1998 Ford Escort Ghia X from UK and Ireland - Comments

Have had to replace the steering rack after 13,200 miles done under warranty. Apart from that only headlamp bulb's and windscreen wipers.

Generally a troublefree car to own and drive, only a few niggles.

1) Engine rev's excessivly at low speed when the clutch is depressed.

2)The handling could be a bit better.

3)The stereo is not powerful enough for my taste.

The car is responsive, being a 16v Zetec engine, most of the grunt is between 3800 and 5200 revs, but there is enough low down torque to keep me happy. The manufacturer publishes 0-60 in 9.2 sec, I have done it in 8.0 sec.

Further to the previous comments, I have decided to get rid of this car.

The gearbox blew up whilst my wife was driving (only 25,000 miles done, gave her a whiplash injury). Had to replace the gearbox and clutch. More trouble than it's worth. Next time I will buy a Japanese car.

That sucks mate. Sue them.

Wouldn't have had anything to do with that 8.0 second quarter mile run would it?

I have a Ford Escort Ghia X and it is AWSOME.

Fast, reliable, great handling, great on fuel.

Looks the business aswell in panther black.

So far the reviews I have read before me are total garbage.

If the stereo is not loud enough YOU MUST BE DEAF.

Mine BOOMS heavy metal out at an astonishing rate.

The car as far as I am concerned is a TREAT to drive.

Highly recomended car and would buy another tommorow, with confidence.

Power... I have outgunned many a street racing kid.

It's a WOLF in SHEEPS CLOTHING.

I LOVE IT>

I have the 1.8 Escort Ghia X, and I must say it runs like a dream after 60,000 miles. It's a 1997 R reg metallic pepper red job, with black leather seats, cd, etc. I still can't believe I bought it privately for £2,225 (knocked down a few hundred). My only worry is, what if the cam belt goes...

Replace the cam belt then.

Zetecs should have theirs done at 80 thou.

My Ghia X had its done at 60.

And they do outgun bad boys, had my brothers motorbike in the back the other day and left a boyed up Saxo standing getting on the motorway.

Only grumble is that they are too comfy with the leathers, I struggle to stay awake on long drives.

I can only agree with most of the comments. I have a panther black 96P with black leathers. It looks good and is not bad boy as I have only added the 16" mondy wheels. It will outgun anybody I have really tried with, but the boyed up "race" cars are the most satisfying. they just don`t think that an orion can leave them standing (I have the saloon variant) and cause I have done a lot of circuit racing I can do them on roundabouts too. There is mild understeer that makes you feel safe and with 4 wheel ABS she is impossible to turn around on roundabouts no matter how ham fisted you are with the middle pedal with either left or right foot. most of the power kicks in at 3700 and there is another boost at about 5500 with max power at 5700. The other comment about the leathers is true, I struggle to stay awake on long journeys too and with electrically adjustable seat height adjustment and steering wheel position the ride is comfy. I find the suspension just about right. It absorbs bumps without knocking the CD, but the wheels will lose grip before the body roll gets too much. I had the cam belt done at 60, the full kit not just the belt as the plastic pulleys will crack and blow up and valves and pistons should never meet.

All in all for 2400 quid it is a bargain. I assume the speedo is out because I have had 140 on the clock (on a track obviously not on the M25) I have electrically adjustable everything, walnut dash, 115 horse power and good enough handling to beat all those rude boys. As I am moving up in the world I would like my next car to be a Lexus IS200 but there is nothing wrong with the car I have. I have to give it 10/10 cause for the same money my misses brought a Renault Clio on a P with 60 on the clock with a 1.2. no power steering, no leathers, no central locking no nothing and it was about the same money so hats off to Ford!!!

Hi Great place to read up on my car, I have a orion ghia X, no one seems to know what the X stands for, its not a ghia i, its on a G 1990 plate and only 90k. any one with ideas,,

I don`t know about the 1990 Ghia X, If the writing style is different to other cars of that age then I would say that somebody has replaced the badge at some point. The font of the word Ghia is different between cars built 80`s - 96 and 96 on. On another note I have no idea what the Ghia X means on the car I own. A friend has a Mk 7 (Mk 6b) Ghia with the same trim apart from the leather seats. I have seen other Ghia X`s on Ebay without leathers so does anybody have ay ideas???

Hi,i believe that ghia is the the original name of the firm that's tune and smarten the cars up, hope this sheds some light on the subject of ghis, i may well be wrong.

You could never do o-60 in 8, rs turbo does 8.7 and that's turbo, what did you time it with? a stopwatch? ford drivers make me laugh with there overblown claims.

And Saxo VTS drivers make me laugh with their need to go around every Ford review posting a derogatory comment. How many was it you did? 5, 6?

I think you need to get out in your tinny little chav-mobile and meet some women instead of sitting in front of your computer forming a seriously warped view of what makes a good car, and then trying to justify your lack of taste by criticising other people's cars. The lack of fresh air is clearly destroying whatever brain cells you have left.

Oh, and by the way, nobody who owns a Saxo is in a position to criticise anything!

Thanks Folks, I am looking around for my first car just now and have been seriously considering a Ford Escort. Reading your comments have not only put my mind at ease, but made me chuckle too. Must admit I never understood why someone would want to buy a Saxo!

Ghia was an Italian car styling/design firm that Ford bought (some time in the 1970s I think). Ford started using the name to designate its high-end models in the 70s too. Ghia X is used to designate a model of even higher specification than a Ghia. I think the first "X" models were MKII Granadas in the early 1980s.

From time to time Ford debuts concept cars built or styled by Ghia (not sure if it really is still the original company).

Hi I have a s reg ford ghia x td with 74000 miles on it, best car ever bought, full aircon and can drop most cars smelling my dust, drives like a dream. so all those with doubts of buying one don't be, you can't go wrong.

Thomo.