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Spawned from Ford’s part-ownership of Mazda, the Laser was based on the same underpinnings as the Mazda 323 and lasted five iterations between 1981 and 2002 in Australia. It was built locally until Ford pulled the plug on its Flemington plant in 1994, and was imported from Japan for the remaining model years. The Laser was succeeded by the European-sourced Focus.
The line-up currently starts at $3,850 for the Laser LXi and ranges through to $6,490 for the range-topping Laser LXi.
Check out real-world situations relating to the Ford Laser here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.
Forget the old rules that applied when the car was new, now the ’88 model is just an old clunker and the Ghia pulls about the same money as the GL. When buying a car as old as this the most important thing is not the fruit and features it had when it was sold new it’s the mileage done and its condition that matter.
As a guide you could expect to get $1500 to $3000 for your Laser. The RAV4 is a sound choice. You could get into a 5-star safety rated 2014 RAV4 for $20,000-$23,000, a similar 2012 model for $17,000-$20,000. You could also consider a Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V, or Subaru Forester.
The best way is to wash it off with running water as soon as you see it, the sooner the better. The longer you leave it the greater the chance of damaging the paint. Regular washing and polishing is a way of protecting the paint and making it easier to clean when something is deposited on it. But speed is the essence, when something does happen; don’t leave it too long before doing something about it. If the paint has been damaged try cutting and polishing it.
Intermittent problems can be very hard to diagnose because they rarely happen when the mechanic is present. Same with the diagnostic checks, nothing will show up if the engine is running normally when the checks are done. I would be checking the various engine sensors, their connectors and the witting loom, looking for a corroded or poor connection.
The price range for the Ford Laser varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $2,420 and going to $4,070 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.
| Year | Body Type | Specs | Price from | Price to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hatchback | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $2,420 | $4,070 | |
| 2002 | Sedan | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $2,420 | $4,070 | |
| 2001 | Hatchback | 1.8L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,820 | $4,070 | |
| 2001 | Sedan | 1.8L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO | $1,980 | $4,070 | |
| 2000 | Hatchback | 1.8L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,820 | $3,960 | |
| 2000 | Sedan | 1.8L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO | $1,980 | $3,630 | |
| 1999 | Hatchback | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,540 | $3,850 | |
| 1999 | Sedan | 1.8L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO | $1,980 | $4,070 | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,380 | $3,630 | |
| 1998 | Sedan | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,820 | $4,070 | |
The Ford Laser has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 175x65 R14 for Hatchback in 2002 with a wheel size that spans from 14x5.5 inches.
| Year | Body Type | Front Tyre Size | Front Rim | Rear Tyre Size | Rear Rim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hatchback | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 2002 | Sedan | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 2001 | Hatchback | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 2001 | Sedan | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 2000 | Hatchback | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 2000 | Sedan | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 1999 | Hatchback | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 1999 | Sedan | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 175x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 185x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 185x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
| 1998 | Sedan | 185x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | 185x65 R14 | 14x5.5 inches | |
The Ford Laser is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 7L/100km for Hatchback /ULP for the latest year the model was manufactured.
| Year | Body Type | Fuel Consumption* | Engine | Fuel Type | Transmission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hatchback | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 2002 | Sedan | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 2001 | Hatchback | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 2001 | Sedan | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 2000 | Hatchback | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 2000 | Sedan | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1999 | Hatchback | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1999 | Sedan | 7L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 8L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1998 | Sedan | 7.4L/100km | 1.6L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
The dimensions of the Ford Laser Hatchback and Sedan vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.
| Year | Body Type | Height x Width x Length | Ground Clearance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hatchback | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 2002 | Sedan | 1410x1705x4395 mm | 105 mm | |
| 2001 | Sedan | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 2001 | Hatchback | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 2000 | Sedan | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 2000 | Hatchback | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 1999 | Hatchback | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 1999 | Sedan | 1410x1705x4250 mm | 105 mm | |
| 1998 | Sedan | 1420x1710x4420 mm | 150 mm | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 1415x1710x4216 mm | 150 mm | |
The Ford Laser has maximum towing capacity of 720kg for the latest model available.
| Year | Body Type | Braked Capacity from | Braked Capacity to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hatchback | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 2002 | Sedan | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 2001 | Hatchback | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 2001 | Sedan | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 2000 | Hatchback | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 2000 | Sedan | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 1999 | Hatchback | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 1999 | Sedan | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 720kg | 720kg | |
| 1998 | Sedan | 720kg | 720kg | |
