Can anyone tell me about Ford Windstars 1995-1997?
 

The subject basically says it all. Anyone have any experience with these family vehicles?

Iggy

Howdy Iggy,
Our company has 2 of them. Anyone stupid enough to get a Ford van deservse any punishment it deals out. They always need work. And it took 2 of us 30 minutes to get to one of the sparkplugs.It took one guy 15 minutes to find it and me with small hands 15 minutes to get it out.

Rhanks for the response frank. Any other comments from the peanut gallery?

Not 100% sure about this but I believe the 6cyl. had head gasket problems.

Three words...

Got a match?

I like Ford's full-size vans (at least when powered by a real engine ;)), but I wouldn't buy one of their minivans...

The Windstar's better than the Aerostar...I'll give it that much. :)

I think LK1's right about the head gasket problems, but the last time I was on a "general car" forum was a while ago, so that might be outdated or I may be remembering it wrong...

Just my $.02...good luck! :)

A good friend traded a 95 Windstar for a Land Rover and had fewer problems with the Land Rover. But we have a Caravan so who am I to cast stones.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

The V6 used in the Windstar has frequent head gasket failures and warped heads.

The transmissions are pieces of junk. They can't even rebuild them properly. Even the ones rebuilt and sold by the dealer fail on a continuous basis.

Run. Run away quickly.

Junk, it's a Ford car what do you expect? Try a Honda van, I hear those are pretty nice.

Yep, Honda Odyssey vans are the class of the field, and what's more, they have a 3rd row seat that folds into the floor.

The problem is that these vans are so desireable that their rate of depreciation is just about the lowest of any car, truck, or van sold in the U.S. market.

Thanks for the replies. The honest truth of the matter is that I do not want this vehicle. My wife wants its. Why? Because they are cheap and you can put the whole family into one.

The whole reason for this was because the honda that I had I had to sell - long story - anyways I want to buy an early 80´s 240D - 300D for me. Reason, I like these cars and also I just got a new job that is outside of the city so the daily drive is now longer. Furthermore, gasoline here is at 2.50 a galon while diesel is still at 1.50 a galon. Not to mention the fuel economy.

So my plan was to get an old diesel and give my wife my 190e. She is not talking to me at the moment because I saw a 1980 300D, euro version (I live in Guatemala) with 168,000 original kilometers, the seller is the second owner!!! It needs a little work on the paint, interior. And it needs new tires and tie rods along with the proper alignment. For me, the price is good and the car has a very solid foundation to which build upon to bring it back to mint condition. Though the condition it is in is excellent for a car in Guatemala, especially for one that is 24 years old. I have seen worse in cars that are 3 years old....

Anyway, this is my rant since the wife is against me. At least I have some basis here from the forum that the ford is a piece of $h*t.....

Thanks,

Iggy

There must be better choices in Guatemala than a Windstar. A V-class CDI comes to mind. A Diesel Japanese van or even a Diesel Hyundai Starex is more appealing than a Windstar. Are Chrysler minivans offered with a Diesel engine there as they are in Europe?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

My mom had a Windstar....a 1995 bought new and always dealer serviced....not like it was thrashed either but it still managed to blow the tranny at 60k miles. Never driven hard at all. We sold it with the tranny problem and everyone in the family felt....well....a sense of relief. Do yourself a favor and stay away.

Scott

run, run far far away. That engine is renouned for head gasket problems. It WILL blow the head gasket or warp the head, its simply a matter of time.
Ryan

Two words
 

They suck

Can u say piece of shot? My friends blew a head gasket and needed a tranny in about 75k miles.

On the other hand, someone else posted that all ford vans are crap. I beg to differ. I have a 1993 E150 with a straight 6(the last year). It has 240k and runs like a champ. IT will last me 300K easy. You have to really listen to hear the engine @ idle.

Great van.