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Jamie

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Hi all. Planning on buying a SC...looking around for the right one.....some questions...
Of all the years of the SC, which year is the most reliable for a daily driver. I don't put a lot of miles on a car...I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to go that isn't a long way away, but I need the highest degree of reliability possible as a tow truck is a minimum of 35 miles away as is the closest competent repair shop....so....what year? why? TIA
 
92 & newer doesn't use the Teves brake ABS, which does add some reliability to 92-5
5 speed over the auto, Canadian version with out auto seat belts
I wouldn't recommend a S/C ( or any 28-35 year old car) as a daily if you are
in the middle of nowhere & need it to go long distances on a regular basis.
Just my 2 cents though, see what others here think.
 
I have read that the head gasket issue was resolved in the 97's..and that the newer 4R70W tranny was better. Don't know if any of that is true...I don't drive long distances. Grocery store is 35 miles away and that is a once a month trip...otherwise, I pretty much stay in my local wide spot in the road kind of town...all 4 city limits signs on one post.....a quick trip to DG or the local small grocer, church, thats about it....Probably wont put 1500 miles a year on it. But as I said, reliability is the thing....I've seen quite a few with less than 50K miles on them...I'm not deeply invested in the idea of a SC, could be an LX
 
Jamie said:
I have read that the head gasket issue was resolved in the 97's..and that the newer 4R70W tranny was better. Don't know if any of that is true...I don't drive long distances. Grocery store is 35 miles away and that is a once a month trip...otherwise, I pretty much stay in my local wide spot in the road kind of town...all 4 city limits signs on one post.....a quick trip to DG or the local small grocer, church, thats about it....Probably wont put 1500 miles a year on it. But as I said, reliability is the thing....I've seen quite a few with less than 50K miles on them...I'm not deeply invested in the idea of a SC, could be an LX
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No S/C's made after 1995, & N/A 3.8's never had any head gasket issues, that I'm aware of.
I was going off your 1st post that there was nowhere you went that wasn't a long way away.
 
DOUG H said:
No S/C's made after 1995, & N/A 3.8's never had any head gasket issues, that I'm aware of.
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Except most Ford, and Lincoln Mercury products made in 1994-1995, that had a 3.8l. I'm not positive if rear wheel driven cars got the same 7 year, 100K mile extended warranty deal. The front wheel drive cars that I know of got new engines, and I know of a couple of Mustangs that got the heads done. The Cylinder heads in that era were redesigned , and had a really high failure rate.
As far as a reliable daily driver, The SC should not be on your list. The problem I have found is "quality parts" not being readily available for a SC, especially. Also, finding a mechanic/technician to work on them. If you really want a MN12 , I would go for a nice, well maintained LX with a 4.6 V8.
 
Jamie said:
Hi all. Planning on buying a SC...looking around for the right one.....some questions...
Of all the years of the SC, which year is the most reliable for a daily driver. I don't put a lot of miles on a car...I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to go that isn't a long way away, but I need the highest degree of reliability possible as a tow truck is a minimum of 35 miles away as is the closest competent repair shop....so....what year? why? TIA
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For highest degree of reliability suggest skipping the SC and buying a used Crown Victoria with 4.6 motor (retired police car).
 
DOUG H said:
No S/C's made after 1995, & N/A 3.8's never had any head gasket issues, that I'm aware of.
I was going off your 1st post that there was nowhere you went that wasn't a long way away.
Click to expand...
The point was that I don't go anywhere, other than that monthly shopping trip 35 miles away. 95% of the miles that I would put on the car are traveling within 2 miles of my home.
 
SC-AL said:
Except most Ford, and Lincoln Mercury products made in 1994-1995, that had a 3.8l. I'm not positive if rear wheel driven cars got the same 7 year, 100K mile extended warranty deal. The front wheel drive cars that I know of got new engines, and I know of a couple of Mustangs that got the heads done. The Cylinder heads in that era were redesigned , and had a really high failure rate.
As far as a reliable daily driver, The SC should not be on your list. The problem I have found is "quality parts" not being readily available for a SC, especially. Also, finding a mechanic/technician to work on them. If you really want a MN12 , I would go for a nice, well maintained LX with a 4.6 V8.
Click to expand...
That is actually more towards where I am leaning, but...ya know....if I can find a low miles, under 50K SC, I might jump...maybe.
 
Jamie said:
Hi all. Planning on buying a SC...looking around for the right one.....some questions...
Of all the years of the SC, which year is the most reliable for a daily driver. I don't put a lot of miles on a car...I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to go that isn't a long way away, but I need the highest degree of reliability possible as a tow truck is a minimum of 35 miles away as is the closest competent repair shop....so....what year? why? TIA
Click to expand...
Jamie said:
Hi all. Planning on buying a SC...looking around for the right one.....some questions...
Of all the years of the SC, which year is the most reliable for a daily driver. I don't put a lot of miles on a car...I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to go that isn't a long way away, but I need the highest degree of reliability possible as a tow truck is a minimum of 35 miles away as is the closest competent repair shop....so....what year? why? TIA
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Hi Jamie, I have a 95SC that I bought new , All original, 44000km's never been in snow or salt, might be interested in selling if price is right.
What part of the country are you living?
 
I'm in western Oklahoma...not ready to buy yet...unless you want to work a trade for a 2015 Yamaha Stryker Bullet Cowl. Yours and mine has pretty close equal values.
 
DOUG H said:
92 & newer doesn't use the Teves brake ABS, which does add some reliability to 92-5
5 speed over the auto, Canadian version with out auto seat belts
I wouldn't recommend a S/C ( or any 28-35 year old car) as a daily if you are
in the middle of nowhere & need it to go long distances on a regular basis.
Just my 2 cents though, see what others here think.
Click to expand...
For clarification, the 1992 model definitely has the Teves brake ABS system that can be problematic. Move up to the 93 model if you want to avoid that
 
The 94/95s are the most reliable of the SCs as a daily driver. They have a conventional brake system instead of the Teves ABS unit, they have a more reliable ignition system, the autos are a 4r70 which is stronger, more reliable, and more cheaply and easily upgraded than the AOD used in the early cars. Also most people tend to like the later interiors more than the early style. Now having said that, all of these upgrades can be applied to the early style cars, and even with all these improvements, these are still finicky cars with little in the way of aftermarket support and very few shops that know them and are able to work on them. They can definitely be reliable if taken care of, but if you are going to daily drive an SC, you better either have deep pockets, or be able to work on it yourself. If that isn’t you, then a V8 Tbird might be a better choice.
 
Jamie said:
Hi all. Planning on buying a SC...looking around for the right one.....some questions...
Of all the years of the SC, which year is the most reliable for a daily driver. I don't put a lot of miles on a car...I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to go that isn't a long way away, but I need the highest degree of reliability possible as a tow truck is a minimum of 35 miles away as is the closest competent repair shop....so....what year? why? TIA
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard
 
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