1997 Ford Escort LX review from North America
"This car does what it is designed to do very well"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear coil springs broke (common Escort problem)
Balancer pulley (belt pulley on crankshaft) broke.
Two tie rods needed replacing.
Rear hatch handle broke.
General comments?
My Escort is a station wagon. It has excellent cargo capacity with the seats folded down.
Interior comfort is OK. Seats are OK, not great. Legroom for rear passengers is very limited.
Not a driver's car. Acceleration is adequate at best. Cornering is very poor, significant body roll. In fairness, it is not made to drive like a sports car.
Great gas mileage. 33 mpg highway with an automatic transmission.
Generally very reliable, except for a few chronic Escort problems: rear coil springs (fairly expensive to fix) and tie rods (not too bad). Balancer pulley giving out was an unwelcome surprise.
If you have specific questions about this car email me at sluggo413@yahoo.com and I will help out if I can.
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| 1996 - Escort LX 1.9 Liter 4 cylinder A good choice in an economy car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 4 Cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 64000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 100000 miles |
| Previous car | Geo Prizm |
| Date of Entry | 8th September, 2004 |