Mk6 Escorts

[Split_Pin]

Thankfully no 8v on the Astra H. Incidentally that model is far better looking than the MK2 Focus although it's just pure Astra G underneath except for Twinport engines.

[Sir Snipes]

Sorry I meant F and G.

[Split_Pin]

I agree with you but a Kadett E in misery spec is even more shite!

 

Back to the 6's, has one been found yet?

[Sir Snipes]

I'd counter that with try finding an Escort without the rear chassis legs resembling Weetabix. Not an easy job to weld up either.

Either way, miserable job!

[Hendry]

Personally, I'd be very weary of an early Focus. I've seen a few in the trade that have run up big bills; usually anything that entails stripping apart that fancy suspension. I don't recall driving a new one but I doubt they're all that special to drive now they're old clunkers with tired suspension and bushes and rusty arches. I'd have a cheap Escort '6 or Astra F/G over a Focus.

 

Yep big bills is something that comes with all independent multi-link rear suspension, I just had to replace both lower arms on my VAG shite which runs a copy of the Focus rear suspension (think VW actually employed the Focus engineers to do it) because the camber adjustment bolts were seized into the arms and just turned, meaning I couldnt get the alignment set properly so it drove horrifically and had mega uneven tyre wear too, about £400-odd for the arms (genuine parts) and labour to fit them from an indy VW specialist. 

 

In fairness it drives really well now and shows how good MLIRS is when its properly sorted like on a Focus. 

 

Dear me no, not an Astra G, not bad cars, but I had one and it was so drab and bland! Id actually go so far as to say the Astra G was to Astras what the original mk5 was to Escorts. 

 

One things for sure, Vauxhall must have been livid when Ford launched the Focus about a year after the MK4 Astra which was 198% more dull. Just compare the dashboards of each car for a start.

 

Thats what happens when they decided to build a better car than the Escort, surely they mustve known it was due to be imminently replaced by the time they launched the mk4 and that Fords efforts would be better than the Escort and theyd need to raise their game, what they shouldve done in hindsight is kept the mk3 in production and waited until the Focus was launched and whatever work theyd done so far on the mk4 Astra they couldve altered bits and pieces to beat the Focus and be a better car than going in blind to it. They almost made the same mistake launching the Astra H before the mk2 Focus, lucky for them they got it right out of sheer guesswork and Ford helped them out by making the mk2 dull and bland too. 

 

Thankfully no 8v on the Astra H. Incidentally that model is far better looking than the MK2 Focus although it's just pure Astra G underneath except for Twinport engines.

 

Yes, far better looking, but having owned a G 1.6 16v back to back with an H 1.8 16v, despite being the same car in a different frock, the H was much better to drive, also comfier, more excitingly styled, as in it actually had styling, also comfier, and I never understood why the mk2 Focus outsold it, Id actually have another and prefer them over the mk2 Focus Im considering as my next modern, just unfortunate that Ford filled the top spec Focus with toys while the Elite spec Astra H had no power start, bluetooth, DAB, USB as standard or even as an option on some things.

 

How Vauxhall produced such a good looking car in the Astra G Coupe from a base of the drab and bland Astra G hatches ill never know. 

[Split_Pin]

The h 1.8 petrol is a 140 VVT whereas the G is 123 bhp non VVT and a 115 cable throttle effort prior to that.

 

Bertone only took the bonnet, front lights and dash from the standard Astra and made it into something far more up-to-date and stylish. Plus one for frameless doors.

[Lacquer Peel]

Vauxhalls are bad.

[HH-R]

Out of a mk1 Focus and a mk4 Astra, I'd have a Megane.

[Pete-M]

Try changing rear springs on an early Focus!

It's a piece of piss to change the rear springs on them. Even removing the entire rear suspension only takes an hour or so.

 

I removed the entire rear suspension setup on my ST170 in order to fit a complete original exhaust system to it. Someone had fitted it with a cunt trumpet, I bought a secondhand original ST170 system and dropped the rear axle so I didn't have to cut the exhaust. From start to finish the whole job, including renewing the rear shocks, took under two hours.

 

Nowt difficult about it.

[Hendry]

The h 1.8 petrol is a 140 VVT whereas the G is 123 bhp non VVT and a 115 cable throttle effort prior to that.

 

Bertone only took the bonnet, front lights and dash from the standard Astra and made it into something far more up-to-date and stylish. Plus one for frameless doors.

 

My H was the 1.8 non VVT 123bhp example, Z18XE I think, so was the same 1.8 as the Gs. VVT 140bhps werent fitted until revisions in 2007 (im loathe to use the term facelift because with Vauxhall it was the usual barely change anything and call it a new model) and my G was the 1.6 16v 99bhp Z16XE, which was the slightly smaller bore but almost identical block to the 1.8 in my H.

 

Yeah part of the problem with the Astra Coupe for me is as you said, they produced a far more stylish and upto date exterior but the interior was still dull as dishwater, so youd see an Astra Coupe (forgetting the interior) and be quite impressed by the styling, as soon as you open the door and get in you are just like "oh god no" its like its even more disappointing when you get in a Coupe as it is when you get in a hatch because your expectations are lower with the hatch because its dull outside as well. 

 

Its actually whats put me off a few times, I remember looking at a 54 plate back in early 2009, was just a 1.8 16v with the 17" 5 spokes, small rear bootlid spoiler, im sure the colour was silver lightning, 39,000 miles, was up at £4988 I think, so a cheap car for being about 4years old considering what it wouldve cost new, a lot of car for the money, but inside it was just plain old mk4 interior, didnt even have leather/half leather or anything to brighten it up, think it had a matt grey finish centre console and trip computer and cruise control, white dials, but otherwise couldve been a base mk4 hatch. 

 

Despite my apparent dislike of the mk4 Astra, it wasnt a bad car, reliable, cheap to fix, decent on fuel, dependable, well equipped for the time (for example mine had electric windows in the back which ive never seen on another actual car, just photos) but it was just so boring, characterless and functional, probably one of the first cars to get our definition of modern new cars and why they arent as good as old cars in some ways. And one of my favourite ever things of any car was on these, the SRi/Irmscher bootlid spoiler, the way it flowed and wrapped round the car and actually followed the lines of the tailgate below it like itd been painstakingly designed to be a permanent feature of the car in a way that any that didnt have a spoiler looked like something was missing that shouldve always been there. 

[Hendry]

Out of a mk1 Focus and a mk4 Astra, I'd have a Megane.

 

306 for me if it wasnt an Escort. As much as I like Escorts and want one hence starting this topic, I can appreciate that it was a long way short of being the best car in the class, I reckon a 306 was, a nice provence blue one with cyclone wheels, later crystal headlights and front bumper with round fog lights, in GLX, D Turbo or XSi spec. Possibly Meridian if someone had already binned off the trims for alloys. 

 

 

Oh dear, now I want an Escort AND a 306. 

[twosmoke300]

Is this the new autoshite way ? 8 pages of faffing talking about buying a car ?

I miss the good old days

[alcyonecorporation]

Is this the new autoshite way ? 8 pages of faffing talking about buying a car ?

I miss the good old days

 

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[sierraman]

Is this the new autoshite way ? 8 pages of faffing talking about buying a car ?

I miss the good old days

Less talking more doing.

[twosmoke300]

Exactly

[Split_Pin]

My H was the 1.8 non VVT 123bhp example, Z18XE I think, so was the same 1.8 as the Gs. VVT 140bhps werent fitted until revisions in 2007 (im loathe to use the term facelift because with Vauxhall it was the usual barely change anything and call it a new model) and my G was the 1.6 16v 99bhp Z16XE, which was the slightly smaller bore but almost identical block to the 1.8 in my H.

 

Yeah part of the problem with the Astra Coupe for me is as you said, they produced a far more stylish and upto date exterior but the interior was still dull as dishwater, so youd see an Astra Coupe (forgetting the interior) and be quite impressed by the styling, as soon as you open the door and get in you are just like "oh god no" its like its even more disappointing when you get in a Coupe as it is when you get in a hatch because your expectations are lower with the hatch because its dull outside as well.

 

Its actually whats put me off a few times, I remember looking at a 54 plate back in early 2009, was just a 1.8 16v with the 17" 5 spokes, small rear bootlid spoiler, im sure the colour was silver lightning, 39,000 miles, was up at £4988 I think, so a cheap car for being about 4years old considering what it wouldve cost new, a lot of car for the money, but inside it was just plain old mk4 interior, didnt even have leather/half leather or anything to brighten it up, think it had a matt grey finish centre console and trip computer and cruise control, white dials, but otherwise couldve been a base mk4 hatch.

 

Despite my apparent dislike of the mk4 Astra, it wasnt a bad car, reliable, cheap to fix, decent on fuel, dependable, well equipped for the time (for example mine had electric windows in the back which ive never seen on another actual car, just photos) but it was just so boring, characterless and functional, probably one of the first cars to get our definition of modern new cars and why they arent as good as old cars in some ways. And one of my favourite ever things of any car was on these, the SRi/Irmscher bootlid spoiler, the way it flowed and wrapped round the car and actually followed the lines of the tailgate below it like itd been painstakingly designed to be a permanent feature of the car in a way that any that didnt have a spoiler looked like something was missing that shouldve always been there.

Yeah it was a bit of a (luke)warmover the H had in 07, didn't realise that was when the VVT was introduced.

 

I 100% disagree however that the Coupe interior is dull PROVIDED that is you get a decent one. I agree that the standard one was shit though, a real let down.

 

Here's mine:

 

And I would love the oxblood one:

[Sir Snipes]

It's a piece of piss to change the rear springs on them. Even removing the entire rear suspension only takes an hour or so.

 

I removed the entire rear suspension setup on my ST170 in order to fit a complete original exhaust system to it. Someone had fitted it with a cunt trumpet, I bought a secondhand original ST170 system and dropped the rear axle so I didn't have to cut the exhaust. From start to finish the whole job, including renewing the rear shocks, took under two hours.

 

Nowt difficult about it.

I never seen a mk1 that didn't angle grinding because every single nut and bolt was completely rusted and seized in the bush.

[twosmoke300]

Yup mk1 foci rear suspension work is a right cunt . I would say the Pete M's one had been apart recently .

[sierraman]

Any car over 8-10 years old can be like that. I've had pinch bolts snap on me on Fiestas doing the wishbones.

 

How often are you likely to have to strip the rear suspension apart?

[twosmoke300]

Oh and the subframe to body bolts aren't usually too bad it's the arms to the subframe that are always seized

[Pete-M]

Yup mk1 foci rear suspension work is a right cunt . I would say the Pete M's one had been apart recently .

I've never had any issues with them. Then again, I'm normally found swearing at much more difficult things to fix than a slightly elderly Focus. 

 

Not rocket science. 

[Sir Snipes]

I've never had any issues with them. Then again, I'm normally found swearing at much more difficult things to fix than a slightly elderly Focus.

 

Not rocket science.

No but it's time and that costs money.

[Pete-M]

No but it's time and that costs money.

Didn't cost me anything other than the price of parts.

 

And a couple of hours. Obviously.

 

Still. Pointless discussion.

[Lacquer Peel]

Out of a mk1 Focus and a mk4 Astra, I'd have a Megane.

 

A poor man's 306 or Xsara.

[vaughant]

I've never had any issues with them. Then again, I'm normally found swearing at much more difficult things to fix than a slightly elderly Focus.

 

Not rocket science.

I've done 2, estate and hatch and both were simples, one was well looked after the other was rough as dog shit (the interior Windows had been sprayed gloss black to save buying tinting film, then he'd sprayed the rear lights and front headlights partially too!!!).

 

Very few seized bolts although granted it was done on a lift.

 

I had a lovely 2L zetec estate, drove great, everything worked spot on, handling was superb, engine really suited it too, very nice cars, only got Reid due to a good offer and my Passat was derv hence pence to run. The focus was a superior car in every way over the Passat though.

 

They brought one of the first ever production models into ford plant Swansea in 97/98 for us to take a look at but because they obviously didn't trust anyone not to try starting it up or mess about with the electrics they took the keys out, funny to see 150 blokes trying to work out how to open the bonnet from inside with one clever clogs having read an article in the press about the badge flipping round to reveal the key slot.

 

It was in aqua frost (that light green colour), I think either zetec or Ghia trim.

 

There was a massive up spec in quality on the parts we made for those though, much more Mondeo spec than escort spec (which truthfully as long as it looked remotely in spec they got sent). Imo represented a big upshift for ford in quality.

 

Speaking of poor timing I wonder how vaux felt when the Mondeo got released during the last few years of the cavalier run and then the vectra being released which imo was a worse cavalier?

[Hendry]

Yeah it was a bit of a (luke)warmover the H had in 07, didn't realise that was when the VVT was introduced.

 

I 100% disagree however that the Coupe interior is dull PROVIDED that is you get a decent one. I agree that the standard one was shit though, a real let down.

 

Here's mine:

8482618763_78942d20c1_o.jpg

 

And I would love the oxblood one:

 

The seats on yours are nice, as is the grey centre console trim that runs right down the gear gaiter etc. But its just the whole mk4 dash and door cards I find really dull and bland, I actually think the mk3 had a more stylish dash and interior, the H well compared to the G its different class. I also was a bit disappointed when Vauxhall did away with the extendable leg cushions on the sports seats, always liked that feature.

 

My G interior wasnt just shit, dull and bland, it was utterly horrible with these horrid velour seats that everything stuck to, nightmare to get clean and keep clean, fluffy seats everyone who got in the car called them, they were very uncomfortable, and had a horrible pattern plus I had the wood trim and gearknob.

 

In an attempt to spruce it up I bought a matt aluminium centre console from Vauxhall because it was amazingly cheap, something like 9quid, couldnt believe it, and bought one of those fischer c-boxes for the lower storage tray in the console like yours has. Several times I nearly bought a GSI interior, but my OCD stopped me because i couldnt have 3 door seats with the release handles in a 5 door serving no point, and i couldnt have a coupe interior because coupe rear seats didnt have a middle seatbelt. 

 

Picture010 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture009-1 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture008-1 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture011 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture012 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture024 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture023 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture009-2 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

[Hendry]

My mk3, the car I always wished was an Escort, and very nearly was till this came up with only 7500 miles on it and much better spec at 3 years old than the Escort my old man nearly had:

 

bb8e2b5c by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

197c2221 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

ba70c6fe by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

 

Picture087 by Greg Hendry, on Flickr

[Split_Pin]

Have you seen an Escort that you want yet?

[sierraman]

The late Mk3 Astras actually weren't that bad at all, especially in 2.0 Sport form. Neighbour had a pineapple yellow one, remember him selling it, I was interested until I saw the insurance premium!

[Hendry]

Have you seen an Escort that you want yet?

 

Nah, im holding out for a Clanford one, they sold thousands of them between 95-99 (when they got taken over) so one will turn up, and hopefully in decent nick. Just a waiting game.

 

Shame I wasnt looking a few months ago or id have been able to bag this: (more Orion than Escort but so) https://cazana.com/uk/car/P142TGG

 

Looks like someones already changed the front bumper to a higher spec one because the photos on flickr of it show it wearing its original standard lower spec bumper. 

 

Front number plate on all pics is a Clanford one but not the interestingly styled one, it just says "Clanford of Paisley" and a different font, I do remember them using that style of plate upto about 1991/2 when they switched to the newer more interesting style one, not sure why they continued producing 2 styles of plates. Rear plate and sticker are the correct type.