1991 Mercury Topaz review from North America
"Mostly dependable, but repairs were getting more frequent"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
October 1998 (40,000 miles) : two outer tie rods replaced.
August 1999 (58,000 miles) : Rear brakes replaced, belts replaced, front-end alignment, new right axle, new plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor.
January 2000 (65,000 miles) : new battery.
August 2000 (73,000 miles) front brakes replaced, left axle replaced.
January 2001 (82,000 miles) : Exhaust system replaced.
July 2001 (93,000 miles) : New tires.
November 2001 (97,000 miles) : New starter. New speedometer sensor.
June 2002 (108,000 miles) : New valve cover gasket.
September 2002 (113,000 miles) : New gas tank, new muffler.
Also, around 2000 the seat belt locked up, and I had to cut it with a razor blade to get out of the car.
The right-side windows had a problem where they would go down, but not back up, at least not until the following morning after the car had been sitting all night. I never had this fixed. Just stopped using the right windows.
The ignition switch was going to have to be replaced eventually, too. It was possible to get the key twisted around in there in ways it shouldn't be.
At about 90,000 miles the ratcheting mechanism in the driver's seat-back broke. I didn't have to have it replaced, but the seat would no longer hold it's full upright position. I had to settle for the second position, which is a little more laid back than I would prefer, but I got used to it.
General comments?
This car is more complex than it needs to be with electrically operated mirrors and windows.
But I got my money's worth out of it because it was practically given to me by a great aunt.
I actually used the mostly-decorative trunk luggage rack once to transport a piece of exercise equipment.
Recommended reviews
| A decent first car |
|
| 1991 - Topaz L 2.3 ltr 4 cylinder A great little car for new drivers |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | four cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 21000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 118000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Festiva |
| Date of Entry | 4th January, 2003 |