1993 Ford Orion LX review from UK and Ireland

When I first bought the car both rear wheel bearings had worn out.

The front passenger side brake caliper needed adjusting.

Two months later the alternator belt and cable connecting it to the battery broke. No big problem £40 later and it was working again.

Rear suspension creaks a bit, but that's because the rubbers are dry and I can't be bothered to replace them.

This is my first ever car, and what a car! You need a map and a compass to find your way around the boot! The thing is massive.

The engine is over-engineered to the point of insanity. It has been through ten years of driving and apart from belts and timing chains nothing has happened to the thing. It chews through petrol, but the performance is still brilliant, it can rev high and won't complain about it too much, if at all.

The problem with it is that it's a motorway car, it appears Ford didn't plan on this thing being reversed and thus the gear can be a little temper-mental about engaging. Also when reversing it handles like a fully laden oil tanker. So parking can be a bit lumberous, but even though town driving isn't its forte its size gives it presence, yet doesn't make it unwieldy.