I bought my 1997 Mercury Sable LS with the 24 dohc motor on Dec 2000. The car had only 66,000 miles and 1 owner. On 2001 the motor had 67,400, the coil pack went out, then on July 18th 2002 with 68k I had my oil changed at a local oil shop. The light stayed on, so I had to have it towed to the Mercury dealer and fixed the problem, then got the car back.

1 week later I was driving to work and the oil light came on again so I pulled over to the side of the road then I decided to go down a side street to try to make it to my friends house. Halfway down the street, the car quit. The motor blew up with only 68,000 miles on it, so I walked down to my friend's house and I called the dealer to come and pick up my car. I am so grateful I bought the extended warranty. In Nov. 2002 my car was in the shop for 8 days and I had a car rental.

So I got the car back - now it has a 20,000 miles on a used 1999 Mercury 24 valve DHOC motor. Now after 20 years, I still own the car with 131,000 miles on the car, still driving it. My only complaint about the car was the motor and I had to replace motor mounts twice. I also replaced the radiator, water pump, coil pack, and started having a oil pan leak. I just watch the oil level. I'm replacing dome light switches. Since I don't drive the car much, I had the front disc brake pads done in '04. I still have half of the brake pads left

Update from Nov 24, 2020: Also in 2001, my turn signal flasher went out. I went to Ron Tonkin, dealer in Portland, and they replaced turn signal switch. I payed 105 dollar co payment. After driving to my place the turn signals went out again, so I went to a local parts store, bought the flasher and put it in under the dash. It fixed the problem, it also runs the hazard lights. And in 2019 my car would not start because of theft light on the dash kept thinking I am stealing my own car, towed it to my local shop they had to put a new ignition switch-locking part, which came with 2 keys which are coded. It just pops out of column and it fixed my problem. The car overheated on me, I had it towed to the shop, it was the water pump. Original water pumps have plastic fins, and they do wear out. That was around 105,000, but still driving my sable after 20 years.