1993 Ford Escort L 1.8 diesel

Summary:

Economical, cheap repairs, but a bit slow

Faults:

Head gasket.

Timing belt.

Track rod ends.

Whole new brake set.

Alternator.

Ball joints.

Driver's side ball bearing & hub knuckle.

Rear engine mounting.

General Comments:

Extremely economical. Engine will go on for miles and miles, but the other running parts are needing to be replaced at the 130K miles mark! Worth it though, since I save loads on fuel expenses and the engine is reliable.

When I can afford it, though, I will get rid of it in favour of something with some power! Aaarrrggghhh! So slow!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th January, 2001

1993 Ford Escort LX 1.4

Summary:

A load of rubbish

Faults:

Within the first year it had to be recalled as it cut out whilst travelling at speeds over 60mph.

Rear wiper works intermittently.

Repeated electrical faults.

Two alternators.

Four batteries.

Two exhausts replaced.

Front bushes replaced twice.

New injector.

Driver's side door lock does not activate the central locking or unlock the passenger side door.

Rear passenger footwell fills with water when raining.

Rear wheel arch is rusting.

General Comments:

Until reading other reviews on this site I thought I was alone in my problems with Ford, now I realise that it is their bad manufacturing and not my lack of care of the vehicle as I have been told by Ford.

If anyone knows the length of the warranty for bodywork I would love to know as Ford are very vague about this area.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 30th December, 2000

19th Oct 2002, 11:37

My Escort has problems with the Central Locking. I am told by my mechanic, that this is due to the circuit that runs through the hinges on the hatchback door. I have cleaned these and sprayed them with WD40 but still no go. Does anyone have any other solutions?

22nd Feb 2005, 16:25

You may have gotten a "bad one",but I doubt it. I have the same car, my family relies on it and it's never let us down. I'm now looking at a Ford Focus, because the Escort has been so true to us. Our Escort is just a little too beat up now with 120k on the odometer to keep much longer as a primary vehicle. We have discussed keeping it in the family as a second car to run to work in and stuff. Your car was probably the victim of poor care, I feel sorry for that machine.

14th Mar 2010, 09:59

I agree with the comment before mine. In fact it's the same with all cars.

How a car is treated throughout its life is how it's going to be when its older. So if a person barely cleans their car and hardly ever services it, it's going to be rusty and break down a lot more than a car that is always serviced and cleaned regularly.

I have had 3 Escorts. A mk4,mk5 and a mk6. They were mildly looked after and needed some work doing to them because they were not properly looked after from the start. Now all are well and on the road with their new owners.

1993 Ford Escort Carnival 1.3

Summary:

Sound as a pound little runaround

Faults:

Just the usual Escort stuff for this model and year.

Indicator stalk wouldn't return - swapped by place where I bought it.

Blower/heater doesn't work - being fixed as we speak (3/7/00) - fuse box needs replacing, dealer only part, unless you get to a scrappies for one. Main dealers want up to £280 to supply and fit, independent garage £206, Motor Electrical garage £100 (fitter had a spare). Hmm, big price difference, but you can tell it's a dealer part!

General Comments:

Good solid car - learned this in a bump last year.

Cheap to run, cheap to insure, OK drive. Lacking in street cred, but who cares - at least it's a car - and I know it'll start first time, every time in the morning.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd August, 2000