If you're looking for reliability, I would definately suggest a Manual Transmission. The V6 MTX combo is a blast! My 95 is/was a great car, and had no major problems besides the known waterpump issue. The Auto Tranny on these cars seems to a bit of an issue, but there are far less problems with the manuals.
The Duratec V6 won a bunch of awards for being a great engine. There seem to be very few non SVT related engine problems, especially with good maintenance. The SVTs appear to suffer from ocassional oil starvation. There isn't really a design change between them, but they are probably driven alot harder than regular V6s.
After that, most other maintenance and repairs can easily be completed by someone mechanically inclined, and for a fraction of the cost at a dealership. This website alone has saved me thousands of dollars by instructing you how to do most maintenance and repairs on your own, and helping you get discounted Ford OEM parts!
Good Luck. If you get it, this website can become addictive. You've been warned!
