My 89 Mercury Tracer was my first new car. I bought it new in 89 to make sure I had dependable transportation as my wife was expecting our second son, Daniel. This car has stiff suspension and my wife sure let me know about it as I was driving her to the hospital, darn near caused her to deliver prematurely. The only option this car had was air conditioning.  The Tracer has never had any engine work done on it and it consumes 1 quart every 2000 miles. It still hits 40 MPG highway too. This car is fun to drive, especially through the corners, and can out run most cars through third gear, but has no HP over 55 MPH. The truck in the background is my 60 GMC.

This car has been very cheap to own. So far I have replaced 3 alternators, a clutch, radiator, waterpump, and three timing belts. Those were changed at 60, 150, and 300k. Manual says change every 60k, but I never expected the car to last much longer so I stretched the interval.  I decided to roll the dice after the tech questioned why I was replacing it the first time. He explained that the 1.6l was a non interference engine and if it broke I could just tow it to a shop. I had him change it anyway as I had a 5yr 100k warranty and not doing scheduled maintenance would void it. The belt looked to be in pretty good shape at 60k. So I stretched it to 150 for the next one, and other than having the clowns at Dick Smith Ford in Raytown, MO. break my AC line, everything went well. I lost a clutch at 170k due to a  $0.50 clutch spring. The first alternator went out at about 245k.

With around 270k  I hit a deer and totaled the car. I bought it back, replaced the hood, grill, radiator, and headlights and put her back on the road. I decided not to replace the AC as I really didn't think the car would last much longer anyway. That would later turn out to be a mistake. At 300k the waterpump started leaking and I replaced it and put in another timing belt. Note that the belts never broke, I just went ahead and replaced them. At 365 I lost another alternator and it lasted all of 100 miles. It was replaced under warranty and we are back on the road again. Had to replace the brake lines at 367 as they had rusted and split. Next up was the rear wheel bearings at 367k. I am starting to doubt that this car is going to make it much further. Most people would have given up. But gas is over $3 a gallon and this car is getting high 30's. Well it's now July 08, hot and humid and I could use some AC so I am driving my Tracer II Wagon. Too bad as last fillup at 374k was 40 mpg. This car likes the hot weather, but I don't.

My summer mileage has averaged out to be 38.2 on a drive that is 50% at 55, 10% 45, and 10% 70, and 30% at 65 mph.
In the winter my mileage drops to an average of 32.38 with 35 being average in the spring/fall. I am starting to wish that I had gone ahead and replaced the AC, but it would only save me $8 a week and I need to drive my wagon a little too.

I have complained for years, that Ford needs to bring this car or one like it back. They sell a Fiesta overseas that is very similar, but it won't be for sale in the US until 2010. By that time I should have 400k on the odometer and will be ready for a new car. Unless the urge to go for 500k strikes me.

Update, the Super Tracer is done. There front frame members are rusted bad enough that it will not hold alignment any longer. The front wheels are toed out and this makes it unsafe to drive. Looks like 380K is all I am going to get out of her. Oh well, I got my moneys worth and then some out of this car.
 

Here is an article I wrote for Design News Magazine re: old car stories.