1989 Ford Fairmont EA from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I have owned this car for approximately 6 months, and in that time the following has gone wrong:

The digital speedo started reading 188 constantly

The climate control developed a mind of it's own

The trip computer stopped work and beeps all the time

The Auto Trans has become very jumpy and sluggish

It overheated.

In my opinion this car is a total pile of junk. My grandparents have owned it since new and gave it to me for my first car. It has been well looked after and despite that it's totally unreliable.

Just before I owned it, it had a new engine professionally installed. However on a mildly warm day it runs really hot and I don't even risk driving on a hot day.

None of the windows winds up or down because all the electric motors are burnt out.

The driver's door doesn't open from the outside, but it doesn't matter because the window doesn't wind up either (just open it from the inside)

Nothing electrical works on the car, besides the brake and indicator lights. None of the interior lights, headlights, wipers, radio, dash lights, speedo, tacho, horn, a/c, fan, electric mirrors, nothing.

It uses so much fuel it's not funny. Although the odometer doesn't work (like everything else) I drive to work and back 5 days a week, 90km round trip mostly on the freeway, and go through two tanks of fuel each week, about 120 litres of fuel for approximately 450-500 km's at a constant 110 km/h.

Actually, one thing I like about the car, is that the brakes are really responsive and powerful, but that's all. And the fact that the parts are really cheap because they're all in the wreckers.

Those damn high mileage (200,000 km) cars and their pesky problems. They should run perfectly forever!

Take the Toyota Cressida for example: apart from the head gasket on the later ones, these things go forever without a hitch.

I've got a 1990 ford fairmont that's done nearly 400,000 ks and its still runnin great. My brothers got one too. From my experience, with the usual maintenance they are reliable as and are so easy to work on and find part for. They look grouse done up too.

Let's see, it was 17 years old when you got it, and you're complaining. Although your grandparents surely did not abuse the car, they probably didn't actively take care of it. You hear the same story about lots of "old people vehicles." They look great and are in great shape, but need lots of catch-up maintenance. The problems that you describe are mostly attributable to routine maintenance being neglected--the sluggish transmission, running hot, AC needing recharge.

I'm afraid those economy figures are simply not true, I am a pizza delivery driver and the ghia is my deliver vehicle. 460 kms from its 68 litre tank is what I get and that's in a worst case scenario, peak hour urban driving.