Faults:

Only water pump after approx 150,000 miles plus the usual things such as brake discs, exhaust, shocks etc, nothing major at all. It is still running on its second clutch.

General Comments:

The car is not very exciting to drive, but is extremely reliable, it has now done 230,000 miles and is still going strong. The car has become member of family, everybody loves it. I just wish I had bought a 1.6 with power steering.

Faults:

Overheated. Inexplicable. Has not re-occurred despite having sat for an hour in traffic.

Side light bulb blew.

Headlight bulb base rusted due to vapour egress from coolant expansion tank (close proximity- RHS)

Central locking erratic on driver's side.

General Comments:

Purchased as a stop-gap to temporarily replace a Fiat Punto some 6 years and 40,000 miles younger.

Beats the Fiat in almost every respect.

Larger.

Faster. It even handles better (!)

Marginally thirstier, but at 1600kg vs. 1000kg it's to be expected...

More comfortable.

More capable.

Get a good one and it will serve you well.

1.6 (S) Efi 16v DOHC Zetec is a cracking engine.

Typically good Ford gearbox.

Vulnerable to rust around rear arches.

Very Durable interior.

Faults:

To say I have owned this car for 3 years and added over 52,000 miles on the clock, amazingly I have only replaced the rocker cover gasket and had the tappets adjusted just after I bought it which hardly cost much, the clutch at 85,000 miles on the clock and replaced the front disks and pads around about the same time and recently replaced the altenator.

General Comments:

I use this car for transport to work which is quite far, and a few times I have used it for traveling long distances, this car has been a cracking motor.

I owned a 1991 Fiesta 1.1 before the Escort, and it was an OK car, but I didn't have it long, it was reliable, but a ruff drive, an oil drinker and a rust bucket!

The Escort only cost £110 more than what I paid for the Fiesta, well worth it!

Some Bad Points.

The engine is a 1.3 push-rod, noisy engine! Adjust the tappets and it will sound a lot better.

No power steering, difficult to steer at very low speeds.

Door locks are not that hard for thief's to pop open, this happened to me twice.

Faults:

Speedometer cable required repair. I was told this is very common. It ran about $60.

Full brake job at 90,000 miles. Cost $400.

We threw a rod at 100,000 and replaced the engine with a used one that had 35,000 miles on it. Cost for engine and shop to swap out $600.

Normal maintenance items-Tires, belts, hoses, a battery. Oil changed every 2500 miles at a shop. Note: Oil filter is real difficult to get to, so I have a shop do this.

General Comments:

I inherited this car from my mother. She had it since new and had all servicing done at the dealership.

It is my wife's car and used to take her to school and haul around our two teenagers. We have driven it to visit family 400 miles away on may occasions, and we took a summer family trip cross-country several years ago, complete with luggage on the roof ala National Lampoon's Vacation, only without any deaths.

I highly recommend this vehicle. It is an adequate family hauler, great mileage (high 20s in town-mid 30s on highway) but has a nice comfort level with cruise control and air conditioning. Parts are plentiful.

Faults:

1. The Lamda sensor for the oxygen intake for the engine goes up and down and because its fuel injection, this can sometimes cause the engine to randomly stall. Not too much of a problem, but can get annoying. About £100+ to fix.

2. Exhause got ripped off, cost to sort out and now bangs the bottom of the car due to a support link now added to the exhaust.

3. Sometimes get a lag when putting your foot down.

4. General rattles from an Escort.

General Comments:

Handles very well in all conditions.

Spacious inside.

Goes well when its in a good mood.

Doesn't leak or burn any oil.

Sunroof as standard.

Always starts and never had a problem with it breaking down.