Faults:

Replaced over the years:

Timing belt, alternator, starter, front struts, ball joint, a few batteries, both bumpers, hood and trunk.

General Comments:

Bought this car 10 years ago as a starter for my daughter back in L.A.

She got in a pretty bad accident after few months and the insurance company fixed the bumpers, hood and trunk. We moved to Denver Colorado after two years and she kept driving it for another three years till her husband was rear ended on I-25 and the car was totaled. I replaced myself the rear bumper and trunk, got it painted and gave it to my younger daughter who had just started driving at that time. After few months she burned the tranny and I decided to get back the car, fix it and keep it for myself.

Last summer I replaced the original front shocks, ball joint tie rods ends, fix the leaking oil pan, water pump, head cover gasket, and probably I spent around 350-400 on parts doing the labor myself. Despite all these problems, the car always started and never got my kids or me stranded.

Not the cutest or most comfy, but reliable and easy to work on at low expenses.

Faults:

Trunk lock cylinder was a bit loose, sun visors and headliner starting to go.

General Comments:

I bought this car a month ago and sold it soon afterwards. I had previously owned a 2000 ZX2 with the double overhead cam engine and automatic; it had 35k. It had a bad vibration at idle that the dealer refused to fix... even though it was under warranty... and this single overhead cam had it to a lesser degree. Both cars were automatic. I thought the ZX2 rode a bit bouncy and rubbery... and this sedan rode exactly the same. Both cars were noisy on the road, with engine drone despite the low RPM and overdrive. Both did handle well... but the sedan seemed just as good as the ZX2... took curves with no lean to speak of.

The sun visors and headliner were starting to go I think... and the trunk lock cylinder seemed a bit loose in its hole... was not sure how to tighten it up. The one I just bought and sold... the 1999 LX sedan had given the previous owner a time with the shifter not working... he had it done twice. I had no issues with it.

The bouncy ride, droning engine, and tinny sounding driver's door closing were my only real dislikes. I own a 2000 Cavalier with 204k and liked it better than the Escort... so I sold a super clean low mileage car and kept the high mileage car because it rode better, was quieter, and for me was more comfortable. I guess I have to stay away from Escorts, because my tush says it does not like the ride!