Ford Problems

It’s really hard to say, particularly because the “end of the day” is a very long way off. Any appreciation you might see will be many years away. Both could well appreciate eventually if you’re prepared to wait long enough, but the 2012 Pursuit might be the better choice simply because of its lower build number and supercharged engine.

If you have records showing when you reported it to the Ford dealer I would think you have some claim, although it's a little unclear because you've since had it worked on by other people. I think you'll be battling to get any compensation, but by all means give it a go.

You're not the only one and Ford is not the only brand. Ford Australia's customer service boss, Steve Kruk, replies: "The price for the SZ is $195 and it's $295 for the SX from 2004-2011. The reason our Ford map upgrades are more expensive is that we need to build a unique map system for the integrated Ford Sat Nav. The NavMan  and Garmin are generic and they can spread the cost over millions more customers – but it is not integrated with the vehicle".

The three cars you name all have merit, none has any major issue to be concerned about and all fit your needs, but you will have to shop around to find them within your age and budget limits.

The car is going into 'limp home' mode, which suggests there is something amiss with the electronics of the engine management system, possibly the ECU or a sensor supplying it with information. It needs to be sorted out by the dealer; it's not good enough to tell you to keep bringing it back when it happens. By doing that they're hoping to eventually stumble on the cause of the problem rather than investigate the cause and find a solution. If you can't get any sense out of the dealer go directly to Ford's customer assistance service on 13 3673.

Ford Australia head of customer Stephen Kruk says: “Since the dealer regained possession of the car we have thoroughly tested the vehicle and it is operating as it should. That is why it is ready to be resold. The car has the balance of new-car warranty so the next owner retains our backing and support if any component was to go wrong. With the repairs complete we are totally confident it will be a great car for someone.”

I would keep the Territory going as it should still have plenty of life left in it. Most of the three-tonne tow-mobiles are quite costly, even dual-cab utes.

Haven’t you suffered enough? You’ve endured five years of misery, just get out of the car and get into something more reliable. You could attempt to negotiate extended warranty coverage with Ford, but I doubt they will be interested beyond the extended warranty they have already given you.