Dirty Dirty Shite

[Volksy]

Picked up this today.

 

 

The roof was this brown....

 

 

One owner, 119,000 miles, FSH, New Clutch, Exhaust, Timing belt, Rear Shoes.... 1 weeks MOT, 1 Days tax..

 

Missing most of its wheel trims (one is completely missing, the rest are there apart from 20% of each), NEVER EVER washed in it's entire life, I gained lung cancer (and I'm a smoker) and most other respiratory diseases just by sitting inside it.

 

Spent two hours at M. Imps house jetwashing ALL of it....

 

It's Horrid, horrid horrid, but in a way quite like it. It Drives well, as in NEW well, the interior is getting ripped out and valeted in the morning.

 

Living the shite dream!

[John F]

Bargain Scrote, top bombing.

 

No problems getting it through the test then, I imagine?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

X-reg, thats a late one innit. I reckon I could put up with one like that, all the dismalness of the original mk5 had pretty much gone by then hadn’t it.

 

What I like about these is how much the arse end looks like a modernised Mk1 escort estate.

 

Lets see some more pics when you’ve given it a clean up

[Lufthansa-Terminal]

Its a gamble that the paints still good after all that grime and neglect though I bet. Look forwards to the clean pic's.

[Guest]

I dunno if I'll ever understand the complaints people have against the aero-shape Escorts, I've driven them in all kinds of different ages and specs and always found them to be a good drive. To be fair I haven't had a go on those really early carb ones and they might be a bit dismal, but good luck finding one.

 

What engine is that one, 1.6 Zetec? Those late ones nearly always seem to be that. Try taking a clay bar to that roof, it'll take all that sap off no bother.

[trigger]

I still like these old Escorts, The later one's on a W-Y plate were the best, They just felt better made, I think there's some story about them being better if it's grey under the bonnet or something.

 

I can't wait to see the finished photos, I bet it will look well smart.

[HillmanImp]

He needs to put a ladder on the roof with an old tshirt tied on the end and take up 'cash in hand only' painting and decorating, except on dole day. Then the look is complete.

[Volksy]

It is indeed a 1.6 Zetec, It's a 'Flight' so is kinda midrange, has a few luxuries, such as Central Locking, Electric front window and the like, I pulled the seats out today and gave the interior a good de-minging, and it was nasty nasty inside, although under the back seat gems included £90 worth of Leatherman, some molegrips, and about £8 in change. I need to get a sticky roller to get the hair out of the seats, the cloth on these grips to it like velcro.

 

The sap and crap all over it has pretty much come off, a few stubborn bits still to do, but it looks loads better, almost presentable! It's had a nudge on the front, which has cracked the bumper (quelle Surprise!) and bent the bonnet a little, and a bizarre dent at the top of the D pillar. The back arches have seen some 'old fart' bodgery, and the pressure wash took the brushed on silver paint off, the sills are looking a little crusty along the bottom flanges, but all in all it's not that bad. I may get the polisher on the job to get rid of the discolouration, but the paint has survived pretty well under the years of grime.

 

Need to try and find a set of trimz for it, not going the poundland route, so keeping my eye on the bay for a set of the original ones.

 

The stereo is missing also, which is a ford only unit, so need to find one of those too, I think it's the same as focus's of the same era, so a breakers should be able to help.

 

I saw an X plate focus estate today also, so this one must have been one of the last.

 

Will get some pics up tomorrow.

[Cavcraft]

Hey, Volksy, those Velcro clothes brush things you can get from the pound shop ate pretty good at shifting hair etc from seats. I'd like to add something nice about those Escorts but I'm afraid I can't, so for that reason I'm out! If you get tired of it though 'WebuyanyLagunascort' (aka Warrentclaim) will probably have it off you. Gr8 Byer payed cash an cleckted saim day 11/10.

[MK5 Escort]

I’m surprised the paintwork has stood up to that sort of neglect. I’m surprised how anyone can let a roadworthy car get into that sort of filthy state.

 

I can't wait to see it cleaned up!

 

End of the line Escorts only had two models. The Flight and the Finesse. The Flight was the entry level model, which didn’t have alloys or a rear spoiler (there were a few other nit-picky differences, but they were the main ones).

 

Your’s isn't quite one of the last. There are two Y plate examples kicking around here. A hatchback and an estate. Here’s a Y plate on eBay. Both in ‘Finesse’ flavours. Infact, I’m pretty sure there is a very small handful of 51 plates out there.

 

I dunno if I'll ever understand the complaints people have against the aero-shape Escorts, I've driven them in all kinds of different ages and specs and always found them to be a good drive. To be fair I haven't had a go on those really early carb ones and they might be a bit dismal, but good luck finding one.

 

My signature says all you need to know, Hirst.

 

Having an early H plater myself (and having had numerous of the first H, J and K plate MK5’s), I have never come across a 'bad' one. Sure, the odd one or two have had small niggles which cost pennies to fix (central locking, mainly), but I've never had one go very badly wrong on me. The firm I used to work for had end of the line Escort vans which proved to be generally more reliable than the Connects (although notably slower for sure - n/a 1.8D - gr8 for slip roads ). They feel like a comfortable old suit and pretty much all the controls/switchgear, as a driver, is where I expect it to be.

 

My one which I've known from new, is 21 years old in January. In that time it has never broke down, been a company car for the first five years of it's life (with the usual treatment that can bring), rescued various other stranded family/friends cars from mechanical/electrical faults, been on numerous family holidays up and down the country (including numerous 1000 mile five day/week tours of Scotland / Devon) and done those 200 mile-in-one-go dreaded 'family emergency' rush trips in recent years without prior checks. It's a loyal and faithful old dog, a part of the fleet which can always be relied upon. Other than general running costs and service items, it cost bugger all in the first 16 years of it's life and anything that has been done to it since then has only been repaired/replaced as I want to keep it in tip-top condition - not because it's actually needed it.

 

Mediocre and dismal? So be it, then...!

 

I have to be fair, early carb ones are a mixed bag. 1.3's are generally clattery, noisy and slow. I wouldn’t recommend them at all and unfortunately most of those left seem to be these. 1.4’s (like mine - like most I've had for that matter) are perfectly acceptable. Not hugely refined by any stretch of the imagination but plod along respectfully enough and can wind up to some 'interesting' speeds given a decent enough stretch of road. 1.6's are surprisingly pokey, the most refined of the three but thirsty and weren’t hugely popular.

 

Later ones are indeed better to drive without doubt thanks to power steering and an improved steering rack. Early ones are still perfectly acceptable in my opinion. Zetec units add a lot of refinement too (which came in as early as 1993). They lost a bit of that early Mk5 character for me, but still decent hacks. I'd personally love an R or S plate Ghia X 1.6 hatch with all the toys, including leather. The ultimate for me though would have to be an L or early M plate Ghia Si . I’ve experienced both but yet to own either.

 

I have never and doubt I ever will understand the sheer hatred these Escorts bring. I’m at a genuine, complete loss with it. It's a car that even Autoshite, supposedly lover/admirer of all shite, generally shun! A car to loathe seemingly by ‘default’ . 'Pi**ing into the wind' springs to mind when it comes to discussing them here...

[dollywobbler]

My personal view of these Escorts is that I actually quite liked them as launched, even if they were fairly dismally dull. I know that upset the press at the time, who expected something a bit more exciting (hence Ford stretching themselves to the Focus) so maybe all the bad press stems from that?

 

My dad borrowed a 1.4GLX in metallic Jade Green when it was still almost brand new and not long been on the market. Seemed great! He then swapped it for a 1.6 and that seemed rougher if anything. I quite liked the first facelift - clear indicators and a spoiler for the LX. But then they restyled the back end, and it just looked like a baboon's arse to me. I noted that the Cosworth retained the earlier rear end and of course the estate didn't change at all, which was good as it looked ok.

 

I reckon a 1.8TD one of these would be a decent tool.

[Pete-M]

I'm no fan of them simply because I think they're absolutely dire to drive.

 

I had an early Mk5 RS2000 which was a bloody good car and great fun to drive, but the cooking models (including the XR3i)... oh dear. I really don't understand why anyone who'd driven any of the competition would have parted with money for a new one.

 

I suppose if all you want from a car is something that doesn't break down and "gets from a to b" then they're a lot more reliable than a Megane or Bravo, but the early (non RS) Mk5 is bloody horrible to drive in my opinion. The Mk6 is slightly less buzzy, the last of them were almost up to mid 70's Korean levels of refinement. Volksy buying an estate has at least bought a useful one.

 

Last Escort I had was a P reg, 60k mile, 1.8 D van. If it hadn't had PAS I'd have sent it over the bridge there and then. As it was I waited a few weeks (it was ace on fuel) then eBay'd it for bridge money.

[Felly Magic]

The later 'mk 6' versions were a bit better to drive than the Mk5 versions, but not a patch on the Focus.

[garycox]

Hey where's the 'after' pics?!

 

I haven't driven one of these later ones, but I had a '92 K reg 1.4i LX for a while, in metallic red with the grey bit under the rubbing strips. I had it for about 6 months, but I can't remember much about it!

 

It was pretty good for getting from A to B, and generally reliable, but seemed quite a bit slower than the 1.1 Mk3 Fiesta I had before, and the unassisted steering was ridiculously heavy when parking. The steering on the L reg diesel Transit I had after seemed lighter...

 

Still, I only paid £140 for it, and it was still working when I sold it (for £100...). I'd definitely have another for daily duties at some point if I found one cheap.

 

I always thought the diesel ones would be quite good, my neighbour bought a new N reg one in '96ish and hated it though (but he did buy it to tow a big caravan...). He replaced it with a new T reg Xsara so he probably wasn't the best judge of a car.

[George-Roper]

Given how many were sold the old Ford Scrote 1990's cars cant be that bad?.

[fiatdaft]

Fleet cars,hire cars ,dealers on every street corner and brand loyalists are the reason why they shifted so many.

[ProgRocker]

My mate Dave had a 1998 S reg 1.6 'Finesse' in black which was a great car. It had the 'Halewood Motor Co.' badges on the rear doors. Coincidentally, he wrote that off within 24 hours of me writing off my SEAT - on the same road (on compacted snow). It had a nice velour interior, with air con - but no rev counter.

[Lord Sterling]

Doesnt look a bad a buy. Certainly good for the money and being an estate is certainly going to be useful. I've driven a few of these Escorts, despite them being a pretty dismal drive, for some reason I quite like them, I see them as being a useful little commuting tool. I was offered a late 90s Escort some years back for free when my mate finished with it, but for some unknown reason that never came to be.

 

Need to try and find a set of trimz for it, keeping my eye on the bay for a set of the original ones.

 

Ah yes, I like the way you think. when I was offered one a few years ago my plan was to whack some OE spec trimz/alloys and a Ford Stereo, I always like originality.

 

I *may* have a set of Ford wheel trims similar to the ones on the Escort below. If I find them I'll PM you with a pic. If you want them, your welcome to them at postage cost.

 

[Volksy]

Thanks LS!

 

Well need to sort out legalities with it, now it's cleaned up. What a job, 2 full days... Maggots under the drivers seat etc etc. Will post pics tomorrow.

[boobydoo]

The early face-lift LX's were a nice looking car........

 

The wheel trims and spoiler first appeared on the special edition Encore I think, and then they made them standard on the LX along with the two-tone paint. The wheel trims soon looked shagged as they were quite proud of the wheel.

 

I was just starting out in car sales at a Ford dealer when the Mk5 came out...was it Autocar or Motor who had the headline:

 

"WE DRIVE FORDS NEW ESCORT....AND WISH WE HADN'T!"

 

The early 1300 and 1600s were dire and I remember you could scratch your nails across the plastic dash and it was permanently damaged!

[Volksy]

Well, this is what it looks like now:

 

 

Cleaned up pretty well, a good mopping would help, to get the paint fully sorted

 

 

It has 'gimmer' repairs to the rear arches and around the rear wiper spindle, the powerwasher took the brushed on silver paint off.

 

 

 

Mechanically it seems spot on, drives well but with a bit of a vibration when braking, think it could do with new pads and discs.

 

The interior has cleaned up ok, well, couldn't be worse than it was! Doesn't smell like an old ashtray anymore, and you can actually see out of the windows now, which is a bonus!

 

 

The insurance is ridiculous though, A-drain Fux want £500 more than I currently pay for the Volvo, so my idea of downsizing is out the window, as any saving on fuel is eaten up by the insurance

 

So it's up for sale, £395 with 12 months MOT!

[Cavcraft]

Come up well that chief, and for that sort of wonga it should do someone a blooody good job for a year or more and would owe them sod all at the end of it. Gumtree is a good palce for cheap cars like this, though you'll need to fend off the usual array of 'wud u take an xbox and thirty quid' fruitcakes.

[Shep Shepherd]

I know someone who has a late model Ghia X estate with identical wheeltrims to yours. Not strictly original spec, but needs must:

 

 

It has done less than 100,000 miles, has a great interior and looks okay from the outside, with only a few bits of rust here and there, but the sills and chassis rails are suffering from advanced planned obsolescence. I'm sure that it could be repaired by someone with money or welding skills, but Tony cannot be bothered with it, as he now has another car (a Peugeot 407 SW); at present, it's being used as a mobile shed. Not sure what he's going to be doing with it long-term, though.

[M'coli]

It has 'gimmer' repairs to the rear arches and around the rear wiper spindle, the powerwasher took the brushed on silver paint off.

That's damn impressive painting! Was there any wool in the finish?

[Pete-M]

You can't polish a turd.

 

Bloody hell, that looks a lot better than it did. Good work Fella!

[Volksy]

Well given that my insurers are quoting silly money for this, I'm going to call it a draw. It's available to fellow shiters for £150 (what I could get over the bridge)

[Volksy]

Sadly this went to the frag today

 

A crippling insurance quote from my existing insurer, and an offer of £200 HI CAN PK UP IN 20MINZ, Plus my bank imploded with bouncing DD's (No, not the nice ones), meant something had to give. Also the neighbours growling about the fact our households vehicles were taking up 3 spaces in the street.

[KruJoe]

went to the frag today

Shit, really? Bad news, and after all that hard work! Had you already taken it to test?

[trigger]

Scrapping a car with 12 months mot seems a bit exteme!

[Felly Magic]

Sounds like a case of 'shouldn't have bought it in the first place' itis to me really.