Mk6 Escorts

[sierraman]

The Finesse was the higher spec, basically an LX and the Flight being a CL.

 

A guy I used to work with had a Escort Saloon Ghia X. Was a nice car, but was falling apart, the fuel filler neck was starting to part with the wing.

[martybabes]

I had a K reg Orion Ghia Si (130 PS) from new. It was quick but not particularly reliable. Stopped well too, with discs all round. Sold it on at 105000 so didn't do too badly.

[Captain Furious]

The 130PS was the holy grail of mk5's. They had the MTX75 box too which had much better ratios and really livened them up. A friend of mine had a Mk5 cabby with that engine and it used to go rather well.

[Split_Pin]

My mum had a 97p Fiesta Flight and for the time it had a decent spec. PAS, radio cassette, sunroof, metallic paint, body colour bumpers but the best feature was the nice interior with truffle fabric and blue marble inserts. Because I was only 17 at the time and going to be a named driver, they had to opt for the Endura E which I was delighted with as it was the traditional choice.

 

My ultimate (yes, really!) MK 6 would be an Encore, ideally 5 door hatch, in a solid colour with black bumpers, Endura E engine and Scottish registered. I would also accept an Endure DE in the same spec.

 

I have to say I admire your knowledge of all things dealerships, your Flickr stream is impressive.

[Pillock]

Almost without exception, Ford special editions represent a tarting-up of unsellable cars. I really wouldn't be too hung up on tracking one down.

 

Mexico was laughable - 90bhp 1.6 Zetec, central locking and electric front windows and a badge on the rear door. Oh, and white dials.

Calipso I seem to remember boasted stuff like a rear wash/wipe and a casette player.

Silhouette was a cabrio that looked like someone had vomited on the seats.

 

There was also the Dash cabrio that was a 1.4 CVH powerhouse - it was so bad, my mum sold the one she won because it was so slow. And she owned a 1043cc Polo breadvan before that.

 

A quick Google also turns up a Duet model (blue, green red or silver - bodycoloured stuff and godawful seat trim) and a Seranade - heated front windscreen, red/black/blue. Oh, and there was a Sapphire too which was well confusing as it was a hatchback, and the last time they used that badge it was to denote the presence of a boot.

 

I'm pretty sure Ford sold more "limited edition" Escorts than they did LXs.

[greengartside]

Hendry, get your laughing gear round this one. In Buckinghamshire but has a Scot plate, so you could be the one driving her back home.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-1-6-89bhp-Sapphire-Ltd-Edn-1995-M-/322192302254?hash=item4b042860ae:g:VjAAAOSw7s5Xh7L0

[Split_Pin]

Alternatively I know where there's a free* one!

[Snipes]

Looks like Aircon may have been standard across LX and above Escorts at the end as I can't find one for sale that doesn't have it. Sunroofs seem less common which makes sense as Ford seemed to move away from them in favour of aircon (about the same time they started introducing heated front screens). This Finesse looks nice, with recent advisories for rear end rust so may be saveable in the long run.

 

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707037019084

 

I do like them, but only in higher spec and even then when they're cheap unpretentious transport. They seem to either be tired and cheap or very clean but in the hands of dealers with apparently very low mileage and absurd asking prices.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Hendry, get your laughing gear round this one. In Buckinghamshire but has a Scot plate, so you could be the one driving her back home.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-1-6-89bhp-Sapphire-Ltd-Edn-1995-M-/322192302254?hash=item4b042860ae:g:VjAAAOSw7s5Xh7L0

The shithole selling that is about a mile away from me.

Genuine miles my arse, look how baggy the drivers seat is.

[Split_Pin]

95% of the Encores I have just checked out seem to have that CVH 1.4 but there's one that has the 1.6 16v with an auto and the different front bumper to accommodate the transmission oil cooler.

 

I think quality wise the 97 Fiesta my mum had from new had a nice spec and went well but I would suggest these and the Escorts were the last ones that had shoddy build quality and made from shit steel. The Focus was totally different IMO.

[Cavcraft]

My mate round the back excitedly told me about a Mexico he found very recently and asked what it was worth. Told him if it was a Mk1 or Mk2 he'd be talking telephone numbers, if it was a newer one they're shit and not worth anything.

He bought it, hasn't said how much (though he mentioned a few hundred quid because 'it was a bargain') and now he said it's a Mk6 (or whatever they are), a load of shit and he shouldn't have bothered. He is actually going to squirrel it away until it's worth something. Told him he'd never live long enough to see that happen.

[Lacquer Peel]

The stupidity of Ford lickers is boundless and these piles will be worth something in the future because Henry.

[Lacquer Peel]

Why no R8 or ZX on Scottish dealer plates? These Escorts are the pits, lowest common denominator cars for people who bought on badge recognition alone.

Even a Golf or Vento would be much better.

[Lacquer Peel]

Tidy Aberdeen registration 306 in Oban.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1996-peugeot-306-five-door-14-only-64k-full-service-history-swap-caravan/1259058321

 

Glasgow reg 850 with original dealer plates saving you tens of pounds

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1995-volvo-850-saloon-20-20v-in-great-condition/1244980990

 

Dundee registration Civic Aerodeck again with original dealer plates

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1998-honda-civic-aerodeck-16/1258564864

[sierraman]

I think you might have to travel to find a good one. A Scottish one might be a bad idea, with the bad winters it's likely to be rotten as fuck.

[Lacquer Peel]

Not all of Scotland suffers a harsh winter

[Pillock]

A harsh winter is fine. A pansy winter where they throw salt at anything below 5° is what you should fear.

[Snipes]

Why no R8 or ZX on Scottish dealer plates? These Escorts are the pits, lowest common denominator cars for people who bought on badge recognition alone.

Even a Golf or Vento would be much better.

I'd have an Escort over a Mk3 or 4 Golf any day of the week. Fuck those things!

[Lacquer Peel]

I'd have an Escort over a Mk3 or 4 Golf any day of the week. Fuck those things!

 

I wouldn't say Mk3/Mk4 Golfs are great but they drive better than a fucking Escort.

[fordperv]

I saw a few yesterday at fordfair but one in particular on show got my interest, it was a little rough around the edges, one of those "special" editions that they stick a badge on a L or LX spec car

 

I give you the escort Acapulco,

 

[sierraman]

Not all of Scotland suffers a harsh winter

I'd wager a car from Dundee would be rustier than one from Surrey

 

Most cars in this class from this era are fairly shit. The Astra wasn't much better, the Golf was possibly capable of a longer life. This sounds bizarre but the Rover 200 was in hindsight a much better car than all of them, really nice car inside, resisted rust fairly well, just prone to shitting it's head gasket every 60k or so.

[Captain Furious]

I wouldn't say Mk3/Mk4 Golfs are great but they drive better than a fucking Escort.

 

Having owned a Mk3 Golf GTi and a Mk6 Escort GTi I feel qualified to state that - they really don't.

 

Can't speak for the Mk4.

[Datsuncog]

I wouldn't say Mk3/Mk4 Golfs are great but they drive better than a fucking Escort.

Dunno... back in 2007/08 I was regularly driving a friend's Mk4 Golf GTi (1.8T) back to back with my own Mk6 Escort LX (1.6 Zetec) on some fairly twisty backroads. I greatly preferred the Escort; just felt a lot tighter than the Golf, which always seemed a bit soggy all round. Maybe the Golf was just totally shagged, but the Escort did me five years before the rotten back arches made a clutch failure not worth fixing. Plus the Ezz had an interior the colour of a Caramac bar.

[Lacquer Peel]

I'd wager a car from Dundee would be rustier than one from Surrey

 

Most cars in this class from this era are fairly shit. The Astra wasn't much better, the Golf was possibly capable of a longer life. This sounds bizarre but the Rover 200 was in hindsight a much better car than all of them, really nice car inside, resisted rust fairly well, just prone to shitting it's head gasket every 60k or so.

Dundee - temperate and dry east coast climate, a bit cooler than Surrey.

If the both cars live inland I'd say there wouldn't be much between them. It's a bit thick to generalise about the Scottish climate.

[Split_Pin]

Bargain **

[sierraman]

Two fucking grand!!!

[sierraman]

Dundee - temperate and dry east coast climate, a bit cooler than Surrey.

If the both cars live inland I'd say there wouldn't be much between them. It's a bit thick to generalise about the Scottish climate.

It's a bit thick to argue that the weather in the far South of England isn't milder than in Thurso for example though isn't it.

[Cavcraft]

The stupidity of Ford lickers is boundless and these piles will be worth something in the future because Henry.

Ain't that the truth.

[John F]

I'm surprised at all the hate for Escorts here, especially since a lot of Shiters will happily run their tongues over quite dire French stuff.

 

Isn't this what autoshite is all about? Loving the unlovable?

 

I used to have an Escort Mk 4 1.3 Bonus that featured comedy body roll. It was exceptionally crap but I liked it.

[theorganist]

Is it wrong that I yearn for a H or J reg base model in that paleish blue which they offered (not sure what Ford called it) with the tappety 1.3 engine ohv?!

 

There was a very tidy looking one on eBay last year which I was tempted to purchase but didn't have the space.

 

I used to regularly drive a fairly new M reg Sapphire on occassion with the 1.6 16 valve engine. I remember it being pretty quick and smooth and seemed well put together, it seemed fun to drive. The only problem it had was the central locking would play up, resulting in you being unable to open the doors.

 

A friend had an S reg diesel estate which had led a hard life, but was good mechanically. I think it needed some welding but don't recall it being excessive.