I’m in a position to purchase a 2002 Windstar for around $16000. The car will have approximately 15,000 miles on it. Anyone else think this is too good a deal to pass up, or would you stay away from a Ford at all cost?
All I can add is that my neighbors own a 2000 Windstar, and for a retired couple, they have had no problems with it. Not quite a daily driver, and they both know how to take care of a car. Before this, they owned a 1990 Pontic Trans Port. Changing cars every ten years or so. They once owned a Pacer.
I’m driving my second Aerostar, and I owned an Escort also. I’ve been happy with all 3 of them - I certainly have no reason to avoid Ford.
It sounds like you’re getting an excellent deal, depending upon how hard the 15,000 miles were.
Windstars have the same running gear used in the Ford Taurus, one of the most popular cars the last 10 years. Depending on the options, $16,000 sounds like a good deal.
The deal is pretty good, but not fabulous. If the van were completely loaded, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. But, it is a base model with little more than the basics. I’m okay with that part of it.
I can read edmunds, vehix and other places to see reviews of the vehicle, so I know the price is pretty good. But the cost of ownerhip is going to skyrocket if there are inherint problems with the design, which is why I posted here. If you read the ‘trouble’ boards, all you hear is the bad, so it isn’t fair to read JUST those.
Like I said, I’m looking for feedback from people that have Fords minivan’s or know people with them. I’d like to hear the good and the bad.
I have a Windstar. It’s a 2001 model that I bought at the very end of the model year, so it only has about 18,000 miles on it. I can’t tell you about long-term problems because I haven’t had it long enough.
I have had only the most minor problems with it. It’s had two recalls, neither very signficant. The biggest complaint I have about it is that the windshield is a piece of crap and is distorted. I almost wish someone would throw a brick through it.
I also have a 1995 Taurus, which was the old platform, before they redesigned it and developed the Windstar from it. I’m very happy with it. The only really major problem with the Taurus/Windstar design in the last several years was the head gasket problem. I think that was taken care of a couple of years ago, so it shouldn’t even be a concern with the 2002 model.
We have a 1996 Windstar LX that is almost fully dressed, before this we had an Aerostar. I like the looks of the '96 more than the new version, it’s sleeker and the interior is much nicer, especially the dash.
The vehicle is extremely nice and the only problem in 118,000 km is that the back power lock buzzes when you unlock it… it is not supposed to do this and it’s caused by the lock trying to unlock itself repeatedly. No big deal.
We love our Windstar, it’s comfortable, reasonably efficient for a 4500lb vehicle with 235 hp (no merging problems), and is extremely comfortable to drive.
It’s a little small for our family and all the people and stuff we haul around, our next vehicle is going to be a Suburban. Trust me, we’re actualy people who can use a vehicle with room for 8 or 9.