After the Alfa 164, I wanted something reliable to get to work in, tow the rally car with, and generally be a bit more sensible. I'd looked at some 405 Estates, and then the Granada turned up in the right place at the right price.
It was fully loaded with luxuries and my first car with cruise control, something I didn't even know it had when I bought it - I thought the controls on the wheel were for the Stereo!
The only let down really was the engine which was somewhat agricultural. The four cylinder 2500cc lump was originally a marine engine apparently, and it isn't the same as used in the transits etc. It only returned low 30's MPG as well. On the upside, it did tow nicely, and with self levelling rear suspension along, rear wheel drive, and a very wide flat estate area, it was the ideal service barge (and also ideal for carrying kids clutter!).
It did tramline very badly where trucks had worn a groove, and I found myself on occasion being forced into the middle lane just to avoid them!
I actually did 76000 miles in this car, without too many problems. It did have a recurring alternator fauly (apparently common) that I had to have fixed every year regular as clockwork, and its peddle box broke but not much else. That is until 150000 miles had past, when maintenance costs started escalating. By the end at 166000 miles, it had really started to fall apart. The very long drive belt (£50 Ford only part) broke three times in four months (idler wheel siezed, PS pump main shaft broken, more idler wheels siezed), and the back window started falling out, among intermittent starter and alternator issue, so I part-ex'd it for the 406.
Both my kids first car journeys were in this car - I should have picked them up in the rally car to have a better story for them!
I have a remarkable lack of photos of this car considering how many miles I did in this car and most of them are incidental reflecting its workhorse status.
Ford Granada Scorpio 2.5TD - L442PVW
