1989 Ford Escort Pony review from North America
"Dependable, inexpensive, if cramped, transportation"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When I first got the car, I replaced the A/C refrigerant, which is to be expected in a car of this age and was relatively inexpensive to fix (about $40 US for a do it yourself kit) and worked great once the new refrigerant was in it.
At about 75,000 miles my left rear wheel cylinder blew and I had to pay $140 (US) to have the wheel cylinder and rear brakes replaced. These have been the only problems in the six months I had the car.
General comments?
The Escort lacked interior space. Even the front seat seemed cramped to my six foot frame. The back seat was microscopic and was best suited to smaller folk.
My car did not have power steering and was quite an upper-body workout to drive. My first week driving the car my shoulders were sore.
The automatic transmission killed any performance that was hiding out in the little 4-banger. The ratios were way too tall and three gears hardly seemed enough.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 I-4 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 71800 miles |
| Most recent distance | 77900 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Cavalier |
| Date of Entry | 5th May, 2004 |