1990 Ford Sierra GLS review from UK and Ireland

Head gasket (twice!)

Heater matrix

Radiator

Fuel tank.

I liked this Sierra. It was my first car so I'm maybe looking back with rose tinted glasses a little bit, but I always enjoyed driving it. There are still plenty of the 2.0 DOHC Sierras about, and these days the ones left are more and more likely to be the good ones.

To drive it was nice. It was excellent on the motorway and fun in the country lanes. Solid, well behaved, rear-wheel drive and a decent amount of power (so you can have a bit of fun if you're that way inclined and it won't give you any nasty surprises - tail steps out on cue, etc.) And being the GLS it was very comfortable and had all mod cons, despite its age.

Usually the bodywork is rotten and the engine is alright with Sierras, but mine was the opposite. Bodywork was fairly sound (except for one wing) and there was never any major cause for concern. However engine cooling issues cost me two head gaskets.

As a result I would implore anyone looking at one of these to make damned sure the coolant is clean and the heater works well - not because you care about the heater, but because if the heater matrix is clogged then the radiator will be too! The combination of poor fitting radiator cap and clogged up cooling system knackered up two head gaskets in quick succession which proved extremely expensive (new head gasket/new engine in these - take your pick - they cost about the same!)

Other than that I had no trouble (except repairs due to damage caused by cowboy maintenance of the guys who did one of the engine changes who I now wouldn't trust with my mower!) until it failed the MoT needing a new fuel tank.

Someone bought it for £100 and I suspect they got a good car out of it to be honest - I'd already got to the bottom of all the serious problems, but ran out of money and the inclination to run a car (moved to London so didn't need it any more).

Finally, I must stress to anyone scared off by the head gasket story that so far as I'm aware and have been told by many others, this Ford power unit is a good one and it is still well worth considering the chain-driven 2.0 DOHC Sierra/Granada - if you find a clean, well maintained one for a good price it could well be trouble free motoring for years.