1989 Ford Escort LX review from North America
"Great reliable starter car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Total break replacement at 150,000 miles.
CV Boot replacement at 150,000 miles.
Alternator bracket loose at 160,000 miles.
CV Boot replacement at 180,000 miles.
Battery cables corroded at 185,000 miles.
Retractable seat belt motor out at 190,000 miles (driver side only).
Left turn signal light out before I owned it.
Water pump replaced 120,000 miles (prior ownership).
General comments?
This was my first car. It has carried me reliably for 6 years. I was very impressed with how well it handled in snow and ice... much better than my husband's Saturn. Considering the age and number of miles on this car, I am very happy with the relatively minimal repairs over the past 6 years.
With careful driving, I got 40 mpg. The gas mileage alone made it worth keeping.
I am a relatively small person and found the seats to be perfectly suited to me... which means it's probably too small to comfortably fit medium to tall people.
All in all, it was a very reliable car. Repairs were cheap, fast, and easy. And there was very little electrical equipment to break. The only think I really missed was air conditioning.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1989 |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9L Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 128000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 194000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 1st December, 2006 |