Faults:

Nearside front wishbone bush replaced when bought.

Two new front tyres.

General Comments:

I was concerned when I sold my great little MX5 that the escort would feel dull. However it drives just as well as the sports car!

Have added performance exhaust and induction kit - Car now feels tweekier and growls a bit more!!!

Personally I think it handels nice and sharply - A great car for minimal costs!

Faults:

The car jerks forward sometimes at low speeds, as though its in the wrong gear (but its not becasue its automatic!). Sometimes it seems it is about to stall when slowing down to a halt, although it doesn't actually stall. Can't seem to do anything about this.

General Comments:

The car is quite spacious for front and rear passengers. My 6'2 brother can sit comfortably in it.

Comfortable seats front and rear.

Versatile load/passenger carrier with 60/40 split folding rear seat.

Good looking car, clean lines, paintwork still very good.

Faults:

Water pump replaced at 113000. £60 fitted.

General Comments:

Excellent car, runs like a dream, comfy, and goes on forever, no matter what you throw at it.

I drive it hard, but just keeps on coming back for more. I can't believe it with over 114000 miles and no service history, it just keeps on going and going. I think the Japanese have a competitor with this Zetec engine.

Faults:

Catalytic Converter collapsed at 50,000 miles.

Front wishbones replaced twice, at 55,00 miles and again at 60,000 miles.

Oil leak from sump gasket at 35,000 miles.

Oil leak from cylinder block gasket at 40,000 miles.

Air conditioning failed at 32,000 miles and 45,000 miles.

General Comments:

Performance is reasonable, but the revs do not increase very quickly when accelerating and it needs be to hovering around the 3500rpm to 5000rpm mark to make any real progress.

Tyres need to be replaced every 15000 miles in my experience on the front (driving) wheels.

The front seats are not at all comfortable on long journeys, with no real lumber support.

The rear seats are rock hard, with not much leg room if there are two average sized adults in the front seats.

Servicing and spare parts costs can be a real eye-widener, especially if you think (as I did) "anyone can fix a Ford for next to nothing".

Now the car is 6 years old, rust is starting to appear on the rear wheel arches and where the rear spoiler is attached to the bootlid.

On the plus side, fuel economy is reasonable (I get 350 miles out of a 35 litre fill-up).

The stereo (RDS5000) is very good despite being cassette only, with good quality speakers.

It's a nice colour! (Aubergine Metallic)

Faults:

Nothing major. When the car is idling, the revs tend to dip and then rise, but it doesn't actually cut out.

The indicator bulb has blown twice - dodgy connection to blame.

An odd rattle from the exhaust system on full throttle seems to have died down.

General Comments:

As this is my first car and I'm only 17, its great that the Escort is simple and straightforward to drive, and also very cheap to maintain.

It looks good in metallic black with factory spoiler.

This one is very well equipped with electric windows, sunroof, central locking, electric driver's seat, power steering, drivers airbag and so on.

The handling isn't exactly the most sporting, but it is safe and predictable.

The 1.6 engine is surprisingly nippy and it cruises along nicely.

Despite the dodgy image, and the widely publicised excellence of the Focus, as a good value, cost effective car, the Escort impresses.