1996 Ford Escort LX review from UK and Ireland

Well I bought this car because I need a reliable car. I have had 2 other cars in the space of 6 months, and both head gaskets have gone.

The problem I'm having is that it seems to drink petrol. I put about 25/30 pounds in the car and got about 150 miles out of the half a tank of petrol that was in there, which although it's a 1.6 seems a lot. I'm not sure why it would be drinking it so much.

It seems the exhaust manifold is blowing - maybe a reason for the petrol drinking.

I was driving today around town and it seemed to lack power, it was almost like I was doing 30mph and someone was holding the handbrake up LOL. It happened a couple of times, but seemed to be OK afterwards, I hope this isn't another sign of a head gasket.

The temperature gauge doesn't seem to work well since I have had the car; it worked on the day I got it, but hasn't since, but I hear that is a common fault.

Nothing major, but when I first got the car, the orange light used to stay on if a door wasn't shut properly, and the other day it started flickering and now doesn't seem to work - kinda worried that when I wake up tomorrow that something else is going to go wrong LOL.

As for driving the car, I was nervous at first as I have not driven a big car and it was big to me LOL, as I was used to driving 306s and Rover 214s, but I was pleasantly surprised; it was very smooth and spacious, can't fault the inside of the car.

Although LOL my other half pulled this lever while I was driving, and my legs went off the floor and couldn't touch the pedals LOL; I'm not used to Fords, so didn't realize you could do that, but I'm kinda short LOL.