Faults:

Nothing of importance. The engine tappets must be manually adjusted (obvious maintenance for an engine designed in 1966); otherwise the car is faultless!

General Comments:

For a car that weighs about 1000kg, it is pretty quick, having a 3 litre engine (although this engine is VERY heavy, weighing about 200kgs!).

Handling as if on rails using STANDARD suspension and wheels. Can do 230km/h, and I have tested this with GPS!

In 1999 I totalled the car, having fallen asleep at the wheel after more than 48 hours of non-stop work. I hit a ditch coming off the highway. The car is built like a tank, and I have to thank it for saving my life! The car appeared crushed, but the safety cell did its job and I managed to walk away from the accident with a slight scratch on my head.

The vehicle is undergoing a lengthy restoration after many years searching for a suitable replacement body. The engine, gearbox, interior and bootlid/wing all survived on the original car, and will be mounted into the replacement body.

Faults:

Gearbox broke, twice. First the turbine, then the seals.

Engine leaked oil.

General Comments:

It was a cheap and simple car that was easy to maintain, and pretty good to drive, but had no power steering or any other "luxury".

Faults:

Turbo failure 3 times.

Broken pistons 3 times.

3 complete engine rebuilds, that have cost in excess of £20,000+

General Comments:

This car has been extensively modified from the base Sierra Twin Turbo 280bhp XR4x4 that Turbo Technics produced.

The most honest description I can give is, that it is a heavy vehicle with the usual V6 burbling away as you cruise along. But when you want to shift, you have to wake the twin turbos with a change down of gear, and you will notice no more burbling from the exhaust. You are instantly catapulted firmly into your seat, with a grin as the engine jets up. Take the car into country lanes on controlled boost and you will feel the grip of the all wheel drive, it will power you around the corners.

Specs. 3.1 twin hybrid turbo with extensive modifications.

Faults:

Water pump failed at 80000 miles.

The radio aerial that was built into the rear screen, was replaced with a normal one, as it never worked properly (a common fault).

New exhaust and a patch of rust welded up underneath the car at 91000 miles.

General Comments:

This car may not be the most exciting vehicle to drive, but I have become a big fan of the Sierra. It only cost £375 to buy, but came complete with a full service history from new (Ford garage). The car had been privately owned, which is rare, because most Sierras were run as company cars.

This car is very comfortable on long journeys, and there is plenty of space for my six foot frame. It is not so good around town though, as there is no power steering on my model, and the MPG is poor on short journeys.

The best thing about this car is the reliability. It has the old "Pinto" type engine, which means it is dead simple to fix with no fancy electronics to go wrong. It starts first time every morning, and I have had no problems with the automatic choke, as other Ford owners seem to have.

I have considered trading in my Sierra for a newer more economical car, but it seems a shame to sell it as the car is so good, and would only be worth a couple of hundred pounds. I shall therefore be keeping this unfashionable but reliable car, for a few years yet!