1994 Ford Escort LXi 16 valve review from UK and Ireland
"Good all-rounder!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The car appears to go through Catalytic Converters at a faster than expected rate. In the 5 years that the car has been owned by my family, we have gone through 3 - this is much higher than normal. This costs in excess of £180 per throw.
The door skins have rusted very badly. A friend assures me that this is due to the fact that the car is a matt colour (white). Had it been a metallic finish, this wouldn't have occurred as the metallic finish has additional layers of lacquer on the paintwork.
The ball joints on the front wheels have worn and now make a really annoying clicking noise when on full lock. This problem is not too expensive to rectify and is not an MOT issue.
The drive shaft is on its way out - this is not too expensive to repair although is common on Escorts.
The steering rack is starting to show signs of excess 'play'. This would cost about £180 for a new one or about £80 for a good second hand replacement. This is an MOT issue.
General comments?
This car has been dependable, reliable and simply did the job.
The great thing is that you can go out in the morning (including very cold and wet ones!) and the car will start and just get on with taking you from A to B.
It's a comfortable ride for up to 5 adults.
The car has power there for when you need it.
The car can go for a long time between servicing (this particular car has been serviced once a year/16,000 miles). Service costs are low (from independent garages and dealers) and parts are readily available and reasonably priced.
Many parts needed for this car can now be obtained second hand from scrap yards etc and are perfectly fine for most needs.
Fuel economy has always been very good although gets less efficient when approaching a service and as the car ages.
The interior is tough and shows no signs of wear even at this high mileage. The interior still looks modern and not at all dated.
The car has been a great servant - it just keeps going and going - no matter how much it is pushed, punished and neglected - it doesn't die!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 35000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 155000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 26th April, 2003 |