Faults:

Battery tray rotted away and now water fills up the passenger foot-well.

Interior lights come on when they feel like it. Usually banging on top of the dashboard makes them come on.

The central locking only opens 3/4 doors usually which is a pain.

The seats are the most uncomfortable I've ever had in a car. They are so low and make for a sitting on the floor-like feeling. My previous car, a Mk 4 Escort was far more comfortable.

The horn clogs-up with water and dirt as it is located under the front bumper.

General Comments:

This car is very reliable however, and seems to chug along no matter where.

The steering wheel is too thin and has no grip.

The radio (Ford 2006) is excellent, picks up hard to tune radio stations.

Unfortunately the model "LX" means "bare essentials" to other more respected companies like Toyota, Nissan and Honda.

Ford should learn that people are not stupid enough to pay far more for electric gadgets when other cars have had them for years.

This car may be slightly bigger than its predecessor, but fails in areas like comfort and practicality.

Faults:

The bearing in the water pump failed which resulted in a replacement water pump being fitted.

The windscreen water sprayer pipe became blocked and failed to work.

The flange started to make a squeaking noise.

General Comments:

The car is quite fast, but not a patch on a VTEC of a similar size, or even a 1.6 VTEC.

The interior is very comfortable, and the seats are excellent for standard seats.

Faults:

Rust around the fuel cap.

The alarm and immoboliser switch has been faulty, I needed to purchase a new switch from the local Ford dealer.

General Comments:

*** FORD ESCORTS RULE!!! ***

I strongly recommend purchasing a Ford.

My Escort is reliable and fast!

The upholstery is very comfortable and elegantly designed.

A very tidy gear box!!

A spacious boot!!

Faults:

Exhaust needed replacing soon after purchase.

Gear box packed in after 54,000 miles at a cost of 250 pound to re-con an old one.

Keep finding pieces of trim and plastic all round the car.

Temperature gauge has never worked even though most of the bits and pieces connected to it have been changed.

General Comments:

The car looks nice and handles well, but at the end of the day it's still a Ford and has a poor build quality.

Faults:

The usual Escort mark5 problem with the anti-roll bar bushes wearing every 20,000.

The drive shafts needed replacing after 30,000. Ford didn't want to know! I bought none genuine replacements, quarter of the price, 60,000 miles on and they are still fine!

Small oil leak from the turbo (still leaks).

Battery replaced after 70,000.

Rear bearings replaced after 60,000.

Front brake pads replaced every 30,000.

Bushes on both front suspension arms were badly worn after 80,000 miles, replaced the whole unit.

Glow plugs just replaced.

Boot just started to leak water through the rear wheel arch.

As with most diesels it needs oil, a fuel filter & an oil filter every 6000 if you want it to last.

General Comments:

None genuine parts are really, really cheap and in most cases better than Fords parts (front lower suspension arm with bushes and ball joint £28, bargain).

Easy to work on.

Rear shocks and springs get weak after time and with so much travel. This makes driving at night fully loaded dangerous as the lights literally point in the air.

Very quick car considering a max fuel economy of +50mpg.

Massive boot (I get my mountain bike in without folding the rear seats down).

Bodywork is still fine with the exception of a small rust patch appearing on rear wheel arch.