REGULAR MAINTENANCE:
-Changed the oil 100 times (every 3K on the dot)
-Gas (17 MPG city, 24 highway)
-I have replaced the taillights twice and the headlights once.
-Springs, shocks, and struts all around.
-A seal of some sort.
-I have replaced the wipers every two years (five times).
-New brakes (entirely) at 237K.
OTHER THAN REGULAR MAINTENANCE:
-Power window motors gave way at 3 years.
-The seat latch for removing the second row left bucket seat broke yesterday.
I bought my Windstar in May 1998, after my Civic bit the dust. I needed more room to haul stuff, and would have gotten the 1999 Odyssey, but it didn't feel right. I liked the Windstar the best of what I tested (Villager, Trans Sport, Grand Caravan, and Odyssey).
Research pays off. I have had virtually no trouble with my van that is mechanically related. It has all been aesthetic.
The van handles well for what it is, a minivan. It will not strike you silly the way it 'hugs' curves. I have my Crown Victoria for that.
Acceleration is great, even under a load of 2000 pounds of mulch or towing a 3000 pound pop-up camper.
Braking is merely vanilla. It is okay for day-to-day use, but the stock brakes are obviously not Brembo.
The leather interior is a delight. It is comfortable and shows only the slightest wear.
The bucket seats are easy enough to remove (and they even easily fit through the door openings!), but the bench should have been split. It takes three people to move it.
The transmission shifts smoothly.
I am glad that I purchased the Windstar. It has catered to our family's every need and it has done that well. We could not have asked for more from a minivan. Thank you, Ford. We will gladly be looking for another Windstar if this one ever dies.
ORIGINAL REVIEWER HERE.
We are up to 312,000 miles on our Windstar. NO further issues to report.
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