The Mark does have a reputation, I have always read that it had poor reliability, but we have had 5 of them and the one we have now has almost 110K and I would have to say they have been very reliable and cheap to keep. Other than ball joints I haven't spent anything on any of them. However, the miles are getting up there and eventually there will be issues no matter how well the car is made or how well you keep it. I just don't know when that will be, right now the car looks and drives like the day we bought it.
On the TC touring, I think this could be a decent replacement, has all the things we are use to having, like the keyless entry, I couldn't imagine carrying around keys. The thing I like about the Touring is what makes it like the Mark, horrible in the winter. Which may not be an issue, because we have always had a winter car for that reason. I have spoken to the guy with the 01 Touring and he has an offer and will probably sell it before we can get down there to look at it, about 3 1/2 hours and my wife doesn't have a day off in the near future. I have driven a 2000 touring and I liked it and I think she will too, I tried to get her to drive a newer TC at the dealer and she didn't want to, with memories of the earlier TCs. If the 03 plus has the same suspension that is good news, but HP will probably be an issue, she is a bit spoiled in that regard. I do believe if I can get her to drive a touring, she would like it.
Thanks
Barry