Since I have only owned the car for almost one week (as of this exact moment), here's a list of things I know I need to fix on it:
The transmission slips, either I need a new one or it just needs some transmission fluid, still runs, but very hesitant.
Has some rust on the tire wells in the back. Since I took an auto body course, this should not be a problem to fix on my own.
Windows roll down easily, but rolling them up takes both hands.
I had been looking for an Escort GT for a while, and I found this one at a place in my city, for $695...I thought, "Not bad, but still too much for me". A few weeks later, saw it for $295, and was driving it off the lot a few days later.
Bottom line, like a lot of the Escort GT reviews on here: the car has some serious pep to it, and I find myself being thrown back in the seat sometimes. As I pull up to red lights next to little 1.6L Honda Civics with their $5 Wal-Mart Exhaust, their multi-colored body kits, and their absolutely rediculous-looking Airliner spoilers (the big metal ones that look like Erector sets), I smile to myself knowing that they'll be a spec in my mirror in a few seconds.
This car, aside from the rust on the tire wells, and the slipping transmission, is probably one of the, if not THE nicest one I've owned. I was told that it wouldn't take much to turn into a Manual transmission, since there's a mounting bracket for a clutch pedal, and a drilled hole for the clutch cable. Very sweet!
I love the power sliding sunroof, the air conditioning and the cruise control that make this the loaded car it is.
To think, at one point I thought my mom's 1995 Chevy Cavalier, with a 120HP 2.2L was quick. I could annihilate it with my EGT.
People seriously think that all the sporty compact to Mid-sized cars are found in the import market. It's time that Escorts get the respect they deserve. How many aftermarket parts can you find for a Honda Civic? Too many low quality cheap parts to count. How many for an Escort GT? Very few, but that's okay because it means that once they are found, you have a custom domestic Honda-Killer that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain!
Rock on Ford! Rock on!
Granted, the erector-set style rear wings are pretty ridiculous looking, but let's be fair... so are you, trying to drive this rusty, clapped-out Escort like some kind of race car.
I agree, the erector set spoilers are indeed ridiculous. But don't you think the reason why Civics become a speck in your rear view mirror after pulling away from a stoplight is because an Escort isn't even worth the effort to race??? Would a Ferrari even bother racing a Yugo??? It is nice to dream though isn't it?
I have to agree there. why bother racing an escort. i had a 1998 escort gti and was really dissapointed so got myself a 1997 astra and it would kick the ass of the escort even though it is only a 8 valve.
I have an escort GT and I swapped a 1.8L turbo GTR motor in it. its got a couple other things. it was an easy swap and I'm running 13.5 in the 1/4 mile. its dyno'd at almost 275 hp and ive beat S2000's so its not bad for about $6000 total. but yeah the stock 1.8L DOHC motor that comes in the GT is definatly nothing to brag about. thats why i swapped. :-)
In response to the reply above. The 98 Ford Escort and the 93 Ford Escort, regardless of the 98s badging, is not the same car. The 91 through 96 GT models were all powered by a Mazda built 1.8L DOHC engine. The LX models were built by Ford with the 1.9L SOHC.
The early 90s Escorts were all based on the Mazda Protege/323/MX3 platform that was extremely successful for both companies.
Not saying that your response is incorrect. Just pointing out that comparing something with a 98 and a 93 GT are apples and oranges.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site