is looking a little old and wearing out a bit faster. The radio is the original too and is getting a bit past it as well. It isn't to costly to run although with the increasing cost of fuel, short around town use is expensive.
Recommended Reviews:
  | I think when running good they are great cars and its such a shame more people don't appreciate them |
| 1980 - Cortina GL 2.0, 4 cylinder A cheap, reliable and a very Good car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0L petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 110000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 114000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 30th April, 2005 |