1988 Merkur Scorpio 4 door hatchback 2.9 gas from North America

Summary:

Sporty and Luxury all in one.

Faults:

Transmission was leaking when I bought it. This was due to it not being driven much and the seals and gaskets dried. I had it overhauled for 1450.00, including a new torque converter. The air conditioner still had R-12 in it. Since it was low on freon, I converted it to 134a. The cost was 79.00. It seems to be cooling OK. I also had to replace the rack & pinion, bellows, and the outer, rear CV boots. They were all torn. As other reviews have stated, the fog/driving lights were gone and I replaced them with more modern type. The rest of the car is in excellent condition. The interior is like new, except for the dash. It is cracked. I have ordered a molded dash cap to install over it. All electrical equipment, switches, gages and leather seats are in excellent condition.

General Comments:

This car is very fast and very solid riding. The seats are very comfortable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th July, 2003

23rd Dec 2006, 00:53

We used to have an '88 Scorpio, and it had all those same problems (if you got into the throttle a little too hard, transmission fluid would leak on the exhaust, making a thick smokescreen, and the A/C compressor locked up on it), but it was a real neat, very fast car - ahead of it's time.

24th Apr 2010, 13:04

I discovered a 4-door hatch back in LA @ 89 and the dealer did not even want me try it. I insisted though, and I just drove it around in the lot. Not much of a test drive, but the ease of handling and comfort, not to mention the whole leather interior, caused me to impulse buy it.

I never regretted it. I had no obvious problem with it (save for a couple of speeding tickets) it was serviced by a former pit mechanic who loved to take care of it.

When it died - due to my own fault - I was very upset. It was and remains to date my favorite car.

I wish Ford would revive it somehow.

1989 Merkur Scorpio 2.9 12V from North America

Summary:

A definite luxury bargain

Faults:

Since my Purchase in August 2002 I have had to replace the following things:

All upper motor gaskets

EGR valve and sensor

Engine coolant sensor

Air charge temp sensor

Throttle position sensor

Idle air bypass solenoid

Transmission

Radiator.

Notice that I have only driven the car for 8,000 miles.

General Comments:

The performance of this car gets better as more repairs are performed. It was very sluggish when I first purchased it. Now it is reasonably quick for its age and faster than a lot of newer vehicles.

The handling on this car is pretty good considering none of the suspension has been replaced in 130,000 miles. A repaired suspension should make this car handle better than most cars that you can purchase new.

The interior of this car looks fresh even though the car is 14 years old. The seats are the most comfortable that I have ever sat in. The leg, shoulder, and head room is phenomenal. The reclining rear seats keep my passengers happy as well. I have taken this car on a 400 mile trip without the slightest bit of fatigue.

If all you want to spend is $850.00 USD for a car, then the Scorpio is the way to go. You get a comfortable ride, great handling, and decent performance for little to no money. The only caution is that maintenance can take a toll on your bank account. All parts for this car have to be shipped in from the UK and they are 20-30% more expensive than other pedestrian type of vehicles. However, almost all maintenance can be performed by the average person. It is really that simple to work on.

The standard Scorpio problems are:

Random ABS faults

Interior switch failure

HVAC Blower motor and resistor failure

Early AC compressor failure

Automatic transmission failure

Fog Light lens cracking/breaking

Rear hatch lock failure.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th April, 2003

12th Jul 2003, 23:41

You don't have to get your parts "overseas"! Ask around or surf the net for parts to fit it. They are available, if you shop for them. After all it is built by Ford.

12th Mar 2010, 13:25

I truly miss that car. My mom and dad bought me one in 1992 while I was still in high school. They got a great deal on it from a family moving back overseas, and they told me to take care of it. It was fast (it wanted to go fast); it was strong, had plenty of space and was very comfortable. However, I'm not going to lie, that thing was a maintenance nightmare!

In 1992 (pre-internet age), parts were nearly impossible to find. The battery alone was something few people could fathom. Few ever seen a 3 terminal battery, and even fewer couldn't understand why. The o-rings went out, brakes went bad early on, even the spark plug wires were hard to find and when you were able to find parts, they cost an arm and a leg. Is this thing hard to fix? No. But I found looking for a needle in a haystack far easier and less costly.

And yes, the electrical system was odd. Power lock, power window, power moon-roof, power steering, power brake, power seats, and did I miss anything? 0 to 60 in 7 seconds! Yes, that's what I said and no, I'm not lying. Would I own one? In this day and age and with the availability and convenience of the internet... ABSOLUTELY. Just have to find a place to store it.

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