Mk6 Escorts

[Sir Snipes]

  On 23/07/2017 at 10:00, J-T said:

I had one 10 years ago as a stopgap when I'd ordered a new car. I think I paid £400. I was robbed. Honestly, they are just utter shit. It plodded on for the 6 months I had it but the driving position was awful, felt like I was sat on the roof with the steering wheel scraping my knees, the interior was dreadful, mine had rotted out under the rear lights at 10yr old so the boot was a swimming pool. It was a 1.8 and I think had 100bhp so it was thirsty but couldn't pull you out of bed. I believe they actually had the front to put the same engine in the GTi!

 

As has been said, a 306, a ZX, a corolla they are all better. I can't see why anyone would want one.

One bad one doesn't make them all awful.

[J-T]

True, but other than the light surrounds having rotted, the areas I was talking about would be shit on any of them!

 

Driven in isolation they probably don't seem that bad but drive any other car from that period and it highlights what a turd they were

[Junkman]

My late friend Roland had an RS 2000, in his words the thinking man's Cossie and I had an 1800 Ghia, in my words the thinking man's RS 2000.

Not bad cars at all, typically Ford, they feel much more like cars than their shape and vintage would suggest, but what killed both of them was

that in essence, their arse end rusts off.

[Lord Sterling]

I've driven a few of these and was offered one for free but the chap never got back to me.

 

As said, not a particularly pleasant drive, and build quality isn't as it it suggests but I wouldn't not consider one if I needed a car. A chav neighbour of mine had one, looked quite tidy and then one day it just sat on the driveway not moving for a good few years, then it disappeared just as his Mk2 Fiesta and Sierra Sapphire had done years previously. Mk6s aren't as numerous as they used to be but there are still a quite a few plodding on. I see at least one or two daily.

 

I say get one if you really need to scratch that itch, whilst they may not be most peoples cup of tea, you may actually quite like it, so go get one.

[Guest Hooli]

I'd forgot how much better looking than a focus these were.

[adw1977]

A mate of mine had one when it was about 4 years old. It felt really flimsy, in fact he was envious of my 12 year old Sierra because it felt so much better screwed together!

 

You should be able to get one for very little money though, so you might as well give it a whirl.

[danthecapriman]

I think they are dreadful. I had a H reg mk2 Orion 1.4glx (mk5 Escort shape) and my mate had a J reg Escort mk5 1.4lx.

My Orion was an absolute pile of dog shit! Fucking abysmal hateful pile of shit and I hated the bastard thing. It was rusting everywhere (literally!), the electrics were possessed and only worked if they felt like it, and it was unbelievably unreliable. I used to drive it to and from work for a few years, a distance of about 2 miles and it was a very very rare occurrence for it not to break down or cut out randomly on every trip. The seats were absolute wank too, awful to sit on and I could never get them set well for me.

In the end I got so sick of it I just weighed it straight in complete with several months MOT! It's the only car I was genuinely pleased to have seen the back of.

I replaced it with a J reg Volvo 340 1.7 which was the exact opposite of the Orion, a superb faultless car and superior in every way. This sounds even worse for Ford when you consider the 340 is a 70's car essentially and the mk5 shape Escort/Orion was 'all new'.

 

By contrast, my mates J reg Escort 1.4lx was a good car. It was very reliable, never let him down, and never rusted. It was still awful to drive and the seats were still shit but it was much better than my Orion version. I can only assume he got a particularly good car and I didn't.

Even so, I wouldn't have one given unless it was to banger race it! There's literally loads of far far better cars available to choose from if you want a 90's run around.

As much as I hate to admit it (being a Ford fan!) an Astra is a 100% better superior car in every respect.

 

I don't see how Ford could make such a good car as the Mondeo and such a shit car as the Escort at the same time tbh. Even the rot prone Fiesta of that era was a brilliant little car. What were they doing or thinking with the Escort!?

[stripped fred]

I had an N plate 1.8td as a company car, in burgundy, in 1997. I think it was 70bhp as no intercooler. I did a lot of miles in it but never warmed to it. Uncomfortable, noisy, slow and didn't like corners very much. However, if your expectations are low and it's cheap enough then I say scratch that itch and report back on here. Might make a good workhorse.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

  On 23/07/2017 at 05:30, twosmoke300 said:

Between front and rear no plates ?

 

I hate them - a car where every single part is made by the cheapest supplier - and feels like it !

They rot for fun too .

 

 

They are really, really nasty. An early Mark 5 has novelty value (1800 16v XR3i best) but the Mark 6 is just vile. No excuse for these.

[sierraman]

Taking all this advice into account I'd say get one.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Mind you, we are forgetting one Escort variant that really is worth having - the 1.8D van.

 

Like the Morris Marina, the cars were...err....not great, but the vans were epic.

[Cavcraft]

  On 23/07/2017 at 11:39, The Reverend Bluejeans said:

Mind you, we are forgetting one Escort variant that really is worth having - the 1.8D van.

 

Like the Morris Marina, the cars were...err....not great, but the vans were epic.

 

{shudders}

[bub2006]

We had a w plate finesse estate at 7years old. Needed sills etc and very ropey underneath. The last run out models were only available in two trims, flight and finnesse. Flight was a basic model, finesse had alloys and air con. I'd not have one again, I can vouch for good crash protection of the van

[Rod/b]

When you get one, i'll have a roffle ticket 1 week later, at 50 pence.

[sporty-shite]

I was lead to believe the very late ones (up to X reg) were made in the Jaguar plant, and were of a much better build quality. When I worked at the rental place, we had a load of X reg ones (because they were cheap) with the intercooled turbo diesel, and I remember them being a decent car. Not fantastic, but well worth a try.

 

Get one bought. What's the worst that could happen?

[Rod/b]

I've heard that too, that they built the run out mk VIs up what was to become the X type line in Halewood. This could, of course, be complete bollocks.

[Cleon-Fonte]

Every bad thing said about these things is an understatement. They go well beyond the bounds of shite into pure shitness, and you'd be far better off with any of the opposition available at the time. How about a 306, or an Astra F?

 

Also, why is it that every time Ford changes the shape of the headlights or a bit of centre console trim, people treat it as if they've launched a new car? These Escorts are surely MkIV at best?

[adw1977]

  On 23/07/2017 at 11:59, Cleon-Fonte said:

Also, why is it that every time Ford changes the shape of the headlights or a bit of centre console trim, people treat it as if they've launched a new car? These Escorts are surely MkIV at best?

There were only three generations of Escorts really, if we're talking properly new designs:

1968-1980 RWD

1980-1990 FWD

1990-2000 FWD

[Cleon-Fonte]

  On 23/07/2017 at 11:51, sporty-shite said:

I was lead to believe the very late ones (up to X reg) were made in the Jaguar plant, and were of a much better build quality. 

 

Jaguar took over the Halewood plant in which the Escort was built for X-type production, with the last of the Escorts being built as a practice run for the newly installed workforce and machinery.

[Bren]

  On 23/07/2017 at 12:03, Cleon-Fonte said:

Jaguar took over the Halewood plant in which the Escort was built for X-type production, with the last of the Escorts being built as a practice run for the newly installed workforce and machinery.

Which explains why the X type is utter wank.

[egg]

Escort brand loyalty needs to be studied - why did people keep buying them for so long?

 

My dad has had 'em all apart from Mk6, I'm tempted to leave one on his drive one day...

 

he went:

 

Mk1 1.1/1.3 (can't remember trim, because I was but a babe in arms)

Mk2 1.3 GL (TFN 148T)

Mk3 estate L

Mk3 Laser (B815 WKR)

Mk4 1.6D GL (E963 WKK)

Mk5 Sapphire (M565 SEH)

 

Oh, and an Orion popped in for a bit as well.

[ProgRocker]

A friend* had a black S reg 1.6 Finesse. It had air con, CD player but lacked a rev counter which was a bit wierd. I think it even had those 'Halewood Motor Co' badges on the rear door pillars.

 

*well, I haven't seen him in over a year now sadly.

[egg]

Yeah, they're a bit odd!

 

[Hendry]

  On 23/07/2017 at 09:59, Volksy said:

I had a silver 1.6 16v 'Flight' Estate. Was a complete POS. Built to a price, and felt like it. Was comparable in crapness with the hateful Chrysler Neon I had a few years earlier. 

Only redeeming factor was the gearchange was quite nice, but other than that it was horrid.

 

Couldn't give the thing away either. Ended up on the back of a wagon on a one way trip to EMR.

 

I must really like shite cars then because my old man had a P reg Neon back in about 2000 and I fucking loved it!

 

  On 23/07/2017 at 10:54, Hooli said:

I'd forgot how much better looking than a focus these were.

 

Exactly, Focus does absolutely nothing for me, and I think they are totally devoid of character too. 

 

  On 23/07/2017 at 11:59, Cleon-Fonte said:

Every bad thing said about these things is an understatement. They go well beyond the bounds of shite into pure shitness, and you'd be far better off with any of the opposition available at the time. How about a 306, or an Astra F?

 

Also, why is it that every time Ford changes the shape of the headlights or a bit of centre console trim, people treat it as if they've launched a new car? These Escorts are surely MkIV at best?

 

I had a mk3 Astra as my first car, it was a decent enough car but I always wished it was an Escort. I grew up late 80s/early 90s when it seemed everyone owned a Ford, usually an Escort, and I think theyre imprinted on my brain now.

 

Theres are 2 things putting me off really, 1. the prices of the lower mileage better condition ones, some on ebay are near 2 grand!! I mean fucking hell something newer, tidier and better specced can be had for less, like say a mk2 Focus, I just dont get this the older a Ford gets the more its suddenly worth, and secondly my old man had a '91 H plate Orion (mk5 Escort shape) from '94 to 2000, and it was a heap of junk despite only being 3 years old, im told the mk6 Escort is a huge improvement over the mk5s, but that lingering doubt they are basically the same car with the same issues is getting me. 

 

Either way if its not a mid/late 90s Escort, itll be a mi/late 90s Ford of some description, I wanted one when I was 7/8/9 years old and now ive got that want for one again, maybe getting all misty eyed remembering them brand new shiny in showrooms or something. 

[Rusty_Rocket]

A friend of mine has an Escort Mexico sat in a garage, it's a modern one before anyone gets excited. Is it worth selling? It looks ok but I'm sure it needs work underneath. 

It's the sort of thing I would get involved with but I have no love for these cars whatsoever. Straight to the bridge? 

[Hendry]

PS This is my mates one which has got me wanting one again:

 

1998 Ford Escort Finesse - R654 XSD by CUL197Vinnie, on Flickr

 

1998 Ford Escort Finesse, R654XSD by CUL197Vinnie, on Flickr

 

Ayrshire Ford's of the 1990's! by CUL197Vinnie, on Flickr

 

1998 Ford Escort Finesse, by CUL197Vinnie, on Flickr

[Pillock]

  On 23/07/2017 at 11:59, Cleon-Fonte said:

Every bad thing said about these things is an understatement. They go well beyond the bounds of shite into pure shitness, and you'd be far better off with any of the opposition available at the time. How about a 306, or an Astra F?

 

Also, why is it that every time Ford changes the shape of the headlights or a bit of centre console trim, people treat it as if they've launched a new car? These Escorts are surely MkIV at best?

MK1, 2, 3 definitely different.

MK4 was different enough, but I think others would call it a facelift. Lights, bumpers and interior. Maybe there were lots of changes but it just didn't look different enough and for a while you got crappy old Mk3s being fitted with MK4 bumpers and lights either to make them look newer, or because they'd been crashed and it's all they had in the scrappy.

 

Mk5 was a whole new car again, but then there were more evolutionary facelifts... The trout pout grille, bulbous back lights - was that the mk6 moment? Because it felt like there was another facelift to make the grille less "4pm on a Friday afternoon"

[egg]

  On 23/07/2017 at 12:48, Pillock said:

Mk5 was a whole new car again, but then there were more evolutionary facelifts... The trout pout grille, bulbous back lights - was that the mk6 moment? Because it felt like there was another facelift to make the grille less "4pm on a Friday afternoon"

 

Mk5 was facelifted fairly soon after launch due to the panning in the motoring press and on top gear (I think). Mk6 is the bulbous light jobby.

[fordperv]

I had 3 1.8si a 1996, a 1997 and a 1998 model the 1996 was better spec with electric mirrors and 6 speed wipers, it had nicer seats as well, with a few engine and suspension mods they can be fantastic cars, I also had a 1.6 ghia but didnt really mesh with that as i just had it to sell on

[Ghosty]

Someone's going to have a trouser accident over those Dalblair plates.

 

Wishbones, good point, forgot about that. Sad face Fiestas liked eating them too.