Faults:

I have been very lucky with this car.

I have replaced the front brakes. (No big deal)

I need to replace the stereo and speakers. (No big deal)

I need to replace the tires. (No big deal)

General Comments:

This car has been very reliable for me and my family.

I traded off a 1987 Mercury Topaz GS for this car over six years ago and I still love to drive it. It always starts (short of a dead battery), and still handles as good as the day I bought it. The only problem I see is it's small sized cabin. My father-in-law is 6' 2" and has a hard time driving it. But for the average size guy, it's got more than enough room.

We have driven this car hard. Ugly winters without washing, and plenty of hitting curbs. One year we didn't need it at all and it sat outside without shade. Once we needed it again, it fired right up as if it had just been ran. Aside from the basic wear and tear, this car still looks/runs like the day I bought it.

Faults:

I just bought this car. I had the tie rods end done and had a fuel pump put in. Not complaining in that I figured I was going to have to put some money in it.

My problem is that the temp gauge was broken when I got it and then the check engine soon light came on shortly thereafter.

Had that taken care of by the boys at Goodyear, or so I thought. Turns out my temp gauge is not working again and the check engine soon light is on.

Anybody have any experience with a problem like this? Here's the kicker. I've driven about 1,000 miles with the check engine light on, and everything seems fine.

Gas mileage is okay, no funny noises, handling good. Is it possible the sensor is the problem, and not something else?

Any help would be appreciated.

I like the car so far except my temp gauge doesn't work and I don't feel like pouring money into it if it is just a "quirk" of this car.

General Comments:

Car handles good and is fun to drive. Often get 30mpg. Decent looks.

Love the tight turning radius.

Decent room for being small as it is.

Interior is kind of chintzy, but functional.

Faults:

Struts were bad when I bought the car. I have yet to replace them.

I performed a complete tune-up at 105000.

I flushed the transmission fluid at 105000.

Drivers side caliper seized up at 110000.

Thermostat went out at 115000. I replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses, thermostat, timing belt and water pump as preventative maintenance. I did it myself so it only cost $300 total instead of $1000 at a garage.

Pre-cat oxygen sensor went out at 118000.

My #1 cylinder has fouled out a spark plug, but I have yet to determine the cause.

General Comments:

I used to have a 93 Honda Civic lx 5spd that would get better than 40 mpg MIXED DRIVING CITY AND HIGHWAY. That was a tough act to follow. My Escort barely holds a candle to that miser. She would be a great car if little things didn't keep going wrong. I understand that brakes and thermostats and oxygen sensors are all so common that they can be considered general maintenance, however the fact that they are all breaking on me within a short time makes me question my car's overall reliability. I love the gas mileage. I can get 30-40 on the highway and 20-30 city. The seats are not comfortable at all after more than 2 hours of constant driving. Everything feels cheaply made and paper thin. I'm afraid to drive it hard because it doesn't have the solid feel of some more expensive compact cars. I would seriously have to think long and hard before purchasing another Ford product. I love working on my car, but should I have to be in the garage every other week for something stupid?