Faults:

Central locking drivers side jamming.

Lower arm bushes gone.

General Comments:

My Ford Escort GTi 16v 1.8L as standard was slow, sluggish and rubbish... but after spending a few quid (and only half way through my mods), I have got a huge improvement to the performance.

After reading through some comments... god these people! Saxos owners... NO... No chance in hell of keeping up with me...

Yes.. I can do 147mph (but that performance didn't come cheap) 0 - 60 is around 6 to 7 seconds. (again.. didn't come cheap) As for the rest of the car... It's a Ford... what do you expect?

Mods I've done... Exhaust system changed to Rage 3.5 inch back box with a Stainless steel de-cat. Sparks, Platinum with performance HT leads. Bluefin chip. 2.0L throttle body (Mondeo). Cams 2.0L Mondeo. Suspension lowered 40 mils. 2.0L fuel pump (Mondeo), and I have stripped the car out of all non essential items, and fitted bucket seats and harnesses.

My BHP reading is 195bhp, and the car's weight is 980kgs. (Yeah I did say non essential items... and I included the central locking, electric windows, sun roof, rear seats, door panels, floor mats, rear view mirror, seat belts (I have harnesses), Stereo, roof liner, engine bonnet liner, ABS unit, amongst other things.

I have video proof of me winning against a BMW M3, Toyota Celica, Ford Focus ST, Golf GTi amongst other cars.

Bad sides... It's a hard ride, smells of petrol, noisy, and my tyres need changing every 4000 miles... but.. as long as I beat you... I smile.

Faults:

CV gaiter split.

Revs would go up and down sometimes, which was fixed by spraying carb cleaner into where the idle control valve was.

Rear chassis rail had some corrosion.

Rear sill and wheel arch had some corrosion.

General Comments:

This was my 3rd Escort, but my first MK6.

It was a great car with a reconditioned engine, and it had blue metallic paint.

Engine was smooth and reliable (better than the Nissan I had before).

Drove lovely, and always started no matter what the temperature!

Buy a good Escort and you will be chuffed.

This one came with aircon, alloys, CD player, sunroof etc as standard.

I upgraded the dials to white with a rev counter & blue illumination, and changed the front grille to chrome.

Looked the part, and is now serving well for the new keepers in Haverhill.

Faults:

Fuse 16 keeps blowing; I've replaced the fuse, but as soon as I turn the key, the fuse blows, and I have tested the fuse slot with the ignition lights on, and get no voltage.

Fuse 16 is connected to the quick start valve and the engine management.

Any suggestions as I have spent a lot on this car, with full power flow system and a new 1.8 Zetec engine, lowered springs, 17 inch dynamics with pirrelli run flats, and a straight through boost exhaust system.

General Comments:

I love it; seriously quick, and a real head turner. Golf GTi's are for old women.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

I have bought a 1998 Escort GTi with only 47k on the clock. The car is mint and totally standard, right down to the radio. I have always liked Escorts, and I prefer them to the Focus because of the styling.

The Fiat Punto rear end styling on the Ford Focus is not my cup of tea, the Escort rear end looks a thousand times better with the spoiler. I have previously owned two 1997 Escort 1.6 16v Zetec engined cars. This 1.8 GTi feels slightly quicker, but nothing to write home about.

I just love the way the car still looks in 2009, considering the Escort 95 design is 14 years old. The alloys and side skirts really make the car look nice.

I can't understand why Escort GTi owners wish to spoil their cars by adding on silly modifications. Just appreciate the natural beauty of the car. I would pay a lot more for a car which is totally standard compared to one which has a bolt on turbo, uprated suspension, wheels, engine mods etc.

I have paid £1400 for mine with 47k on the clock and not a spot of rust in sight. Original Ford radio and mine has the factory options of ABS, air con, sunroof, Ford CD changer under front passenger seat, original unmarked wheels, everything looks as it should be, and I will keep it this way.

Overall a lot of car for the money in my opinion, and I hope one day Ford see the light and bring back the Escort and drop the Focus.