Faults:

Cold start issues and unstable idle.

The distributor cap and rotor are subject to wear, causing power interruptions.

Despite being a 1.3-liter engine, it is characterized by high fuel consumption in city driving. It is very inefficient due to its small size and low power output.

The electric cooling fan and the temperature sensor often fail.

The Sierra's independent multi-link suspension (ideal for comfort) is prone to misalignment or bushing wear.

General Comments:

I can start by saying it was a basic car, lacking much in the way of equipment; the Laser didn't even have electric front windows or any of those bells and whistles that came standard on cars of this type back in the 80s. It didn't have power steering either, though—unlike the Escort I’d owned previously—it drove quite well, and the steering was much lighter.

Despite having a small engine—just a 1.3-liter—city fuel consumption was very high; while highway mileage was better, the overall average remained high.

Clearly, it wasn't the right engine for a large car like the Sierra, and contrary to Ford's goal of improving fuel economy, the opposite happened (it actually consumed more than the 1.6-liter version).

Although it smoothed out once up to speed, it was quite sluggish off the line—simply too little engine for such a heavy car. That said, it performed reasonably well on the open road.

The engine itself was excellent and reliable, with few issues over more than 250,000 km—aside from starting troubles and oil leaks, there were no other problems. It is a solid 1980s-era engine that performs very well.

Despite being basic, the interior was pleasant and very spacious, with soft, comfortable seats—a huge difference from the Escort’s stiffness and spartan ride. At the time, at least, it represented a major step up in class.

It performs its role as a family car very well. We owned it for many years and put a lot of miles on it; for a family of four like ours, there was plenty of room, allowing for completely stress-free travel. The suspension was quite solid, and the brakes were highly responsive, even at speeds above 120 km/h.

A truly reliable car for the whole family to enjoy.

Faults:

Clock stopped working at 80,000 miles.

Front passenger door lock broke at 96,000 miles.

Ignition failed at 109,000 miles.

Automatic gearbox became increasingly stubborn and awkward during final few months of ownership.

General Comments:

A very reliable, comfortable and solid family car which gave me five years of sterling service. Was also cheap to run and backed up by a great dealer.

An absolute bargain at six years old for just £2,500 from a private seller. By the time I sold it, the Sierra was eleven years old and I sold it to a work mate for £700. He kept it for six years, when it failed its MOT due to rust and headed for the scrapyard. By then it had 166,000 miles on the clock, but its engine was still running as sweet as a nut.