1986 Ford Escort LX review from UK and Ireland
"Tinny, rattly, not very economical or reliable"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water pump failed, almost boiling engine.
Cam belt required changing far too frequently.
Wheel trims fell off on a regular basis.
Rear lights worked intermittently (known fault with poor contacts).
Rain water leaks.
Rust spots on rear wheel arches.
Front tyres wore unevenly.
Always burned some oil.
General comments?
The 1.4 CVH lean burn engine is great, except that it could only ever manage just over 40mpg even treated with a feather foot on the motorway.
CVH stands for "constant vibration and harshness", this overhead cam engine was always very rough.
Poor handling, especially on long motorway bends where the steering requires constant fiddling to keep the car on track.
Very prone to side winds, which cause the car to twitch about from side to side, much worse than my previous Golf.
Oil change service required every 6000 miles by dealer for warranty - expensive.
Notchy gearbox.
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| Poorly built, rusty and slow workhorse |
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| Great handling let down by under-par engine |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1986 |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 1988 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1990 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.4 CVH "lean burn" Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 18000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 56000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Golf |
| Date of Entry | 17th September, 2009 |