I bought the car, a 5 spd manual, used from a Ford dealer in the Fall of 2009 and I was to be 3rd owner. Loved it from the day I bought it. Never had an issue with it and it did everything I wanted: ie to drive long distances in comfort (adjustable lumbar support for the driver) and to be in a great looking car. That it did and in a way I'd always expected. Nice road manners and pretty low fuel consumption to boot. (I suppose the wind screen we bought from 'LoveTheDrive.com' in Coquitlam was the biggest single improvement for driving with the top down. Amazing). After 35 years of not really liking the looks of the car, the 'retro' styling of the S197 sold me the minute I saw it advertised (in the fall of 2004 for the 2005 year and beyond).