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Author
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Topic: Any Ford Escort Owners Out There?
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Ira
Senior Explorer Posts: 158
From:Northeast TN
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 03-14-2000 10:01 PM
   
I know this question is off topic, but considering all the Ford owners around here, I figured someone could give me some advice. Here is the situation. I just took a job in sales but it requires me to travel around 100+ miles a day. Considering current gas prices, my current MPG, and quickly adding miles to my Explorer that I don't really want to do, I am considering another vehicle just for work. I am looking at a 94 Escort LX with a 1.9 liter engine, a 4 speed automatic tranny, and only 54,000 origional miles. According to my searches on the net, this vehicle is said to be very dependable and gets around 35 MPG on the highway (twice the amount of the Explorer). I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this model and if you have any advice about this model. Thanks in advance. ------------------
Ira
91 XLT 4x4 How can you tell when you've run out of invisible ink? |
Tom Wilk
Elite Explorer Posts: 244
From:Parma, Ohio
Registered: Aug 1999
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posted 03-15-2000 08:02 AM
Ira,Don't know for sure if the engine has changed, but I had an 86 Escort GT with a 1.9L engine. It was reasonably quick, ran very well, and got in the low to mid 30's for mileage on the highway. In fact, it got in the upper 20's in around town driving, and I drove it pretty hard. I had a stick, so I don't know how that compares. Don't know much about the 94's, but there's a lot of them around. Hope this helps.
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Tom
99 Sport 4x4
SOHC
Auburn Rear & Gerald's old Shackles |
TPLYNCH
Explorer Posts: 40
From:Brewster, NY, USA
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-15-2000 12:41 PM
Ira,I am also the proud owner of a '91 Escort w/1.9L and a 5 speed. It currently has 165K+ miles on it and is still running strong. My wife alternates between it and the Explorer for her commute to the Bronx (100 miles r/t daily. Still gets 35mpg, even though it needs new thermostat, fuel filter, and other assorted tune up items. Doesn't burn oil either. Only major parts replaced (other than tune up related) were alternator (2X), rear struts (120K), and the ignition switch (150K). I would recommend the Escort. A very reliable and economical choice. |
Ira
Senior Explorer Posts: 158
From:Northeast TN
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 03-15-2000 07:11 PM
Thanks guys. I first noticed the color of the car. It is a medium blue, not sky or navy but in between. I have always loved that color. It is a 4 door with all options except for cruise and power seats. When I first found it was an Escort, I had second thoughts because of the history with the previous models...cracked heads etc. I decided to check it out on the net (Carpoint) and was impressed with what I found (MPG, reliability, etc). It shows the 1.8L has about 125 HP, around 30 MPG, and the 1.9 has around 88 HP and gets 35 MPG highway. This seemed strange to me that the larger engine has less HP and better MPG, but I decided to try it out anyway. I was impressed with the power it has and the way it rode. It seems to be very roomy considering its size. I am also considering Nissan and Toyota. I know with them, 200,000 miles is really nothing. I had a Maxima with about that mileage and still going strong. I am also debating about a car like this one or a small pick-up since I don't have one now. The Explorer is nice, but when it comes to trying to haul something, I would rather lay whatever in the bed of a truck. Again, thanks for the comments. I appreciate them and any other comments are more than welcome. ------------------
Ira
91 XLT 4x4 How can you tell when you've run out of invisible ink? |
Mike R
Explorer Posts: 12
From:
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 03-15-2000 08:53 PM
I owned a 91 1.9 escort ran it hard with no problems.The head gaskets are made with a silicone bead built in them which keeps the heads from leaking,also the 1.8 is a mazda DOHC that explains the more power and the 1.9 is ford SOHC. I went from central PA to cleveland and got 41 mpg with mine man I miss it! |
cobrajeff
Explorer Posts: 22
From:White Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 03-15-2000 10:45 PM
I have two Escorts - an '88 w/1.9L auto, and a '95 with 1.9L 5-speed. They are both good cars, and have given good service in spite of how many times my college-bound daughter has tried to tear them up.The '88 is wrinkled at every corner, but runs like a top - though I did have to replace the timing belt at about 90k miles. They sure are a lot easier to find parking spots for than an Explorer, especially in a college town, where parking gets pretty cramped ('course, I guess if I got "boxed in" with my 4X4, I could drive out over TOP of something, if need be  Regards,
Jeff |
ex91
Explorer Posts: 74
From:wingham,ont,canada
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 03-16-2000 12:01 AM
well if you look aother cars try a nissan sentra(I no I no it a nissan)but it was my first car and i still have and i can kill it (my dad told me that i count put my 91 explorer on the road till i killed my nissan so in 4 months i put on 20,000km and f@ck a pair of tires) the engines arnt bad for power and i got 35 to 40 mpg.
its got 240,000km on it and runs fine
o ya i rev the motor to 7000+ rpm on a dayle basses.I put my nissan back on the road for mpg but i still have my explorer(i need it to kick chev's a$$)[This message has been edited by ex91 (edited 03-16-2000).] |
Ira
Senior Explorer Posts: 158
From:Northeast TN
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 03-18-2000 09:10 PM
Well the verdict is in. I drove the Escort again and the front end just kinda felt funny. The price just seems too cheap ($3600) and it only has 54,000 miles. I test drove a Nissan Sentra XE and fell in love with the handling and everything. Since I had a Nissan before and know how reliable they are, I bought the Sentra. It is a 94 model, black, 5 speed, all the added power extras except for power windows and locks and has 90,000 miles on it which for a Nissan is like just being broke in. It is a good looking car both inside and outside. I bought it yesterday and have already put 200 miles on it and have used a little less than half a tank (13.2 gallons total capacity). I even spent the afternoon tinting the windows and it looks BBAAADDDD.Thanks for everyone who responded with their comments. ------------------
Ira
91 XLT 4x4 How can you tell when you've run out of invisible ink? | |
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