Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Escort VII: A Rust Bucket
This car is a complete wreck, not a vehicle. Overtaking and braking are out of the question. Rust is eating the bodywork, with foam in the sills and holes in the floor being very common. Everything that can break, does break. Never buy a Ford, especially an Escort. The only positive is the handling; the Escort is even comfortable to drive and could surprisingly cut through snowdrifts, but that's it. Foam bumpers, good luck repairing those :) I strongly advise against it!
Pros:
Comfortable ride, Good in snowdrifts
Cons:
Terrible rust issues, Everything breaks, Foam bumpers, Poor performance (braking/overtaking)
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Escort VII Review
Bought as a first car for commuting to school. It was 16 years old then. The engine and reliable air conditioning were positive points. On the downside, there was practically no floor. There was a lot of corrosion there. Overall, if you take care of such a car, it's quite good.
Pros:
Reliable engine, Durable air conditioning
Cons:
Significant floor corrosion, Poor floor integrity
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Ford Escort Mk VII
My first car. I drove it 10,000 km, inheriting it from my parents. The only things I replaced were the timing belt with the water pump and sealed a power steering leak by changing the seal for just 50 PLN. The Escort was a very spacious car in the front, though a bit tight on legroom in the back. The wagon version had a very large trunk. What's annoying, however, is the lack of practical compartments for bottles, CDs, or a phone. The equipment, for those years, was quite decent, including electric seat adjustment.
Pros:
Spacious front interior, Very large trunk (wagon version), Decent equipment for its era, Comfortable electric seat adjustment
Cons:
Limited rear legroom, Lack of practical storage compartments
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Escort VII
I had this car for 4 years and parted with it reluctantly. Great car, it took me across Europe, capable of doing 4000 km in a single weekend without any issue. The only downsides are rust, bearings wear out quickly, the engine easily overheats in traffic jams, and it has problems going uphill. Otherwise, a great car, cheap to maintain. For 4 years, I only replaced consumable parts and didn't spend even 1000 PLN on it. The engine started immediately even when it stood unused for 3 weeks in winter, covered in ice and half frozen.
Pros:
Great for long distances, Reliable starting engine, Affordable maintenance
Cons:
Prone to rust, Bearings wear out fast, Engine overheats in traffic, Struggles on inclines
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Escort VII
This is my first car, and it stayed in the family. Bought new, it served for 20 years without major issues (besides consumables, only the throttle body and a repaired steering rack). I have sentimental attachment to this car because, back in the days of Polonezes and other Ladas (mostly) and driving recklessly, I took on everything that moved – at least that's how I remember it. The suspension is excellent for its class (a new Kia Ceed grips the road worse), though it required relatively frequent replacement.
Pros:
Reliable for 20 years, Excellent suspension for its class, Sentimental value
Cons:
Throttle body issue, Repaired steering rack, Frequent suspension component replacement
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Escort VII
I had the car for a few days; I'd dreamed about it since I was a kid when my father had a 1.8. The car was just as I remembered it (even though I bought a 1.6) – agile, dynamic, with a very soft suspension, and in my opinion, also very good-looking. As expected for a cheap example, the car had many shortcomings – dents, cracks, a faulty idle control valve, a hole in the exhaust, and the bodywork quality that Escorts are infamously known for. However, if I had to buy it again, I would – call me a fanatic.
Pros:
Agile and dynamic, Soft suspension, Good looks, Nostalgic appeal
Cons:
Dents and cracks, Faulty idle control valve, Exhaust hole, Infamous bodywork quality
