Faults:

To get it through the first MOT:

Welding, Exhaust, Handbrake cable, Headlight switch and two new tires.

Then the fan belt went, luckily not far from home!

My next MOT, was just some welding.

It hates the cold weather!

Has a few rust spots, but they are easily rubbed down and re-painted.

I've had to use my electronics knowledge to fix the wiper switch and the heater for the rear windscreen.

General Comments:

Bearing in mind that the car had been sat in a garage for 5 years before I got it, I'm quite happy with the quality.

The interior has quite obviously aged, the dash has a few scrapes, the seats have a bit of water damage and I've had to put a steering wheel cover on to stop my hands sticking to the rubber. But it's my first car, and I love it!

When it's warm, it accelerates nicely, and can pull away from traffic lights faster than some newer cars!

Faults:

Always had cooling problems. Car woull overheat.

General Comments:

Great first car. I purchased this car from the dealer the first 10 miles was a test drive. It was cheap and dependable wile in school.

Faults:

Timing belt went out after 58,000 miles.

Speed sensor went out at 59043.6 miles.

Cruise control has never worked since I have owned the car.

General Comments:

This is a very inexpensive car.

Great gas mileage. Approximately 35 miles per gallon.

For the engine size, the car has some get up and go.

The absence of rear seats make the cargo area perfect for larger items.

Handles great in all seasons. Especially winter. Perfect for snow covered roads.

However, the ceiling is rather low and injuries to the head may occur.

Faults:

I paid $300 United States dollars for this escort and it was well spent. It went through a map sensor, a set of tires, a starter, and a headlight switch in less than three years! Not too bad, one problem I do have recently is that it warms up and dies on me (distributor) I'm thinking. but well worth the time and money.

General Comments:

The car runs awesome at high speeds 80 + mph!! a little shy on the handling, but what ever!

Faults:

Melted fuel pump relay (£32 from Fords or £10 from a breakers yard).

Snapped rear tie arm (£52 from Fords).

Alternator failure (£36 local motorists shop).

Drivers door central locking failed (2 hours to locate and re-wire door looms).

Squeaky boot locking catch (2 minutes and 4 inches of electrical tape).

Worn front wheel bearings (yet to be replaced).

Track control arm bushing worn resulting in worn tread on the inside tire edge (bushings to be replaced with poly bushes).

Off side brake caliper sticking resulting in a warped brake disk and an annoying squeak and grinding noise when coming to a halt (Caliper replaced with a fully reconditioned unit £36 pounds and brake disks, both sides replaced with Ebc turbo groove disks and green stuff pads).

Finally turbo oil seals worn therefore blowing oil through the inlet manifold, greatly reducing power by about 40 bhp and loads of torque (turbo being replaced next week with an added -31 actuator).

General Comments:

The majority of these problems are general wear and tear, but some are due to the fact that the car is highly modified.

The car used to be a show/sound off car so it is in immaculate condition, and it still turns heads at 16 years old!!!

The car has had the following modifications; Piper cam, ported and polished head, Scorpion straight through 3 inch exhaust, Chipped ECU, running 1 bar/ 15psi of boost pressure, Pipercross induction filter, bleed valve, Samco silicon hoses, Turbo XS blow off valve (very load), Nomad Racing boost gauge, Ebc brakes, 90 spec interior, bumpers and spoiler, fully de-locked, smoothed bonnet, Antera 145 alloys, Clifford full closure alarm, Toad Power key transponder immobilizer. To cope with all the extra power adjustable Koni suspension had been fitted, this greatly improves handling and stance of the car, but the ride quality suffers as the ride is so firm.

I would recommend one of these flying machines to anyone who likes a real driving experience and loves attention! If this isn't what you are looking for in a car, then opt for a Ford Mondeo or similar.