Faults:

The rear suspension squeaks whenever I go over a ramp. A bit of WD40 will fix that, temporarily anyway.

Clutch packed in at around 75,000 miles, but that's to be expected in any car.

Rear fog lamp works whenever it feels like it it seems!

Clutch sometimes makes a grinding sound when I release my foot of the clutch pedal. Not sure what that is, but it doesn't seem to affect the performance of the clutch.

General Comments:

I bought this car in June 2008 for €750. It's the base model, so it only came with manual windows, manual exterior mirror adjustments, etc. Didn't even come with a cigarette lighter, but I fitted one into the car since I bought it.

Performance wise, it's not great. 0-60mph would take at least 20 seconds, and it tops out at around 100mph. Overtaking can be a scary experience to say the least! The engine fitted to the car is the 1.3L OHV (pushrod) petrol engine, which churns out 60bhp. It's the same engine that was in the Fiesta Mk3 and Mk4, so parts are handy (and cheap) to find.

Where it lacks in performance, it makes up in fuel economy. The car is VERY fuel efficient. I reckon it gets at least 50mpg.

I've a towbar fitted to the car, and it can pull a full laden single-axle trailer with no problems at all.

The cabin is well designed, with all necessary switches at easy reach.

I find the car is very comfortable on long trips. The seats are well designed and have good back support. Far more comfortable than my parent's Mazda 626.

Good visibility from all angles, not quite as good as my old Micra K10, but still good nevertheless.

Overall, it's a great little car, ideal for students like myself who are always short on cash, as running costs are quite low for this car.

General Comments:

I absolutely loved this car, you can't go wrong with an Escort.

Three problems however, steering wheel needs to be re-aligned, the outside lock on the driver's side doesn't work, and there's a cassette player. It'll be taken care of ASAP. Other than that, it's very good in performance and gas mileage, and it has A/C. I filled it up, only to find out it overflowed. Oops...

I'm 16, and I love it, so much better than driving my grandaddy's Dodge Ram with no A/C.

Faults:

Rear defroster button does not work unless I hold it down. It's not really a big deal to me.

The clearcoat is peeling off the hood. I just tell everyone that the car is so fast, the paint rips off.

General Comments:

I found my Escort at a local car dealership for $900. The right front fender, right side of front bumper and part of the front passenger door were dented in. It sounds like a nasty picture, but it's minor. The steering wheel is off to the right just a little bit, but not enough for me to worry about. All tires are wearing evenly and there are no weird sounds from any tires.

The serpentine belt barely makes a sound. My mechanic said it's really nothing to worry about.

The air conditioning is freezing cold and very powerful. The heat is very good and my windows defrost in a matter of seconds.

On long distance trips, the seats can be a little uncomfortable due to the stiffness, so I just make a few rest stops along my journeys... nothing to complain about. This car gets incredible gas mileage so it makes up for the numb butt.

Although this is a compact car, there is a surprising amount of cabin/trunk space when the seats are folded down. I was able to fit my entire bedroom in this car and the boxspring and mattress on the roof.