1998 Ford Escort GTi from UK and Ireland - Comments

If your car isn't really any faster off the line, then it's very unlikely you will leave a VTR 'for dead', you are more likely to have the edge.

Also 0-60 times timed by yourself don't mean anything unless you had proper equipment like at the Pod, so that is meaningless and you are better off just going by book figures.

137mph? A 106 GTI won't do that sort of speed, it's only a 1.6 N/A. No matter how much it weighs, it's only gonna make 130mph tops. Similar goes for your car, the Escort GTI, you are unlikely to hit 137mph, and if your speedo is 10% over reading like most cars, then a more realistic 124mph is probably what you were doing.

I've recently brought a 1998 Radiant red 3dr GTI, 70K full service history, old MOTS etc great condition, totally standard I think it's a great looking fun to drive car, I've had mark 1 & 2 mexico's, RS 2000's not had a Ford for years & wanted to get back into them so well pleased with my GTI. Spending a lot of time & TLC getting it up to a near mint standard as it is a good base car to start with.

Is ther a Ford GTI owners club out there?

I think if you read my comment again, you will see that I said it won't leave a VTR for dead and I also said 137 on clocks, which does consider that my clock is out.

Although I do agree with the 0-60 part.

Right, I'm having problems with my water. I top it up, and two days later I'm doing it again. There are no obvious signs that there's a leak, but sometimes when the car's running and I'm driving, I can hear what sounds like running water from the heater box that's behind the dash. Anyone have the answer...

I'm having the same problem. I've had the heater matrix changed and it's still doing it!!! There is water dripping off the oil sump when I look underneath tho... split pipe maybe or the bloke who has fitted the heater matrix just has not done it properly?!?!?!

You have just done the same thing with my comment;

"although off the mark it won't leave a VTR for dead, it will pull away from one, and get them in a real rolling road situation, and it leaves it for dead."--quote.

So actually you do say it will leave it for dead when both cars are rolling, and my comment points out that if you can't pull away on a standing start, then you are unlikely to leave them for dead on a rolling start, and rather you would just have the edge. Fair enough on you realising that the clocks only indicate 137mph, and that it probably isn't your actual speed.

Come on! - 115bhp and 137 mph - I don't think it's likely is it. At most low 120s.

The Escort GTI is a disgrace to the GTI badge as far as power goes. The Focus that replaced it had either the same or similar 1.8 115hp Zetec engine, and was low to middle in the Focus range!

I also own a GTi and it is not the quickest, 0-60 in just over 9 seconds. Remember this car is over 10 years old and upon production car makers were finding insurance was based on the class of the car, GTi, RS, SRi etc not the engine power. Now cars are quicker, more powerful and lower insurance, this is due to safety standards being in a different league.

Its insurance group 13 and only 115bhp so imagine if they bumped this up even more, it would have been out pricing potential buyers.

Now you can pick up a decent one for under £1000, leather seats, air con, good handling and fairly decent performance. It can stand up against other boy racer cars such as VTR, Corsa Sports/GSi/ or Astra.

So get yourself a bargain, if your worried about lack of speed, other lesser cars are going to be about a grand more expensive.

To the fella with a gti escort whos having trouble with the tick off and over rev, dated 11th september 2008 its ur idle control panel/ valve I have the same car with the same prob coast about 130 to fix!!! AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THERE IS A 1.6 16V GTI COZ UNFORTUNATLY I BOUGHT ONE WITHOUT KNOWING I WAS TOLD IT WAS A CL GOT THE LOGBOOK AND INSURANCE, HPI CHECK THROUGH AND IT SAY ESCORT 1.6 16V GTI...

Hi people! I've got a 1.8d van shamfull I know but need it for work. Looks the part but is seriously slow!!!

Want a new engine was thinking of a 1.8gti but not impressed by comments on them, so what other options would you all recommened.

Also is it just the DVLA you contact about an engine change? Also what happens if you get busted with a new engine but you havn't changed the log book, advise please much appreciated!

The Escort GTi is a great car! I have the GTi Estate in silver metallic and I love it to bits, it's never let me down. I've had it for 5 years and never spent a penny on it. It flies through the MOT every year. It's got 77000 miles on it and she still drives like new, it's the Hovis of cars. Both GTi spec with a big boot, not the fastest of cars, but it puts a whopping great big smile on my face when it's driven how it should be above 4000rpm, that's when the fun begins!!! Apart from the fuel gauge drops like a brick when used at high revs.

If I am right in saying the GTi with the 1.8 zetec lump had colour coded door mouldings, the few GTi's that have black door moulding were the 1.6 pootec lump.

Hello people, I have an escort gti in red 3 door, sitting on cossie wheels, it's a good looker. I love my car. I will say they are quick cars but they do have a flat spot but once you go past that and catch the revs right she will fly to 100mph.

I will also say I can only get 120mph

They are as quick as the vtr but not vts.

They do have a few common problems but always cheap to repair.

They are group 15 on insurane no 13.

Charlotte.

They are group 13 insurance. I think I would be rather annoyed if I was to pay same insurance group as a RS2000 for the GTi, wouldn't you?

Had my car little bit now. Think it looks good, but isn't really that fast.

Was looking at putting a full stainless steel exhaust system with interchangeable cat. Also want a 4 branch manifold, obviously the 2.0l cams with throttle body and MAF sensor, and of course get it chipped. Was also looking some decent form of forced induction like a good filter and cold air feed. Would like to know if people have done similar to their cars, and if so, what it cost them and how much bhp are their cars putting out?