I must be the luckiest Colt owner on earth. Bought an early model Series 80 ten years ago for $400. Put over 70,000 rounds through it and no failures attributible to the weapon-just crummy handloads. Low sights the only thing I ever had trouble with, but they were good enough to take out a feral dog at 30 yards with a penlite for illumination.
Just bought a 1991A1 Custom for $525, which had a steel mainspring housing and a Videcki steel long trigger. I replaced the barrel bushing for something tighter fitting ($17 wilson) and at 500+rounds, no failures attributile to the weapon-again, crummy handloads. The old one never broke or loosened a part except for a new recoil spring every 10K round just for insurance, and a barrel bushing every 25,000 rounds. I see everyone running to SA and Kimber and raving about how flawless they are, and I won't knock them because I have yet to own one, but I have seen several new Kimbers FTF at the local IDPA matches here, but never a Colt or SA. Love the finish on the Kimber, but the front slide serrations have got to go!