Faults:

The only thing that I have had gone wrong with the car is the heat shield for the catalytic converter has come lose, and rattles.

I also get water in the trunk area during rain. The car was rear ended before I bought it. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Otherwise than that, it's a very reliable vehicle.

General Comments:

The seats aren't very comfortable. I made a road trip of 1600 miles, and I was constantly shifting around to find a better position.

It's quick off the line, and will give some bigger engines a run for their money. But to try and pass, it takes a while.

The fuel mileage is great for this car. I average around 30 mpg.

The paint is staring to peel off in areas around the rear wheels, and the trunk. I have noticed this on similar vehicles.

I will probably keep driving my "red rocket" till it dies.

It goes through the snow pretty well, and handles well also.

Faults:

The automatic seat belt began to malfunction. The relay to the air conditioning went bad, but only cost about ten dollars to have replaced.

General Comments:

The car provides exceptional pickup speed compared to most wagons. The size is excellent for parking and maneuvering. The turning radius is excellent as well. Our family of five fit comfortably as the kids were still young. There was plenty of cargo space in back. The roof rack was used often, when the trunk was full. The sleek design was appreciated.

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.