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Ford is realizing some short-term savings by failing to fix its notorious engine problems. But as this epistle from Preston shows, it is making some long-term enemies.

Preston writes:
We have been reading about the head gasket problems with the Ford 3.8 engine for years. We have experienced the same problems with 2 of our cars with these engines. We are only keeping these cars for one reason and that is so we have a basis for telling our story.

We have replaced both head gaskets 4 times on my wife's 87 mini LTD and one is gone again. The car only has 56,541 miles on it, my wife is in her mid 60s, drives little, doesn't do much city driving as we live 35 mikes from town and never uses the air as we are in a very cool higher mountain area. She drives it to town about twice a month to shop, other than that it is seldom driven at all.

We have also had the same problems with my 89 Mustang. It has 43,101 miles on it. It has had both head gaskets replaced when it had about 34,000 miles on it and now has another one gone.

My son had the same problems with a Sable and a Mustang. He has the Mustang painted bright YELLOW with lemon signs painted on the rear and both sides, he hands out flyers to anyone that asks about it with his story about 3 head gaskets in 61,000 miles on his 97 mustang and 2 head gaskets and a new engine in 54,000 miles on his wife's 96 Sable plus all about my problems with both of our vehicles. Her Sable has also had the transmission replaced.

He lives in Las Vegas, NV., is is business and uses the Mustang in business so he can have it seen often and by other business people. He said he will keep it for several more years even if he has to replace the engine again just so he can get the word out about Ford and their customer service attitude.

My Mustang sits on the main highway in front of my farm everyday with a 4 ft by 8 ft sign on mounted top of it that says ANOTHER LEMON FROM FORD. I have often been asked about the sign and that gives me a chance to tell our stories. I tow it to the road every morning about 7:00 and leave it until about dark.

I also leave one of our old tractors hooked up to it to attract attention to the fact that we can't drive it.

I am 72 years old, have been a Ford owner since the 40s. We definitely will never own another Ford product and are making sure all our friends and neighbors know why. We know for sure of 11 people that we have talked out of buying anything built by ford.

I am a Planning Commissioner in this county and know a hell of a lot of people, I always find a way of bringing up the subject so I can tell my story.

We have asked Preston for a photo of his Ford hitched up to his tractor. It would be a great addition to the Rogues Gallery.

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