Faults:

Rear window winders inoperative.

Electrical drain on battery, replaced battery and alternator and traced fault by auto electrician, problem solved.

Mostly wear and tear items replaced, exhaust fell off leaving an awful noise, replaced back box. Brakes all round at an MOT was expensive, but acceptable at age and mileage. Engine had a small oil leak, nothing serious. Cam belt changed. Small coolant leak, used rad weld on radiator, problem solved.

Seemed to blow bulbs often, always replacing rear tail lights.

General Comments:

My first car and what good memories. This was the most common sight on the roads in the UK in the 1990's and early 2000's. Escorts were everywhere. After passing my test I saw this car for a good price locally, and my father advised me that it would be a good first car. To be fair, apart from the wear and tear problems above, it never let me down and was respectable as a first car. Most of my mates had Fiesta's with 1.1 engines, so I had bragging rights with my 1.6 Escort.

When I bought the car it had alloy wheels and spoiler, dark green metallic, looked smart, though this basic 1.6 LX will never be an XR3i or Cosworth. The 1.6 engine was better performing though than under powered 1.4 and 1.3 units, so I was happy with the car. Averaged 30 something miles per gallon, I dare say you could get close to 40 on a long drive. Gear change felt a little rough sometimes, but the handling was OK, and I found the seats comfortable enough. Interior wise LX is mid range, had electric windows in the front but that was all. Grey dull plastics everywhere, typical 90s Ford.

When it was 10 years old and had over 100K miles on it, my father advised me to sell it. He said it could be unreliable after this age and mileage, but you could say that about any car. I looked after it and it never gave me any major problems, and I suspect it would easily have lasted another couple of years. A rare sight on the roads now, you will not see many. Basic models did not hold value well, but nowadays rare sportier models now are going for thousands on eBay and other auction sites. Would love to buy one for nostalgia, maybe next summer :)

Faults:

Very little.

Part of the plastic bumper chipped away when a basketball hit it.

It had fading, normal though for a 10+ year old car.

It had those automatic seat belts (must have been a fad of the time), but those were easily unclipped, in the event of an accident.

General Comments:

Amazingly stout!! Very well built, and never shuddered in front of a dirt road.

Superior gas fuel economy (32 city, 35-36 highway).

Pretty quick given its motor.

Unquestionable dependable.

Remarkably comfortable.

Made great use of its space (with the seat folded down, I could carry my upright bass I played in an orchestra).

It was my great grandma's car, which she wanted me to have when I turned 16. She bought it in '96, and it stayed with her until she passed away and I started driving it in '06. I would still have it today, but I was rear-ended in Nov. '08. I was stopped at an intersection when a (then) late model Chevy Silverado hit me. It was traveling in excess of 40 mph I was told. But even though my Escort was totaled, it started right up and drove home without missing a beat.

Tough, tough little car.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, PLEASE BRING THE ESCORT BACK!!