1999 Ford Escort SE Wagon review from North America
"Economical and reliable, if looked after"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
- replaced left outer tie rod @ 58000km under warranty
- repaired broken wires for rear defrost @ ~50000km
- rust on door pillars removed by body shop under warranty
- brakes (pad, rotors, etc) @ ~75000km
- replaced right front and left rear door actuators (for remote-controlled locks) @ 75000km
- replaced rear wiring and connects on back hatch.
General comments?
Overall this is a reliable little car. It's handling is predictable in snow and the specially ordered ABS works flawlessly. I agree that on long rides it's not the most comfortable car, but I find that the discomfort can be mitigated by using an after-market obus form.
The car uses between between 7L and 8.5L/100km, depending on the mix of highway to city driving.
The paint is not great -- we have many stone chips in different places. An aftermarket hood deflector has helped in this area. Also watch out for rust forming on door pillars, even if you rust-proof your vehicle.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 93000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 4th March, 2004 |