Faults:

Wiper goes on momentarily when I use the turn signal (more of an amusement than a problem)

General Comments:

This car was not well maintained before I bought it yet it has been super for me. no issues worth mention. part of the speedometer light was out when I bought the car, but otherwise it is rock solid starts/runs well. I can carry a washer and dryer in the back at the same time, or a refridgerator, it is incredible what this will carry!! it is more useful than my 4runner and just as reliable. I just bought another it is a 2000 sport with 56,000 because I like this one so well -now our family has two of these. You can find them very cheap with low miles IE. $6-7000 with 50-60,000 miles.

Faults:

Brakes have been a problem... changing for the 5th time... so six sets in 144,000 miles. To be fair we do travel at least 5k miles a year fully loaded and with a cargo carrier fully loaded... that is a lot of weight for the brakes to handle.

The front axles and boots were changed at approx. 125K, but that was expected and was also inexpensive compared to a lot of makes (esp. the foreign cars and I really love the Lexus and Volvo I also own).

The throttle body has had to be replaced once, but was under warranty and dealer told me really only needed cleaning, but since under warranty they changed it out. Still have had to clean it three other times... a 20-30 minute job that anybody can do with a screw driver and a can of spray carberator cleaner.

Has been hard on bulbs. Each of the headlights have been changed at least 4X. Brake lights not as often, but still more than any other vehicle I've owned.

General Comments:

The van is still a pleasure to drive even with the miles.

The handling is still tight and responsive for a van.

The seats (leather) show little wear even with a family of five.

Engine still is clean and uses no oil.

Transmission shifts like new and no problems.

Tires have worn well and only on 3rd set.

Looks are still great and it is hard to tell the van is 8 years old.

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

This minivan is solid and well made I am very satisfied.

Great for a family of 3 or more.

This is the most under rated van of all minivans out there. It has so much loaded features.

I like the way it drives like a regualr car and not a boat.

I am a mechanic and all service item is easy to get to without any problems: spark plug, oil change, fuel filter, air condition service, etc.

Faults:

Almost all of the problems that I have had with this car are electrical, and there have been many. (The electrical system is made by Ford, so I'm told) Here's what I can remember over the past 4 years, but I'm certain there are several more:

Digital Dash shorted out.

Electric Door locks shorted out.

Headlight sockets burned out (3 times).

Taillight sockets burned out.

Radio lights failed (twice).

Turn signals failed (are failing for the second time).

In addition to electrical problems:

Water pump leaked and had to be replaced at 40,00 mile-just out of mfr warranty.

Gas pedal sticks intermittently.

Cupholders are worthless and break over and over again.

To add insult to injury, Mercury service was horrible! I finally started going to the Ford dealership for service. Then, when the warranty ran out, Ford would not service the car anymore! I now go to Nissan and I like them so well that I bought my daughter a Sentra to drive.

General Comments:

Gas mileage is disappointing: around 15 in town and 19 on the road. Substantially lower than advertised. My 3.8L T&C got 18 in town and over 21 on the highway, AND was much more powerful.

Mercury should be embarrassed to charge $800 for the incredibly poor "premium" sound system. The Chrysler Infinity sound system upgrade for about the same money is like comparing a $20 alarm clock radio to a Bose Wave Radio.

Things I really like about this car:

Driver's seat is much more comfortable than the T&C.

On-steering-wheel radio controls are a great feature.

I have owned 3 Chrysler minivans. I originally bought this car because new Chrysler minivans were becoming intolerably expensive, and to that end, I saved about $6,000 on this car vs. a comparably equipped Chrysler. My advice: pay the $6,000.