Hi Leanne;
                I'm afraid it isnt the best ford as you say nor is it the
best ford on the road. I suggest you look into keeping your new car driving.
keeping water, oil and air in your tyres on a weekly routine. Check for any
signs of rust, and any other signs of wear. With this in mind, your car will
have a good life I have a EA and a escort, both of which have been well
kept, and maintained over the years. Your local ford dealer may have tips
and hints and such. Good luck.

Peter
Happy Ford owner

Head gaskets, cooling system issues. If you turn the aircon on and the temp
gauge rises? The radiator is cactus. Make sure you run the correct coolant,
and keep the auto fluid topped up. The car will give you no hassles.

I am in the middle of replacing my 2nd head gasket in 200,000k's. The 97
EL's third head gasket. Ford fixed  the  car the 1st time. I personally
wouldn't recommend you let a dealer near the car.

A certain Ford dealership in Dandenong, Victoria fixed ours the 1st time and
these are some of the results:

a) inlet manifold bolts finger tight (yes no spanners needed to remove the
manifold)
b) exhaust manifold lucky to have 5-10ftlbs on them. I just put the 13mm
socket and extension on and twisted them undone (no ratchet).
c) rocker gear was done up to spec. YES!
d) head bolts would have been lucky to have 50ftlbs on them.
e) bolt going through the chain gully/tensioner loctited. My guess the
aprentice used the wrong loctite. I can't undo the 10mm bolt, hence it's now
rounded. Can't undo it with a set of stilsons either.

I haven't even got the head off yet!?!?

Short story is I am doing the work myself to make sure it's done right.
60,000k's from a head gaket just isn't right.

Brenden

Hey,

This isn't another "I have had only problems with my GLi" reply. I have had
my 97 EL GLi for about 4.5 years now and have never had any problems. Beside
the usuals.. like a split heater hose and a blocked fuel filter, but these
are the usual wear and tear things. But other than that it has been a
fantastic car. Good to drive... very responsive... and looks a hell of alot
better than an EF or AU1. Sure its a Base model, but I still like the car.

It has done about 133000ks  and is going just as good as when I bought it.
As long as you service it at the correct intervals you wont have a problem.
If you do this you wont have any trouble with the vehicle.
e.g. Change oil approx every 10000ks (make sure you use good oil not cheap
stuff and preferably a 15W40 or if you get tappet noise use a thicker oil
like a 20W50.)

I have had my '97 EL Falcon GLi Sapphire since 1999, and like you said, it
is an absolute dream. We have had no major incidents yet. The biggest
problems have been the exhaust pipe being rusted twice, which probably has
something to do with the way we drive more than anything, a minor gasket
needed to be replaced, and the radiator got a leak at the 120,000km mark
which is usual. Good luck with the Falcon. She'll be a dream!