glancaster
In the silicon vale
Problem is that Ford look like they've been built to a specific price point, and deteriorate/behave accordingly.
Same with most modern cars though, isn't it? The industry is so competitive that there's little room for over-engineering nowadays.
Maybe the odd exception still in some categories. I believe they say in Oz: "If you want to go into the outback, take a Land Rover. If you want to come back, take a Land Cruiser."
You'd think that something like a Porsche or a Ferrari would be more reliable than say a Ford or VW, as you are paying a premium, but the reverse is true, possibly as performance cars tend to be regularly given a damn good thrashing.
I had a VW Golf Mark III 1.9 TDI, which was still incredibly reliable when I sold it last year, 17 years and 150k miles after it was built. I believe it could well last for another 17 years/150k if someone keeps the rust at bay, and it isn't condemned as a socially unacceptable pollution hazard in the meantime. They don't build 'em like that anymore. Which is both good and bad.