Faults:

Got it and it started to run bad, replaced usual, oil, filters, sparks plugs, leads, temp coolant sensor etc etc etc and made the problem better, but still there.

Took it to ford, and they said nothing wrong with it.

As I put my foot on the accelerator, the car, when under load, feels like the brakes have been put on, it backs right off.

General Comments:

The car feels good, comfortable, but suspension is creaking, squeaking everywhere, also when the steering wheel is turned, (CV JOINT) which is a popular thing to go. Car is a nightmare, but would be great if everything that went wrong wasn't expensive to repair!

Faults:

I have had very few problems with my Escort other than the suspension needed work when I got it, which is starting to make creaking noises again.

General Comments:

Being 20 years old, this is a dream car for me. It is metallic blue with colour-coded bumpers, has a nice chunky exhaust, metallic spoiler, chrome strip and now I have added some alloys to really make it look the part.

The interior has kept brilliantly, the seats are comfortable and because it is only a small 3dr hatch the 1.8i 16v engine makes it run like a rocket. Crucially though, the insurance and fuel consumption is pretty good too.

Other features are that it has a sun roof, central locking and drivers airbag. All it really needs now is air con to make it a quality used car purchase. It cost me £2350 which may seem a lot for an M reg Escort, but as it only had 38,000 miles on the clock (which has been verified), this is a real bargain for what you get.

Faults:

Knocking from front suspension at 40k - anti-roll bar bushes replaced.

Circuit board in rear light cluster shorted.

General Comments:

A cracking car! 150 bhp engine gave lively performance - almost a match for my old 205 GTi 1.9, although the Escort engine sounded much sweeter, and seemed to deal with hard driving better.

The handling was astonishing considering it was based on one of the dullest cars of its era. It turned in brilliantly, and would even oversteer if you closed the throttle mid-bend. Steering, brakes and gear change quality also gave no cause for complaint.

The Recaro seats were first class and lifted the interior style a cut above the standard Escort. There was very little not to like about the car, except maybe the slightly crappy dash and the fact that nobody took it seriously because it was an Escort. Mind you, people who tried to race it often got a nasty surprise.

Unfortunately, despite an expensive, insurance approved alarm and immobiliser it was stolen one night from outside my bedroom window, and two days later, turned up in a local forest, completely burned out. A tragic waste. I would definitely buy another though.