Three page article on just that topic even using the Powerflex bushes.

Russ.

 

One of my colleagues has a 53 plate with the 2.0 Duratorque diesel in it.

Dura doesn't for durability. He drives at very sane speeds, and looks after it, but the metal cam in the fuel pump disintegrated and wrecked the injectors......

This was only at 60k miles! Apparently not uncommon, and later engines have a pump with a plastic cam. IIRC he shelled out the best part of

 

It's a Ford; you only have to look at the poor quality & rough castings to know there's shit inside.

Buy one cheap & wreck it.

If you want engineering quality, buy a BMW or Honda or something.

 

Whatever car I get, I'm going to be sticking 24000 miles a year on it. If I can get a years motoring for

 

There is some truth here, balanced against probable extra cost of buying & parts.
I remember there were quality issues with the first of the 3 Series, glovebox lids falling off etc - minor I know.

Over a period of 35 years & prior to employers offering 'user chooser schemes' I have been issued numerous Fords, from Escort to Granada.
In the mid-seventies a basic bogo 1.3 Escort easily did 70k miles including an extensive european trip, never broke down.
Several Cortinas likewise.
A Granada Ghia that was a bag of nails at 50k miles.
2 Sierras that again never broke down and were superby comfortable.
Finally a Mondeo estate 2.0 auto petrol (first shape) - the most comfortable of the lot BUT the radio facia fell off, one of the horns never worked, the tailgate was a bugger to close properly and a washer bottle tube would never stay secure. Probably a Friday car. It was so bad my boss took pity on me and allowed me to replace it with anything I wanted ( well almost ).
I ordered a 2.0 VTEC Honda Accord. Looked better on my drive, but the engine was gutless, the auto box jerky and the seats the most uncomfortable ever, giving rise to sciatica from which I still suffer.

Within a year & for the first time I will have to buy a beater with my own money, probably