1997 Ford Aspire review from North America
"Generally efficient and reliable, but expensive when repairs are needed"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Wheel bearings are ALWAYS going out, and the road noise is deafening. I have to replace the wheel bearings every year or so. Mechanic said it could be a design flaw in the car itself.
Worm gear (steering) went out 6 months after purchase in 1998.
Manual transmission went out a year after purchase. Had to rebuild entire transmission.
Not the fault of the manufacturer, but bad gas ruined all fuel injectors in 2007. Replacement injectors were almost impossible to find, and the cost of the injectors were double the value of the car. The only reason I repaired it is because the gas company's insurance company footed the bill.
General comments?
63 hp motor makes acceleration asthmatic at best, but you can't beat the gas mileage anywhere. I've consistently got around 33 mpg city, and 38 on the highway.
The motor has been great! Generally, this has been a reliable car. Everything else but the motor is what breaks. And parts are so expensive. It's not worth keeping a car where the parts are so hard to find and insanely expensive.
Recommended reviews
| Good for the money |
|
| 1996 - Aspire 1.3 liter fuel injected 4 cylinder inline Reliable, good gas mileage, low-performance, expensive to repair |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 14000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 163000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 20th July, 2009 |