Ford Escort 1.8 GTI

I loved those, the guy I got my Si from had a red RS2000 and tried flogging that to me, but I was put off by the milage, iirc about 120k whereas the Si was under 60k. He took me for a spin in it and I thought it was great, very quick.

Scort.
 
The whole "barge" thing has always amused me. The only car I've driven that felt like a barge was a LWB Hi-Top Transit with a knackered steering rack :D
I agree, the most un-barge like (to drive) car I've owned was my old 2ton BMW e38 7 Series!


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

Ant :cool:

If my Girlfriend can manage to run her 175k mile Mondeo 2.0 (W reg) on her sickness benefit, then I'm damn sure you can run one.

She gets 30+ mpg from it, considering its a 2.0, its mileage and that she does no long journeys, thats pretty good imo.

The Escort GTi is CRAP don't go there.
 
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I had the 1.8 Si before I got the ST, it was a very nice car, the GTI had leather (or half leather) seats iirc, and was 130 bhp, rather than the 115 of the Si.

Sadly the GTi came with the same 115PS engine as the Si. It's hard to choose between the Escort and the 2.0 8v Golf as cars least deserving of a GTi badge.
 
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!
 
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 :cool:
 
Guy I work with has an Escort GTi, with the RS2000 engine in it - chipped and cammed, a recent rolling road run gave it 175bhp. Goes like stink, but unfortunately still looks like an Escort GTi...

For that sort of cash, pick up a hi-mileage Focus, or a Mondeo instead.
 
Beware of extremely dodgy electrics. I'm talking quite common and above French levels of fail, in that you press the boot release and the lights come on (my wife's mum used to have a 1.6 and it had that problem amongst several others like a dodgy alarm).
 
I think it's a beautiful, 2 door car with colour coded strips and wingmirrors.

Get your eyes tested then. Its a colour coded escort with a bit of chavvy styling. Also, ifcolour coded wing mirrors floats your boat, you'd love the top of the range perodua kelisa.

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

If someone really really likes the idea of robbing a bank/committing fraud/murdering someone, it doesn't make it a good idea.
 
Insurance quote caused a minor embolism. Back to the drawing board :D

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

Ant :cool:
 
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.

Oi! I have all of the above and i'd still not have one ;) The focus however -in it's class- is a nice car. Fox just seems to preach love for whatever he's had in the past on the assumption everyone should have one, or it's slightly larger brother. I'm just waiting for him to to be given a Micra cc in pink as a courtesy car at some point :D
 
Fox just seems to preach love for whatever he's had in the past on the assumption everyone should have one,

All I've posted in this thread is an explanation as to why I've not made a proper post. I've recommended nothing and preached love for nothing so kindly **** off. I never recommend the BMW 5 Series to people becuase I am sick to death of the crap I get off of 'worthy forum contributors' like yourself and I hardly ever bother mentioning Mondeos for the same reason.

So take your pathetic little made up reason you've plucked from your imagination, shine it up nicely, and ram it up your **** :)

It's about time people stopped derailing threads with this pointless 'OMG IF IT ISNT A BMW ITS CRAP LOL' and 'MONDEO OR NOTHING' rubbish, frankly. If thats what you honestly think happens in this forum either redress the balance with sensible recommendations or go and post somewhere else.
 
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Oi! I have all of the above and i'd still not have one ;) The focus however -in it's class- is a nice car. Fox just seems to preach love for whatever he's had in the past on the assumption everyone should have one, or it's slightly larger brother. I'm just waiting for him to to be given a Micra cc in pink as a courtesy car at some point :D

I do kind of agree with you in a way.

You could buy a super car and get flamed, yet come in this forum with a Mondeo and you seem to gain the ultimate respect.

Strange really.
 
Yea, when I had a Mondeo I used to get nothing but praise for it. Nobody ever said anything bad about it at all and I didnt used get negative comments and negative opinions on it.

Oh wait, hang on, the negative comments outweighed the positive ones. Funny that.
 
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 :cool:
 
I don't mind people saying "OMG this forum only likes Mondeos and BMWz lolor". It makes it easier to spot the idiots.
 
Beware of extremely dodgy electrics. I'm talking quite common and above French levels of fail, in that you press the boot release and the lights come on (my wife's mum used to have a 1.6 and it had that problem amongst several others like a dodgy alarm).

rubbish. probably one of the millions of poorly maintained cars on the roads. I followed a 3 series home and when it indicated the brake lights came on and when it braked the rear fogs came on, doesn't mean that all 3 series are like that.
 
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