Ford Escort 1.6 16v Estate mkV

Advantages: Cheap to buy, cheap enough to run, cheap insurance, space.
Disadvantages: Rust, comfort and looks

...I thought this was a fantastic car after moving up from a 1.3 to 1.6, the car itself is very bland even for an LX model. It is much better equipped and more comfortable than the mk 4 and slightly safer with the addition of driver airbag and better seats. The car itself is as I stated an estate, not the best car to look at but easy to keep as it's an Escort. My one in particular was white and an L reg. It came as standard with 4 doors and hatch at back. It had standard 14" steel wheels that had 185 R14 T60 tyres on, not sure if they are standard but if you know your tyres you will know you can put almost any on as long as they are in pairs. The interior is better than the MK4 in regards to quality and looks, not so grey or brown, more of a pattern styling and softer better shaped seats. It didn't have any gadgets on it such as...

lostsworld 13.05.2006 (12.06.2006) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

Ford Escort Finesse

Advantages: spacious family car
Disadvantages: RUST(common Ford problem) not very safe

...FORD ESCORT FINESSE This review is based on a Finesse model of an escort, this model is a 1.6 16v, and it was first registered in 2000 on a 'W' plate. PERSONAL OWNING I owned one of these cars from 2000 till 2006 unfortunately it was an insurance write off so had to be replaced. In the time I owned this car it had a few problems such as the head gasket going along with the cylinder head but this was at around 90,000 miles. It had general ware and tear bits replaced throughout its life but no other major engine problems, suspension problems etc. Being a ford they are prone to rust and at around about 4-5 years old this car did suffer quite badly from rust mainly noticeable around the arches or the car. I used this car as a family car in the time I had it I found it spacious for things such as family transporting, shopping...

raregreyastra 03.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

Ford Escort 1.6, Mexico and SI

Advantages: Cheap to buy
Disadvantages: a little tinkering maybe.

...Hi, I've had a couple of escorts, both N reg, one a Mexico 1.6, the other a 1.6 SI, sold both recently. Mileage 84,000 and 63,000 respectively. Both cars had minor probs, but nothing major. Tickover could be erratic, upto 2000 rpm and down to 50 rpm! on both cars, but not effecting normal open road driving, which on both cars was excellent and never missed a beat. The tickover always fixed itself by turning off engines and restarting, and was ok for a week or so. Apparently a simple repair could resolve but never bad enough to warrant cost! Rocker gasket leaks, easy to fix as long as u have a star bolt kit to remove the throttle bracket, spark plugs can stick (long service item) so loosen off every six months and re- tighten, NEVER cold start and only leave engine on for a couple of seconds!!! let it run until...

pauldocgreen 13.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

Ford Escort 1.6 SI

Advantages: Outstandng reliability
Disadvantages: Rust and Rot Very easy and has a very poor euro ncap safety rating

...Ford Escort 1.6 SI I have had my escort for 9 months and purchased it from a lady who had the car for 6 years and travelled just 20,000 miles over 6 years and came with lots of history. BAD POINTS: are bodywork it failed its mot on welding on the rear sill and alo needed welding on both rear chasis legs - Ford seem to be very good for cheap reliable motoring but the body work in pre 2000 models realy leave a lot to be discussed, because of this i am going to sell the car next year and move up to a focus which replaced the escort for which i have been told has all the bodywork isues sorted. Very good car for cheap reliable motoring but if buying used make sure to check underneath for signs of rust and rot especially the front and rear chassis legs and have a goot look at the rear wheel arches which can rust and sills if these...

jamiebarrow 21.02.2009 (20.11.2007) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Si

1998 Ford Escort chicane 1.6 zetec

Advantages: Cheap, Reliable, Cheap, Economic, Cheap
Disadvantages: Rust

...ever tried to steal this car but it does have multilocks. I also sometimes use a steering lock aswell to be on the safe side. The engine when i got it had a tendancy to 'chugg' at idle speed, since then i put some fuel injector cleaner in and it has solved the problem. Also own a 1982 Ford Escort XR3 which has been looked after and has covered 185,000 miles so the rumours about ford being unreliable are definately un true. The newer Escort is pretty much identicle to the older models but has more modern styling and a few things have been imporved on such as the battery eating through the body. The gearbox is very smooth and the engine is quite fast. Also, many replacement and performance parts are available from other model escorts at a low price, i got a set of 16 inch alloy wheels including tyres for £30 and most parts from...

veilsidemonkey 09.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec

Advantages: A great car from all angles
Disadvantages: Not as many extras included as I would have liked

...I am now the proud owner of a ford focus 1.6 zetec and for the first time in many years I have actually found a car that pretty muc suits all my needs. I have spent many a time in cars that are too big, too small, not suitable, not comfortable etc but this is everything I could ask for. I own the three door version but the doors open widely and when the front seat is moved forward there is plenty of room to get anyone in the back, even my mother in law who is disabled. The back of this car is extremely spacious, comfortably fitting 3 large adults in. The boot size is deceiving in that it looks pretty small but is very spacious indeed. Perfect for all those shopping bags as well as a childs pushchair. The actual drive of this car is superb. Mine runs on unleaded and is very economical. I can get over 200 miles to £35...

bexx0907 27.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.6

Yet another ford escort review

Advantages: Nice engine, cheap, insurable
Disadvantages: offset drivers seat, fuel economy

...Yet another car that I bought on the eastern edge of the M25, this was actually a good one. A 1994 M plate ford escort 1.6 LX. Coming from a very basic 1984 1.3 golf, it was amazing. It had a fews toys - power steering, electric windows. It had a 5 speed gearbox, decent headlights, proper electrics, reasonable speakers. It didn't smell of death. It accelerated. All these things my old golf didn't do. I ran this car for 6 months - 5000 miles. It was subjected to my usual servicing schedule of a 10000 mile service with a 5000 mile interim oil change, and fully synthetic oil. It responded very well to this, the oil I was dropping out at 5000 miles was still quite clear and light brown. Fuel economy was constant at 30mpg, no matter how I drove it. Even on a motorway journey to bristol and back from kent. This is also...

robachamings1 10.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

Ford Escort : 'Not A Bad Car'

Advantages: Cheap to run, plenty of room, 5 seats, good first car, cheap parts, widely available, large boot
Disadvantages: no power steering, slow going up a steep hill

...The 1.4 Ford Escort is quite a car in many ways. Featuring 5 doors, a large boot and a sun roof, this spacious car certainly has all the features. It pretty much has everything you find in a standard car, except power steering which can make moving when stationary a hard task. Being quite an old car means the Ford Escort is an ideal first car because the insurance is only around £60-£70 a month for someone aged 20-22. I was fully insured for my first year, as this is when most people have a few minor scrapes and bumps as they're new to the road. Then I moved onto third party fire and theft for my second year, as I had gained good experience and confidence from driving solidly for a year. The insurance came down to around £50 a month for my second year of driving. The windows are manual along with the doors, which require a key to open...

f1insidetrack 29.10.2009 (30.10.2009) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.4 Hatchback

Ford Focus 1.6 - Shocking!!

Advantages: Handling and Looks
Disadvantages: Customer Service, Bodywork, Transmission...

...Two years ago I decided to buy a brand new car, and after much research I decided upon the Ford Focus 1.6 (old style now). Everything I had read pointed towards a really good choice. So I went into my local Ford dealer and a week later I had my nice new car. First thoughts were a good looking car, well built, fantastically smooth to drive, held the roads amazingly well. All of the equipment worked wonderfully well and I absolutley loved my new car. Then the problems began.... After two weeks the Airbag Modulator failed, so I went back to the dealer, and they replaced the faulty part within a few days. They wouldn't let me have a courtesy cat so was left hanging around the dealers for a few hours. All work was under warranty so no cost to me. Three weeks after the Modulator fault I was washing the car and noticed tiny rust spots...

dansellers 27.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.6

Ford Focus 1.6

Advantages: Economical, performance, comfort
Disadvantages: Rear legroom

...A car I have the pleasure of owning. A good little practical car that has a good balance of economy and performance. I get about 40-45MPG, depending on the road's I'm driving and isn't what I'd call sluggish. My car is the LX model that comes complete with air conditioning, which I must say doesn't have much of an affect on fuel consumption. It's a nice comfy drive with good suspension that seems to float over small bumps. Decent standard radio too that is easy to use. Road handling in my experience with the car isn't perfect but I'm blaming this on the rubbish budget tyres that have been installed at some point before I purchased the car as I often find the car beginning to understeer in wet conditions more than my old Ford Sierra, which I thought was pretty terrible for handling in the wet but oversteer was the Sierra's main...

KrisUK07 17.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.6