Faults:

We discovered hesitation uphill was due to carburettor wear.

Thermostat seized open was replaced at time of purchase.

Besides rust on sills noticed at purchase we subsequently found through -metal corrosion on upper interior boot floor panel.

General Comments:

The OHV Popular 1300 model (basic) Escort is a wonderful buy at its 2003 price point of around £300.

It was conceived as a value buy for the eighties.. this value shines through ever more readily today.

I take severe issue with the worlds oldest mass manufacturer... the fact that they saw fit to produce and market a semi-sealed (V.V type) carburetor assisted motor WITHOUT FACTORY FITMENT OF AN INLINE FUEL FILTER speaks volumes why until only very recently they and their overall reputation were in such doldrums in the European market.

The Escort is a throwaway car today partly due to enormous cost in the replacement of the carb which must be done to a larger number of those traveling beyound 60000 miles... partly also because of the high level of rot that will pervade any poorly conceived and protected vehicle chassis such as the Escort has. It is an under-body design full of sludge traps.

Faults:

Warped front disks. Fixed by a garage for minimal cost - one caliper bracket was found to be broken at this time and was replaced with one from a scrap yard.

Rusty sills needed welding for MOT.

Upper alternator bracket sheared off at ~150k miles replaced with one from a scrap yard. Access to the bracket mounting bolt necessitated fuel injection pump removal and hence was ~£100 job for the garage to do.

General Comments:

Interior very basic for a modern car.

Very noisy engine, especially when idling and cold.

Forget about overtaking, performance is abysmal.

BUT outstanding cheap motoring, phenomenal 60+ mpg achieved with steady cruising on A roads. (Much cheaper to run than my current Mondeo TD)

Faults:

Distributor blew after doing donuts in the snow. Cost me $400.

Transmission slips in third gear. Cost me $150 to get it fixed.

Leaks brake and transmission fluid.

Air conditioner broke.

General Comments:

The seats are very small and uncomfortable.

It runs choppy.

The dashboard shakes and vibrates when accelerating after a complete stop.

However it starts right up on a cold morning.

Great on gas. $10 gets me through a week.

Faults:

Transmission blew up at 133,000 km.

General Comments:

This car is great if you're an older, laid back driver. I don't think it's really a car for younger people because repair costs are heavy.

Faults:

This car has been excellent from day one.

Apart from the alternator wearing out at 100,000 miles, which only cost £35 for a new one, the only things I have had to replace are regular service items such as tires, exhaust and brake pads.

General Comments:

For a 1.3, this car is fairly quick at accelerating clocking in at 12 second 0-60 mph.

The interior is still in immaculate condition.

Keep up regular servicing, and this car will prove to be really reliable. I have drove this car huge distances with no hassle and a comfortable ride.

All in all a great buy for £100!!

Faults:

Just a general service kept this brilliant car out of trouble.

Alternator at 106,000.

New exhaust and gearbox seals, ignition modules at about 105,000.

Cheap to do all of that.

General Comments:

Absolutely stunning car for performance and looks; all round brilliant.

It's true about the Escort bug, once you drive one for a few miles, you will never be without one.

I got the bug, and I'm pleased to say I still have it.

I bought this XR3i, and fell in love with it, until someone made me a huge offer on it that I couldn't resist, but now deeply regret, and would pay the world to get it back.