1998 Ford Escort Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Bought this car in 2001 in Ohio, I think it had about 60K on it. Worked like a charm with low maintenance. No frills, manual windows. Simple and clean, plaint lasted forever and shiny even though it was never in the garage. Got about 34 miles a gallon. Junked it in early 2012 because the undercarriage started to rust and they said the parts would fall off eventually and not be held togehter wll. Mechanic said I should have done a better job of washing the undercarriage on a regular basis at a car wash, and I only did it four times total ever since I had it, so he was right. Not sure if that was the only cause but oh well. The only repairs for 11 years were in 2005 a trasnmission switch (but not the transmission itself) they say always fails in those cars for $700 including labor, a new radiator for $400, and some type of loud notice in the muffler pipe for $500. Other items were regular maintenance of couse. Power steering belt of comonent died in 2010 but the car drove fine with out it manually since I am a fit female in my early 30s turning a stiff wheel was not all that hard. didn't have money for repairs. In 2009 the struts and springs kept giving problems once a year, $900 for that and 800 again in 2011. It may have been my fault, I don't think I had my tires rotated enough and it threw the car balance off. I assumed the oil change shop was doing it for me, I didn't know much about cars as I know now. In 2012 it stopped working at 189K becaue it needed a feul pump and components for $800 so I said forget it the underside is rusting and the struts and shocks keep going and junked it. Since most of the things could have probably been prevented I say it's a great car. Started up and ran no matter how cold it was and seems like it was easily cured with fluid. Engine and transmission still strong and perfect the day I junked it. Too bad the body went bad! Hope this post helps others learn a little more about cars. Too bad they don't sell it anymore, because it lasts long which I guess is the reason they don't offer it due to their greed, you won't need a car for about 10 years if not 15 with perfect maintenance you have this one. Sep 28, 2014