I just read the review "not many millionaires drive Honda Odysseys" and was compelled to write a review of my 1999 Ford Windstar. Oops. Correction. That Windstar isn't "mine" anymore. Yesterday I took it to a Toyota dealership, purchased a Toyota Sienna and left it there. Whew! Problem solved.

I bought my 1999 LX Ford Winstar new for $22,000. I traded in a Camry which I dearly loved in order to do so. I didn't want to do it, but I was expecting my third child and there was no way that I was going to be able to fit three car seats and kid stuff in my Camry. So, I did what I thought was the best thing to do financially. After all, like the other reviewer said, not many millionaires drive Honda Odysseys. So, I found the cheapest new mini-van that I could find. The 1999 Ford Windstar.

Now, four and a half years later, I've had it.

We have had problems with this Windstar from day one. We have had it in the shop for starting problems seven times in 4 1/2 years. It has quit while I was driving it on the freeway -- thank goodness there was a shoulder that I could pull off on. It has not started many times. We have replaced the fuel pump several times and the starter several times. They cannot determine what is causing the problem. In February of 2004, they ran diagnostics and couldn't figure out the cause of the intermittent starting problems. They recommended we replace the alternator (at $500) just in case, with no guarantee that would solve the problem. Also, at that time they told us that all of our gaskets needed replacing. Not a common repair, but they told us that the Windstar gasket seals were commonly bad. Total bill: $1100. In March we still had starting problems and purchased the second new starter. Two days after that was installed, it started to sputter and quit again. Now what?! I was afraid to drive it for fear of what would go wrong next.

Yes! If ONLY this vehicle would run, it would have been a fantastic financial decision. But it is just too much trouble! I checked the consumer reports repair history records on the 1999 Windstar and found that besides electrical and fuel system problems, it now has worse than average repair records for the transmission. Knowing this, I know that even IF the technicians (after more diagnostics fees) COULD figure out what is causing our intermittent starting problems, once we fixed that, would we soon have to put in a new transmission???

This is ONLY a four and a half year old vehicle. We should not have to put up with this.

The trade in value on our four and a half year old 1999 Windstar which originally cost $21,000 (with 50,000 miles) is only $6000. Do you know why? Because of supply and demand. The market knows that 99 Windstars are not well made. Do you know that the price of used Honda Odysseys or Toyota Siennas of similar years and mileage are? At least $10,000 more. They are perceived to be worth more because they ARE worth more.

I just purchased a base model 2004 Toyota Sienna. It was used as a rental vehicle for 8 months and has 20,000 miles on it. I paid $22,000 for it -- the same price that I paid for my 1999 Ford Windstar four and a half years ago.

Only time will tell whether this turns out to be a better financial investment, but I believe that there is no way that it COULD possibly be a worse move than we made when we bought the Windstar. Believe me. I did NOT want to buy this new van. I desperately wanted to be able to drive our 1999 Ford Windstar for over 100,000 miles. I DID NOT want another car payment. But sadly, it was out of my control. I bought a lemon and was tired of throwing good money after bad. I had to cut my losses and invest in a more reliable vehicle. I see that many people are selling their used Toyota Siennas and Honda Odyssey's with 160,000 miles on them for $6000 - $8000. Can you believe that? With 160,000 miles on them, they are still perceived as being a better value than my 1999 Ford Windstar.

Yes. Millionaires DO drive Honda Odysseys. You CAN buy a base model Odyssey or Sienna with low mileage for the SAME price as a NEW Ford Winstar. I only wish that I had done this the first time. You get what you pay for. So, please, if you see a used 1999 Ford Windstar with only 50,000 miles on it for sale for $7500 (what the dealer will charge to re-sell mine), think twice! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Think about what a new $1600 transmission or a $400 starter or a $400 fuel pump every other year will do to your net purchase price.


Amount Paid (US$): 22000
Condition: New
Model Year: 1999
Model and Options: LX