Ford Escort 1.8 GTI

[WantoN]

Hey fellas,
Seen a lovely one with 53k on the clock that's caught my eye. £1,400 from a garage.

Anyone have any experience, advice? Think it's good money?

Antoni

 

[WantoN]

Spectacular advice thanks guys!

I'm limited as to what I can ensure, I've plenty of parts for an escort, I've worked on my current one repeatedly and know it well, the parts are cheap and readily available at scrappies, and, believe it or not, I thoroughly enjoy driving my current one

Also, for a car that's so appauling it was britains favourite for years Whilst I welcome the opinion, alternatives would have been nice instead of a swathe of half-arsed trollish putdowns

Thanks pharcyde, I also noticed rusting can appear on the underside of the boot lid and the bottoms of the rear passanger doors. Know of anywhere else?

If anyone has anything constructive to add that'd be awesome. Cheers guys!

Ant

 

[WantoN]

The quick answer is don't buy it, it's too much money and it's not a great car.

If you are set on an Escort for some odd reason don't buy it if you are expecting the GTi badge to mean it's a hot hatch, it isn't. The Escort GTi is just a rebadged Si with exactly the same engine, suspension and brakes. It's not a complete slug, but it barely qualifies as a "warm hatch". However, according to Parkers it's a group 13 car, yet the Si is only 10.

Thanks for the info It was the half-leather and bodykit I liked

I don't want anything particularly pokey, ideally I'm after a 1.6 for under a grand Care to offer an alternative?

Ant

 

[WantoN]

Why is a mondeo better?

 

[WantoN]

It would be easier to explain why the escort is worse!

The mondeo is a better car in every conceivable way, more comfortable, better equipped, better built, better value for money, just better. For your same £1400, you'd get full leather (electric and heated most likely), climate control, cruise control, electric everything, etc etc etc.

Yes, you'll end up with a 2.0 4-pot, and a larger car, but they aren't any more to insure (generally) than smaller engined small hatches, simply because less young people wrap them into lamposts.

I'd be concerned about a 2ltr slurping away my funds How does it drive comparibly, and what's fuel consumption like?

Ant

 

[WantoN]

£1,400 was over budget, it was because I was excited, I'd like to spend less.

Size isn't the problem, I just didn't want to drive something with the ride quality of a barge. I thought I hated the look of them too, but after inspiration and a little looking, some of them aren't too bad.

/Awaits Foxs post of wrath.

Ant

 

[WantoN]

I'm going to add something from experience here.
Firstly the Escort GTI is a badly named car, it isn't a GTI in performance terms at all.
But my girlfriend now owns the GTI my Brother-In-Law bought new and it has been a good car tbh.
They do come as std with 115 bhp, I have fitted a filter and Magnex exhaust to the car and it has been RR'd twice at 138bhp! Admittedly I am very fussy with maintenance. There have been no major problems outwith normal servicing except for it needed a new fuel tank last year and I can see it needing a clutch soon as the release bearing has begun to get noisey (now on 97k and original clutch).
Anyway, I like it, not a bad looking car and if you think they were £14k IIRC when new it's not a bad deal.
But IMO a 1.8 Focus would be a better car, the GTI carries a high insurance due to the badge it doesn't live up to. Fuel consumption is fine- mid 30's easily. A mk2 Mondeo is a bargain, so much kit for the money and probably is better built, but does have the image of an older owner. (I have owned one - an ST200)

It's your money, if you like it, buy it!

Nice post. Thanks fella.

I tell you my problem. And I'll save you all a little time. I'm still young, and I don't want an old man's car. You can nay say me all you like, but in my opinion, which is the one that counts for me P) the mondy looks like I should have kids, a mortgage and a receeding hairline.

I've checked and indeed the fuel consumption is stated mid-30s, it does 0-62 in under 10 and I love the look of it. I thoroughly enjoy driving my current escort and see this as an upgrade. I think it's a beautiful, 2 door car with colour coded strips and wingmirrors. a lovely body kit and nice stock alloys, and has half-leather. It's also in brilliant nick. I've also looked around and the price is very reasonable.

So from that point of view, why is it a bad choice?

Ant

 

[WantoN]

Insurance quote caused a minor embolism. Back to the drawing board

I'm looking at the focus now. I'm still awaiting Foxes post, but the mondeo idea still makes me queasy.

Ant

 

[WantoN]

Holy derailment batman!

Im not keen on the focuses available, or in truth, the focus at all.

Any other suggestions? I'll set 2k at the limit with a sensible insurance group, but am open to sub £1k banger suggestions mightily

Ant