1996 Mercury Sable GS review from North America

* Transmission replaced at 150,000 miles (by dealer I bought it from)

* Connector from key to ignition snapped at 158,000

* Check engine light always on- EGR, speed sensor, catalytic converter are fried

* Steering rack going

* Engine mount replaced.

I love this car's performance and comfort, but as other reviews indicate, it is an expensive one to repair. Mine has a lot of miles on it, but was maintained really well by the salesman who owned it before me, and I've done my best. However repair costs have exceeded what I originally paid for it, and the last straw is the catalytic converter which I'm told is "configured in a complicated way" and will require me to mortgage my firstborn in order to replace it. On other simple repairs, I've been told the parts are difficult to reach, so the labor costs are high. Of course, the transmission faults for this car are so well known, you might as well buy a spare when you get it.

On the plus side, it handles beautifully, was a workhorse during bad winter weather (I cruised past all the zippy sports-cars stuck in snow), lovely cruise control. Roomy interior, trunk goes on forever. Seems to be light on the insurance bill. I wish I could keep it.

However, reliability is my top priority so I won't be buying another Mercury. Off to the foreign dealerships...