1988 Ford Orion Ghia from France - Comments

The water pump went wrong around 290.000km (already changed before at 150.000).

The injection pump and stop solenoid started leaking from the top at 285.000km (easy fix).

One water tube leaked at around 300.000km.

The electricity alternator died at 290.000km.

Luggage door dampers were dead (not replaced).

Gearbox had to be replaced 2 times from the previous owners (my dad and brother).

Paint started to wear and rust around 200.000km (repainted by daddy).

Battery exploded (!) around 100.000km, attacked the surface and caused corrosion that took several years to make a big hole under the battery and eventually huge amounts of rain water went inside the car (fixed with glass fiber at 300.000km).

Engine had to be replaced around 310.000 because it became somehow difficult to start, lacked of power, was very noisy and leaked oil a lot (gearbox was leaking too and has always been, known defect said the guys from ford). I bought a more recent engine on ebay (very cheaply, 150€) and also replaced clutch and gearbox.

Tube from the air-filter to the intake manifold was vibrating and overheating from the engine and melted with big holes (fixed with heat isolation made from sheets of aluminium for food).

The central locking went dead for the luggage door, front and rear left door (fixed for the front door and the luggage door).

The right door barrel would not stay in place anymore as well as would not open it anymore (still not fixed).

The electric windows motors are very old and open/close the windows very hardly, especially when opening at the down end (not fixed).

The direction had to be replaced (too much free travel around point 0).

There have always been vibrations in the front wheels, no matter what you fixed (equilibrating them or changing suspension or other parts). Seems it cannot be cured.

Injectors had to be replaced around 250.000km (completely worn out).

Clutch replaced also around 200.000km.

My father bought this car back in 1992 at around 46.000km.

It has traveled across Europe many times for very long distances at maximum speed (around 180km/h on the counter, I believe it's something like 165km/h real), was never forgiven anything.

My father was always on the hurry and kicked the pedal to the max when cold or hot, my brother too (my father learned him) and surprisingly that 1.8 liter diesel engine engine resisted 16 years from its manufacturing date, and is still running today (in a ford sierra).

I believe it is close to indestructible. I honestly think it may do easily 500.000km if treated well.

We always did our repairs ourselves because this car was quite easy to fix and very rarely had any problem at all. And when it had, it alerted you miles before so it never had mechanic trouble while driving.

In her life she had I think at least 10 accidents, of which 6 behind shocks and I must say the metal from which it is made is quite solid, too bad that ford did not use quality paint to prevent corrosion so we had to repaint it once.

The interior is comfortable and spacious with 4 real places and even a 5th person can sit at the middle rear and it's still OK, not too much compression. It even has a 3 position opening roof that is useful on summer.

The driving always felt safe, the car gives you confidence and makes you realize it has a well designed road behaviour, never had any problem when braking or handling it on destroyed or wet/frozen roads.

It is really not a car for speed/power, because the 60 horsepower atmospheric diesel it has is optimized for reliability (few power for big 1.8 liter capacity) and fuel consumption. If I go pedal to the max (around 165km/h) on the highway it spends 7 liters/100km, but I don't treat it anymore like this nowadays so I usually get around 5.5-6 liters of city/highway mixed. When going on holidays and driving cool, it stays around 5. On these days of very high fuel prices I am really happy to have a "camel" car.

It is quite funny to have people turn the heads when driving or at stop lights because it really is a very rare car nowadays, here in Paris I only see one once every month or so.

I think I will never sell it or let it go to the cemetery unless there is a fatal accident for her (and I don't hope so), because this is the first car our family has bought and I want to keep it for collection and to be able to completely rebuild/restore it when I will have the money.

You bought an Engine off the net. Did it arrive?

I did not arrange for shipment to my home. I had to drive more than 500km from Paris to Germany and the same back with the engine in the luggage box (gearbox and oil pump removed or would not fit horizontally inside). Good thing the door closed, and no need to open the rear seats. Bad thing some oil still went past the protections so I had to clean things and it smell bad for some time. Anyway a complete engine with gearbox for 151€, I think it's a bargain :) After engine swapping, it turned out the compressions were real good again. No more noise when going into high rpms. Recently swapped the injection pump for a newer one (easier cold starts, more smooth engine, more power, no more pollution/fuel waste), also bought on eBay for 30€. Seems these beasts are getting really cheaper and cheaper to repair/make better. I'll keep her forever :-)