1998 Ford Escort Si Estate review from UK and Ireland

The front suspension bushes have needed replacing every 20,000 miles, which I understand is a common issue with Ford Escorts.

Other than that, absolutely nothing has gone wrong with the car.

I bought this, my third consecutive Ford Escort, new, and have been impressed by its performance, economy and reliability since day one.

The Escort has a reputation for being dull, dull, dull, but in my wholly subjective opinion I think this car is as stylish as any estate in the price bracket.

I bought at a time when the Focus was being introduced as a replacement for the Escort and accordingly got a great deal to buy new.

The ride is reasonably comfortable but probably compromised somewhat by the sports set-up. There is more punch under acceleration than might be expected, although the brakes (front discs and rear drums) are not the keenest performers.

Steering is tight and assured.

Running costs are relatively low. I have averaged between 35 and 40 miles per gallon on unleaded petrol over the past 5 years or so, without ever driving in a style that might be expected to maximise economy!

The boot space is excellent, especially with the rear seats down.

Servicing costs are consistently low. The only non routine items that I have ever needed to stump up for are replacement front suspension bushes, which have tended to go every 20,000 miles or so, at a cost of around £50 a time.

Other than the odd stone chip on the bonnet, the car is in the same condition as the day I bought it, and that's with a wash every 6 months whether it has needed one or not!