1993 Ford Escort GT review from North America

Rear brake caliper seized, requiring replacement.

Driver's side window regulator broke, requiring replacement.

Out of the box, the 2nd generation Ford Escort GT is a very competent performer. For the enthusiast, it is best used to surprise unsuspecting import owners that an Escort can also be a fast car and worthy of respect.

For the utility-minded, the Escort also benefits from its hatchback design. While a hatchback is inherently less rigid than a fixed rear window, the added usability really shines. I have carried landscaping timbers, drywall, and fencing material in my 93 EGT. Try that with a Honda Civic...

Reliability is the shining point of the EGT. During my ownership of the EGT, my wife also drove a 1993 LX model. The two could not have been further apart. While the LX suffered from repeatedly heater core and electrical gremlins, the EGT displayed its Mazda heritage. In 3 years of ownership, and 54,000 miles, the only item I had to replace on the EGT was the right rear caliper, at a cost of $105 plus the pad material. This is a part sourced from the Mazda Miata so better check your local auto store to make sure it's in stock. Only took 2 days to locate, and then bolted on very easily.

Despite its dual-purpose (fun and utility), I repeated flogged the car, running it up to its 7000 rpm redline, never once misfiring or showing signs of complaint. In the handling department, the EGT handles great as stock, but can easily be upgraded with a variety of strut brands and springs. Custom work on the rear suspension also helps to dial out understeer, making the car more 'tail-happy' and generally increasing the fun quotient when pushing through corners.