About as much fun as you can have for the money
Very little - just normal service items.
Required a new starter motor shortly after purchase.
A quick and very tunable pocket rocket.
Just make sure you buy a nice standard one (there are some out there) that hasn't been thrashed.
And keep an eye out for rust...
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th December, 2005
Exhaust manifold failed at 98,000 miles, replaced and new one split soon after (manufacturing fault).
Revs drop away and keeps stalling at lights on damp days.
Considering it was given to me for free I can't really complain. In first year ran like clockwork, albeit a slow clock. As time moves on I'm carefull who I try to overtake as it takes a while to get a full head of steam, especially up hill. Stearing quality leaves a lot to be desired and handling is rather rough, but all in all it keeps to the road and the AA generally only see me in the winter months!
Excellent bodywork, starting to show rust around rear wheel arches and a few chips, but generally still in good condition.
Quite cheap to run as I get it serviced at work, so OK in that respect.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th June, 2005
Reliable, fairly quick, but handling poor and looks dated
Brake drums, pads, discs, etc. required replacing at 91,500 miles.
Offside rear wheel bearings went at 93,000 miles on motorway resulting in need to replace stub axle.
Nearside rear wheel bearings went at 95,000 miles on motorway resulting in need to replace stub axle.
Oil blows from filler cap (needed a couple of pints of oil every 1,000 miles).
New clutch required at approximately 110,000 miles.
Roof leaked due to drainage channel becoming blocked and sunroof tray overflowing from 100,000 miles.
New rear shock absorbers required at 132,000 miles.
Body corrosion would have required serious welding at 132,000 miles, thus vehicle was scrapped.
This was a good reliable car (apart from the wheel bearings wearing just after purchase) and never failed to start even in the coldest/wettest of weather.
General performance was good, especially acceleration in second gear.
However, the handling was always a bit suspect and didn't feel that safe at above 90mph (though would do 100+). Also tended to pull to one side under braking.
Insurance group is high for the specification, as it is not much different from the 1.6 LX (same engine/trim) apart from 3-door and spoiler.
The cabin and general design of the car has become dated by today's standards.
Having bought the car for only GBP500 in 2001, I was able to get 40,000+ miles out of this for only slightly higher than average servicing/maintenance costs.
Corrosion became a problem in the latter years (especially the foot-wells and the rear wheel arches), leading to welding work required.
The car was scrapped this week as the MOT would have required GBP600+ of work to pass.
I would buy another, but opted for a 1994 VW Golf Driver when replacing as I felt like a change and Escorts of that age all seem to suffer from corrosion.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th October, 2004
Sporty looks, Not so Sporty performance
Water pipe split causing car to over heat and blow head gasket.
New breaks all around.
Lights needed attention.
Fuel tank rusted and leaking.
Finally engine threw a piston killing it off for good.
A nice little sporty looking car, but has not guts what so ever and you will be over taken by old ladies on their electric shopping carts are the lights and for all that poor performance still expensive to insure.
Fuel usage is good with about 500 motorway miles from a full tank.
As with all fords this age was rather rusty, uncomfortable and noisy to the point that I was not sad to see it go.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 18th June, 2004