Mk6 Escorts

[Split_Pin]

You're only allowed to like certain cars on here, there's a list somewhere of the ones which are not accepted.

 

Posting up general appreciation for one of the above will be responded to by a list of cars you SHOULD be appreciating.

 

Someone said a while ago that Autoshite was Pistonheads for poor people and that could not ring more true these days.

[Datsuncog]

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?!

This kinda thing?

[theorganist]

This kinda thing?

1990 Escort base.jpg

Yes, thanks, that's exactly what I was thinking about.

[cpjitservices]

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.

Like this one ?

 

[theorganist]

You're only allowed to like certain cars on here, there's a list somewhere of the ones which are not accepted.

 

Posting up general appreciation for one of the above will be responded to by a list of cars you SHOULD be appreciating.

 

Someone said a while ago that Autoshite was Pistonheads for poor people and that could not ring more true these days.

It does seem to feel like it at times I must admit.

[Pete-M]

The firm I worked for still had a load of late spec Escorts when the Mk1 Focus was launched. For the first couple of weeks everyone who saw a Focus commented on it being 'ugly' and a few Escort fans would ask for an Escort instead. This didn't last long, after around 2 months we couldn't get people to hire Escorts, everyone who'd driven a Focus realised that the Focus was simply light years ahead of the Escort to drive.

 

We were getting obscenely cheap offers from our suppliers for new Escorts for about a year afterwards. Like £5995 for new Escort Finesse and Freestyle jobs, even at those prices we weren't tempted.

[face]

I used to have the use of new 1.8 Sis and GTis on a fairly regular basis as my then company were a big customer for Budget and they'd drop us free upgrades.

 

I had a Mazda 323 GT at the time but really liked the Escorts and always looked forwards to ragging them about.

These were the MK6 ones BTW.

 

A chap here at work has a nice, honest looking MK5 RS2000 and it's great. Will try to grab a picture.

 

I can also remember my mate's mum having a red MK4 XR3I (loved those) and replaced it with (I think) a MK5 1.6S - which was terrible in comparison.

[Captain Furious]

Quite surprised by all the hatred for them too, I've had 3 Mk6's and they were all perfectly reasonable cars.  Granted I owned them mostly while they were young enough for tin worm not to be an issue.

 

They certainly weren't awful, I mean, not Chevrolet Spark or Vectra B levels of awful.

[theorganist]

Certainly the Focus was a leap forward. I never found the mark 5/6 Escort that bad and looked smart in a good colour.

[sierraman]

They aren't brilliant but if it floats your boat then look for one. They probably weren't any more mediocre than anything else at the time.

 

My advice would be to find one with as solid a bodywork as possible, even if it wants mechanical work, then be prepared to get the arches welded or tidied up. You might have to go farther afield to find one worth having.

[Snipes]

This kinda thing?

1990 Escort base.jpg

Nail on some LX panelling and the Organist and I will have to fight over it.

[Lacquer Peel]

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.

 

No one was arguing that, but there are mild and pleasant parts of Scotland, and parts of England with a harsh climate.

[Craig the Princess]

You're only allowed to like certain cars on here, there's a list somewhere of the ones which are not accepted.

 

Posting up general appreciation for one of the above will be responded to by a list of cars you SHOULD be appreciating.

 

Someone said a while ago that Autoshite was Pistonheads for poor people and that could not ring more true these days.

That's nonsense thought isn't it? This thread has plenty of people who don't like them and plenty who do. The lack of escort action seems down to people not owning them. Does anyone other than Dave numbers have one?

Isn't one of the nice things about this place people are honest if they don't like something?

 

For what it's worth I like the look of the original mk5, the 5.5 less and the 6 only in higher specs. There is an H-reg one locally in really low spec that looked nice but it's now got Ford alloys on it and seems to be getting barried.

[Hendry]

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

 

Seen that before and im tempted by the Scottish reg and Wylies dealer plates, but alas 2 things, its Edinburgh registered and not a mk6. 

[egg]

I've driven a mk5 quite a lot from Kent to St Ives and other long trips they are at least 'very acceptable', the 90bhp zetec is a good lump IMHO, and with only small variations, powers* both my Mondys. The engine is better insulated on the Mondeo, it has to be said.

 

The seats are poor, and trim quality is just uninspiring. Boot space was good, ride a bit choppy. Wind noise quite bad, particularly from the tailgate area.

 

I think one of the reasons they aren't popular here is that values are actually quite firm while they are in the banger phase. You can't get one for £200 that will survive another MOT.

[Hendry]

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.

 

Cheers, not sure why Im so into dealerships to have such a knowledge or have such an interest in photos of them, but I always have even from childhood. 

 

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.

 

Thats weird because most of the Encores round here were 1.3s from beginning to end, infact ALL Encores belonging to neighbours, friends parents, family, ones my dad had as courtesy cars or ones we looked at buying were 1.3s. 

 

The 1.8 TD Encores seemed to have the "Si/GTi" style front bumper without the fogs and in black unpainted plastic, I remember a few police cars like that.

 

Then you get 1.6 16v Encores with alloys and a boot spoiler, supposed to be "Osprey" spec, from what I can gather this was a Scotland and either Northern Ireland or North of England only special edition but was a pukka Ford special, but yet most were registered as Encores, some were correctly registered as Osprey, but some werent, they were based on Encores with similar poverty spec, but not sure how this anomaly happened. 

 

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.

 

Oh no! not another VW after this heap ive got at the moment, plus I had a P reg mk3 Golf a few years ago, it rotted worse than the Fords, and in more places. Nah!

 

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

 

Civics and 850s dont float my boat. I would have a 306, I do like them, but its an Escort I want, I dont just want a cheap old car for the sake of owning a cheap old car, I actually want an Escort specifically.

 

Besides that 306 is 2 different cars if you look at the pic, photo 1 is a phase 1 car, and likely the actual car for sale, picture 2 is of a different car, a phase 2 because it has an LX badge which is a phase 2 trim, it has wheeltrims fitted whereas the steelies are visible on the first pic, and colour coded door mirrors is the other difference. 

 

Quite often see this one at local shows. I had more pics of it but they're on a long lost memory card I think.

 

 

 

An Orion Encore!! seemingly quite a high spec car, contradicting with newer Encore Escorts and Fiestas being poverty.

 

Also like the painted textured bumpers, they seemed to use them on this spec, then get rid of them for a while and then bring them back later in the mk5b range. 

 

The anomaly I spotted was early mk5b base models and Ls have colour coded door handles but black bumpers and no 2 tone black lower half, the LX had 2 tone black lower half, then later base models got these textured painted bumpers but no colour coded door handles, the L spec remained with black bumpers but had its colour coded door handles removed too, when surely the L being higher spec shouldve got the painted textured bumpers. why they deleted the colour coded door handles when the LX still had them too doesnt make sense. 

 

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,

 

20170806_131435.jpg20170806_131442.jpg

 

Ahhhhh!!! I forgot about them, everytime I heard that song by the fourtops "going loco down in acapulco" used to make me think of these, and similarly these cars used to remind me of the song. 

 

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.

 

Amen to that!!

 

Quite surprised by all the hatred for them too, I've had 3 Mk6's and they were all perfectly reasonable cars.  Granted I owned them mostly while they were young enough for tin worm not to be an issue.

 

They certainly weren't awful, I mean, not Chevrolet Spark or Vectra B levels of awful.

 

Id have a Vectra B for my sins aswell!

[Split_Pin]

The so called higher spec bumpers was fitted to TD and automatic models to give increased cooling.

 

Cranking one of those for 60 seconds on a cold morning before bursting into life and clagging fuck out the whole street is a pipe dream of mine, if a little ironic.

[Cavcraft]

You're only allowed to like certain cars on here, there's a list somewhere of the ones which are not accepted.

 

Posting up general appreciation for one of the above will be responded to by a list of cars you SHOULD be appreciating.

 

Someone said a while ago that Autoshite was Pistonheads for poor people and that could not ring more true these days.

 

Despite my absolute hatred of these cars (and the 'bashing' I've done on this thread) you are of course, spot on. 

[Lacquer Peel]

A novel by Hendry - the Extremely Specific Boring Car That Probably Doesn't Exist I Would Like But Will Never Buy Even If It's On My Doorstep.

[Split_Pin]

In the other hand, I've just noticed that this thread is 6 pages long so it can't be too bad after all!

[andy18s]

 

 

Cranking one of those for 60 seconds on a cold morning before bursting into life and clagging fuck out the whole street is a pipe dream of mine, if a little ironic.

And they lurve the veg oil.....

[andy18s]

In the other hand, I've just noticed that this thread is 6 pages long so it can't be too bad after all!

I reckon Hendry wants to beat the MG pontificating thread......

[Junkman]

I just noticed it's seven pages long and nobody has bought one yet.

 

You are a disgrace. A bloody disgrace. The lot of you.

[AnthonyG]

The special editions were often done by region - I remember 3 or 4 pages brochure/hand-outs for things like 'Cabaret' and 'Acapulco' with Ford Wales and West stamped on them when I worked for a Aberystwyth main dealers. They were all based on CLs (which was equivalent of 'L' on the Mk6) and LX's.

 

I would humbly suggest if you're looking for a specific spec model purchased from the right dealer for a not very durable car that was last made 17 years ago, you'll be looking for quite a while.

 

I don't mind Escorts, I drove quite a few Mk5s and 6's back in the day and they were fine. I'd have one over something like a Proton or Sunny any day. I would avoid the early ones (H and J with the non-oval grille) though, the Zetec engine made quite a difference.

[theorganist]

I just noticed it's seven pages long and nobody has bought one yet.

 

You are a disgrace. A bloody disgrace. The lot of you.

If I wasn't already involved with another 1990's unloved Ford I possibly would !

[Split_Pin]

I actually think, were it not for the fact it might annoy a fair few, that there could be a whole thread dedicated to shite Ford Special* Editons 1990 to 1999.

[Cleon-Fonte]

You're only allowed to like certain cars on here, there's a list somewhere of the ones which are not accepted.

 

Posting up general appreciation for one of the above will be responded to by a list of cars you SHOULD be appreciating.

 

Someone said a while ago that Autoshite was Pistonheads for poor people and that could not ring more true these days.

 

 

 

Bollocks. People were asked for their opinions, people gave their opinions in return. Nobody was told they couldn't like the Escort, or that they had to like a certain list of alternatives. It wasn't even universally condemned, this thread's inspired some lively debate so far.

 

It would be a bloody boring forum if someone made a post about a particular type of car and everyone sat around saying 'yeah, GR9, love it' etc just because it fit some elusive definition of shite.

[Pete-M]

I don't mind the last of the Escorts. In 1.8 form they went acceptably and they were much better than most of the earlier fwd Escorts.

 

Having said that, I'd always pick the Focus over one, yet I drive a Golf.

[Split_Pin]

Bollocks. People were asked for their opinions, people gave their opinions in return. Nobody was told they couldn't like the Escort, or that they had to like a certain list of alternatives. It wasn't even universally condemned, this thread's inspired some lively debate so far.

 

It would be a bloody boring forum if someone made a post about a particular type of car and everyone sat around saying 'yeah, GR9, love it' etc just because it fit some elusive definition of shite.

And that's my opinion. See I told you we couldn't have one. I rest my case.

[Pillock]

In 1991, my ma was due a new lease car.

Naturally 12 year old me sat down with all the brochures and "helped" her choose an Escort GLX in light metallic green.

 

Weeks later I clocked a letter to the fleet manager she'd written to order said Escort. It was sat there, on the table. "I would like to confirm my order for blah blah blah Escort GLX blah blah green blah"

 

We finally went to take back her MK4 Escort and pick up the new one.... To be met with an Astra GL! In flippin' Appliance White! She'd changed her mind, seen an awful review of the Escort but instead of telling me she led me on. That letter? Fake! She wrote it and left it lying around just to trick me!