2000 Ford Escort ZX2 1.8 from North America

Summary:

Glad I chose this car; its solid construction and safety features saved my life!

Faults:

Clear coat began to bubble and chip off of the spoiler.

Seats starting to wear badly.

General Comments:

I was impressed with the reliability of my ZX2. I never had any problems with it, even though I was hard on it and a little lax about taking it in for scheduled maintenance.

This car saved my life! Head on collision with a brick wall, going 35 m.p.h. and I walked away with scratches!!! I'm very thankful that this car is built solidly and the safety features worked well.

I would highly recommend the 2000 ZX2.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st March, 2004

25th Jul 2005, 19:24

If you got rear-ended at 50 mph and struck anything in front of you and are alive to write this comment, I would say the car did a pretty good job of saving your skin, too, airbag failure or not. I have heard about shops stealing airbags from cars and replacing them with wadded up plastic grocery bags. Are you sure you were not the victim of a scam like that?

2000 Ford Escort ZX2 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Something built to go straight the the scrap heap

Faults:

Front struts not only gave out, but started making noise around 25k miles.

Both motor mounts have given out causing the engine to rock making it hard to drive at low speeds smoothly.

Clutch chatters.

Tires have been rotated and are not wearing evenly.

Brake rotors on front are warped.

General Comments:

Car seems to get good mileage (30mpg) but I have been beat by Geo Metro's getting onto the freeway. This little car will not get out of it's own way at all. Mine is the ZX2 with the little fin on the rear trunk, CD changer (factory), AC and all the power goodies. No sunroof though. The car has not cost me anything in repairs, yet, but you can tell is it falling apart. I feel bad for the person who buys it from the dealer I traded it in to. It still had less than 30k miles on it, but I can bet when it hits anything over 50k miles, it will really start falling apart to the point were you just cannot drive it unless you repair it. It is not like I abused the car either, just drove it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th December, 2003

7th Mar 2004, 19:36

Can this possibly be the same car that consumer reports gives best marks for reliability?

And can this be the car that is said to be quite fast off the line, 8 seconds to sixty, that it gets beat by a metro?

10th Apr 2004, 11:19

What did you do to this car? I just bought my second ZX2 and I have no doubt it's the best car for the buck going. My 2000 ZX2 has 145,000 miles on it and it'll still dust cars with bigger motors. GEO Metro? Not in a million years would a GEO Metro stand a chance at the line against either of my Z's. I can't explain your troubles, but I'd bet my house both my ZX2's would clobber any 4 cylinder Chevy going in both value and at the line.

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2000 Ford Escort ZX2 from North America

Summary:

Inexpensive starter car

Faults:

At 28k, found out transmission cooler lines are leaking and will need replaced because they are too rusted through. I was told by 2 mechanics that these parts should last the life of the vehicle.

Also at 28k had to replace front brake pads and have rotors resurfaced.

Both rear emergency brake cables will also need to be replaced, due to them not "releasing" once the emergency brake is taken off.

General Comments:

Overall, a fairly reliable car.

Pickup not the greatest, but will do.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th August, 2003

2000 Ford Escort Finesse 1.6 16v DOHC from UK and Ireland

Summary:

An overpriced pile of junk!

Faults:

Air conditioning failure at 23,000 miles.

Catalytic converter failed -- awaiting replacement.

CD player jumpy and skips.

General Comments:

I bought this car thinking it would be nippy, but found that unfortunately I get beaten by the competition -- Peugeots, Renaults, etc.

Seats are extremely hard and uncomfortable for long journeys. Not helped by over-stiff suspension.

Steering lacks feedback round corners.

Interior looks typically tacky -- but it is a Ford, after all.

Lack of boot space.

No sound satisfaction at high revs, possibly due to pinhole-sized exhaust.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th June, 2003

23rd Jun 2007, 03:31

You must have brought a Friday afternoon car because ford makes very good cars.