1998 Ford Escort review from Finland

Start motor not working time to time (turning the key again usually does the trick, so it's nothing serious).

The radio has stopped functioning three times, but removing and replacing the fuse and reprogramming the thing (takes around ten minutes) has remedied it every time.

Some relay has failed on a regular basis (every three and a half years), so the next failure can be predicted and the relay changed beforehand.

Braking heavily has made the thing jump off second gear into neutral time and again. Most likely associated with wear and tear the gearbox has taken (the car has been used to tow a light utility trailer).

Rear view mirror fell off after 10 years of staying where it should.

It's kind of small for an estate.

The 1.4l engine feels underpowered especially when the car is loaded with people and junk and/or during towing (as it often is, being an estate). Fuel consumption is about 30 mpg (8l/100km). Despite unsatisfactory acceleration, top speed should be quite decent at around 170km/h (105mph).

The seats are comfortable but provide little support. Suspension's on the wobblier side and power steering's too light. This is no sports car, and was never intended to be, so these problems should not be considered problems at all.

Interior space is adequate for a driver and three not overly large passengers nicely, but you can fit a third passenger in the rear seat somehow. There isn't much holders to put your stuff into in the back. Both doors have holders, but they are shallow and thus not very useful.