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5th Engine Fails In "Worst Buy" Van
A couple years ago we first reported on FARM SHOW's "worst buy" ever, a 1995 Ford Windstar that was on its fifth engine at just 65,000 miles. All four replacement engines were installed between 55,000 and 65,000 miles.
  The 1995 Windstar had a notoriously bad engine. Problems start with a bad head gasket and end with piston rods flying everywhere. In our case, the replacement engines were just as bad as the original engine.
  We thought the fifth engine was the charm but recently, after putting about 27,000 miles on the engine over nearly three years, we noticed that it was starting to drink down anti-freeze. That's a sure sign that the head gasket is starting to go.
  Given this vehicle's track record, it makes no sense to put in another new engine. It's time to pack it in. We plan to find a new vehicle to carry our mail bags around and donate this van to a local college which accepts vehicles as tax-free donations to give students "projects" to work on. The instructors at the school will have fun going through the repair records of this van with their students.
  Since we first told our Windstar story, we've heard many sad stories from FARM SHOW readers stuck with one of these vans. Whatever you do, don't buy a used 1995 Ford Windstar, no matter how cheap or good-looking it appears to be. You will regret it.


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2003 - Volume #27, Issue #4