FORD=POOP
Let me digress into a rant (yet keep it family-friendly). We purchased a 1999 Ford Windstar less than a year ago. Our family is growing and we needed more room and a newer, more reliable vehicle. Before we had a Mazda MPV that we liked very much (named Molly). Before that we had a Nissan Stanza wagon (named Stanley) that we also liked, and despite it's milage and use, it was very reliable.
We purchased the Windstar (named Windy) from a fairly reputable dealer here locally. He said he had purchased it new, then sold it to a friend, and now has it back on the lot. It had low miles (86K) and was within our price range. Very clean and a nice green color with silver trim.
Just a few months after purchasing the van, we had to put it in the shop. They informed us it needed new rack-and-pinion and front end work.$2000. A couple months after that, we had to put it in the shop for the overdrive light going on and off, and it ended up with us having to put in a whole new transmission and alternator. $5000. We have now put more money into repairs than we actually paid for the van itself.
Since getting it back from getting the new transmission, we have had a constant problem with the engine keeping the RPM high enough to keep the motor going. You would have to brake with your left foot and gas a little with your right so it wouldn't die. Plus there was a chirping noise coming from the belt. We didn't immediately pursue fixing or worrying about these issues since it took them almost a month to fix the transmission and we needed the van back.
We are preparing to go on vacation, and Janet decided we should get the chirping/dying looked at (plus get an oil change). After checking it out, the local dealer calls back and says it will take $2200 to fix it! Ridiculous, there is no way I'm paying that. He rattled off a list of things it needed that I quickly scratched down on an index card.
I went and got the van and paid their inspection fee. While coming home it was driving worse than it ever has, sputtering and threatening to die. I promptly took it to our own mechanic. After finding several obvious and simple fixes (wires not hooked up), he hooked it to his computer and made one simple adjustment and everything was running great.
After talking with him, he felt like the dealer didn't actually check our van specifically. He felt like they checked a list of what these vans normally need replacing and just marked all that up.
After checking this page, it looks like there are major problems with the 1999 Ford Windstar. Buyer beware. I had hear rumors that Ford was getting out of the minivan line, but wasn't sure if that was true. According to this site it is.
My mechanic also alluded to the fact that our local Ford dealer isn't making any money by selling new vehicles, so they have to make it up in repairs.
In the end, we bought a lemon. Buying used is always a gamble, but we lost big time on this one. We will get it repaired enough and trade it in on a nice Jap minivan, perhaps a Nissan Quest (made in Mississippi!), Toyota Sienna, or Kia Sedona.
We purchased the Windstar (named Windy) from a fairly reputable dealer here locally. He said he had purchased it new, then sold it to a friend, and now has it back on the lot. It had low miles (86K) and was within our price range. Very clean and a nice green color with silver trim.Just a few months after purchasing the van, we had to put it in the shop. They informed us it needed new rack-and-pinion and front end work.$2000. A couple months after that, we had to put it in the shop for the overdrive light going on and off, and it ended up with us having to put in a whole new transmission and alternator. $5000. We have now put more money into repairs than we actually paid for the van itself.
Since getting it back from getting the new transmission, we have had a constant problem with the engine keeping the RPM high enough to keep the motor going. You would have to brake with your left foot and gas a little with your right so it wouldn't die. Plus there was a chirping noise coming from the belt. We didn't immediately pursue fixing or worrying about these issues since it took them almost a month to fix the transmission and we needed the van back.
We are preparing to go on vacation, and Janet decided we should get the chirping/dying looked at (plus get an oil change). After checking it out, the local dealer calls back and says it will take $2200 to fix it! Ridiculous, there is no way I'm paying that. He rattled off a list of things it needed that I quickly scratched down on an index card.
I went and got the van and paid their inspection fee. While coming home it was driving worse than it ever has, sputtering and threatening to die. I promptly took it to our own mechanic. After finding several obvious and simple fixes (wires not hooked up), he hooked it to his computer and made one simple adjustment and everything was running great.
After talking with him, he felt like the dealer didn't actually check our van specifically. He felt like they checked a list of what these vans normally need replacing and just marked all that up.
After checking this page, it looks like there are major problems with the 1999 Ford Windstar. Buyer beware. I had hear rumors that Ford was getting out of the minivan line, but wasn't sure if that was true. According to this site it is.
My mechanic also alluded to the fact that our local Ford dealer isn't making any money by selling new vehicles, so they have to make it up in repairs.
In the end, we bought a lemon. Buying used is always a gamble, but we lost big time on this one. We will get it repaired enough and trade it in on a nice Jap minivan, perhaps a Nissan Quest (made in Mississippi!), Toyota Sienna, or Kia Sedona.
posted by Matthew at 11:59 AM
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