Faults:

Four alternators, one even caught fire, until I got a Bosch that has lasted 5 years.

Six power-steering pumps, all under warranty because the dealer did not use ATF in them.

Burnt valve at 160K.

Three fuel pumps.

General Comments:

Great on the German Autobahn. The cruise control stops at 115 MPH. I have run the car at 130-150 MPH for over an hour at a time.

Very, very comfortable. Between adjusting the seat, 8 way power, and the steering column anyone can find the right driving position.

The steering is quick and you have to get used to it.

Faults:

Air pump makes a rattling noise, but works.

Rear window defroster works only temporarily.

Transmission oil pan gasket leaked at 145,000 kilometers.

General Comments:

The car is the most reliable American vehicle I've ever owned.

It's comparatively cheap to operate, gets great gas mileage (25 mpg).

The engine is not very responsive to gas pedal input, 120 horsepower is adequate, but no more.

Handling is typically American with low cornering power due to marked understeer.

Steering is quick for an American car and the brakes work quite well.

It's not a sporty car by any stretch of the imagination, but a very nice, comfortable cruiser and a very attractive car to boot.

Faults:

Nothing really worth talking about. Just changed the oil regularly, tune-ups regularly and ran strong.

General Comments:

It's a great car and I enjoy it.

Faults:

The oil sending unit leaked.

The fuel pump went out.

The heater core busted.

The gasket between the water pump and the timing chain cover popped out.

Either the torque converter or the valve body in the aod transmission is messing up.

General Comments:

The car is pretty comfortable for a car made in 1987.

I have gotten my money back out of it, I paid $1100 for it and have put tags on it 3 times.

The down side is the car lacks power, and the paint is faded and is getting worse by the month.

Faults:

The car had bad transmission when I purchased, but I knew that.

Motor is 100% original, at 210K I put in new timing chain and gear because a leaky water pump gasket forced me to tear open the front of the engine.

Uses no oil even with this many miles. Because I've owned other Fords I'm aware of the valve cover gasket problems, just go in every few months and snug down bolts.

Excellent car, but the miles would have scared me away except I knew the previous owner.

General Comments:

I've owned 2 Thunderbirds and 2 Mercury Cougars, have had good luck with all, but the V6 required more attention, but still ran one up to 198k with no major problems.

Faults:

Dash cracking now.

Installed three rebuilt alternators in the last four years. But I blame the rebuilders, not Ford.

General Comments:

My turbo still works.

My original clutch, ABS brakes and air conditioning lasted into the 90,000 mile range. I think that speaks volumes about the quality of this car.

For years all I did was change the oil at 2,500 mile intervals.

This is one great car.