"All it takes is one decision,
A lot of guts, a little vision"
Placebo - Slave to the ...
"All it takes is one decision,
A lot of guts, a little vision"
Placebo - Slave to the Wage
Member since:05.11.2002
Reviews:21
Members who trust:10
The Escort 1.6 Finesse was one of the last in a long line of great cars bearing the Escort badge, from the earliest MK1 RS1600 right up to the latest MK6 RS2000 and GTi models. When the last Escort rolled off the production line to be replaced by the Focus, Ford had been making Escorts for at least 25 years so you would think it would be fairly safe to assume that they would have got it right by then.
Well did they? I personally would have to say yes, they did. Although it's difficult to get that excited about (it is really a family car after all), the Finesse is a rather good little car which does exactly what it says on the tin perfectly well and a whole lot more.
The engine sitting in the front of the Escort is the well known and well proven Zetec 16 valve. The Zetec family of engines range from the 1.25 litre in Fiestas right up to the 2 litre Mondeo/RS2000 version, and they deservedly have a good reputation for power and reliability if treated correctly. There have been a few problems with coolant leaks, so keeping an eye on the fluid levels and using the correct coolant are good practices. The only other forseeable problem with the motor
is premature cam wear, but this is usually a consequence of missed oil/filter changes so keep to the service intervals in the manual and there should be few problems. The power unit is smooth and revvy, to be expected for a 16v, and has a decent amount of punch for a family car, but I definitely wouldn't class it as a performance car.
The transmission unit is a 5 speed front wheel drive unit, which, although not exactly designed for sportiness, can be flicked easily and slickly through the gears to make the most of the engine's performance. If buying, check the linkage isn't too sloppy by wiggling the gearstick when the car's at rest. Listen also for grinding noises under acceleration or clicking while turning on full lock. This will mean that the differential (expensive) or the CV joints have been damaged by someone else's ham fisted boy racer driving. On the whole though, the gearbox is usually very tough and will give good service without adjustment until the manual says "overhaul".
The handling is a little on the soft side for my tastes however. Push the car hard while cornering and the body roll may almost make you sea sick. The steering, while responsive and accurate isn't as pin sharp as one might expect and adds to the overall soft and bouncy feeling of the Escort. But then you remember, it's a family car so that extra bit of suspension travel may come in handy when traversing that speed bump and come parallel parking time, you'll be glad of the light-as-light-can-be power steering. On the whole though, the Finesse will stick to the road like it's on rails even when pushed hard, but as with all front wheel drive cars it will understeer if liberties are taken. The brakes are more than adequate but again, aren't exactly as sharp as you may perhaps like. You always know you're going to stop in time but being able to stop with a little more urgency would be reassuring.
The moment you sit inside, you know its definitely a Ford. While everything is fully functional and does its job perfectly well, its not exactly plush and has a definitely plasticky cheap and nasty feel to it. There is a drivers airbag, electric front windows, air conditioning, CD player and mildly sporty seats as standard, but while spacious enough for four adults, the interior just doesnt have the air of quality that most people take for granted in modern cars and so lets the whole package down quite badly.
On the outside however, its a different story. Ford have quite a bad name for making cars which rust badly but they seem to have conquered these problems. As part of the warranty my car had a three year anti-corrosion guarantee, meaning that if any rust appeared on the car within 36 months, you could drive round to the local Ford dealer and freely abuse the salesman to your heart's content. Any rust appearing on the body could be a sign of sub-standard accident repairs so check carefully when buying. In the flesh, the Escort looks the part. Body coloured bumpers with spotlights in the front, metallic paint, rear spoiler and a range of alloy wheels to choose from means the Escort Finesse is a bit of a sheep in a rally cars clothing if you get what I mean. The finish is good, the body is well put together and looks great so theres no excuse to not wash and wax every Sunday I'm afraid.
Another area where this car scores big points in is the practicality/running costs stakes. The fuel injection is efficient and the engine clean running so fuel consumption under normal driving conditions should always be round about 40 mpg. The service intervals are widely spaced, parts as with all Fords are cheap and there are plenty of main dealers around, so labour should be relatively inexpensive. For the home DIY mechanic, the engine bay is a little crowded but changing an exhaust or cam belt shouldn't prove to be too much of a trauma. The boot is more than adequate to swallow a week's shopping, two adults or three kids can sit comfortably in the back and the 1.6 engine shouldn't have too much bother towing a trailer or a caravan.
For the bolt-on boys out there who like modifying their cars, the Finesse is an excellent base for a project. A K&Nair filter, stainless steel exhaust system and a rechipped ECU will free up a good 10bhp from the 1.6 engine, or a swap to a 1.8 or 2 litre engine shouldn't be too hard. Lowered and uprated springs and dampers will help that wobbly handling no end and a B&M gear linkage will take up the slop in the transmission. Cosmetics wise, the boundaries are limitless. Decide whether you want to drive a replica world rally car or a low riding cruiser, then take your pick from a massive range of bodykits.
If you're considering purchasing an Escort Finesse, more good news, its very much a buyers market. As the Focus has been on the go for a good few years now, the value of second hand late model Escorts has plummeted. My W-reg saloon model probubly cost in the region of £9995 when it hit the forecourt, but after a year and a half the owner who was moving abroad was more than happy to accept £4200 after asking £5000. As the resale value is so low the Escort would be a good bet if you were after a car to hang on to rather than sell in a year's time. There were a few brand new but one or two showroom year old cars knocking around dealers but these seem to have all been snapped up. £4500 from a dealer should see you get a good sound car with a guarantee, but if buying privately, pay less and check the car over intricately before handing over the notes.
It's easy to get annoyed at the Escort Finesse for it not being powerful enough, not handling like a sportscar, not having enough character etc, but if you wanted more of the above in an Escort you should have bought an RS or a GTi. If you're looking for a sporty motor to run with the hothatch brigade, you may well be disappointed, but if you're in the market for a damned good car that's a compromise between practicality and excitement, the Ford Escort 1.6 Finesse may just be what you're after.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
A fantastic op with loads of really helpful info - it's really well planned, and isn't full of technical jargon. I must admit that I like most of the cars that Ford make (and believe me I've owned/driven quite a few in my time - Sierra 1.6, Fiesta 1.6S, Orion 1.4, Mondeo 1.8, Focus 1.8, Escort 1.6 and my current Escort Finesse 1.6) and wouldn't want to change my lovely little Escort (fondly known as Ellie) for the world. Niki :)
wreckferret 26.02.2003 03:46
I like those little Zetec engines, they're quite soulful when they're pushed. Nice op, mate! Simon.
Collingwood21 23.01.2003 19:26
Excellent review, very thorough and descriptive - everything I need to know is there. :)
Advantages: Good workhorse, nice engine, nice extras Disadvantages: Lacks finesse (sorry), poor suspension, suspect brakes, not very spacious for passengers
Advantages: Good workhorse, nice engine, nice extras Disadvantages: Lacks finesse (sorry), poor suspension, suspect brakes, not very spacious for passengers
Jan 23rd, 2003
(Feb 24th, 2003)
very helpful by (100%):
