1988 Ford Escort 1300 Popular review from UK and Ireland
"Testimony to the fact that a great car cannot be built by accountants and marketeers alone"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
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.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 60000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Ballade |
| Date of Entry | 26th November, 2003 |