Ford Escort 1.8i Zetec Mark 6 (Si / LX)

Advantages: Sporty Look, Nice engine, cheap to run, good modding car
Disadvantages: Reliability, not made anymore, common, not the quickest car around

...speed quite rapidly. If you drive the car sensibly, it has quite an impressive MPG figure. Ten pounds worth of petrol lasts about a week in mine and I do a fair bit of driving. Styling The interior of the car is cosy. The seats are comfortable and tastefully upholstered. The dash is set out nicely and it doesn't have them annoying plastic caps that tell you that the higher-spec model as something your car hasn't. I have the five door version which is spacious and easy to get in and out of. The Escort LX comes with central locking, electric front windows, drivers air bag, tachometer and trip-meter as standard. The 1.8LX has drivers seat electric-height adjustment (which is nice) and headlight aim adjustment. The rear seats also have head restraints. The Escort exterior is quite sporty but practical at the same time...

lunaticrik 28.06.2004 (18.01.2005) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.8

Ford Escort 1.8 Ghia Si 4dr

Advantages: Running costs, nice to drive, well specified
Disadvantages: Reliability not with the best, engine raucious when worked hard

...Ford's Escort has been the mainstay of the small hatch market for years, and with good reason. My rare edition of the 1.8 saloon has been a reliable and comfortable friend for the last couple of years. Whilst a Golf might have more badge appeal, and the 306 probably better to drive, you just can't knock the value of the Escort. I picked up mine just as the Focus arrived and secured a very good deal on it. This Ghia Si model has all the bells and whistles, including 15" wheels, RS2000 front bumper with fog lights, full velour trim, all electrics plus ABS. Whilst the 1.8 (105PS) Zetec is not what you'd call refined, it does produce a lot of low down torque, handy for quick getaways at roundabouts. Provoke it a little more and there's an admirable amount of surge, but being quite a heavy car it's no hooligan. In 45,000 miles...

BenW 29.06.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.8

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 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 Focus 1.8 Zetec C-MAX.

Advantages: Roomy, upmarket quality & quiet.
Disadvantages: Hand brake position needs getting used to.

...7 footers! Upholstery is plain side panels with inset silvery zig zag finish, it comes in 2 colours according to the paint colour.ie Dark has light upholstery & light has dark finish. TOYS, adjustable steering column, upwards & in & outwards. Intermittent variable wipers with the advantage of speed for front match the speed for the rear wiper. If the front wipers are on and you go into reverse the rear wiper automatically wipes. Built in computer, giving mileage, MPG, amount of fuel left in tank, average speed, low outside temp and for those of you that go abroad changeable miles to kilometres. The engine, comes in 1.6 petrol/1.6 turbo diesel, 1.8 petrol & 2litre turbo diesel. Rated at 110 BHP for 1.6's, 120 BHP and 136 BHP. Fuel consumption so far has been impressive, todate I am achieving 36-36.5 MPG. Mileage is now at 23...

Beefy 28.11.2003 (14.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8

Ford Focus TDCi 1.8 Ghia (2004)

Advantages: High MPG, Comfortable, Quite and plenty of leg room.
Disadvantages: Extra costs hidden in services

...During the second years service (2006) the dealer discovered the scuttle cover was warped and needed replacing. New scuttle cover / pollen filter cover was fitted, and anti-bacterial spray treatment applied - the cost was over £44.00. (Removal of the scuttle destroys the seal and it has to be replaced). As the car is less than 2 years old I suggested it should come under a warranty replacement. The dealer said I would have to take the issue up with Ford. This I did and the Ford customer service department stated they have no history of there being a problem with the Focus scuttle cover, the scuttle cover is part of the trim and is therefore not covered under any warrantee agreement, and they would not honour any refund to me. I said that I have the part that was removed and would be willing to send the part to them...

BAZ1951 05.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

Ford Focus Zetec 1.8

Advantages: A roomy and stilish car
Disadvantages: Every other person has one

...My Focus is now coming up to 3 years old (W reg) and has covered about 17000 miles. I have had the car from new and replaced a very tired Austin Maestro 1.3. I tend to keep my cars for a long time, so running costs and reliability are very inportant to me. The car, so far has been very reliable and has given no problems so far. Most people now know what the Focus looks like, so I wont bore you with the details. Many cars, however, have appeared to have copied it including Ford with its latest Fiesta and Mondeo designs. The only critisism is the rear end; it looks very boring. The new Focus has rubber inserts in the bumper assembly which does help the styling a little. The car is very quiet and the handling superb. The 1.8 engine is smooth and packs a lot of punch, especially climbing hills. There is very little evidence that...

STUARTSTIRLING 21.01.2003 (05.02.2003) · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8

1.8 LX TD

Advantages: Great interior, cheap to buy, cheap parts
Disadvantages: Everything goes wrong at once

...Im only 20 and I love my Escort. This must say something if it was designed for a middle aged family or as a fleet car. Im also a student so there wasn't much of a budget when I went looking for a car twelve months ago. I have always been interested in cars so when it came time for me to get one I made sure that I was clued up n which to look at. I read all the reviews and even went as far as to get insurance quotes on the different models to see which would work out best for me. I needed a diesel car because of the mileage I do and the Escort makes these miles pass by very cheaply. I can do around 450 miles per week if I'm busy so the 45mpg I get from the Escort really makes me smile. As with all fords the interior is excellent. For a car of this price (I paid around £1400 for a 1996 model), I haven't seen a car...

slshepley 26.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.8 TD Hatchback

Ford TDCI 1.8

Advantages: Full house
Disadvantages: Boot space

...Well living here in South Africa Ford is not one of the more popular rides to buy. Most of the people I know look at me funny when I tell them that I have bought a Ford. Well that is until I have taken them for a drive. The car really impresses me on how it just seems to glide no hassles to it. I have had my TDCi now just over a month and love every kilo of it. There are little changes to get used to, as my prev car was opel astra petrol. I wanted to buy a diesel car for so long and after taking the TDCi for a test a came back and signed on the dotted line. Getting used to the turbo and the diesel took some but I am fine now. The car goes up to 180 km per hour like nothing and doesn't really drop speed. I can cruise on 160 up and down hill no prob's at all. My fuel consumption is still a bit high but with only 1600km...

roid_rod 30.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

58 Plate - Ford Focus Zetec 1.8i Zetec

Advantages: Great to drive. Great to look at. Very fast - never short of any power. Great safety features.
Disadvantages: MPG around town.

...I picked this car up December 2008. What an amazing car. Amazing to look at. And amazing to drive. It's very comfortable front or back. Lots of leg room if you're a rear passenger. Has all the safety features you want: airbags; ABS; ESP etc. This 1.8i engine is quite fast if you push it. Even if you've got a cars full and a full boot. You're never short of power. Coming off a busy roundabout, especially. Add around 4000rpm then bring the clutch up, floor it, it'll push to 35MPH in 1st with no drama. The car can be heavy on fuel around town. I've tried to do as 'economy drive' as I could possible do, and I can only reach, according to car's computer, 29.2MPG. It went down to 28.8MPG the other day. But as soon as you hit the motorway, and cruise at around 65-70MPH, it will bring you back wonder figures. Around 45-50MPG. If you go over 70...

Greeny1980G 01.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8i 16V Zetec