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:

Rear springs had to be replaced.

Transmission oil cooling lines were leaking around 50000 kms.

Parking brake actuating lever on one side started sticking, even while the parking brake is released. As a result, one of the back wheels dragged quite a bit while driving. One time, one of the back wheels locked right up while driving on an icy road, and the vehicle completely lost control as a result.

Idle mixture valve.

Timing belt 150000 kms.

Alternator 176000 kms.

Radiator fan motor 180000 kms.

Brake pads/shoes 160000 kms.

Battery 176000 kms.

Tires.

The automatic transmission was starting to hesitate to shift into overdrive by the time I got rid of it.

General Comments:

I've owned this car from the time it was brand new, and sold it about 2 years ago now. Overall it was a fairly good car and got reasonably good gas mileage. Besides routine maintenance, I never had any really serious problems with it.

The car was a bit gutless and had bland styling, but was a good cheap car. A few squeaks and rattles sometimes, but nothing major.

Faults:

Since I've purchased this car, I've had problems with it overheating. It won't start sometimes and it makes a loud embarrassing screeching sound, which til this day I haven't been able to fix. If anyone has any idea what it could be.. .please help.

General Comments:

This car has great horsepower (when it starts and is running), but it is highly unreliable... as you never know when it might or might not start.

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.