1987 Ford Escort L 1.6 CVH petrol

Summary:

VERY reliable, but needs security

Faults:

Wheel Bearing faulty, Replaced. downpipe snapped off, replaced with an ORIGINAL FORD downpipe. Gearbox has blown, Pig of a job to change! and the CV bot has split. Head gasket and Stem seals take a sip of oil now and then, but I can put up with it. Broken into 4 Times!!!

Engine Pinks like hell! an suggestions?

Has been converted to unleaded.

General Comments:

This estate car is a great runner, I bought it for £200 after my Orion Rotted away and failed the MOT. I have put my 14" XR3 alloys on her now along with 2 front Goodyear Eagle NCT3 and the car has hadled like it is on rails!

The 1.6 Carb engine is economical if you don't use the second choke, covered 140 mile on 1/4 of a tank! Accelerates well on the motorway 70-90 no problems at all, 90-110 was just as good. Had a performance exhaust on the car, but it was stolen overnight! So I put a standard back on it. The engine is well serviced and there is no tappett noise from it whatsoever! These cars are VERY easy to steal. Broken into 4 times so if you do intend to buy one of these cars, get familiar with replacing the quarter lights. My record is 5 minutes 22 seconds! My orion got broken into 12 times and stolen twice in the 2 years I had it.

FIT A KROOKLOCK and if leaving it somewhere overnight, disconnect the 12v supply to the ignition coil. (caught the little turds trying to nick it and they never got it started) now serving 3 months probation and for a 14 year old being banned for driving for 6 months... anyway.

Solid car, only rust is taking hold on the doors and small amount on the floor, will have that sorted soon.

Tons of room in the boot, just don't expect it to go fast!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st October, 2004

14th Sep 2005, 07:23

I think this review summarises the state of British society as much as the car.

Having just moved from an area like yours, you have my deepest sympathy. Oh, and just in case you decide to go into debt and buy a more modern car with better security, the little darlings will turn their attention from trying to steal it, to trying to wreck it. They'll run keys down the side of it, snap the aerial off, and bend the wiper arms.

UKP 3,000 worth of damage (to our Fiesta for chrissakes) in 12 months. The police never bothered to come out, never mind catch the little wasters. Beyond giving us a crime reference number, and offering us helpful advice like "don't park the car on the road" (what do we do, drive it into the house?), they were a total waste of time.

1987 Ford Escort Popular Plus 1.3 HCS

Summary:

A bargain banger which can be neglected and still be reliable

Faults:

Steering arms.

Rust in the rear arches.

Rust in the boot-lid.

Worn driver's seat.

General Comments:

These cars can be neglected to a point, for example mine recently had an oil change, the first in at least 40,000 miles, but before it still ran perfectly and started first time every time.

The best way to avoid the common rust problem is a good thick coat of rust proof paint (Tekaloid).

When buying a mk4 Escort check the rear arches for rot.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th June, 2001

1987 Ford Escort RS 1.6 turbo petrol

Summary:

RS Turbos are the dogs danglies

Faults:

Nothing apart from a damaged alloy wheel from hitting a pot hole in the road.

General Comments:

It's a cracking car with great performance, the only thing that I'd change it for is an Escort Cosworth!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th March, 2001

1987 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet 1.6i

Summary:

A little gem

Faults:

Vacuum advance unit.

Water pump (leak revealed on cambelt change).

Poor MPG.

Heater matrix.

Battery.

Failed central locking (caused by a cowboy alarm fitter).

General Comments:

At first I had poor MPG (30) so I called out a mobile tune-up specialist who diagnosed that the Vac advance unit had failed. After replacement, together with new leads and a full service and oil flush it now runs excellent returning 40 MPG on my daily commute to work.

Roll on Summer!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd November, 2000

20th Mar 2001, 09:17

I wish mine did even 30 mpg.

In reply to 20th Mar 2001, 09:17

24th Jul 2023, 14:59

30 mpg or more out of any 1980's petrol car is good going, the reviewer is doing well to get 40 mpg (if genuinely calculated correctly) from a car from this time.

35 - 37 mpg sounds a more realistic average for a 1.6 petrol Escort from the time period. I had a 1.8 then a 2.0 petrol Sierra in 1988, and both did 35 mpg at very best motorway cruising. 40 mpg might be possible with an endless road and cruise set at 60 mph...