Faults:

Starting problems, thermostat issues and a very temperamental automatic choke. Parts are difficult to get hold of now. Just got a new exhaust for mine and it pretty much had to be custom built because they aren't available as a complete unit

General Comments:

Lovely to look at, fun to drive, but too many reliability issues mainly due to the infamous Ford Automatic choke. Handling is OK, performance is 'leisurely' but it sounds great - really sporty. Very comfortable and quiet for a 1.6 and soooo retro! Would make a nice usuable classic but make sure you look for a good well looked after example otherwise your in for a lot of problems and big bills

Faults:

Drivers seat stared to wear on right hand side.

Gear stick kept coming out of the gearbox under quick gear changes.

General Comments:

Excellent power to weight ratio.

Awesome handling, especially when lowered approx 2 inches.

Long trips are a pleasure.

Excellent visibility from inside the cabin. Faster than a 253 powered LH, LX Torana.

Hard to change starter motor with extractors fitted.

Faults:

Depressed front suspension, cracked bushes etc.

Cooling fan worn out.

Leaking sump and rocker cover gasket.

Worn out carburettor.

General Comments:

Very powerful 4.1 (250) engine coupled with strong Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic transmission.

Power to weight ratio is incredible, 1060kgs and 160hp (standard).

Economical for a large engine, considering it is an automatic.

My custom exhuast with no muffler and 6 inch extractors make the car purr.

However the cost of parts, coupled with the fact that after 25 years the manufacturer wants nothing to do with it mean that it is best that the owner services the car themselves, and expect thing to fail...

Faults:

Points need resetting in the distributor to often.

Viscous fan seized.

Damaged valve causes the engine to fire on three cylinders which makes it quite underpowered and difficult to get to idle. This also caused it to back fire and split the back box in two.

Brakes and tyres wared out (usual wear and tear).

Floor pan and inner wings starting to rust badly.

General Comments:

A strong engine which is cheap and simple to fix. Reasonably powerful and rewarding when running well.

Quite prone to rust.

Solid body shell.

Fun, predictable handling.

Quite comfortable and refined for a cheap old car.

Faults:

A big non event! The car has been totally reliable and a joy to own. No faults, no breakdowns and servicing costs to make a BMW driver think he was buying fish and chips for two!

General Comments:

The thought of driving around in a 21 year old Cortina by choice as everyday transport may not be everyone's idea of reliable motoring, but read on. The car has been brilliant, comfortable and now a slightly unusual sight on our roads. Fuel economy has been averaging out at about 29 miles per gallon which considering the performance on tap is pretty good. Back seat passengers find it a very comfortable way to travel and a thoroughly enjoyable way to travel.

I've owned new cars in the past and the only real difference between an old car and a new one is the size of your garage bills and the snob factor, or lack of it! Some of our neighbours assumed we were broke when the Cortina turned up, so we put them right. If you are prepared to get out and look there are plenty of Cortina's out there waiting to give years of trouble free motoring. Choose well and you will be rewarded with a car that is just as good as some of todays plastic clad, faceless machines that inhabit our roads. Go on, you know you want one...